- A single attacker detonated a bomb near the U.S. embassy in Beijing on Thursday, an embassy spokesperson told NBC News.
There were no injuries, other than to the bomber, the official & Chinese police said.
"There was an explosion at approximately 1 p.m. today in the public space off the South East corner of the Embassy compound," the spokesperson told NBC. "According to the Embassy's Regional Security Officer, there was one individual who detonated a bomb. Other than the bomber, there were no injuries. The local police responded."
Chinese police said a suspect detonated a firework-like device near the embassy and injured his hand. Police identified the bomber as a 26-year-old man surnamed Jiang from the Inner Mongolia region of the country. Officials did not provide a suspected motive.
The New York Times reported that the blast was heard blocks away in the city.
Chinese media outlet Global Times reported on Twitter that a witness said police took away a woman "spraying gasoline on herself" outside the embassy around 11 a.m. The state-run outlet said in a subsequent Twitter post that it was not "proved yet" that the incident was connected to the explosion near the embassy that occurred later.
Despite that earlier altercation, local media reported that a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the afternoon's explosion was an isolated incident.
A witness told Reuters they saw Chinese police examining a vehicle outside the embassy, and another witness said there were seven to eight police vehicles near the embassy and the road next to the complex had been closed off.
Images and videos posted on Twitter showed a large amount of smoke and what appeared to be police vehicles surrounding the vast structure in northeastern Beijing on Thursday afternoon.
Police did not immediately respond to the incident, the Associated Press reported. ContinueReading
Showing posts with label Terrorism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terrorism. Show all posts
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
4 Men Arrested in the UK in Connection with Suspected Acid Attack on 3-Year-Old Boy
LONDON—Four men have been arrested after a 3-year-old boy was attacked with a corrosive substance in the UK.
The boy was attacked while sitting in his stroller in a Home Bargains store in Worcester, West Midlands, on Saturday, July 21.
He was left with serious burns on his face and arm although he has now been released from hospital. The long-term implications of his injuries are unknown, West Mercia Police said.
Three men were arrested in London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and are aged 22, 25, and 26, police said.
A 39-year-old man from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands was arrested on Sunday, July 22 on the same charges and is in police custody.
Police said the motive for the attack was “unclear” but they were treating it as a “deliberate act towards the child.”
Friday, July 20, 2018
8 injured in stabbing attack in Germany
BERLIN -- Eight people were injured in an attack on a busy bus in the northern German city of Luebeck, and a suspect has been arrested, police said Friday. Local daily Luebecker Nachrichten reported, without giving a source, that a suspect had attacked passengers with a knife.
Police spokesman Duerk Duerbrook said the attack occurred in the Kuecknitz district of Luebeck, northeast of Hamburg. He told The Associated Press that authorities were still trying to determine the circumstances of the attack.
German news agency dpa quoted police as saying that three people received "medium serious" injuries in the incident, while five others received minor injuries.
The agency also quoted Ulla Hingst, a spokeswoman for prosecutors in Luebeck, as saying that police are investigating a suspicious rucksack. "Nothing can be ruled out, including a terrorist background," she was quoted as saying.
State police tweeted: "Nobody was killed. The perpetrator was overpowered and is now in police custody."
No other details were immediately available.
While the motive remained unclear in the Luebeck incident, Germany has experienced a number of terror attacks in recent years, including through the use of vehicles. In December 2016, a truck plowed into a crowd at Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.
In April, police said they had thwarted an alleged stabbing attack plot aimed at people gathered for a half marathon in Berlin.
Police spokesman Duerk Duerbrook said the attack occurred in the Kuecknitz district of Luebeck, northeast of Hamburg. He told The Associated Press that authorities were still trying to determine the circumstances of the attack.
German news agency dpa quoted police as saying that three people received "medium serious" injuries in the incident, while five others received minor injuries.
The agency also quoted Ulla Hingst, a spokeswoman for prosecutors in Luebeck, as saying that police are investigating a suspicious rucksack. "Nothing can be ruled out, including a terrorist background," she was quoted as saying.
State police tweeted: "Nobody was killed. The perpetrator was overpowered and is now in police custody."
No other details were immediately available.
While the motive remained unclear in the Luebeck incident, Germany has experienced a number of terror attacks in recent years, including through the use of vehicles. In December 2016, a truck plowed into a crowd at Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.
In April, police said they had thwarted an alleged stabbing attack plot aimed at people gathered for a half marathon in Berlin.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
26 killed in rural Burundi attack amid tensions over president's bid to keep power
- Twenty-six people were killed and seven wounded in an attack in a rural area of Burundi, the country's security minister said Saturday, calling it the work of a "terrorist group" he did not identify.
Speaking at the scene, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital.
He gave no further details about the attack in the Ruhagarika community of the rural northwestern province of Cibitoke.
The attack came shortly before a May 17 referendum that could extend the president's term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related.
One survivor told the Associated Press the attackers came around 10 p.m. local time and "attacked households and set fire on houses." Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said.
Her husband and two children were killed, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.
This East African country has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term. An estimated 1,200 people died.
Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposed constitutional change to extend the president's term from five years to seven, which would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another 14 years.
Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.
The United States earlier this month denounced "violence, intimidation and harassment" against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the "nontransparent process" of changing the constitution.
Human Rights Watch has noted "widespread impunity" for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party's youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president's favor.
Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum, no matter its results.
Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since the political unrest began in April 2015, according to the United Nations.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 after Burundi's civil war, which killed about 300,000 people. He was reelected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.
Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.
The United States earlier this month denounced "violence, intimidation and harassment" against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the "nontransparent process" of changing the constitution.
Human Rights Watch has noted "widespread impunity" for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party's youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president's favor.
Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum, no matter its results.
Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since the political unrest began in April 2015, according to the United Nations.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 after Burundi's civil war, which killed about 300,000 people. He was reelected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Texas: Austin explosions: ‘Serial bomber’ hunted after tripwire sets off 4th blast
nbcnews.com - The fourth explosion in less than three weeks in Austin, Texas, appears to be the work of a serial bomber, officials said Monday.
Authorities warned that the devices appear to be getting more sophisticated and asked residents of one neighborhood to stay indoors until 2 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) Monday.
"We are clearly dealing with a serial bomber," Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said, adding that he was unable to answer questions from reporters about whether the incidents should be considered domestic terrorism. "We will have to determine if we see a specific ideology behind this."
The latest blast occurred Sunday just after 8:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. ET), when two bicyclists received non-life-threatening injuries after apparently setting off a tripwire in the southwest of the city. The previous three recent explosions had instead been left at people's houses.
The FBI has sent 350 special agents to the Texas capital as well as extra bomb squads.
"With this tripwire, this changes things," said Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division. "It's more sophisticated, it's not targeted to individuals ... a child could be walking down a sidewalk and hit something."
The two latest victims, white men ages 22 and 23, set off the bomb that had been left next to a fence and were recovering in the hospital with "significant injuries," Manley said.
Overnight, authorities warned that they didn't want residents in the Travis County neighborhood to leave their homes until 10 a.m. local time to give teams a chance to secure the scene in daylight. Manley later extended that until 2 p.m. citing "an overabundance of caution as we process the scene."
Manley also asked the community to contact authorities if anything looked suspicious or out of place, and cautioned against approaching suspicious items, including boxes and bags.
The unsolved package bombings earlier this month killed two and injured two others. Officials are examining whether the packages have been specifically meant to target minorities: Stephen House, 39, was killed on the morning of March 2, and Draylen Mason, 17, died on the morning of March 12. Both were black members of the same church, Nelson Linder, the local NAACP chapter president, told NBC News last week. ContinueReading
Authorities warned that the devices appear to be getting more sophisticated and asked residents of one neighborhood to stay indoors until 2 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) Monday.
"We are clearly dealing with a serial bomber," Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said, adding that he was unable to answer questions from reporters about whether the incidents should be considered domestic terrorism. "We will have to determine if we see a specific ideology behind this."
The latest blast occurred Sunday just after 8:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. ET), when two bicyclists received non-life-threatening injuries after apparently setting off a tripwire in the southwest of the city. The previous three recent explosions had instead been left at people's houses.
The FBI has sent 350 special agents to the Texas capital as well as extra bomb squads.
"With this tripwire, this changes things," said Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division. "It's more sophisticated, it's not targeted to individuals ... a child could be walking down a sidewalk and hit something."
The two latest victims, white men ages 22 and 23, set off the bomb that had been left next to a fence and were recovering in the hospital with "significant injuries," Manley said.
Manley also asked the community to contact authorities if anything looked suspicious or out of place, and cautioned against approaching suspicious items, including boxes and bags.
The unsolved package bombings earlier this month killed two and injured two others. Officials are examining whether the packages have been specifically meant to target minorities: Stephen House, 39, was killed on the morning of March 2, and Draylen Mason, 17, died on the morning of March 12. Both were black members of the same church, Nelson Linder, the local NAACP chapter president, told NBC News last week. ContinueReading
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
#NotMyPM: Police arrest two men 'planning to blow up Downing Street gates and kill Theresa May'
Independent.co.uk - Security services believe they have foiled a plot to assassinateTheresa May in Downing Street.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill the Prime Minister by using a bomb disguised as a bag to blow off the gates of Downing Street and then attack her with knives.
The suspects were detained during raids in London and Birmingham last week and charged with terrorism offences. They are due to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The plot was revealed to the Cabinet yesterday by Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, who also told ministers that security services have foiled nine terrorist attacks on the UK in the last year.
The Metropolitan Police said Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, from north London, and Mohammed Aqib Imran, 21, from Birmingham, had been charged with preparing a terrorist act.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson declined to confirm that the arrests were linked to a plot to attack Ms May.
It comes as a new report found that security services could possibly have prevented a suicide attack at the Manchester Arena in May. Bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people when he blew himself up outside an Ariana Grande concert.
David Anderson QC, who was asked to conduct an independent investigation, said Abedi had been on MI5’s radar but that his “true significance was not appreciated at the time”.
After reviewing the security services’ actions in relation to four terrorist attacks in the UK this year, Mr Anderson said: “It is conceivable that the Manchester attack in particular might have been averted had the cards fallen differently.”
Addressing the Cabinet, Mr Parker reportedly said Isis had been defeated in Syria and Iraq but was continuing to orchestrate attacks on the UK. Militants are increasingly using social media to try communicate with would-be attackers, he said.
After the meeting, Ms May’s spokesman said: ”The Prime Minister led thanks to the tireless work of staff at MI5 to combat the unprecedented terrorist threat.
“Cabinet ministers heard that while Daesh suffered major defeats in Iraq and Syria, this did not mean the threat is over. Rather it is spreading to new areas, including trying to encourage attacks in the UK and elsewhere via propaganda on social media.” (ontinueReading
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill the Prime Minister by using a bomb disguised as a bag to blow off the gates of Downing Street and then attack her with knives.
The suspects were detained during raids in London and Birmingham last week and charged with terrorism offences. They are due to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The plot was revealed to the Cabinet yesterday by Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, who also told ministers that security services have foiled nine terrorist attacks on the UK in the last year.
The Metropolitan Police said Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, from north London, and Mohammed Aqib Imran, 21, from Birmingham, had been charged with preparing a terrorist act.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson declined to confirm that the arrests were linked to a plot to attack Ms May.
It comes as a new report found that security services could possibly have prevented a suicide attack at the Manchester Arena in May. Bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people when he blew himself up outside an Ariana Grande concert.
David Anderson QC, who was asked to conduct an independent investigation, said Abedi had been on MI5’s radar but that his “true significance was not appreciated at the time”.
After reviewing the security services’ actions in relation to four terrorist attacks in the UK this year, Mr Anderson said: “It is conceivable that the Manchester attack in particular might have been averted had the cards fallen differently.”
Addressing the Cabinet, Mr Parker reportedly said Isis had been defeated in Syria and Iraq but was continuing to orchestrate attacks on the UK. Militants are increasingly using social media to try communicate with would-be attackers, he said.
After the meeting, Ms May’s spokesman said: ”The Prime Minister led thanks to the tireless work of staff at MI5 to combat the unprecedented terrorist threat.
“Cabinet ministers heard that while Daesh suffered major defeats in Iraq and Syria, this did not mean the threat is over. Rather it is spreading to new areas, including trying to encourage attacks in the UK and elsewhere via propaganda on social media.” (ontinueReading
Friday, November 24, 2017
Militants kill more than 230 at Sinai mosque in Egypt's deadliest attack
CAIRO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Militants killed more than 230 people at a mosque in North Sinai on Friday, detonating a bomb and gunning down worshippers in the deadliest such attack in Egypt's modern history, state media and witnesses said.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers.
State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El Arish, the main city in North Sinai.
Worshippers were finishing Friday prayers at the mosque when a bomb exploded, witnesses said. Around 40 gunmen set up positions outside the mosque with jeeps and opened fire from different directions as people tried to escape.
"Four groups of armed men attacked the worshippers inside the mosque after Friday noon prayers. Two groups were firing at ambulances to deter them, said Mohamed, a witness.
The public prosecutors' office said in a statement 235 people had been killed and 109 more wounded.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers.
State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El Arish, the main city in North Sinai.
Worshippers were finishing Friday prayers at the mosque when a bomb exploded, witnesses said. Around 40 gunmen set up positions outside the mosque with jeeps and opened fire from different directions as people tried to escape.
"Four groups of armed men attacked the worshippers inside the mosque after Friday noon prayers. Two groups were firing at ambulances to deter them, said Mohamed, a witness.
The public prosecutors' office said in a statement 235 people had been killed and 109 more wounded.
Monday, September 18, 2017
India and China may have pulled back on the Himalayan frontier, but the bilateral chill is real
quartzindia - One week can be a long time in inter-state relations. In a week’s time, India and China had kissed and made up after their armies stood eyeball to eyeball at the Doklam Plateau for more than two months. The trouble at the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction began on June 16 when Indian soldiers detected construction activity on what is considered disputed territory on the Doklam Plateau. Chinese workers seemed to be building a road that would have allowed China to project power further into the territory claimed by Bhutan, thereby giving Beijing an ability to cut India’s northeast from the mainland.
India’s response was immediate. The government sent troops into Bhutan to halt the road-building, demanding restoration of status quo ante. As the Indian external affairs minister explained in the Indian parliament: “Our (Indian) concerns emanate from Chinese action on the ground which have implications for the determination of the tri-junction boundary point between India, China and Bhutan and the alignment of India-China boundary in the Sikkim sector.” Sushma Swaraj added that “dialogue is the only way out of the Doklam standoff…and this should be seen in the context of the entire bilateral relationship.”
China, for its part, demanded that India withdraw unconditionally from Doklam before any meaningful bilateral talks could be held, and state-owned media launched a shrill campaign, at times threatening war and issuing reminders of the 1962 conflict between the two countries and India’s humiliating defeat. New Delhi was responsible in handling the crisis—refusing to be drawn into escalation by bellicose rhetoric and not losing its nerve. Tensions continued to rise through Aug. 26 when disengagement was announced and an understanding reached with the withdrawal of Indian troops and cessation of Chinese road construction in the area.
Notwithstanding the spin used by both sides to justify disengagement, the BRICS summit played a key role in the final outcome as representatives of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa headed for Xiamen in early September. It would have been difficult for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to justify his presence at the summit with Indian and Chinese forces facing off each other at the border. And for Chinese president Xi Jinping, keen on presenting himself as a global statesman, India’s absence would have meant the beginning of the end of BRICS, tarnishing Xi’s reputation in the run-up to the critical Communist Party Congress in October.
As the scene shifted to Xiamen for the BRICS summit, India underscored its dissatisfaction with how BRICS member states dealt with the issue of terrorism during the previous summit in Goa. Despite India making terrorism a priority, China not only blocked India’s attempts to include the names of Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) in the 2016 BRICS declaration, but openly defended Pakistan after the summit, saying it opposed linking any country or religion with terror and asked the world community to acknowledge Pakistan’s “great sacrifices.”
A surprise was in store when this year’s BRICS declaration named LeT and JeM along with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, reiterating agreements arrived at during the 2016 Heart of Asia summit. The agreement was not merely an acknowledgment that BRICS member states face common threats in the form of terrorism, but also a tribute to India’s consistently strong stand on this issue. China warned Modi not to raise bilateral terrorism-related issues at the BRICS summit, but India made sure to put these on the agenda. By listing Pakistan-based terror organisations for the first time, the Xiamen declaration underlined changing regional realities for Pakistan, accustomed to using China as a shield against global pressure on terror.
Modi and Xi signaled efforts to move away from the bitterness engendered by the short-lived Doklam standoff by managing to present a united front at the BRICS summit. They agreed that Doklam-like situations should not be allowed to recur by charting new mechanisms to strengthen border-defence agreements that have held in the past and identified the need for closer communications between defence and security personnel. Both nations also sought convergence at the global level by underscoring their positions resisting economic protectionism of the kind that the Trump administration has been espousing, and the BRICS countries committed to an “open and inclusive” multilateral trading system. (ontinueReading
India’s response was immediate. The government sent troops into Bhutan to halt the road-building, demanding restoration of status quo ante. As the Indian external affairs minister explained in the Indian parliament: “Our (Indian) concerns emanate from Chinese action on the ground which have implications for the determination of the tri-junction boundary point between India, China and Bhutan and the alignment of India-China boundary in the Sikkim sector.” Sushma Swaraj added that “dialogue is the only way out of the Doklam standoff…and this should be seen in the context of the entire bilateral relationship.”
China, for its part, demanded that India withdraw unconditionally from Doklam before any meaningful bilateral talks could be held, and state-owned media launched a shrill campaign, at times threatening war and issuing reminders of the 1962 conflict between the two countries and India’s humiliating defeat. New Delhi was responsible in handling the crisis—refusing to be drawn into escalation by bellicose rhetoric and not losing its nerve. Tensions continued to rise through Aug. 26 when disengagement was announced and an understanding reached with the withdrawal of Indian troops and cessation of Chinese road construction in the area.
Notwithstanding the spin used by both sides to justify disengagement, the BRICS summit played a key role in the final outcome as representatives of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa headed for Xiamen in early September. It would have been difficult for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to justify his presence at the summit with Indian and Chinese forces facing off each other at the border. And for Chinese president Xi Jinping, keen on presenting himself as a global statesman, India’s absence would have meant the beginning of the end of BRICS, tarnishing Xi’s reputation in the run-up to the critical Communist Party Congress in October.
As the scene shifted to Xiamen for the BRICS summit, India underscored its dissatisfaction with how BRICS member states dealt with the issue of terrorism during the previous summit in Goa. Despite India making terrorism a priority, China not only blocked India’s attempts to include the names of Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) in the 2016 BRICS declaration, but openly defended Pakistan after the summit, saying it opposed linking any country or religion with terror and asked the world community to acknowledge Pakistan’s “great sacrifices.”
Modi and Xi signaled efforts to move away from the bitterness engendered by the short-lived Doklam standoff by managing to present a united front at the BRICS summit. They agreed that Doklam-like situations should not be allowed to recur by charting new mechanisms to strengthen border-defence agreements that have held in the past and identified the need for closer communications between defence and security personnel. Both nations also sought convergence at the global level by underscoring their positions resisting economic protectionism of the kind that the Trump administration has been espousing, and the BRICS countries committed to an “open and inclusive” multilateral trading system. (ontinueReading
Friday, September 15, 2017
Terrorist Device Detonates on London Subway, Injuring Commuters
LONDON — A device that triggered a rush-hour fire aboard a subway train in the British capital was being investigated as terrorism Friday, police said.
Authorities confirmed 23 people had been injured at Parsons Green Tube station in southwest London. None of their wounds — mostly superficial burns — were considered serious or life-threatening.
Investigators were examining the remains of an improvised explosive device.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said the detonation was being treated as a "terrorist incident."
Police said no arrests had been made but would not comment on the manhunt for the culprit. London subway stations are well-equipped with surveillance cameras.
One photo shared on social media showed a bucket on fire. Wires appeared to be protruding from the plastic bag the container had been carried in. The photos do not show any extensive damage to the inside of the train.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Vladimir Putin Accuses U.S. of backing terrorists in Chechnya
newsweek.com - Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the U.S. of supporting the most violent insurgency in post-Soviet Russia, during an interview with American director Oliver Stone.
The pair spoke about a breadth of topics in conversations that make up Stone’s four-hour film, The Putin Interviews . The series took place in a variety of settings, from opulent reception halls and bucolic residences to the inside of Putin’s car, with the leader in the driver’s seat.
During one of their sit-down exchanges, broadcast on Showtime, Putin gave credence to a claim about the wars in Russia’s Chechnya region often made by the more fringe elements among the Russian establishment, that the U.S. directly supported “terrorist” rebels.
Putin said the Kremlin hoped for U.S. support in quelling a separatist movement in the Russian republic, but had observed “instead, U.S. special services supporting the terrorists.”
The Chechen Wars took place in 1994, when secular Chechen militants declared independence from Russia, and 2009, when, after two bloody military operations, Russia announced it had quelled the insurgency that had morphed into a radical Islamist force.
Putin did not say at which point he thought the West had backed the “terrorists.” However, he seemed to endorse a theory frequently espoused by the current Chechen regional leader, who switched allegiances during the conflict to join Moscow’s ranks, that the U.S. was enmeshed in the conflict.
“If we are talking about political support, this does not need proving,” Putin said, referring to the negative reaction internationally to Russia’s use of force in the tiny region. “This was done publicly, openly. And as far as operational and financial support is concerned—we have such evidence and above all some of it we have already submitted to our American colleagues.”
Fighting the Chechen insurgency was instrumental in Putin’s rise to the presidency—he became prime minister in 1999, before being elected president on the promise of taking a hard line on Chechen separatists. His stance on the issue won him popularity after a series of controversial bombings in Moscow and elsewhere attributed to Chechen groups.
“In my view, the important thing is that upon us fell the absolutely lasting opinion that our American partners speak about supporting Russia in words, they speak about their preparedness to cooperate, including in fighting terrorism, but in deeds they use these terrorists to unsettle the internal political situation in Russia,” Putin told Stone.
Putin made similar claims in a state-TV documentary dedicated to his 15-year anniversary in power, two years ago. Much of Stone’s documentary consisted of Putin reiterating claims unfavorable to the U.S., the West and Ukraine, messages that frequently have an outlet in the Russian state-dominated media establishment. (ontinueReading
The pair spoke about a breadth of topics in conversations that make up Stone’s four-hour film, The Putin Interviews . The series took place in a variety of settings, from opulent reception halls and bucolic residences to the inside of Putin’s car, with the leader in the driver’s seat.
During one of their sit-down exchanges, broadcast on Showtime, Putin gave credence to a claim about the wars in Russia’s Chechnya region often made by the more fringe elements among the Russian establishment, that the U.S. directly supported “terrorist” rebels.
The Chechen Wars took place in 1994, when secular Chechen militants declared independence from Russia, and 2009, when, after two bloody military operations, Russia announced it had quelled the insurgency that had morphed into a radical Islamist force.
Putin did not say at which point he thought the West had backed the “terrorists.” However, he seemed to endorse a theory frequently espoused by the current Chechen regional leader, who switched allegiances during the conflict to join Moscow’s ranks, that the U.S. was enmeshed in the conflict.
“If we are talking about political support, this does not need proving,” Putin said, referring to the negative reaction internationally to Russia’s use of force in the tiny region. “This was done publicly, openly. And as far as operational and financial support is concerned—we have such evidence and above all some of it we have already submitted to our American colleagues.”
“In my view, the important thing is that upon us fell the absolutely lasting opinion that our American partners speak about supporting Russia in words, they speak about their preparedness to cooperate, including in fighting terrorism, but in deeds they use these terrorists to unsettle the internal political situation in Russia,” Putin told Stone.
Putin made similar claims in a state-TV documentary dedicated to his 15-year anniversary in power, two years ago. Much of Stone’s documentary consisted of Putin reiterating claims unfavorable to the U.S., the West and Ukraine, messages that frequently have an outlet in the Russian state-dominated media establishment. (ontinueReading
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Duterte declares martial law on southern Philippine island of Mindanao
- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law Tuesday on the southern island of Mindanao as security forces battled heavily armed militants linked to the Islamic State in a provincial capital.
Duterte issued the declaration in Moscow, where he was on an official visit.
Earlier Tuesday, Philippine forces clashed with militants in Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur Province on Mindanao, during a government attempt to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of an Islamic State branch in Southeast Asia who pledged allegiance to the terrorist group in 2014.
At least two soldiers and one police officer have been killed and a dozen other soldiers wounded in the fighting, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, according to ABS-CBN News.
He described the militants as members of the Maute group, a radical Islamist organization also known as the Islamic State of Lanao. It is said to be made up of former members of a long-standing Muslim separatist group on Mindanao and some foreign fighters.
Mindanao has been the center of a decades-old insurgency by Muslim rebel factions in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano, the armed forces chief of staff, said nearly 50 gunmen entered Marawi City, which has a population of about 200,000, and burned houses and other buildings to sow confusion during the fighting, the Associated Press reported. (ontinueReading
Duterte issued the declaration in Moscow, where he was on an official visit.
Earlier Tuesday, Philippine forces clashed with militants in Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur Province on Mindanao, during a government attempt to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of an Islamic State branch in Southeast Asia who pledged allegiance to the terrorist group in 2014.
At least two soldiers and one police officer have been killed and a dozen other soldiers wounded in the fighting, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, according to ABS-CBN News.
He described the militants as members of the Maute group, a radical Islamist organization also known as the Islamic State of Lanao. It is said to be made up of former members of a long-standing Muslim separatist group on Mindanao and some foreign fighters.
Mindanao has been the center of a decades-old insurgency by Muslim rebel factions in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano, the armed forces chief of staff, said nearly 50 gunmen entered Marawi City, which has a population of about 200,000, and burned houses and other buildings to sow confusion during the fighting, the Associated Press reported. (ontinueReading
Monday, April 3, 2017
Explosive device on subway train in St. Petersburg kills at least 9 people
washingtonpost.com MOSCOW — A large explosion tore apart a train as it traveled between two central St. Petersburg metro stations Monday, killing at least nine people and injuring at least 20, Russia’s federal anti-terrorism authority said.
Andrei Przhezdomsky, spokesman for the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, said the explosion was caused by “an unidentified explosive device” that was detonated in one of the cars as the train traveled from Sennaya Ploshchad station, one of the main interchanges of the city’s subway system, at about 2:30 p.m.
The train was able to make it to the next station, where authorities were able to reach the victims, Przhezdomsky said in remarks broadcast on state television. Amateur video shared on social media showed a train with a large, jagged blast hole in the side of one car.
Authorities have not given extensive reports on the direction of the investigation, but counterterrorism experts and others were part of the probe. One detail emerged: officials said the blast was not a suicide attack.
Shortly after the blast, the entire St. Petersburg subway system was shut down as a precaution, and security was boosted around the city, where Russian President Vladimir Putin was holding talks with Belarusan leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Earlier reports by Russian’s state-run news agency placed the death toll at 10, based on “preliminary” information. Russia’s health minister, Veronika Skvortsova, said seven people died at the scene, one died en route to the hospital and another while undergoing treatment.
Russia’s Investigative Committee also said that it opened a criminal investigation.
“I have already talked to the chiefs of special services, the [Federal Security Service] director,” Putin said in televised remarks at the meeting with Lukashenko, a key Russian ally. “The law enforcement agencies and special services are working, and they will do everything to find out the causes of the incident and make a full assessment of what has happened.”
Viktor Ozerov, a member of the defense and security committee of the upper house of the Russian parliament, told the Interfax news agency that the attack had “all the characteristics of a terrorist attack.”
The around the Sennaya Ploshchad station is famous as the setting of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” (ontinueReading
Andrei Przhezdomsky, spokesman for the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, said the explosion was caused by “an unidentified explosive device” that was detonated in one of the cars as the train traveled from Sennaya Ploshchad station, one of the main interchanges of the city’s subway system, at about 2:30 p.m.
The train was able to make it to the next station, where authorities were able to reach the victims, Przhezdomsky said in remarks broadcast on state television. Amateur video shared on social media showed a train with a large, jagged blast hole in the side of one car.
Authorities have not given extensive reports on the direction of the investigation, but counterterrorism experts and others were part of the probe. One detail emerged: officials said the blast was not a suicide attack.
Shortly after the blast, the entire St. Petersburg subway system was shut down as a precaution, and security was boosted around the city, where Russian President Vladimir Putin was holding talks with Belarusan leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Earlier reports by Russian’s state-run news agency placed the death toll at 10, based on “preliminary” information. Russia’s health minister, Veronika Skvortsova, said seven people died at the scene, one died en route to the hospital and another while undergoing treatment.
Russia’s Investigative Committee also said that it opened a criminal investigation.
“I have already talked to the chiefs of special services, the [Federal Security Service] director,” Putin said in televised remarks at the meeting with Lukashenko, a key Russian ally. “The law enforcement agencies and special services are working, and they will do everything to find out the causes of the incident and make a full assessment of what has happened.”
Viktor Ozerov, a member of the defense and security committee of the upper house of the Russian parliament, told the Interfax news agency that the attack had “all the characteristics of a terrorist attack.”
The around the Sennaya Ploshchad station is famous as the setting of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” (ontinueReading
Monday, January 30, 2017
Oh Canada: Quebec City "terrorist attack" on mosque kills 6, injures 8
Possible psy-op or just a distraction?
globalnews.ca - Six people ranging in age from 35 to about 70 years old were killed and 8 more injured, including several children, during a shooting at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday night, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said.
Police and public officials are treating the incident at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec as an act of terrorism.
Two men have been arrested, but SQ spokesperson Christine Coulombe told reporters Sunday it’s too early to determine any motive.
Thirty-nine people survived the attack, she added.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard repeatedly called for solidarity in a news conference on Sunday Jan. 29.
In a message to Quebec’s Muslim community he said, “We are with you, this is your home, we are all Quebecers.”
Couillard added that he doesn’t expect further terrorist attacks, but that people need to be prepared.
He also said numerous events would be held in Quebec City to “indicate our solidarity.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attack cowardly and said his thoughts were with the victims and their families.
“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“Canadian law enforcement agencies will protect the rights of all Canadians, and will make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this act and all acts of intolerance.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he was deeply saddened by the loss, and that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
Labeaume said the city was in shock following the attack. (ontinueReading
globalnews.ca - Six people ranging in age from 35 to about 70 years old were killed and 8 more injured, including several children, during a shooting at a Quebec City mosque on Sunday night, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said.
Police and public officials are treating the incident at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec as an act of terrorism.
Two men have been arrested, but SQ spokesperson Christine Coulombe told reporters Sunday it’s too early to determine any motive.
Thirty-nine people survived the attack, she added.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard repeatedly called for solidarity in a news conference on Sunday Jan. 29.
In a message to Quebec’s Muslim community he said, “We are with you, this is your home, we are all Quebecers.”
Couillard added that he doesn’t expect further terrorist attacks, but that people need to be prepared.
He also said numerous events would be held in Quebec City to “indicate our solidarity.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attack cowardly and said his thoughts were with the victims and their families.
“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“Canadian law enforcement agencies will protect the rights of all Canadians, and will make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this act and all acts of intolerance.
“Tonight, we grieve with the people of Sainte-Foy and all Canadians.”
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he was deeply saddened by the loss, and that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
Labeaume said the city was in shock following the attack. (ontinueReading
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Turkey's Erdogan: 'Confirmed evidence' US-led coalition supports ISIS & other terrorists in Syria
RT.com - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said "it's very clear" that the US-led coalition is supporting terrorist groups in Syria, Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS/ISIL) among them.
"They give support to terrorist groups including Daesh (Arabic for IS)," Erdogan said.
Saying that the US have accused Turkey of supporting IS, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday the Turkish leader blamed the US-led coalition for assisting terrorists themselves.
Apart from IS, he also mentioned Kurdish People's Protection Units in northern Syria (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) as groups supported by the coalition.
"We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos," he added.
Erdogan has also called on Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join Russia, Turkey and Iran in peace talks on Syria. On Tuesday, the Turkish leader said officials of these Gulf states should be included in the talks of foreign ministers in Kazakhstan next month, as their countries had "shown goodwill and given support'' to Syria, AP reported.
However, the Turkish president stressed that Ankara itself would not take part should Syrian Kurdish groups - whom he called "terrorist organizations" - be invited to take part in the meeting.
Commenting on Ankara's accusations, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Erdogan's claims were "ludicrous."
Saying that there is "no basis for truth" in Erdogan's statement, Toner added that Washington is "100 percent behind the defeat and destruction of Daesh, even beyond Syria and Iraq."
The State Department also praised Ankara's efforts in northern Syria, saying that they have been "very efficient, very successful." The US is in "constant contact" with Turkey, Toner added.
"The evidence [mentioned by Erdogan] is quite ample, [the US] have been doing it for a number of years, including running secret CIA operations through Jordan, then through Turkey and into Syria," Michael Maloof, a security analyst and former Pentagon official, told RT.
He added that Erdogan's comments were "disingenuous," however, as "he continues to supply arms [into Syria] as well, with his ultimate aim [being] to go after the Kurds, and ISIS is secondary."
On Tuesday, Moscow also accused Washington of "sponsoring terrorism" in Syria. (FullText)
"They give support to terrorist groups including Daesh (Arabic for IS)," Erdogan said.
Saying that the US have accused Turkey of supporting IS, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday the Turkish leader blamed the US-led coalition for assisting terrorists themselves.
Apart from IS, he also mentioned Kurdish People's Protection Units in northern Syria (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) as groups supported by the coalition.
"We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos," he added.
Erdogan has also called on Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join Russia, Turkey and Iran in peace talks on Syria. On Tuesday, the Turkish leader said officials of these Gulf states should be included in the talks of foreign ministers in Kazakhstan next month, as their countries had "shown goodwill and given support'' to Syria, AP reported.
However, the Turkish president stressed that Ankara itself would not take part should Syrian Kurdish groups - whom he called "terrorist organizations" - be invited to take part in the meeting.
Commenting on Ankara's accusations, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Erdogan's claims were "ludicrous."
Saying that there is "no basis for truth" in Erdogan's statement, Toner added that Washington is "100 percent behind the defeat and destruction of Daesh, even beyond Syria and Iraq."
The State Department also praised Ankara's efforts in northern Syria, saying that they have been "very efficient, very successful." The US is in "constant contact" with Turkey, Toner added.
"The evidence [mentioned by Erdogan] is quite ample, [the US] have been doing it for a number of years, including running secret CIA operations through Jordan, then through Turkey and into Syria," Michael Maloof, a security analyst and former Pentagon official, told RT.
He added that Erdogan's comments were "disingenuous," however, as "he continues to supply arms [into Syria] as well, with his ultimate aim [being] to go after the Kurds, and ISIS is secondary."
On Tuesday, Moscow also accused Washington of "sponsoring terrorism" in Syria. (FullText)
Thursday, December 22, 2016
After the Berlin attack: Tangle of bureaucracy, not failure of government
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
False Flag?: 2 Iowa police officers killed; suspect in custody
(CNN) A suspect in Wednesday's (November 2) fatal shootings of two Iowa police officers in their squad vehicles has been taken into custody a county west of where the killings happened, police say.
Scott Michael Greene, 46, of Urbandale, was named a suspect in the deaths of a police officer in Urbandale and a police officer in adjacent Des Moines, both of whom were found shot and sitting in their vehicles near intersections 2 miles apart.
Police found Greene on foot late Wednesday morning in Dallas County, the county immediately west of the Des Moines area, said Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek. Police were taking him to Des Moines; further details about his detention weren't available.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
India's Prime Minister Says Pakistan a Haven for Terrorism
(abcnews) - India's prime minister said Saturday that he would work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing his country's archrival of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a nationally televised speech that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed 110 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory.
"There would have been a bloodbath had they succeeded in carrying out attacks in India," Modi said.
He said terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and Afghanistan were also being instigated from Pakistan.
"We will isolate you," Modi warned Pakistan. "I will work for that."
Modi's speech in the southern Indian town of Kozhikode was his first since 18 soldiers were killed in an attack on an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir last Sunday. Indian investigators say maps, weapons and other evidence indicated that the attackers were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge.
"Let me tell Pakistan that the sacrifice of 18 Indian soldiers will not go to waste," Modi said in his speech.
"There is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working toward ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia," he said, referring to Pakistan. "Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is a safe haven for terrorists."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Saturday evening that it would release an official reaction to Modi's comments later. (FullText)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a nationally televised speech that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed 110 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory.
"There would have been a bloodbath had they succeeded in carrying out attacks in India," Modi said.
He said terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and Afghanistan were also being instigated from Pakistan.
"We will isolate you," Modi warned Pakistan. "I will work for that."
Modi's speech in the southern Indian town of Kozhikode was his first since 18 soldiers were killed in an attack on an army base in Indian-controlled Kashmir last Sunday. Indian investigators say maps, weapons and other evidence indicated that the attackers were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge.
"Let me tell Pakistan that the sacrifice of 18 Indian soldiers will not go to waste," Modi said in his speech.
"There is one nation in Asia whose aim is to spread terrorism and is working toward ensuring that the 21st century does not belong to Asia," he said, referring to Pakistan. "Every nation is holding only one country responsible for terrorism. Only one country in Asia is a safe haven for terrorists."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Saturday evening that it would release an official reaction to Modi's comments later. (FullText)
Sunday, September 18, 2016
That was quick: ISIS wing claims responsibility for Minnesota mall attack
(CNN) The man who stabbed at least eight people at a Minnesota mall Saturday (Sept 17) before being shot dead by an off-duty police officer was a "soldier of the Islamic state," according to an ISIS-linked news agency.
The statement posted online Sunday by the Amaq agency follows a pattern of ISIS-related media claiming responsibility for what appear to be the acts of individuals across Europe in the past few months.
CNN cannot independently confirm this latest claim.
"We still don't have anything substantive that would suggest anything more than what we know already, which is this was a lone attacker," St. Cloud Police Chief William Blair Anderson told CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday. "And right now, we're trying to get to the bottom of his motivations."
Police and witnesses said the man, wearing a private security company uniform, entered Crossroads Mall on Saturday night around 8 p.m. ET, made a reference to Allah and asked at least one person if they were Muslim before he attacked.
Seven of the wounded were treated and released, while one victim remains hospitalized, Chief Anderson said. Police are trying to confirm if a ninth victim was transported to a hospital outside the city, Anderson said.
Ashley Bayne, an employee of JCPenney at the mall, was visiting a coworker at the time of the incident.
"All of sudden chaos just broke out," she told CNN's Nick Valencia on Sunday. "There was a bunch of people running into the JCPenney mall entrance, and they were just screaming that someone was going around the mall stabbing people, and that there was blood everywhere. It was just honestly a really scary experience."
Bayne said she ran out to the parking lot and took off in her car.
The stabbings occurred in multiple locations inside the mall, including the common area and in several stores. The mall has security teams on site but they are not armed.
Shortly after, an off-duty officer confronted the attacker.
"The individual we believe to be responsible for the victim's stab wounds is currently deceased inside the mall," police said early Sunday.
Friday, July 22, 2016
9 Dead in Shooting Rampage in Munich, Police Say
Possible psyop?
(nytimes) MUNICH — At least one gunman opened fire near a shopping mall in Munich just before 6 p.m. on Friday, killing eight people and wounding a number of others in an assault that the German police said they were treating as a suspected terrorist attack.
A manhunt shut down traffic and public transportation across Munich, Germany’s third-most-populous city and the capital of the state of Bavaria. Police said they had found the body of a ninth person near the mall, and were investigating the possibility that he was an attacker.
A state of emergency was declared in the city, plunging much of the metropolis into a desolate and fearful state of lockdown. As the transit system was shut down, commuters held their hands up in the air as they walked past police officers.
“At this point, we believe there are three perpetrators, there are conflicting reports, but there are as many as three perpetrators on the run,” said Marcus da Gloria Martins, a spokesman for the Munich police. He said the suspects were armed with “long guns.”
But a short while later, Peter Altmaier, the chief of staff for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that security officials had specific information about only one individual, who was believed to be still at large. “We are certain about one person,” Mr. Altmaier said, adding that there was no information regarding the motive of the attack.
Police officers from Munich and from elsewhere in Bavaria flooded the city. An elite counterterrorism unit of the federal police has also been deployed to Munich, officials said.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Brazilian police arrest 10 suspected of planning terrorist acts during Olympics
Rio de Janeiro (CNN) Brazilian police have arrested 10 people suspected of planning terrorist acts during next month's Rio Olympics, Brazil's Justice Ministry said Thursday.
The group was inspired by ISIS and mostly organized online, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said.
He said no specific targets were mentioned, but the Justice Ministry is still investigating the suspects' computers and cell phones to learn more about the possible plans.
De Moraes said the suspects are all Brazilian nationals, and that one minor was mentioned in the conversations.
The group was inspired by ISIS and mostly organized online, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said.
He said no specific targets were mentioned, but the Justice Ministry is still investigating the suspects' computers and cell phones to learn more about the possible plans.
De Moraes said the suspects are all Brazilian nationals, and that one minor was mentioned in the conversations.
Another two people have warrants out for their arrests. Authorities said they believe those suspects will be arrested soon.
De Moraes said the group was not an organized cell, calling it "absolutely amateur -- with no preparation."
The group essentially said, "Let's start training in martial arts, let's start learning how to shoot," the justice minister said.
He noted the group tried to buy a gun online, which no organized cell would do. (FullText)
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