Январь 2013 - Страница 3 из 6

Two die in London when helicopter crashes into crane accident

16 января, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two people were killed and 12 were hurt when a helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London.

The helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf beside the Thames at about 08:00 GMT.

Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze.

The pilot, Capt Pete Barnes from charter firm Rotormotion, was killed, along with a person on the ground.

Mr Barnes, 50 and from near Reading, Berkshire, had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather.

Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was «miraculous» the crash was not much worse.

US gun debate: Obama unveils gun control proposals

16 января, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

President Barack Obama has unveiled sweeping gun control proposals, setting the stage for a showdown with firearms rights advocates.

Mr Obama called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and wider background checks on gun buyers.

The Democratic president also signed 23 executive-order measures, which do not require congressional approval.

Mr Obama said gun-control reforms could not wait any longer, after last month’s school massacre in Connecticut.

«While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil,» he said, «if there’s even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there’s even one life that can be saved, then we’ve got an obligation to try.»

Foreigners abducted by Islamist militants in Algeria

16 января, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two foreign nationals, one of them British, have been killed and several abducted in an attack by Islamist militants on a gas facility in eastern Algeria, state media report.

Several people were also wounded when a bus carrying workers from a gas facility near In Amenas was targeted.

After being repelled, the militants travelled to the facility, taking an unknown number of workers hostage.

Militants linked to al-Qaeda claim to have been behind the incident.

They initially said they were holding six people hostage, but an alleged spokesman later told two Mauritanian news websites they were holding 41 foreigners, including US, French, British and Japanese citizens.

Raja Pervez Ashraf: Pakistan Supreme Court orders arrest of PM

16 января, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of PM Raja Pervez Ashraf and 15 others over corruption allegations, raising fears of a political crisis just months ahead of an election.

Mr Ashraf denies accepting bribes when approving power generation projects as minister for water and power in 2010.

Analysts say that the move is unlikely to lead to his immediate removal.

It comes as a populist cleric led thousands of protesters in Islamabad, demanding the government resign.

There was a mood of mass euphoria as the news of the court’s order reached demonstrators, led by Tahirul Qadri. Some jumped for joy and others hugged, some crying.

«So far we have not received anything from the Supreme Court in writing. The government, the law ministry and the prime minister have not received any order from the Supreme Court,» Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira reportedly told private TV channel Geo.

Mali conflict: France to increase troop numbers

16 января, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

President Francois Hollande says more French troops are to be deployed in Mali to support the 750 in the country countering an Islamist insurgency.

Mr Hollande said new air strikes overnight had «achieved their goal». One target was the town of Diabaly, which rebels entered on Monday.

West African military chiefs are meeting in Mali to discuss how an alliance with the French will work.

France began its intervention on Friday to halt the Islamists’ advance south.

Late on Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously backed the intervention.

‘Really scared’

Mr Hollande, on a visit to the French regional military base known as Peace Camp in Abu Dhabi, said: «For now, we have 750 men and the number will increase. New strikes overnight achieved their goal.»