January 2013 - Page 4 of 6 - Armoured & Luxury

British special constable shot dead by bandits in Kenya

January 16, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A British man who was killed in Kenya on Saturday was a special constable with the Metropolitan Police.

Jamal Moghe, 26, from Wembley, north-west London, also worked as a civilian employee of the Met based at Ealing in west London.

He is believed to have been killed by bandits while travelling on a charity trip.

Ealing borough commander Andy Rowell said: “We were all shocked and saddened to hear of Jamal’s death.”

Mr Moghe was a criminal exhibits officer in Ealing and also worked as a special constable – a volunteer police officer – in his home borough of Brent.

Cdr Rowell said: “He was a popular member of the team at Ealing borough and he also chose to serve his community by volunteering as a special. Our thoughts are with his wife and family at this time.”

Guatemalan mayor Carlos Castillo Medrano shot dead

January 16, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The mayor of the eastern Guatemalan town of Jutiapa has been shot dead as he waited to have his hair cut at a barber’s.

Witnesses say Carlos Enrique Castillo Medrano, 39, was killed by two unidentified men who shot at him six times before escaping on a motorbike.

His death came as President Otto Perez Molina addressed the nation to mark his first year in office and hailed “a historic decline in violence”.

Murders were down by some 10%, he said.

“We have had 526 fewer homicides in 2012 than in the previous year,” said Mr Perez Molina in his state-of-the-nation address.

According to government figures, there were 5,174 violent deaths in Guatemala in 2012.

The president also highlighted a reduction in other crimes.

Cairo train derailment leaves 19 dead

January 16, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A military train carrying army recruits has derailed south of Egypt’s capital, Cairo, killing 19 people and injuring more than 100, officials say.

The train was heading to an army camp in Cairo when a carriage became detached and crashed into a goods train in the Badrashin area of Giza.

Egypt’s prime minister visited the scene, but was led to safety after being abused by angry bystanders.

Egypt’s roads and railways have a notoriously poor safety record.

Last November 50 children died when a train hit their school bus near Manfalut, 350km (230 miles) south of Cairo, after a signal operator fell asleep.

The transport minister and the head of the railway authority were forced to resign in the wake of the crash.

Anger has been directed towards the government for failing to improve railway safety and infrastructure.

US shoots down Death Star superlaser petition

January 16, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The White House has rejected a petition to build a Death Star – a huge battle-station armed with a superlaser as seen in the Star Wars films.

In a playful response, a senior US government official said the Obama administration “does not support blowing up planets”.

The official also said the cost – about $850 quadrillion – was too high.

More than 34,000 people had signed the petition, saying the project would spur job creation and strengthen defence.

They also wanted the government to begin construction by 2016.

The White House is obliged to respond to all petitions that gain more than 25,000 signatures.

UK assumes presidency of G8 group

January 13, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The UK is assuming its year-long presidency of the G8 group of nations.

The presidency – which rotates through the G8 members – means it will host the annual leaders’ summit and choose the global priorities that are discussed.

June’s summit is to be held at Lough Erne, in County Fermanagh, while topics discussed will include tax havens.

The G8 is made up countries who have, historically, been the richest in the world – France, the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada and the UK.

As prime minister of the presidency holding nation, David Cameron has said he wants to focus on combating trade protectionism, cracking down on tax havens and promoting greater government transparency.

These topics will be discussed in ministerial meetings ahead of the summit along with urgent issues like the crisis in Syria.