Armoured & Luxury
Chauffeur Driven Cars

As a white, British A-level student, the 17-year-old boy on trial for plotting mass murder in Cardiff did «not look like how you expected a terrorist to look,» the jury was told.

But over the course of his nine-day trial at Birmingham Crown Court, they learned Lloyd Gunton had become radicalised online and was planning a «lone wolf» attack in the name of Islam.

The court heard he was arrested «within hours of committing an act of atrocity on the streets of Cardiff» and his social media accounts featured pictures of terrorists and posts about a terrorist attacks. But what led him to take such action?

Gunton lived with his parents in the Llantrisant area of south Wales. In late June 2017, he began posting material on photo-sharing social media site Instagram, promoting jihad and supporting Al-Qaeda.

He published images of terrorists, as well as pictures of the so-called Islamic State flag, and photos encouraging a terrorist attack in Cardiff. The posts came to the attention of police, who swooped on his home, searched his belongings and seized his mobile phone and laptop.

Read More

Gunfire and an explosion have been heard near the army headquarters and the French embassy in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou.

Witnesses have reported seeing armed men getting out of a car and opening fire. Pictures from the scene showed a cloud of black smoke rising into the sky. It is not yet clear who is behind the attack.

«An attack is under way,» the French ambassador tweeted.

The national police have issued a statement saying special forces are in action.

The US embassy in the city has advised people to seek shelter. Eyewitnesses reported they heard the attackers shouting «Allahu Akbar» («God is greatest» in Arabic). Ouagadougou has suffered two major attacks by Islamist militants in the last two years.

The West African country also saw a failed coup in 2015. The trial for dozens of the alleged perpetrators began earlier this week but was suspended after defence lawyers walked out in protest against the military court.

Eight Turkish soldiers have been killed in fighting in the north Syrian region of Afrin, the military says.

Another 13 were injured in the clashes on Thursday, with several said to be in a critical condition.

It is one of the bloodiest days for Turkish troops since they began a major offensive against Kurdish fighters in Afrin in January.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council is due to debate the situation in Syria’s besieged Eastern Ghouta area.

More than 580 people have reportedly been killed in the rebel-held enclave near Damascus since the government and its allies intensified a bombardment on 18 February. About 393,000 civilians trapped there also face severe shortages of food and medical supplies.

The debate in Geneva, expected later on Friday, was requested by the UK. A draft resolution, seen by Reuters news agency, strongly condemns the «denial of humanitarian access» and «repeated attacks against medical facilities».

Turkey’s military announced its latest casualties in two statements on Thursday.

Read More

Russia has developed a new cruise missile that is invincible, according to President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Putin made the revelation as he laid out his key policies for a fourth presidential term, ahead of an election he is expected to win in 17 days’ time.

He showcased a range of new weapons, including the cruise missile that could «reach anywhere in the world». Using video presentations, he said the missile could not be stopped by the US shield in Europe and Asia.

It was «a low-flying, difficult-to-spot cruise missile with a nuclear payload with a practically unlimited range and an unpredictable flight path, which can bypass lines of interception and is invincible in the face of all existing and future systems of both missile defence and air defence».

Another weapon he discussed was a submarine launched, long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

Read More

The threat level from Northern Ireland-related terrorism has been reduced from substantial to moderate in mainland Britain, MI5 says.

The new level means that an attack is considered possible but unlikely. It is the second lowest rating.

The reduction applies to England, Scotland and Wales. The threat level in Northern Ireland remains severe, where an attack is considered highly likely.

The threat from international terrorism also remains at severe.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: «Despite the change which has been made today, there remains a real and serious threat against the United Kingdom from terrorism,» and she urged the public to be vigilant.

In a statement, Ms Rudd said the threat level was set independently of government by security services, who consider «capability, intent and timescale».

The Northern Irish terror threat had been raised to substantial in May 2016, although authorities did not disclose any reasons for their belief that the threat had increased.