Truck Attack In Nice Leaves 84 Dead

July 15, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

At least 84 people have died, including children, after a lorry slammed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice.

The driver ploughed on for 2km (1.2 miles) on the Promenade des Anglais at about 23:00 local time, before being shot dead by police.

Witnesses say the speeding lorry swerved and zigzagged in an apparent attempt to hit more people. Police reportedly found guns and grenades inside the lorry.

President Francois Hollande, who has now arrived in Nice, said the attack was of "an undeniable terrorist nature".

Theresa May Reveals New Cabinet In Her First Full Day As Prime Minister

July 14, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Michael Gove has been sacked from the government as Prime Minister Theresa May puts together her new team, in her first full day in Downing Street.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has also gone, as well as Culture Secretary John Whittingdale.

Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson said he was "humbled" having been named new foreign secretary, in a surprise move. Philip Hammond became chancellor, Amber Rudd is home secretary, and Eurosceptic David Davis is new Brexit secretary. Jeremy Hunt is no longer health secretary - but he has not been sacked and will be given another cabinet position.

Key Leader Of IS Confirmed Dead

July 14, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A news agency linked to so-called Islamic State has confirmed the death of key leader Omar Shishani, whom the US said it killed in March.

The Amaq news agency said Shishani was killed in combat in the town of Shirqat, south of Mosul in Iraq.

The Pentagon said in March he had died from injuries sustained in a US air strike in north-eastern Syria.

Russian Jets Kill At Least Eight People In Syria

July 13, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

At least eight people were killed when jets believed to be Russian bombed a Syrian refugee camp on the border with Jordan on Tuesday, activists say.

Dozens more were injured when tents at Hammad, a remote desert area, were struck around noon (09:00 GMT).

Most of the casualties were reportedly families of members of a rebel group known as the Eastern Lions, which is fighting so-called Islamic State (IS). There was no immediate comment from Russia, which backs Syria's government.

Amnesty International Reports Of Missing People In Egypt

July 13, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Egypt's security services have forcibly made hundreds of people disappear and tortured them in the past year to try to tackle dissent, a rights group says.

Students, political activists and protesters - some as young as 14 - have vanished without a trace, according to a new report by Amnesty International. Many are alleged to have been held for months and often kept blindfolded and handcuffed for the entire period.

Egypt's government has denied it uses enforced disappearances and torture.

FBI 2013 Iris Scan Technology Raises Concerns Over Privacy

July 13, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The FBI has collected nearly 430,000 iris scans over the past three years, an investigation by technology website The Verge, has revealed.

What started as a pilot in 2013 has grown into a database "without any public debate or oversight", said the American Civil Liberties Union. It amounted to "runaway surveillance", director of technology Nicole Ozer tweeted.

The FBI said it was developing "best practices" for iris image capture.

Ceasefire In South Sudan Appears To Be Holding

July 12, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A ceasefire appears to be holding in South Sudan's capital, Juba, after four days of heavy fighting between rival forces left more than 270 people dead.

The city is quiet, with no reports of helicopter gunships in the sky or tanks on the streets.

President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, announced a ceasefire which came into force on Monday at 15:00 GMT.

Clashes between troops loyal to the two men had threatened a recent peace deal. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 but its short history has been marred by civil war.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter Confirms 560 More Troops To Iraq

July 12, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The US is to send 560 more military personnel to Iraq to help in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS), Defence Secretary Ash Carter has said.

It will bring to about 4,650 the number of US personnel in Iraq, most of them serving in training and advisory roles.

The extra troops, including engineers and logistics experts, would help local forces planning to retake the IS stronghold of Mosul, Mr Carter said. He made the announcement on a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Norfolk Shooting Leaves Two Dead

July 12, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two people have died in a shooting in a Norfolk village.

Norfolk Police said the body of a man was found in the front garden of a property in Magdalen, near King's Lynn, and a woman's body was discovered inside.

Both of the deceased are believed to be in their 40s, the force said. Greig Dunsmuir, who lives in the village, said he heard a "loud boom" on Stow Road shortly after midnight.

Fighting Breaks Out In South Sudan

July 11, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Renewed fighting has broken out in South Sudan between forces loyal to the president and vice-president.

A reporter in the capital, Juba, told the BBC gunfire and large explosions could be heard all over the city; he said heavy artillery was being used. More than 200 people are reported to have died in clashes since Friday. The latest violence came hours after the UN Security Council called on the warring factions to immediately stop the fighting.