Pakistan Free Captured Indian Pilot

March 1, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Pakistan has freed an Indian fighter pilot captured after his plane was shot down in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, amid rising tensions.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian officials near a border crossing with Pakistan. Minutes earlier, the pilot said on Pakistani TV that he was "very impressed" by the Pakistan army.

On Thursday Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said the pilot's release was a "peace gesture" to India.

India and Pakistan - both nuclear powers - claim all of Kashmir, but each controls only parts of it.

Man Arrested In Sweden On Russian Spy Charge

February 28, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

An employee of a Swedish high-tech company has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia.

Counter-intelligence chief Daniel Stenling said they believed the suspect was recruited by a Russian intelligence officer posing as a diplomat.

Swedish media released video purporting to show the suspect being led from a restaurant after meeting their contact. The suspect had been working on "tasks known to be the type of intelligence sought after by foreign powers", a security service statement said, without giving details.

Knife Crime Declared An Emergency By Police Boss

February 27, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A West Midlands Police boss has declared knife crime "an emergency" after three teens were stabbed to death within 12 days in Birmingham.

Chief Constable Dave Thompson said stop and searches would be stepped up and more officers would patrol the streets amid the "crisis".

There have been 269 knife crimes recorded in the city so far this year.

Police also urged more help from parents and teachers to tackle the violence among youngsters.

The spate of killings in Birmingham follows knife crime attacks in London, where there have been 12 fatal stabbings in 2019.

India Launches Air Strikes Against Pakistan

February 26, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

India says it launched air strikes against militants in Pakistani territory in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.

The government said strikes targeted a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group in Balakot. Pakistan said the strikes hit an empty area but vowed to respond.

Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have been strained since a suicide attack earlier this month that killed more than 40 Indian troops.

Most Wanted Phoney MI6 Agent In Police Custody

February 25, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

One of Britain's most wanted fugitives has been extradited to the UK from Switzerland after being on the run in Europe for years.

Mark Acklom, who disappeared in 2012, allegedly posed as an MI6 agent to con a Gloucestershire woman out of her £850,000 life savings.

The 45-year-old was arrested at a luxury apartment in Zurich last summer.

He will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with 20 fraud offences.They include 12 charges of converting or removing criminal property and eight charges of fraud by false representation.

Plane Hijacker Was Carrying A Toy Gun

February 25, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A passenger who took a crew member hostage and threatened to storm the cockpit on a flight from Dhaka in Bangladesh was carrying a toy gun.

The 25-year-old man was shot dead by police after an emergency landing. All 148 passengers and crew on board Birman Airlines flight BG147 disembarked safely after the landing, in the city of Chittagong.

Officials later said the man was "psychologically imbalanced" and had wanted to talk to the prime minister.

Man Dies After Being Stabbed At London Youth Club

February 22, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A 23-year-old man has died after being stabbed in a south London youth club.

Police were called to Minet Road, Brixton, at about 18:45 GMT on Thursday where the victim was given first aid by officers at the scene. He was pronounced dead at 19:27 GMT. His next of kin have been informed and no arrests have been made, police said.

DCI Mick Norman, said: "This was an appalling attack on a young man in a youth centre - a place where he was entitled to feel safe." "All the early indications are that this attack was premeditated and targeted", he added.

German Gunmaker Fined Over Illegal Arms Trade With Mexico

February 21, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A German court has handed suspended jail terms to two ex-employees of gun maker Heckler & Koch and fined the firm €3.7m (£3.2m) for illegal arms deliveries to Mexico.

The Stuttgart court acquitted three other H&K ex-employees.

H&K was found to have breached German arms export rules by shipping nearly 5,000 G36 assault rifles and smaller firearms to strife-torn regions. Mexico is plagued by warfare involving drug gangs and paramilitaries.

Germany's arms export restrictions include Mexican states such as Chiapas, Chihuahua and Guerrero, which are blighted by murders and kidnappings.

Former MI5 Double Agent Dies From Alcohol Intoxication

February 20, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A former MI5 double agent died from alcohol intoxication, 25 years after he was jailed for trying to pass secrets to Russia, a coroner's court heard.

Michael Bettaney, 68, was found dead at his home in Ware, Hertfordshire, by his partner on 16 August 2018. He was convicted of 10 crimes under the Official Secrets Act at the Old Bailey in 1984 for photographing secret documents for the KGB.

Senior coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said Bettaney had battled alcoholism.

Militants Preventing 200 Families From Leaving IS Territory

February 19, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The UN has expressed concern about the fate of some 200 families reportedly trapped in the last tiny area of Syria still held by the Islamic State group.

Human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said the many women and children in Baghuz were apparently being actively prevented from leaving by IS militants. They also continued to be subjected to intense bombardment by US-led coalition forces and allied Syrian fighters.

Ms Bachelet demanded that safe passage be provided to those wanting to flee.