Former M16 Chief Discusses Huawei Risk to National Security

May 16, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Giving the Chinese telecoms firm Huawei a role in building the UK's 5G network poses an unnecessary risk to national security, a former MI6 chief has said.

Sir Richard Dearlove said such a move could give the Chinese government a "potentially advantageous exploitative position" in the UK's telecoms network. It follows reports last month that the PM is ready to let the firm supply some parts of the UK's 5G infrastructure.

A Huawei spokesman said Sir Richard's warnings were "short on fact".

Facial Recognition Banned In San Francisco

May 15, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Legislators in San Francisco have voted to ban the use of facial recognition, the first US city to do so.

The emerging technology will not be allowed to be used by local agencies, such as the city’s transport authority, or law enforcement. Additionally, any plans to buy any kind of new surveillance technology must now be approved by city administrators.

Organised Crime Now Deadliest Threat To UK

May 14, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Organised crime poses such a threat to the UK that an extra £3bn will be needed to fight it over the next three years, the National Crime Agency says.

Its head Lynne Owens says this includes more than doubling the NCA's annual budget from £424m to nearly £1.1bn. In a speech, she warned the public will "feel the consequences" if the government does not find the cash.

WhatsApp Hacked

May 14, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Hackers were able to remotely install surveillance software on phones and other devices using a major vulnerability in messaging app WhatsApp, it has been confirmed.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, said the attack targeted a "select number" of users, and was orchestrated by "an advanced cyber actor". A fix was rolled out on Friday.

The attack was developed by Israeli security firm NSO Group, according to a report in the Financial Times.

On Monday, WhatsApp urged all of its 1.5 billion users to update their apps as an added precaution. The attack was first discovered earlier this month.

Former President Of Sudan Charged With Incitement

May 13, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Sudan has charged ousted President Omar al-Bashir with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters, the public prosecutor said in a statement.

There has been no comment from Mr Bashir since he was removed from office on 11 April.

Three Killed By Crossbow At German Hotel

May 13, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

German police are investigating the deaths of five people, three of which were found in a rural Bavarian hotel impaled by crossbow bolts.

A room maid discovered the bodies in a room alongside two crossbows. The relationship between the three victims - a man aged 53 and two women aged 30 and 33 - remains unclear.

Police found the bodies of two more women when searching the home of the 30-year-old in northern Germany, officials said on Monday.

Police said they are investigating "possible connections" between the hotel deaths and the two bodies found at the home in the town of Gifhorn.

Four Hostages Freed In West Africa By French Forces

May 10, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Four foreign hostages have been freed by French forces in the West African country of Burkina Faso, the French government says.

Two of those released are French. The other two are said to be an American woman and a South Korean woman.

Two French soldiers were killed during the raid, the French presidency said. Four kidnappers were also killed, AFP quoted the French military as saying. The French hostages had been kidnapped in neighbouring Benin on 1 May.

Gerry Adams Rejects Claims That He Was An IRA Member

May 8, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Gerry Adams has told the Ballymurphy Inquest he was not a member of the IRA.

The inquest is looking into the shooting dead of 10 people in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1971.

The Sinn Féin Louth TD said he believed that the Provisional IRA had decided not to engage the British Army well before civilians were shot and killed. He said that when internment began in August 1971 he was a Sinn Féin activist but did not have direct knowledge of the Provisional IRA's actions.

The shootings occurred amid disturbances sparked by the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland.

London Bridge Attack Inquest Begins

May 7, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

"Barbarians" took the life of a French father-of-two who was killed during the 2017 London Bridge attack, his family have told an inquest into the deaths.

Xavier Thomas, 45, was one of eight people killed when three men drove a van into pedestrians and stabbed others in Borough Market on 3 June. He was hit by the van as he walked across the bridge and was found three days later in the River Thames. His family paid an emotional tribute to him on the first day of the inquest.

Charges After Fuel Thrown At Police Officers

May 7, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Three people have been charged after police officers were doused with petrol during an arrest.

Officers were called to Ward Close in Basildon to reports of a stolen motorbike at about 16:30 BST on Sunday.

Justin Jackson, 28, of Ward Close, is charged with seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Janine Justin, 47, also of Ward Close, and a 17-year-old boy also from Basildon, who cannot be named, have also been charged.