Deradicalisation May Not Be Possible For Terrorists

January 2, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The psychologist behind the UK's main deradicalisation programme for terror offenders says it can never be certain that attackers have been "cured".

Christopher Dean said some terror offenders who take part in his Healthy Identity Intervention (HII) scheme appear to regress because of their uniquely complex identities. Mr Dean spoke out after HII participant Usman Khan stabbed two people to death near London Bridge on 29 November.

Wall Of Silence Surrounds Gang Murders

December 24, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Police investigations of gang murders are increasingly held back by a "wall of silence". Witnesses across the country unwilling to give evidence. The trend emerged during the First 100 Killings project which has tracked homicides from the start of 2019 and monitored dozens of murder trials. Youth workers, police and prosecutors believe witnesses are afraid for their own safety.

Death Sentences Handed Out For Khashoggi Murder

December 23, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced five people to death and jailed three others over the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi government, was killed inside the kingdom's consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul by a team of Saudi agents. The Saudi authorities said it was the result of a "rogue operation" and put 11 unnamed individuals on trial.

Belgium Update Pandur Fleet

December 20, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

When Belgium's military decided to spend €31m (£26m) updating its fleet of 44 Pandur armoured vehicles, the main aim was to improve safety.

However, by improving the Pandur they reduced the size of the interior so that the maximum height of a driver or gunner is now below 1.70m (5ft 7in).

Belgian men are known for being among the tallest in the world, so the news has been greeted with dismay. The army insists armoured vehicle crews have always had limits on their height.

Military Guns To Be Destroyed By New Zealand Police

December 20, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Police in New Zealand are destroying military-style guns and rifles ahead of 21 December, when it becomes illegal to carry or possess them.

Shooting At Russia's Federal Security Service

December 19, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

At least one person has been killed and five wounded in a shooting at the headquarters of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in central Moscow, Russian media say.

A gunman who opened fire with an automatic weapon at the entrance of the building was killed by an armed officer, Interfax news agency reports. Security forces cordoned off the area and moved bystanders into buildings.

The shooting came hours after President Putin's annual press conference. Details of the incident, which began shortly after 18:00 (15:00 GMT), remain unclear.

Italy Claim Egypt Covered Up Student's Murder

December 18, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Italian prosecutors have accused Egyptian officials of deliberately trying to mislead the investigation into student Giulio Regeni's death.

Regeni, a postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge, was doing research for his doctorate in Cairo when he went missing in January 2016. His body was found nine days later.

Prosecutors said Egypt's claims about Regeni's death had either been contradicted by a post-mortem examination in Italy, or debunked.

Shoot Out At Panama Prison Leaves 13 Dead

December 18, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

At least 13 inmates were killed and 15 injured in a shoot-out in a prison in Panama on Tuesday.

Officials said they found three AK-47 assault rifles and five pistols.

President Laurentino Cortizo said an investigation would be launched into how the guns got into La Joyita jail east of the capital, Panama City. "These firearms didn't fall out of the sky, there was obviously some type of cooperation there for firearms to be brought in," he said.

President Cortizo said he would meet his security council on Wednesday to discuss how to put a stop to guns being smuggled into jails.

Second Cyber Attack Thwarted In Iran

December 17, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Iran has foiled a second cyber-attack in less than a week, the country's telecommunications minister says.

Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi announced on Twitter that the cyber-attack had targeted Iranian electronic government systems.

The minister did not give details. A similar claim was made about Wednesday's "massive" attack.

In June this year, Iran's weapons systems came under a cyber-attack, US media reports suggested.

Millions Worth Of Jewellery Stolen From Tamara Ecclestone

December 16, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Thieves have reportedly stolen £50m worth of jewellery from the Kensington home of Tamara Ecclestone.

The daughter of ex Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, was left "shaken and angry" after the burglary on Friday.

According to The Sun, rings and earrings, a Cartier bangle worth £80,000, which was given to the heiress as a wedding present, were all taken in the raid. The Met Police said no arrests had been made.