North Korea Claims To Have Developed Nuclear Warheads

March 9, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Kim Jong-un says North Korean scientists have developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles.

State media published images showing the North's leader standing next to what it said was a miniaturised weapon. The claim is impossible to verify from the images alone and experts have long cast doubt on such assertions.

Most Wanted Suspects Could Be In The Netherlands

March 8, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A man accused of shooting dead a Liverpool teenager is among nine "most wanted" suspects believed to have fled to the Netherlands.

David Ungi, 24, is accused of killing Vinny Waddington, 18, in July 2015.

The teenager was found with gunshot wounds following a crash between a car and a scrambler bike in Banks Road. Suspects from Liverpool, London, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham are also wanted. Several were involved in drugs-related offences.

IS Child Soldiers:The Challenge Of Rehabilitating

March 8, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The international community must address the challenge of rehabilitating children indoctrinated by so-called Islamic State (IS), a new report says.

The Quilliam Foundation and the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative say children are taught extreme values and desensitised to violence from birth.

They believe the current rehabilitation strategy will be inadequate for them.

More Than 150 al-Shabab Militants Killed In Air Strike

March 8, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A US air strike has killed more than 150 al-Shabab militants in Somalia, the Pentagon says.

Spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the strike hit a training camp where a "large-scale" attack was being planned. "We know they were going to be departing the camp and they posed an imminent threat to US and \[African Union\] forces," Captain Davis said. "Initial assessments are that more than 150 terrorist fighters were eliminated," he added.

Sydney Siege Ends As Gunman Kills Himself

March 7, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A gunman who engaged police in an hours-long standoff at a Sydney factory has shot himself dead, say authorities.

His death came shortly after three people were seen leaving the building and entering a police vehicle. It has not been confirmed they were hostages. The gunman had opened fire at the industrial unit on Monday morning, killing a man and injuring two others.

28 Militants Killed Near Tunisia/Libya Border

March 7, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Tunisian security forces have killed 28 militants after they launched a cross-border raid from Libya, the government says.

Fighting followed an attack on an army base and a police station in the eastern town of Ben Guerdane. Seven civilians and nine members of the security forces were also killed in the clashes, according to the government.

There is concern in Tunisia about the threat from Islamist fighters based in Libya being able to cross the border.

All entrances to the town have been shut, including the Ras Jdeir border crossing with Libya.

Belfast Bomb:Dissident Republican Group Responsible

March 7, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A dissident republican group calling itself the IRA has said it was responsible for the attempted murder of a prison officer in east Belfast.

The 52-year-old officer suffered serious injuries when a bomb exploded under his van on Friday morning.

The group, which is widely referred to as the new IRA, said he was targeted for training officers at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn in County Antrim. Three men, aged 34, 41 and 45, and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested.

IS Terror Attacks In UK Possible

March 7, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The so-called Islamic State group may be planning a "spectacular" attack in the UK, the national head of counter-terrorism policing has warned.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said there was evidence IS - also known as Daesh - was "trying to build bigger attacks" globally, including in the UK. He said a large-scale attack was the "natural next step" for IS. A number of attacks, including last year's gun and bomb attacks in Paris, are believed to be inspired by IS.

Italian Workers Kidnapped In Libya Freed

March 4, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two Italian construction workers kidnapped in Libya have been freed, a local military official has said.

The other hostages may have been killed in a raid by Libya's security forces on Thursday, the Italian foreign ministry said.

The four were abducted last year near a compound owned by Italian oil group Eni in the western Mellitah area.

Kim Jong-un Reports Nuclear Weapons Should Be Ready At All Times

March 4, 2016 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Kim Jong-un has said North Korea's nuclear weapons should be ready for use "at any time", state media report.

He told military leaders North Korea would revise its military posture to be ready to launch pre-emptive strikes, the Korean Central News Agency said. But despite its rhetoric it remains unclear how advanced the North's nuclear weapons programme is. The UN has imposed some of its toughest ever sanctions on the North following its nuclear test and missile launch.

In response on Thursday, the North fired six short-range projectiles into the sea.