Two Charged In Copenhagen Attacks

February 16, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Danish police have accused two men of helping the gunman who murdered two people in separate attacks in Copenhagen.

The suspected gunman, named by Danish media as Omar El-Hussein, 22, was shot dead by police after he attacked a free speech debate and a synagogue.

A film director and a Jewish man were killed and five police wounded.

The two men are charged with providing and disposing of the weapon, as well as with helping the gunman to hide.

Michael Juul Eriksen, a defence lawyer for one of the men, said they denied the charges.

IS Bombed In Libya By Egypt After Beheadings Of 21 Christians

February 16, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Egypt says it has bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the group published video showing the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians.

State TV said the dawn strikes had targeted camps, training sites and weapons storage areas.

Libyan officials said Egypt had hit targets in the militant-held city of Derna in co-ordination with Libya.

A video emerged on Sunday showing militants forcing a group of men to the ground and decapitating them.

IS militants claim to have carried out several attacks in Libya, which is in effect without a government.

Samsung Customers Warned About Smart TV Sets

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Samsung is warning customers about discussing personal information in front of their smart television set.

The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature.

Such TV sets "listen" to some of what is said in front of them and may share details they hear with Samsung or third parties, it said.

Privacy campaigners said the technology smacked of the telescreens, in George Orwell's 1984, which spied on citizens.

Chinese Mining Tycoon Liu Han Executed

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Chinese authorities have executed powerful Sichuan-based mining tycoon Liu Han, state media say.

The former chairman of Hanlong Group was sentenced to death in May for "leading mafia-style crime and murder".

Liu's younger brother, Liu Wei and three other associates were also executed, Xinhua said, after China's top court signed off on the move.

Liu is believed to have had links to former security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is currently being investigated.

Zhou Yongkang, Chinese Ex-Security Official Arrested

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang, the most senior Chinese official to be investigated for corruption, has been arrested and expelled from the Communist Party, state media report.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's top prosecuting body, said it had opened a formal probe against him.

Before he retired two years ago, Mr Zhou was the head of China's vast internal security apparatus.

Many of his former associates and relatives also face corruption probes.

IS Commander Killed In Afghan Drone Strike

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A drone strike in Afghanistan has killed a militant commander who recently swore allegiance to Islamic State (IS), officials say.

The police chief of Helmand said that former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rauf had died in the Nato strike.

It emerged last month that Rauf had sworn allegiance to IS after falling out with the Taliban.

Tribal elders in northern Helmand say a car carrying up to six people was destroyed while crossing the desert.

The car was loaded with ammunition and exploded, reports said.

Russian President Blames The Ukraine Crisis On The West

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Ukraine's crisis has been caused by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin says, as he considers Franco-German proposals to end fighting between the government and pro-Russia rebels.

Western countries had broken pledges not to expand Nato and forced countries to choose between them and Russia, Mr Putin told an Egyptian newspaper.

The comments come amid new hopes of a peace deal this Wednesday.

Russia denies accusations of sending troops and supplying the rebels.

The fighting in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 5,300 lives and driven 1.5 million people from their homes.

Football League Suspended In Egypt After Stadium Deaths

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The Egyptian authorities have suspended football league matches indefinitely after at least 22 fans were killed in clashes with police at a Cairo stadium.

People were crushed in a stampede after police fired tear gas at supporters of Zamalek who were trying to gain entry to a match against city rivals ENPPI.

The fans blamed police for forcing them through a narrow, fenced-in passageway.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has expressed "great sorrow" over the deaths and promised an investigation.

Islamist Militants From al-Shabab Kill Somali Member Of Parliament

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A Somali member of parliament has been shot dead in Mogadishu by Islamist militants from the al-Shabab movement, officials say.

Abdullahi Qayad Barre was killed near the presidential palace when gunmen opened fire on his car.

A spokesman for al-Shabab said the group had carried out the attack, and would target other MPs.

Barre's death came amid tight security as lawmakers gathered to vote on whether to approve a new cabinet.

Former Spy Chief From South Korea Sentenced To Three Years

February 9, 2015 / By Armoured Cars / In security

South Korea's former spy chief has been sentenced to three years in jail for trying to influence the results of the 2012 presidential election.

Won Sei-hoon, who headed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) until 2013, was found guilty of violating election laws.

He was convicted of directing NIS agents to conduct an online smear campaign against the rivals of current President, Park Guen-hye.

Won was immediately taken into custody.

Under South Korean law, NIS agents are required to remain politically neutral.