Russian WWII Victory Parade Postponed

April 17, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed the 9 May Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year sees the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, and the annual military parade has not been postponed before.

Mr Putin said Russia was facing a difficult choice: 9 May was sacred, but so was the life of every person.

French Aircraft Carrier In Quarantine Due To Coronavirus Outbreak

April 16, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A third of the sailors on France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle - 668 out of nearly 2,000 - are infected with coronavirus, the navy says.

The ship returned to the French port of Toulon early from Atlantic exercises. Twenty sailors are in hospital, one of them in intensive care. The figure for those infected is likely to rise, as 30% of the test results are not yet in. The navy is investigating how so many sailors caught the virus.

France's Covid-19 death toll is 17,167.

Brazilian Gang Leader Arrested In Mozambique

April 15, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

One of Brazil's most wanted criminals has been arrested in Mozambique after spending more than two decades on the run, officials say.

Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos, known as Fuminho, is accused of running drug trafficking operations for one of Brazil's most powerful gangs.

The 49-year-old was arrested in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, on Monday in an international sting operation. It was carried out by Interpol, US drug officials and Brazilian federal police.

Trial Of Former US Marine Opens In Russia

April 14, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The trial of a former US marine accused of spying has begun behind closed doors in Moscow, 16 months after his arrest.

The Russian government says Paul Whelan was caught "red-handed" with state secrets. But the US ambassador to Moscow called the case a "mockery of justice" and described Mr Whelan's treatment as a very serious impediment to improving bilateral relations.

The American could be facing up to 20 years in prison. He also has UK, Irish and Canadian citizenship.

Yemen Ceasefire Announced By Saudi-led Coalition

April 9, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen has declared a ceasefire, according to officials.

The ceasefire will come into effect on Thursday in support of UN efforts to end the five-year-old war.

The coalition, backed by Western military powers, has been fighting against Houthi forces aligned to Iran since March 2015. It's unclear if the Houthi forces will also observe the ceasefire.

Israeli Charged With Spying

April 8, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

An Israeli man has been indicted on charges of spying for Iran and preparing terrorist attacks.

Israel and Iran have been arch-foes since the 1979 Iranian revolution, with Iran denying Israel's right to exist.

The man who has been charged cannot be named for legal reasons.

Shin Bet said when the man was arrested last month, he was in possession of an encryption device and a computer hard drive. The agency said he had been paid to provide Iran with information on important sites in Israel.

President Trump Labels Russian Nationalist Group Terrorists

April 7, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

US President Donald Trump has labelled a Russian nationalist group as a terrorist organisation.

The announcement marks the first time the US government has applied the label to a white supremacist group. "These actions are unprecedented," said Nathan Sales, assistant secretary of State for counterterrorism on Monday.

The Russian Imperialist Movement is believed to have offered military training to neo-Nazi fighters and aided election interference in the US.

Terrorism Investigation Launched In France After Knife Attack

April 6, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

French police have launched a terrorism investigation after two people were killed and five wounded in a knife attack in south-east France.

The attacker entered a tobacconist shop in Romans-sur-Isère, near Grenoble, and stabbed the owners and a customer. He then attacked more people at two other shops before being arrested.

Prosecutors said the suspect was a Sudanese refugee in his 30s who lived in the town. Two other people have also been arrested, police said. At the time of his arrest on Saturday, the man was "found on his knees on the pavement praying in Arabic", prosecutors said.

Criminal Cases Prioritised During Coronavirus Outbreak

April 2, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Suspected fraudsters and gangsters should not be charged during the coronavirus outbreak to avoid "clogging up" courts, new guidance recommends.

Cases involving serious organised crime and major fraud are among those dubbed "lower priority". The guidance will apply to courts in England and Wales for several months.

The National Police Chiefs' Council and Crown Prosecution Service document also advises that some people charged be released on bail for long periods.

Military Deployed To Assist Ambulance Service During Covid-19 Outbreak

April 1, 2020 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The British military has been deployed to help an ambulance service cope with an expected increase in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Eighty members of the armed forces have been drafted in to drive response vehicles and take calls for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS). The service covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Sussex and Surrey.

SCAS said the extra support would help provide 20 to 30 more ambulances a day.