Myanmar Police Use Rubber Bullets As Protesters Challenge Coup

February 15, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Myanmar's military has warned anti-coup protesters across the country that they could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces.

Long sentences and fines will also apply to those found to incite "hatred or contempt" towards the coup leaders, the military said. The legal changes were announced as armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of several cities.

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests in recent days.

Trump Impeachment Trial Approved By US Senate

February 10, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The US Senate has found that the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is constitutional, allowing full proceedings to begin.

Mr Trump's defence team argued that he could not face trial after leaving the White House. But a 56-44 majority voted in favour of continuing, with a handful of Republicans backing the measure.

Mr Trump is accused of "inciting insurrection" when Congress was stormed last month.

Thousands gathered in support of false claims that widespread electoral fraud denied Mr Trump victory in the US presidential election.

Death Of Man After Police Restraint To Be Investigated

February 9, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A force is facing investigation after a man had a cardiac arrest and died after being restrained by police officers.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said Thames Valley officers initially took the 24-year-old to hospital after having responded to a disturbance on 27 January. As he was discharged into custody later that day, he was restrained by officers and then suffered a cardiac arrest.

Thames Valley Police said it would be "fully co-operating" with the inquiry.

UK Teenager Sentenced For Right Wing Terror Offences

February 8, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A teenager who is the youngest person in the UK to commit a terror offence has been given a two-year youth rehabilitation order.

The 16-year-old boy from Cornwall admitted 12 offences including downloading a bomb-making manual.

At the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Dennis QC said a custodial sentence would "undo" the progress made since the boy was arrested in July 2019. The teenager, who cannot be named, had "significant vulnerabilities", he said.

The boy collected far right material and expressed racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic views on online platforms between 2018 and July 2019, the court heard.

UK Terror Threat Dropped From Severe To Substantial

February 8, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The UK's terrorism threat level has been downgraded from "severe" to "substantial".

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the move followed a "significant reduction" in the momentum of attacks in Europe - since those seen in Austria and France between September and November 2020. But she stressed that it was kept under constant review and was always subject to change.

A "substantial" threat level means a terrorist attack is still likely.

Mother And Daughter Killed In Hospital Attack

February 5, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two women, believed to be mother and daughter, have been killed in linked attacks in Ayrshire before a man died in a road crash.

NHS worker Emma Robertson Coupland, 39, was found injured in the car park of University Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock at 19:45 on Thursday.

Around 20 minutes later Nicole Anderson, 24, was fatally stabbed on Portland Street, about two miles away. Steven Robertson, 40, died in a road crash south of the town, at 20:30.

Putin Signs Law Extending Nuclear Arms Treaty Between US And Russia

February 4, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The US has extended the New Start nuclear arms control treaty with Russia for five years.

Announcing the move, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it made the world safer.

President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reportedly discussed it by phone a week ago, and Mr Putin signed it into law on Friday.

The treaty had been set to lapse on 5 February, as the Trump administration had refused to approve the extension. It had sought tougher verification procedures and some inclusion of tactical weapons, as well as an expansion of the deal to cover China.

British Academic Sentenced To Nine Years In Iranian Prison Escapes

February 3, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A British-Iranian academic facing nine years in jail in Iran has told how he escaped on foot over mountains to start a new life in the UK.

Kameel Ahmady was convicted two months ago of collaborating with a hostile government. He denies the charge. He decided to try to flee while on bail and appealing against the sentence.

Mr Ahmady trekked over a mountainous border to escape the Revolutionary Guards - a journey he described as "very long, very dark and very scary".

Mr Ahmady was born of Kurdish stock in western Iran. But his parents sent him to Britain when he was 18 for his education.

Two FBI Agents Killed And Three Wounded In Florida

February 2, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Two FBI agents have been killed and three others have been wounded during a shootout in Florida while serving an arrest warrant, according to the FBI.

The gunfire began around 06:00 local time (11:00GMT) in the city of Sunrise as agents were investigating a child abuse case, US officials say. The suspect has also been killed. Asked how many bullets were fired, a police official replied: "Too many to count."

The gunfight took place at an upscale gated community north of Miami.

Police Find Four Grenades And Three Guns During Manchester Raids

February 1, 2021 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Four men have been charged after police discovered four grenades and three guns during a series of raids in Manchester.

Residents were evacuated from their homes after weapons were found in searches in Stretford and Wythenshawe on Thursday and Friday. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the items were seized from a man on Taylor's Road in Stretford and from a property in nearby Milton Close.