Bomb defused outside Northern Ireland courthouse - another found

 
A 50kg car bomb has been defused outside a courthouse in the Northern Ireland border city of Derry.

The bomb was packed into a beer keg and left in a stolen car outside the building last night. It appears to have failed to detonate. Police (PSNI) spokespersons have described the device as "viable". A warning was phoned in at around 6.45pm last night saying that a bomb would explode outside the courthouse. The area was subsequently evacuated.

The PSNI have said that they expect that either the "Real IRA" or "Óglaigh na hÉireann" will claim responsibility. Both of these dissident republican groups broke from the mainstream IRA after it called an end to it's military operations in 2005 in order to concentrate on democratic politics. The elected member of the government for the area, Sinn Féin MLA spokesperson Martina Anderson, a former IRA prisoner who spent 12 years in prison for bomb attacks in prison condemned the attack.

In the last few minutes the PSNI has confirmed that a second device is under investigation in Belfast.

Friendly fire incident in Dagestan

A member of Russia's elite anti-terrorist squad has been wounded in a friendly fire incident in the village of Gubden in Dagestan.

According to initial reports a Russian soldier attempted to stop a car being driven by an undercover soldier at around 11.40am yesterday morning. When the vehicle did not slow down the soldier opened fire with a sub-machine gun, hitting the specialist in the arm.

The injured soldier was taken to a nearby hospital where his condition is described as stable.

Libyan Rebel Commander admits Al-Qaeda links

Libyan Rebel Leader Abdel-Hakim al-Hasisi has admitted that many members of his forces have previously fought against coaliton troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Sole 24, al-Hasisi confirmed that a large proportion of his forces consisted of  Islamic fundamentalists and Al Qaeda operatives along with members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) of which al-Hasisi was previously a commander. Speaking to the newspaper al-Hasisi said that his fighters were good patriots and muslims while adding: "members of al-Qaeda are also good Muslims and are fighting against the invader". In 2007 US forces captured LIFG documents in the town of Sinjar in Afghanistan which revealed that thousands of Libyan fighters had crossed into Iraq & Afghanistan to fight alongside insurgents.

During the interview al-Hasisi also admitted that he had personally fought against US forces in Afghanistan before being captured in the Pakistani border area of Peshwar by Pakistani security forces before being handed over to the US. He was released in 2008.

The revelations will come as an embarrasment to US, British and French forces who had earlier dismissed claims by Gaddafi that the rebels consisted of, or where supported by, Al-Qaeda members and Muslim fundamentalists. It could also place their support for the rebellion in jeopardy.

Meanwhile there have been reports that rebel units have raided Libyan Military bases in the east of the country and managed to acquire a number of heavy weapons including anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles, some of which are reported to have been smuggled out of the country.

FARC attack police station in Nariño

 At least one soldier has been killed and other members of the security forces injured after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attacked a police station in Nariño.

The attack occured in the rural area of Rosario. It is reported that the rebels launched an explosive device, thought to be a mortar, at the base. It exploded on impact killing one soldier. The station has been seriously damaged and the local Police Commander has announced that the location of the station will be moved to avoid a repeat attack.

In a separate incident in Cauca, a police station came under fire from rebels using shoulder fired rocket launchers. There were no injuries.

10 killed as situation in Palestine worsens

 
Nine Palestinians and an Israeli have been killed over the course of the last 48 hours.

Following the deaths of two Palestinians in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza last week, Hamas authorised a retaliatory rocket barrage of three military bases along the border, injuring an Israeli soldier. The next day, March 19th ,two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead  by Israeli soldiers. Both teenagers were unarmed when they were shot.

On Monday Israel carried out a sustained series of airstrikes and incursions which so far have killed 9 people, including at least 2 children, and wounded 18. According to initial reports, a grandfather and his two grandsons were killed while out playing football after an Israeli tank opened fire on them. Israeli airstrikes also targeted Hamas security compounds and police training schools.

Today, in what appears to be response to the attacks, a bomb exploded at a bus stop in central Jerusalem killing one person and wounding around 30 others. While not claiming responsibility for the attack, militant group Islamic Jihad called for Palestinians to make efforts to "respond to the crimes against our people".

Bomb defused at hotel in Corsica - Trucks firebombed

A bomb has been defused at a hotel and two dumper trucks have been firebombed in Corsica.

In the first incident an explosive device has been defused at the Belambra beachfront hotel in Propriano. The device took several hours defuse and a large police presence was deployed in the area. The device consisted of a gas canister attached to a small explosive charge and was left on the grounds of the hotel. It is believed it may have been abandoned. Several years ago the same hotel was seriously damaged in bomb attack

Meanwhile two council dumper trucks which were being used in construction work were torched on the outskirts of Casalabriva. The cabins of the truck were firebombed in the early hours of the morning. There has been repeated attacks on government owned vehicles since the beginning of the year.

Corsican Mayor killed in gun attack

The Mayor of Santa Andrea di Cotonu, Dominique Domarhci has been killed in a gun attack outside his home in northern Corsica.

Domarchi, who is a close friend of the President of the Corsican Territorial Community (PCTA) Paul Giacobbi was blasted at close range as he returned home from the Town Hall, where counting is underway following Saturday's local council elections. It is believed that Domarchi was ambushed by a number of gunmen in his driveway at around 1.20am on Monday morning. He was shot a number of times with various different weapons according to police.

Domanchi had been mayor of the small northern Corsican town, with a population of around 250 people, for twenty-seven years. He was a close adviser to Paul Giacobbi, the PCTA of Corsica.

Local police said they are still trying to establish a motive and claimed it was too early to speculate whether this was a political assassination. A post mortem will be carried out on his body on Tuesday.

US soldiers pose for pictures with murdered civilians

A US Army "kill-team" who hunted down and murdered civilians at random took trophy photographs of themselves posing with the bodies, it has emerged.

The photo's, which were published by a German publication, show US soldiers grinning with the corpses of murdered Afghan civilians. Five US soldiers are currently facing charges of murder after it emerged that they had frequently organised attacks on civilians. There is enough evidence to implicate the soldiers in at least three murders however there is suspicions that they may have been involved in many more. The team, who were based in Kandahar province, often shot and killed innocent civilians in random but pre-meditated attacks. After killing their victims the soldiers would dump weapons or shovels next to the bodies and claim that they had engaged Taliban fighters who were laying landmines or improvised explosive devices.

The three photographs published by Der Spiegel show three seperate incidents with took place in January, February and May of 2010. Below are two photographs. They show two US soldiers with the body of Gul Mudin, who was murdered on the 15th of January 2010. The first soldier is Private First Class Andrew Holmes from Idaho while the second shows Corporal Jeremy Morlock from Alaska.

In September of last year Morlock described in chilling detail to a War Crimes Tribunal how his unit would kill Afghans "for fun" and then chop of body parts to keep as souvenirs. Morlock also admitted to the Tribunal that he and his unit had ordered an Afghan man to stand still in a ditch before killing him with a grenade.


During the trial one of Morlock's lawyers said that while Morlock might be "physically responsible" for his crimes, including actions depicted in the photograph, "the people who are morally responsible are the American leaders who have us in the wrong war at the wrong time."

Coalition casualties mount in Afghanistan

Four more coalition troops have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours as the situation in the south of the country continues to deteriorate.

According to the Internationa Security Assistance Force (ISAF) one soldier was killed in an improvised explosive attack in the east of the country. His nationality has not been released.

Meanwhile, a British soldier who was wounded in a bomb attack in the Helmand Province earlier this week died of his wounds in the Queen Elizabeth NHS hospital in Birminghm, England, yesterday.

And in a third incident, two ISAF troops were killed in a gun attack in southern Afghanistan. The ISAF has refused to comment on the incident however it is understood that a security guard opened fire on troops, killing two and wounding others. The nationalities of the dead soldiers have not been released.

In the last 83 days, (since the beginning of the year) 90 coalition troops have been killed.

2010 was the deadliest year for coalition troops since the initial invasion of 2001. 709 troops were killed last year and thousands were wounded.

Five police officers and three civilians killed in FARC attacks

Five police officers and three civilians have been killed in separate rebel attacks in Colombia.

In the first attack, which took place at dawn in the north-western town of Sardinata, three police officers were killed and three others injured when rebels fired bombs crafted from gas cylinders at the police station. The subsequent explosions caused the walls to cave in, killing and injuring those inside.

The local police commander said he was confident that the attacks were carried out by the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.

In a second attack in nearby San Calixto, three civilians were killed when a similar bomb was fire at a police station. It missed striking a nearby residential area. It is also beleived that one of those killed was a child.

Two police officers were also killed in a gun battle with rebels on the border with Ecuador while five soldiers suffered injuries after their convoy was blasted with explosive devices.

Colombia has been a in a state of war between government forces and leftist-guerrilas since 1964.

Two police officers killed in Dagestan

Two members of the the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) have been killed in Dagestan.

In the first incident a captain of the FSB was found shot dead outside Makhachkala. The officers body was found on the slopes of Tarki-Tau mountain. He had been shot twice in the head and two bullet casings were found at the scene.

In a separate incident in Makhackala, a police officer was shot dead after his car was fired on by an unidentified individual using an automatic pistol. One suspect has been arrested.

Hamas responds to Israeli airstrikes

The military wing of Hamas, along with other groups, have fired over 50 rockets and mortars into Israel in response to the killing fo two of it's members earlier in the week by an Israeli airstrike.

The Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades said that it's units carried out most of the attacks and that they were directed against four Israeli military bases located on the border. In a statement the group said it's forces fired at least 33 shells in co-ordinated attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border. According to Israeli sources, two soldiers were wounded by shrapnel.

Hamas said that the attacks were a direct response to recent Israeli airstrikes which killed two of their members.

Hamas rarely carries out such attacks although other groups such as Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) continue to fire rockets into Israel.

Unarmed militants killed in Gaza airstrike

Two unarmed members of Hamas's military wing have been killed and two others wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a security forces training facility in central Gaza.

Israel said the attack was in response to a rocket and mortar which were fired into Israel by militants earlier in the day. Neither of the militant attacks caused any injuries or damage.

Hamas has ceased carrying out rocket attacks on Israel and it's security forces have clamped down on other groups which are continuing such activities. Groups like Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have carried out rocket and mortar attacks on Israel in recent months.

Hamas has confirmed that the two dead men, aged 25 and 27, were active members of the groups military wing and had been involved in succesful attacks on Israeli military forces.

Police Officer wounded in Moscow

A member of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has been shot and wounded in Moscow.

The attack took place outside the Concert Hall on Tsvetnoy Boulevard following a play by a Chechen Performance group. As a patrol car passed by the building a gunman opened fire with an automatic pistol, hitting the vehicles driver in the thigh. The injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries.

The gunman is understood to have fled the scene in a stolen vehicle which was recovered a short distance away.

Reports of skirmishes in Dagestan

At least seven Russian police officers have been wounded in a rebel attack on a government building in Rabbanikala, it has emerged.

A government spokesperson said that the building came under attack from gunmen armed with automatic weapons at around 11.15pm last night. After an initial burst of fire the rebels withdrew leaving a car packed with explosives outside the building. It exploded a few seconds later causing substantial damage to the building and destroying a number of nearby police vehicles. There were no fatalities.

In a separate incident, the Russian Military claims that it's forces killed three rebels in a shootout at a checkpoint outside Shamilkala. Rebels have claimed that they have "no knowledge" that any of their fighters were involved in the incident and said they believed that Russian forces may simply have fired on a car at random - killing three young male occupants. The Russian Military claims it's forces were fired on from the vehicle.

Rebels claim responsibility for assassinations

Dagestani separatist rebels have claimed responsibility for the shooting dead of a military official and a politician.

In the first incident Lieuteneant-Colonel Magutdin Urdikhanov was shot in the chest on the outskirts of the village of Khalil in the Tabasaran district of the country. He died of his wounds a short time later. According to initial reports Urdikhanov was attached to the Internal Security Unit of the Interior Ministry.

In a separate attack, Alibulat Gasanov, a member of the People's Assembly was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt in the Kaytag region of the province. His brother, who was driving the car, died at the scene. It is unclear whether or not Gasanov has survived however a rebel news site is claiming that he has since died of his injuries. It is also unclear how the car was attacked although local media has claimed that it was attacked by gunmen.

Truck-bomb kills 11 troops

A truck-bomb has killed 11 Iraqi troops and wounded dozens at a base in the Diyala province.

It is understood that a roadside bomb was detonated as soldiers passed the truck which was parked outside the Kanaan army headquarters, around 70km's east of Baghdad. A second car-bomb which was left at the scene was defused. Contrary to earlier reports the security forces have said they do not believe that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber and believe that the bomb may have been detonated remotely.

Army officials said that a building at the base was destroyed in the attack and another seriously damaged. It is believed that up to 30 other soldiers were wounded in the attack which comes just days after 7 soldiers and a policeman were killed in gun and bomb attacks in the city Mosul.

This month has seen attacks by Iraqi rebels increase and the capacity of security forces to deal with the threat has been questioned.

Italian soldiers car firebombed

A car belonging to a Commander at La Cove Siniscola Barracks in Sardinia has been firebombed.

The Ford Galaxy was parked outside the barracks when unknown individuals carried out an arson attack which completely destroyed the vehicle.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Insurgents step up attacks in Iraq

Seven Iraqi soldiers and a policeman were killed in seperate attacks in Iraq as rebel groups step up their campaign.

In Mosul, seven soldiers were ambushed and killed by gunmen as they left their base in a minibus. It is understood that two cars pulled up in front of the vehicle, blocking it's path. Four armed gunmen then jumped out and fired into the bus with automatic weapons killing seven soldiers and seriously wounding the driver.

Later in the day, on the outskirts of Mosul, a police officer was killed by a sticky-bomb which was attached to his personal car. He was off-duty at the time.

Chechen Rebels claim responsibility for Moscow blasts

Chechen Separatist rebels have claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks in Moscow over the last three days.

On Wednesday a nailbomb exploded outside the Academy of the Federal Security Service (FSB) damaging a number of vehicles and buildings in the area. And yesterday two crude devices exploded at the rear of a set of apartment blocks in Moscow knocking out windows up as far as the ninth floor. There were no injuries in any of the attacks.

Today a rebel run news site has stated that it's members were responsible for the attacks which it described as a carefully planned "sabotage operation". It went on to say that the apartment blocks were targeted because they are used to house members of the FSB.

In claimimng responsibility the Riyadus Salikhin Martyrs Brigade (RSMB) said:

"We intend to continue striking facilities and places where the [FSB] criminals gather"

Unionist candidates home bombed

 
The home of a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) candidate in the upcoming Northern Ireland elections has been bombed.

An explosive device, believed to have been a pipe-bomb was thrown through John Smyth's bedroom window early this morning. It exploded on his bed causing moderate damage. Mr. Smyth was downstairs on his computer when the attack was carried out. He believes that had he been in his bed he would almost certainly have died.

A motive for the attack is unclear but the Antrim area is one of the most staunchly loyalist parts of Northern Ireland and there is a strong possibility that loyalist paramilitaries or drugs gangs may have been responsible.

So far no group has claimed responsibility.

Suspected ETA Military Chief arrested in France

French authorities have detained a man who they believe is one of the top commanders in the Basque separatist organisation ETA.

Alejandro Zobaran Arriola was among four people arrested on the Dutch-French border by French police. All four are suspected memebrs of ETA while Arriola is believed to be the current Military Commander of the armed organisation. According to local media, a number of firearms along with ETA documents were found in a building that was raided.

ETA called a permanent ceasefire in January and has called for negotiations with the Spanish government. This has been refused and has lead to fears that the group may call off it's cessation and launch further attacks on Spanish targets.

The majority of the Basque Country is located in Spain with a smaller part in southern France. ETA usually targets members of the Spanish security forces along with infrastructure and commerical targets.

India kills top separatist

The Indian Military has calimed that it's forces have killed a top Kashmiri rebel.

According to police Commander Sajjad Afghani and one of his bodyguards were killed in a gun battle with Indian police on the banks of the river Dal Lake outside the capital Srinagar.


Afghani is believed to have been the mastermind behind the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament which left 6 police officers, five rebels and a civilian dead.

Police Officer killed in Dagestan

A police officer has been shot dead by rebels in Dagestan, it has been claimed.

While Russian security forces have so far failed to comment on the incident, A news agency linked to rebel groups has claimed that a Russian police officer who also worked in provinces tax and revenue offices, named as Zalkipri Sheykovnear, was killed in a drive-by shooting today.

Rebel sources claimed that he died instantly after being shot multiple times with automatic weapons outside the Muslim Spiritual Administration's building in the capital.

FARC shoot down police helicopter

 FARC guerrilla's have been blamed for shooting down a police helicopter in southern Colombia.

Four police officers and a civilian worker were killed when the helicopter, which was delivering money to a bank in the city of Caloto, was fired on. The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing on a nearby football pitch where rebel gunman were waiting. All five aboard were subsequently killed in a fierce exchange of fire while a female passerby died after being hit by a stray bullet. The rebels then made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

According to Colombian News reports, two of the dead included the Commander and Sub-Commander of the city's police force. Regional Police Chief Orlando Pineda has called for more military backup in the area which has seen attacks by FARC guerrilla's increase dramatically over the last month. The Chief went on to blame FARC's 6th Front, which is attached to it's Western Bloc for the attack. The 6th Front is believed to be made up of around 130 fighters. Another FARC mobile-column made up of 50 fighters also operates in the area.

Chechen Commander appeals for new recruits

Chechen Rebel Commander and self-proclaimed underground President of the Chechen Republic, Doku Umarov, has called for more recruits to help drive the Russian Military from the northern Caucasus.

In a video which was released by the Kavkaz Center, Doku Umarov urges young people to join with his forces in the Caucasus Mountains. He also called on existing rebel units in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria to "intesify operations to eliminate our enemies". He went on to say that rebel attacks would increase as the harsh Caucasian Winter came to an end.

The northern Caucasus has seen an increase in fighting between rebels and pro-Government forces in recent years, with violence in areas like Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria surpassing that of Chechnya. Describing the situation, Umarov said:

"Today there is a total war going on. It is not us who had declared it on Russia, it was Russia who declared it on us. When there is a total war, there are not peaceful people left. If total war has been declare on us, then Allah permits us to fight with them as they fight with us.

Therefore, today we have the right to fight against them the way they are fighting against us. I urge you, fight with them, destroy them."

Yes side confident of victory in Welsh referendum

Voting is complete in the Welsh Devolution Referendum and the Yes campaign are confident of a decisive victory.

Voters were asked the question:


"Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?"

A Yes result would mean that the Welsh Parliament would no longer need the British Parliaments agreement on any bills which are passed. Turnout looks to be low with most areas reporting it at around 35%

Shots fired at police in Northern Ireland

 
An IRA splinter group is believed to have been responsible for a gun attack on a police patrol in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Shots were fired at the PSNI officers as they responded to a call regarding a stolen car in the Glen Road area of Derry at around 11pm tonight. A number of shots were fired although there are no reported injuries. It appears that dissident  republicans attempted to lure the officers into a trap.

Hostilities have all but ended in Northern Ireland were a devolved power-sharing government between Sinn Féin (the political wing of the mainstream IRA) and Ulster Unionists has been put in place. The majority of Irish Republicans have moved into democratic politics however a small number continue to use violence to further their aims.

In 2009 two British soldiers and Police Officer were killed by groups calling themselves the Real IRA (RIRA) and Continuity IRA (CIRA). They were the first deaths suffered by the army or police at the hands of republicans since the mainstream Provisional IRA called a ceasefire in 1997.

Gun attack on US soldiers in Germany

Two US soldiers have been killed and two more injured in a gun attack on their coach at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, today.

The attack, which occurred around 3.15pm, is believed to have been carried out by a lone gunman. Local media sources have identified the individual as a 21 year-old Kosovan man who worked at the airport. Following the shooting he ran into the lobby of Terminal 2 where he was arrested by German police.

The attack has been condemned by US President Barack Obama. It is understood that the soldiers had just arrived from London and where on their way to Afghanistan. It is believed that the bus was easily identified as a US military transport as it had Air Forcet license plates.

US soldiers have frequently been targeted in Europe over the course of the last 30 years. A far-left Communist group known as the Red Army Faction had been responsible for the deaths of six US soldiers and the bombing of a number of barracks in Germany.

US forces apologise for killings of nine children

The US Army has issued an apology after it emerged that it's helicopters had been responsible for gunning down nine children the mountains of eastern Afghanistan yesterday. One other young boy managed to escape.

The US Army confirmed that it's helicopter gunships opened fire on a group of people it believed to be insurgents. However, it has since emerged that the dead, who ranged from ages 9 to 15, were collecting firewood to heat their homes.

The one survivor, 11-year old Hemad, described what happened:

“We were almost done collecting the wood when suddenly we saw the helicopters come. There were two of them. The helicopters hovered over us, scanned us and we saw a green flash from the helicopters. Then they flew back high up and in a second round they hovered over us and started shooting. They fired a rocket which landed on a tree. The tree branches fell over me and shrapnel hit my right hand and my side. The helicopters couldn't see me as I was hidden by the branches. The helicopters shot the other boys one after another.”


This is the third incident in ten days that the US has been accused of murdering civilians.

Four suspected ETA members arrested

Four people have been arrested and a quantity of explosives have been seized in the Basque Country.

The Spanish government has claimed that a major operation targeting suspected ETA members is underway. The two men and two women were arrested in the northern town of Vizcaya earleir today. Up to 200kg of explosives were also seized.

ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in January however this has been rejected by the Spanish government who say they want the group to disband and hand over all of it's weapons.

Victims of ETA violence have called for a new pro-Independence political party to be banned as they believe the party is the new political wing of the armed group. However this has been rejected by the party who say they reject all forms of violence.