Tag Archive | Severe Terror Alert Level
Paris attack UPDATE: Two French police officers ‘killed’ by gunman
An eyewitness has described a man getting out of a car and opening fire “with a Kalashnikov” on the Champs-Elysees.
Two police officers have reportedly been killed in Paris by a gunman who was then shot dead.
The attacker is believed to have deliberately targeted the officers and was known to security services.
The officers were shot outside a Marks and Spencer store on the Champs-Elysees – one of the French capital’s main shopping streets and an area popular with tourists.
Police vehicles along the Champs-Elysees, near the Arc De Triomphe
Security has been tight in the country, coming just days before the first round of France’s presidential election on Sunday.
An eyewitness said the gunman got out of a car and began shooting “with a Kalashnikov”.
Police said one of the officers who was killed was in a car which had been stopped at a red light by the attacker.
The gunman opened fire as the officers were guarding an area near the Franklin Roosevelt metro station on Thursday night.
Despite the attacker being killed, police are still on high alert and officers have been seen pointing their weapons at members of public as they clear the area.
Emergency services at the scene of the attack
Authorities are now searching the home of the gunman in the east of Paris.
An interior ministry spokesman said it was too early to say what the motive was for the attack.
It is not known whether it was terror-related.
But the shooting could have been an attempt at an armed robbery, according to police sources.
Many police vehicles can be seen on the famous avenue.
Police officers block access to the Champs-Elysees
A witness identified only as Ines told French television station BFM that she heard a shooting, saw a man’s body on the ground and the area was quickly evacuated by police.
Sky’s Mark White said: “Two men were arrested a few days ago with an arsenal of weapons. And that there was a concern that an attack was being planned to coincide with the French election.”
He added: “The real concern as far as the authorities are concerned, given that we had arrests two days ago and now what looks to be terrorist-related incident is we may be experiencing a wave or some kind of coordinated effort to disrupt the French elections.”
The police investigation of these individuals led them to believe that a planned terrorist attack was due to take place imminently.
US President Donald Trump said the shooting resembled recent terrorist attacks.
He said: “First of all, our condolences from our country to the people of France. Again, it is happening, it seems.
“It looks like another terrorist attack. What can you say? It just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant, and I have been saying it for a long time.”
Courtesy of Sky News
Three bomb explosions near Borussia Dortmund’s football team bus in Germany
There has been a bomb explosion near the Borussia Dortmund team bus in Germany.
One player Marc Bartra is reported to have been injured and some of the vehicle’s windows were broken.
The blast happened as the vehicle was leaving the team hotel ahead of the side’s Champions League match tonight.
The explosion took place 10km from the stadium, where the team is due to face Monaco in the quarter-finals.
Borussia Dortmund said there was no danger at the game venue.
A decision on whether the match will go ahead will be taken shortly.
Courtesy of Sky News
UK airports and nuclear power stations on terror alert after ‘credible’ cyber threat
Intelligence experts are warning airports and nuclear power plants to tighten their defences against terror attacks. (Picture: Getty Images)
Britain’s airports and nuclear power stations have been placed on a terror alert following increased threats to electronic security systems.
Security services have issued a series of alerts in the past 24 hours, warning airports and nuclear power plants to tighten their defences against terror attacks.
Intelligence agencies fear ISIS and other terrorist groups could have developed ways to plant explosives in laptops and mobile phones which can bypass airport security screening methods, the Telegraph reports.
ISIS and other terrorist groups may have developed ways to plant explosives in laptops and mobile phones which can bypass airport security screening methods, experts fear (Picture: Getty Images)
Last month, Britain and the US banned travellers from a number of countries carrying laptops and large electronic devices on board.
They also fear terrorists, foreign spies and hackers could try to break into nuclear power station security systems.
Jesse Norman, the energy minister, said nuclear plants must ensure they ‘remain resilient to evolving cyber threats’.
Mr Norman told the paper: ‘The Government is fully committed to defending the UK against cyber threats, with a £1.9 billion investment designed to transform this country’s cyber security.’
Terrorists, foreign spies and hackers could also try to break into nuclear power station security systems. (Picture: Getty Images)
Terrorists are feared to have developed the technology after getting hold of airport screening equipment allowing them to experiment.
FBI experts have tested how explosives can be hidden inside laptop battery compartments so that it can still be turned on.
They are said to have concluded that the technique would be achievable using everyday equipment.
Terrorists are feared to have developed the technology after getting hold of airport screening equipment allowing them to experiment. (Picture: Getty Images)
In a statement, the US Department of Homeland Security said: ‘Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in electronics.
‘The US government continually reassesses existing intelligence and collects new intelligence.
Courtesy of http://metro.co.uk
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