by Dmitry ZAKS Agence France-Presse KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) – A top monitor for the conflict in Ukraine warned Thursday that a “massive upsurge in violence” has pushed fighting between Kiev’s forces and pro-Russian rebels to levels not seen in months. The statement by Alexander Hug of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) came a day after the body hailed progress toward a New Year’s truce agreement that must still be approved by […]
Europe
Manhunt for Berlin suspect intensifies as anger grows
by Deborah Cole with Michelle Fitpatrick Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German authorities were under fire Thursday after it emerged that the prime suspect in Berlin’s deadly truck attack, a rejected Tunisian asylum seeker, was known as a potentially dangerous jihadist. German prosecutors have issued a Europe-wide wanted notice for 24-year-old Anis Amri, offering a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information leading to his arrest and warning he “could be violent and armed”. Asylum […]
French mayor to be tried for Muslim ‘problem’ comments
PARIS, France (AFP) — A far-right French mayor will be tried on hate charges over comments that include a claim the number of Muslim students in his city was a “problem”, a judicial source said Wednesday. Robert Menard, who is an ally of France’s anti-immigrant National Front party, will face a charge in a Paris court of incitement to hatred or discrimination, the source said. “In a class in the city centre in my town, […]
Anis Amri: Tunisian suspect in Berlin truck attack
by Frank ZELLER with Kaouther LARBI in Tunisia Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — The Tunisian suspect in the Berlin truck attack, 24-year-old Anis Amri, was long watched as a potentially dangerous jihadist but managed to avoid both arrest and deportation from Germany. Two days after the Holiday market rampage killed 12 people, Amri was named in European arrest warrants that offered a 100,000-euro ($104,000) reward for information and warned he could be “violent […]
No perfect shield against truck attacks, experts warn
by Michel Moutot Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Even the best-laid security plans cannot protect an open-air event against the lethal potency of a truck attack like those carried out in Berlin and Nice, experts say. The sheer scope of places, demonstrations and public gatherings needing protection is such that the risk of someone using a moving vehicle as a weapon of terror — as called for by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda […]
Slovak president vetoes ‘discriminatory’ religion law
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AFP) — Slovak President Andrej Kiska on Tuesday vetoed a law he called “discriminatory”, which would have made it even harder for Muslims and other religious minorities in the EU member to receive state subsidies. “This law infringes fundamental rights,” Kiska said in a statement, a couple of weeks after Slovak lawmakers adopted the legislation tabled by the right-wing Slovak National Party (SNS), a governing coalition member. The bill would have required a […]
US says shooting outside US embassy in Ankara, mission shut as precaution
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — The United States on Tuesday closed its missions to Turkey for the day after a shooting incident overnight outside the American embassy in Ankara that followed the assassination of the Russian ambassador in the Turkish capital. “An individual approached the US Embassy Ankara main gate and discharged a firearm,” the embassy said in a statement, adding no-one was hurt and the individual was detained. As a result, the embassy and consulates in […]
Turkish policeman assassinates Russia envoy in Ankara
by Adem ALTAN with Stuart WILLIAMS in Istanbul Agence France-Presse ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — A Turkish policeman crying “Aleppo” and “Allahu Akbar” shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey in Ankara on Monday, prompting a vow from President Vladimir Putin to step up the fight against “terrorism.” Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting in an Ankara exhibition center, which came on the eve of a key meeting in Moscow between the Russian, Turkish […]
US condemns apparent ‘terrorist attack’ in Berlin
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States labeled as an apparent “terrorist attack” a driver’s move to plow his truck into a busy Holiday market in Berlin on Monday, killing at least nine people and hurting 50 more. “Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies,” White House National Security spokesman […]
France boosts security at holiday markets after Berlin carnage
PARIS, France (AFP) — Security has been beefed up at holiday markets throughout France following the carnage in Berlin on Monday, French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said. “Security at holiday markets was immediately reinforced” after a lorry ploughed into a Berlin holiday market killing at least nine people, he said. The scenes in Berlin were reminiscent of an attack in the French Riviera city of Nice in July in which Tunisian extremist Mohamed Lahouaiej […]
Polish owner of Berlin lorry says driver ‘missing’
WARSAW, Poland (AFP) — The Polish owner of the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin market on Monday, killing at least nine people in what police said was a possible terror attack, confirmed his driver was missing. “We haven’t heard from him since this afternoon. We don’t know what happened to him. He’s my cousin, I’ve known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him,” transport company owner Ariel Zurawski told AFP. […]
Many reasons to believe Berlin crash was ‘attack’: minister
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said there were many signs that the crash of a lorry into a bustling Berlin market on Monday was an attack. “I don’t want to use the word ‘attack’ yet, although there are many things pointing to one,” he told public television after at least nine people were killed in the incident. © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse