The special cell of Delhi and Gujarat police&#39;s anti-terror squad have finally arrested the man behind the Red Fort attack, after 17 years.&nbsp;

The man, identified as Bilal Ahmed Kawa, was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and was arrested at the Delhi airport on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Kawa, 37, had come to Delhi from Srinagar via a Jet Airways flight and was stopped at IGI Airport by cops who had prior information about his travel plans, reports said.&nbsp;

As per reports, Kawa had been in contact with LeT operative Ashfaq, alias Mohammed Aarif, who was the brain&nbsp;behind the attack.&nbsp;

Kawa had been hiding in Kashmir under a different identity for a long time, reports said.&nbsp;

Ashfaq, who belongs to Abbottabad in Pakistan, had been awarded the death sentence in 2011 but it was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

He is lodged in Tihar Jail along with 10 others who have been convicted in the case

On 22 December 2000, a terrorist attack carried out by six LeT operatives took place on Red Fort in Delhi, India, which claimed three lives.

The man, identified as Bilal Ahmed Kawa, was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and had been hiding in Kashmir for many years

The special cell of Delhi and Gujarat police's anti-terror squad have finally arrested the man behind the Red Fort attack, after 17 years. The man, identified as Bilal Ahmed Kawa, was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and was arrested at the Delhi airport on Wednesday night. Kawa, 37, had come to Delhi from Srinagar via a Jet Airways flight and was stopped at IGI Airport by cops who had prior information about his travel plans, reports said. As per reports, Kawa had been in contact with LeT operative Ashfaq, alias Mohammed Aarif, who was the brain behind the attack. Kawa had been hiding in Kashmir under a different identity for a long time, reports said. Ashfaq, who belongs to Abbottabad in Pakistan, had been awarded the death sentence in 2011 but it was later stayed by the Supreme Court. He is lodged in Tihar Jail along with 10 others who have been convicted in the case On 22 December 2000, a terrorist attack carried out by six LeT operatives took place on Red Fort in Delhi, India, which claimed three lives.

Suspect in 2000 Red Fort attack arrested at Delhi Airport

In a joint operation, the special cell of Delhi Police and Gujarat ATS arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba&#39;s (LeT) terrorist Bilal Ahmed Kawa at Delhi airport for alleged involvement in the terror attack on Red Fort in the year 2000, police said.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism squad informed the Delhi Police today that one Bilal Ahmed Kawa, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case, was travelling from Srinagar to Delhi

The terrorist was handed over to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. Questioning of the suspected terrorist is underway. &nbsp;

He was involved in the suicide attack on Red Fort in Old Delhi.

Three people, including two Army jawans, were killed in the December 22, 2000, Red Fort attack.

(With inputs from PTI)

Bilal was involved in the suicide attack on Red Fort in Old Delhi on December 22, 2000

In a joint operation, the special cell of Delhi Police and Gujarat ATS arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) terrorist Bilal Ahmed Kawa at Delhi airport for alleged involvement in the terror attack on Red Fort in the year 2000, police said. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism squad informed the Delhi Police today that one Bilal Ahmed Kawa, who had been declared a proclaimed offender in the case, was travelling from Srinagar to Delhi The terrorist was handed over to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. Questioning of the suspected terrorist is underway. He was involved in the suicide attack on Red Fort in Old Delhi. Three people, including two Army jawans, were killed in the December 22, 2000, Red Fort attack. (With inputs from PTI)

Suspected LeT terrorist arrested at Delhi airport

The Hyderabad police arrested three people for possessing demonetised notes worth Rs. 1 crore on Thursday in Secunderabad.&nbsp;

The accused were identified as K Rajesh, 45, a stock market investor from ECIL; P Anantha Reddy, 37, a businessman from Nallakunta; and A Nagaraju, 30, a driver from Siddipet.

&quot;The accused K. Rajesh, P. Anantha Reddy and Ashangari Nagaraju had come near the SBI bank, Main road Karkhana with the intention to exchange old demonetised Indian currency with new Indian denominations,&quot; B. Sumati, DCP, North zone said.&nbsp;

The trio was found suspicious while looking for means to exchange the old notes with the new ones near a bank when the police were notified.&nbsp;

According to media reports, one of the identified arrested, Rajesh&nbsp;said that he got the money from someone by paying a meagre amount and wanted to sell them at a similar profit during the demonetisation drive but was unsuccessful.

After the other two identified - Anantha Reddy and Nagaraju - came to know about the situation they told Rajesh that some people would be ready to purchase demonetised currency at 20% of its face value.

The trio came near a bank at Secunderabad area when police found them moving suspiciously and caught them.&nbsp;

During the enquiry, police found a sum of Rs. 1 crore consisting of 4,200 notes of Rs 1000 denomination and 11,600 notes of 500 denomination, media reports said.&nbsp;

Besides the currency notes, one two-wheeler and three mobile phones were also seized from them. The three are still under&nbsp;investigation.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The trio was found suspicious while looking for means to exchange the old notes with the new ones near a bank when the police were notified

The Hyderabad police arrested three people for possessing demonetised notes worth Rs. 1 crore on Thursday in Secunderabad. The accused were identified as K Rajesh, 45, a stock market investor from ECIL; P Anantha Reddy, 37, a businessman from Nallakunta; and A Nagaraju, 30, a driver from Siddipet. "The accused K. Rajesh, P. Anantha Reddy and Ashangari Nagaraju had come near the SBI bank, Main road Karkhana with the intention to exchange old demonetised Indian currency with new Indian denominations," B. Sumati, DCP, North zone said. The trio was found suspicious while looking for means to exchange the old notes with the new ones near a bank when the police were notified. According to media reports, one of the identified arrested, Rajesh said that he got the money from someone by paying a meagre amount and wanted to sell them at a similar profit during the demonetisation drive but was unsuccessful. After the other two identified - Anantha Reddy and Nagaraju - came to know about the situation they told Rajesh that some people would be ready to purchase demonetised currency at 20% of its face value. The trio came near a bank at Secunderabad area when police found them moving suspiciously and caught them. During the enquiry, police found a sum of Rs. 1 crore consisting of 4,200 notes of Rs 1000 denomination and 11,600 notes of 500 denomination, media reports said. Besides the currency notes, one two-wheeler and three mobile phones were also seized from them. The three are still under investigation.

Hyderabad: Three arrested for possessing demonetised notes worth 1 crore

On the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, nearly six people were found murdered within a span of two hours at separate locations in Haryana&#39;s Palwal district.

The accused has been arrested by the police. &nbsp;

As media reports, the murders carried out between 2 am and 4 am, were committed using an iron rod.

The killer, reported to be an ex-army soldier, was arrested in an injured state by the police in Adarsh Colony.&nbsp;

He was taken to Palwal&#39;s civil hospital for treatment but was later referred to another hospital in Faridabad.

The accused first killed a woman in a hospital. Later, he managed to sneak out and attacked five more people, including three security guards, on streets between Palwal&rsquo;s Agra Road and Minar Gate areas.

A video which is doing the rounds shows a man wearing a blue sweater and a pair of white trousers entering a hospital&#39;s corridor, looking around while holding a rod in his hand.&nbsp;

The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be ascertained but police are investigating and suspect the culprit to be mentally unstable.

The murders carried out between 2 am and 4 am, were committed using an iron rod

On the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, nearly six people were found murdered within a span of two hours at separate locations in Haryana's Palwal district. The accused has been arrested by the police. As media reports, the murders carried out between 2 am and 4 am, were committed using an iron rod. The killer, reported to be an ex-army soldier, was arrested in an injured state by the police in Adarsh Colony. He was taken to Palwal's civil hospital for treatment but was later referred to another hospital in Faridabad. The accused first killed a woman in a hospital. Later, he managed to sneak out and attacked five more people, including three security guards, on streets between Palwal’s Agra Road and Minar Gate areas. A video which is doing the rounds shows a man wearing a blue sweater and a pair of white trousers entering a hospital's corridor, looking around while holding a rod in his hand. The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be ascertained but police are investigating and suspect the culprit to be mentally unstable.

Video: 6 killed in two hours in Haryana's Palwal, accused held

Karachi police on Saturday said that they have killed five suspected militants belonging to the Islamic State in an encounter on the outer parts of the city.&nbsp;

As per reports, Sohran Goth police carried out a targeted raid on an alleged militant hideout in Gharibabad near Ayub Goth.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Site Superhighway Industrial Area police arrested five suspects allegedly belonging to the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

The arrested suspects had allegedly been planning to assassinate a prominent personality who is a part of the Shia community, Dawn reported.&nbsp;

One of the slain militants who was killed was identified as Qari Habibullah alias Abdul Salam Burmi.

&quot;The killed militant was involved in targeted killings of police, armed forces, members of Shia community and Christian community. He was involved in several terror acts, including armed attacks on workers and women in Sohrab Goth area in 2003,&quot; said Ahmed.

The police have seized an 8mm rifle and 9mm pistol each and two 30-bore pistols from the hideout.

As per latest reports, the investigation is currently underway.

Sohran Goth police carried out a targeted raid on an alleged militant hideout in Gharibabad near Ayub Goth

Karachi police on Saturday said that they have killed five suspected militants belonging to the Islamic State in an encounter on the outer parts of the city. As per reports, Sohran Goth police carried out a targeted raid on an alleged militant hideout in Gharibabad near Ayub Goth. Meanwhile, Site Superhighway Industrial Area police arrested five suspects allegedly belonging to the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. The arrested suspects had allegedly been planning to assassinate a prominent personality who is a part of the Shia community, Dawn reported. One of the slain militants who was killed was identified as Qari Habibullah alias Abdul Salam Burmi. "The killed militant was involved in targeted killings of police, armed forces, members of Shia community and Christian community. He was involved in several terror acts, including armed attacks on workers and women in Sohrab Goth area in 2003," said Ahmed. The police have seized an 8mm rifle and 9mm pistol each and two 30-bore pistols from the hideout. As per latest reports, the investigation is currently underway.

Karachi police kills 5 suspected IS militants

Nepal police have arrested around 957 people from various regions of the country for carrying out anti-election activities.&nbsp;

People have been arrested for allegedly attacking political leaders, members, candidates, and cadres. Out of the total arrested, 600 belong to Biplav-led Maoist, 13 were with CK Raut and the rest were associated with some other political party, as per media reports.

Around 11 people were also arrested by the police in Saptari which included three Indian nationals, for being a part of anti-election activities.&nbsp;

Reports also claim that the police have vowed to ensure complete safety for candidates and voters in order to carry out proper election process.&nbsp;

Almost 90% of the workforce has been adopted to ensure full security during elections. &nbsp;

According to Saptari&rsquo;s Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar Singh, police also confiscated firearms from them, media reports further said.

&quot;The Nepal Police has deputed booth security squads, mobile teams and security in plain clothes for the purpose of election security,&quot; The Himalayan Times quoted the police official as saying.

Nepal also closed its border points with India for three days from Tuesday mid-night ahead of elections.

A 65% voter turnout was recorded in the first phase of the elections.

The security personnel, who were assigned for the first phase of elections, have been sent to the districts where the second phase of elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies is scheduled to take place on Thursday

Nepal police have arrested around 957 people from various regions of the country for carrying out anti-election activities. People have been arrested for allegedly attacking political leaders, members, candidates, and cadres. Out of the total arrested, 600 belong to Biplav-led Maoist, 13 were with CK Raut and the rest were associated with some other political party, as per media reports. Around 11 people were also arrested by the police in Saptari which included three Indian nationals, for being a part of anti-election activities. Reports also claim that the police have vowed to ensure complete safety for candidates and voters in order to carry out proper election process. Almost 90% of the workforce has been adopted to ensure full security during elections. According to Saptari’s Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar Singh, police also confiscated firearms from them, media reports further said. "The Nepal Police has deputed booth security squads, mobile teams and security in plain clothes for the purpose of election security," The Himalayan Times quoted the police official as saying. Nepal also closed its border points with India for three days from Tuesday mid-night ahead of elections. A 65% voter turnout was recorded in the first phase of the elections.

957 arrested for anti-election activities in Nepal

The law enforcement agencies of Pakistan have arrested at least nine suspects in connection with the terrorist attack that killed 11 people at a hostel inside the Directorate of Agriculture Extension on University Road in Peshawar on Friday.

The Dawn quoted police sources as saying that the police has begun investigating yesterday&#39;s attack on the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and a first investigation report (FIR) was registered against unknown persons.

The suspects were arrested during a pre-dawn search operation carried out on the outskirts of Peshawar. A team comprised of large number of police and other security forces conducted raids in Badhber, Telaband and other areas outside the provincial capital.

Reportedly, different kind of weapons were recovered from the suspects. Yesterday, all the terrorists were neutralized by the security forces after launching an operation.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to reports, a police official said that the attackers&#39;&nbsp;first target was the security guard of the premises, following which they made their way inside towards the students&#39;&nbsp;hostel.

&quot;They could have wreaked havoc but the police and army successfully neutralised the threat,&quot; he added. University Road, the major artery of the city, was closed down for traffic after the attack.

The injured were shifted to Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), located next to the directorate.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan condemned the terrorist attack in a tweet.&quot;Saddened by condemnable terrorist attack in Peshawar this morning. My prayers to the victims and their families. Commend the rapid response of KP police and army that helped in containing damage and concluding the operation,&quot; Imran tweeted.

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Saddened by condemnable terrorist attack in Peshawar this morning. My prayers to to the victims and their families. Commend the rapid response of KP police and army that helped in containing damage and concluding the operation.
&mdash; Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/936481694655418368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He also lauded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for its timely action against the terrorists.

&quot;The reformed professional KP police force with its special rapid response unit has made a difference in dealing with acts of terrorism in a timely, holistic and coordinated manner,&quot; he said in a tweet.&nbsp;

The suspects were arrested during a pre-dawn search operation carried out on the outskirts of Peshawar

The law enforcement agencies of Pakistan have arrested at least nine suspects in connection with the terrorist attack that killed 11 people at a hostel inside the Directorate of Agriculture Extension on University Road in Peshawar on Friday. The Dawn quoted police sources as saying that the police has begun investigating yesterday's attack on the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and a first investigation report (FIR) was registered against unknown persons. The suspects were arrested during a pre-dawn search operation carried out on the outskirts of Peshawar. A team comprised of large number of police and other security forces conducted raids in Badhber, Telaband and other areas outside the provincial capital. Reportedly, different kind of weapons were recovered from the suspects. Yesterday, all the terrorists were neutralized by the security forces after launching an operation. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to reports, a police official said that the attackers' first target was the security guard of the premises, following which they made their way inside towards the students' hostel. "They could have wreaked havoc but the police and army successfully neutralised the threat," he added. University Road, the major artery of the city, was closed down for traffic after the attack. The injured were shifted to Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), located next to the directorate. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan condemned the terrorist attack in a tweet."Saddened by condemnable terrorist attack in Peshawar this morning. My prayers to the victims and their families. Commend the rapid response of KP police and army that helped in containing damage and concluding the operation," Imran tweeted. Saddened by condemnable terrorist attack in Peshawar this morning. My prayers to to the victims and their families. Commend the rapid response of KP police and army that helped in containing damage and concluding the operation. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 1, 2017 × He also lauded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for its timely action against the terrorists. "The reformed professional KP police force with its special rapid response unit has made a difference in dealing with acts of terrorism in a timely, holistic and coordinated manner," he said in a tweet.

9 suspects arrested in Peshawar terrorist attack

The Special Investigation Team(SIT) probing the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/malayali-star-dileep-arrested-in-malayali-actress-molestation-case-17799">Kerala actress assault case</a> has submitted a detailed chargesheet against Malayalam actor Dileep, who has&nbsp;been accused of being a part of the abduction of a women co-star in February, media reports said.&nbsp;

The chargesheet also included the actor&#39;s former wife, Manju Warrier as a witness and 12 others allegedly accused in the case.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/malayali-superstar-dileep-sent-to-2-day-police-custody-17849">Malayali superstar Dileep sent to 2-</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/malayali-superstar-dileep-sent-to-2-day-police-custody-17849">day</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/malayali-superstar-dileep-sent-to-2-day-police-custody-17849"> police custody</a>

According to the chargesheet, Dileep along with Pulsar Soni were the prime accused of the assault and would further face gangrape and conspiracy charges, reports stated.&nbsp;

In February, the Kerala actress&nbsp;was held captive in a car for about two hours along with four other men and the former driver who reportedly had a number of contacts with people in South India&#39;s film industry.&nbsp;

According to reports, Dileep had directed the men to make a video of the assault and click pictures of the actress on their cellphones. Reports said&nbsp;that the motive behind the incident was to take &quot;revenge&quot;&nbsp;from the actress for breaking his marriage with ex-wife Warrier.&nbsp;

The actor had allegedly offered a ransom of Rs. 1.5 crore to the accused Pulsar Suni to carry out the attack. The scheme to abduct the actress had started in 2013 and was carried out four years later after failed attempts, media reports said.&nbsp;

After his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kerala-actress-abduction-hc-rejects-actor-dileeps-bail-plea-18229">request for bail was rejected</a> four times since July, the Malayali actor was finally <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/kerala-actress-abduction-case-hc-grants-bail-to-malayalam-actor-dileep-5637">released from jail in October.</a> 
&nbsp;

The chargesheet also included the actor's former wife, Manju Warrier as a witness and 12 other allegedly accused in the case.?

The Special Investigation Team(SIT) probing the Kerala actress assault case has submitted a detailed chargesheet against Malayalam actor Dileep, who has been accused of being a part of the abduction of a women co-star in February, media reports said. The chargesheet also included the actor's former wife, Manju Warrier as a witness and 12 others allegedly accused in the case. Also read: Malayali superstar Dileep sent to 2-day police custody According to the chargesheet, Dileep along with Pulsar Soni were the prime accused of the assault and would further face gangrape and conspiracy charges, reports stated. In February, the Kerala actress was held captive in a car for about two hours along with four other men and the former driver who reportedly had a number of contacts with people in South India's film industry. According to reports, Dileep had directed the men to make a video of the assault and click pictures of the actress on their cellphones. Reports said that the motive behind the incident was to take "revenge" from the actress for breaking his marriage with ex-wife Warrier. The actor had allegedly offered a ransom of Rs. 1.5 crore to the accused Pulsar Suni to carry out the attack. The scheme to abduct the actress had started in 2013 and was carried out four years later after failed attempts, media reports said. After his request for bail was rejected four times since July, the Malayali actor was finally released from jail in October.

Dileep offered Pulsar Suni 1.5 crores to assault actress: SIT probe

A 19-year-old British man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer&#39;s gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas in a bid to kill the Republican presidential nominee. 
 
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Nevada, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at Saturday&#39;s rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered. 
 
It said that the young man told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas &quot;to kill Trump,&quot; and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before. 
 
&quot;Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump&#39;s life,&quot; the complaint said. 
 
It added that Sandford told investigators he had purchased tickets for a rally in Phoenix, where he &quot;would try again to kill Trump&quot; in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed. 
 
Video of his arrest carried by US media show a skinny man with short brown hair and a grey T-shirt being escorted out of the rally by police officers with his hands behind his back. 
 
The prosecutor&#39;s office said Sandford was ordered held without bond, as he was considered dangerous and represented a flight risk. 
 
Britain&#39;s Foreign Office is &quot;providing assistance&quot; in the case, a spokesman said. 
 
&#39;Would try this again&#39; 
 
The complaint said Sandford had told investigators that he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before traveling to California. 
 
&nbsp;Sandford told investigators that he had targeted officer Ameel Jacob&#39;s gun because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to gain access to a weapon at the rally where those attending had to go through metal detectors. 
 
&quot;Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again,&quot; according to the complaint. 
 
It said Sandford told the Secret Service that he had been plotting to kill Trump for about a year and finally decided to act on Saturday, as &quot;he finally felt confident to do it.&quot; 
 
His arrest comes amid one of the nastiest US presidential campaigns in recent history, dominated by violent rhetoric, with Trump lashing out at Mexicans, Muslims and other groups. 
 
The real estate billionaire enjoys Secret Service protection but also has his own private security detail that has been accused of using unnecessary force to remove people from events. 
 
A number of protesters have been arrested at his rallies where riot police are deployed in force and there have been mounting demonstrations during his campaign appearances in recent months. 
 
Sandford is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 5. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of &quot;act of violence on restricted grounds.&quot; 
(AFP)

The man had apparently driven from California to Las Vegas to kill Trump and had visited a shooting range a day earlier to learn to shoot

A 19-year-old British man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer's gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas in a bid to kill the Republican presidential nominee. According to a complaint filed in federal court in Nevada, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at Saturday's rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered. It said that the young man told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas "to kill Trump," and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before. "Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump's life," the complaint said. It added that Sandford told investigators he had purchased tickets for a rally in Phoenix, where he "would try again to kill Trump" in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed. Video of his arrest carried by US media show a skinny man with short brown hair and a grey T-shirt being escorted out of the rally by police officers with his hands behind his back. The prosecutor's office said Sandford was ordered held without bond, as he was considered dangerous and represented a flight risk. Britain's Foreign Office is "providing assistance" in the case, a spokesman said. 'Would try this again' The complaint said Sandford had told investigators that he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before traveling to California. Sandford told investigators that he had targeted officer Ameel Jacob's gun because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to gain access to a weapon at the rally where those attending had to go through metal detectors. "Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again," according to the complaint. It said Sandford told the Secret Service that he had been plotting to kill Trump for about a year and finally decided to act on Saturday, as "he finally felt confident to do it." His arrest comes amid one of the nastiest US presidential campaigns in recent history, dominated by violent rhetoric, with Trump lashing out at Mexicans, Muslims and other groups. The real estate billionaire enjoys Secret Service protection but also has his own private security detail that has been accused of using unnecessary force to remove people from events. A number of protesters have been arrested at his rallies where riot police are deployed in force and there have been mounting demonstrations during his campaign appearances in recent months. Sandford is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 5. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of "act of violence on restricted grounds." (AFP)

19-year-old Briton tries to grab cop's gun and kill Trump, charged

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. 
 
The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. 
 
Singapore&#39;s home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state&#39;s glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. 
 
&quot;This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us,&quot; Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. 
 
&quot;Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant.&quot; 
 
Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. 
 
 
Singapore: target for Islamic State 
 
Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants.&nbsp;However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city&#39;s airport in 2002. 
 
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is &quot;a rational, open, cosmopolitan country&quot;, even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. 
 
The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim&#39;s group or not, this is what we&#39;re investigating now,&quot; police spokesman Agus Rianto said.&nbsp;Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. 
 
In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. 
 
 
Turning Point 
 
Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said &quot;not yet&quot;.&nbsp;Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane&#39;s Defence Weekly said it was possible. 
 
&quot;They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries,&quot; Ripley said. &quot;Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high.&quot; 
 
If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months.&nbsp;Indonesia, home to the world&#39;s largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. 
 
Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence.&nbsp;Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State&#39;s fight in the Middle East. 
 
Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home.&nbsp;However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. 
 
&quot;One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network,&quot; Jones said. 
 
(Reuters)

Rocket attack planned on downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One races are held next to a Ferris wheel and swanky casino: Minister

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. Singapore's home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state's glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. "This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us," Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. "Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant." Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. Singapore: target for Islamic State Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants. However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city's airport in 2002. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is "a rational, open, cosmopolitan country", even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. "There's a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim's group or not, this is what we're investigating now," police spokesman Agus Rianto said. Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. Turning Point Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said "not yet". Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane's Defence Weekly said it was possible. "They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries," Ripley said. "Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high." If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months. Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence. Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State's fight in the Middle East. Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home. However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. "One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network," Jones said. (Reuters)

Singapore on high alert as suspected militant gang arrested

A militant and a policeman were killed while three other security personnel were injured in an encounter on Tuesday in Pakistan&#39;s restive Khyber Pakthunkhwa province. 
 
District Police Officer Swabi Javed Iqbal told reporters that the terrorist was killed when police raided a house in Gadoon Amazai area of Swabi district after credible information about the presence of terrorists. He said terrorists opened-fire on the police team, and that constable Muhammad Javed died while sub-inspector Muhammad Tariq and frontier corps personnel Muhammad Sajjad sustained critical bullet wounds. 
 
They were shifted to Peshawar for treatment.&nbsp;In retaliation, he said, police shot dead a terrorist identified as Anwar Sayed wanted in cases of terrorism. 
 
The police arrested two brothers of the terrorist from the house and also recovered a hand-grenade, one Kalashnikov, two pistols and cartridges.&nbsp;A search operation was conducted after the encounter during which dozens of suspects were taken into custody. 
 
In a separate incident, at least 42 suspected people, including 19 undocumented Afghan nationals, were arrested during a search operation in Hayatabad area of Peshawar district, bordering Khyber Agency.&nbsp;Drugs and arms were also recovered from some of the suspects. 
 
Pakistan has intensified the crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals in parts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa province after it decided not to allow any foreigner to stay in the country without valid documents. 
 
(PTI)

Police arrested two brothers of the terrorist and also recovered a hand-grenade, one Kalashnikov, two pistols and cartridges

A militant and a policeman were killed while three other security personnel were injured in an encounter on Tuesday in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakthunkhwa province. District Police Officer Swabi Javed Iqbal told reporters that the terrorist was killed when police raided a house in Gadoon Amazai area of Swabi district after credible information about the presence of terrorists. He said terrorists opened-fire on the police team, and that constable Muhammad Javed died while sub-inspector Muhammad Tariq and frontier corps personnel Muhammad Sajjad sustained critical bullet wounds. They were shifted to Peshawar for treatment. In retaliation, he said, police shot dead a terrorist identified as Anwar Sayed wanted in cases of terrorism. The police arrested two brothers of the terrorist from the house and also recovered a hand-grenade, one Kalashnikov, two pistols and cartridges. A search operation was conducted after the encounter during which dozens of suspects were taken into custody. In a separate incident, at least 42 suspected people, including 19 undocumented Afghan nationals, were arrested during a search operation in Hayatabad area of Peshawar district, bordering Khyber Agency. Drugs and arms were also recovered from some of the suspects. Pakistan has intensified the crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals in parts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa province after it decided not to allow any foreigner to stay in the country without valid documents. (PTI)

Militant, policeman killed in clash in Pakistan's Khyber Pakthunkhwa province

The brother of Pakistan&#39;s social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for &quot;dishonouring&quot; the family&#39;s reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. 
 
Qandeel&#39;s younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. 
 
He said that he killed her as she brought &quot;dishonour to the Baloch name&quot; due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. 
 
&quot;There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue,&quot; he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel&#39;s selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. 
 
Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi&#39;s membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. 
 
&quot;She wasn&#39;t aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan&#39;s Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday.&nbsp;Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. 
 
In his police complaint, Qandeel&#39;s father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14.&nbsp;He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. 
 
The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen.&nbsp;Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. 
 
Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported.&nbsp;She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. 
 
Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling.&nbsp;Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive &quot;selfies&quot; posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers.&nbsp;She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. 
 
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel&#39;s body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. 
 
(PTI)

He killed his sister because he thought her risque videos and statements on social media brought 'dishonour to the Baloch name'

The brother of Pakistan's social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch has been arrested in Punjab province for strangling to death the 26-year-old model for "dishonouring" the family's reputation, the latest case of honour killings that plague the country. Qandeel's younger brother Waseem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan late last night and later in a press conference he confessed that he drugged and strangled his sister. He said that he killed her as she brought "dishonour to the Baloch name" due to risque videos and statements that she posted on social media, the Dawn reported. "There were other issues as well...Like the Maulvi issue," he said, in an apparent reference to a controversy surrounding Qandeel's selfies with Mufti Abdul Qavi, which hit the headlines last month. Her controversial pictures recently led to the suspension of Mufti Qawi's membership from the Ruet-e-Hilal committee. "She wasn't aware I was killing her. I gave her a tablet and then strangled her," he said. The actor-cum-model was strangled to death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area in the early hours yesterday. Her father, Muhammad Azeem, claimed that she was killed by her younger brother Waseem in the name of honour. In his police complaint, Qandeel's father said his daughter came to Multan from Karachi to celebrate Eid with the family. He said Waseem, 25, also came to meet them on July 14. He said that he along with his wife went to sleep on the rooftop while Qandeel slept in a room where Waseem strangled her to death as he was against her working in showbiz. The father alleged that Waseem had taken this extreme step at the behest of his brother Mohammad Aslam Shaheen. Qandeel had received threats from her family to quit modelling and her provocative appearances on social media. Her brother had been threatening her over her Facebook posts and videos, the police said. Three weeks ago, she had written to the interior minister, the director general of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and the senior superintendent of Islamabad asking them to provide security to her, the Dawn reported. She had said her life was in danger and that she was being threatened via calls on her mobile number and that she did not have security measures installed in her home, the paper said. Her real name was Fouzia Azeem but she chose Qandeel Baloch as her pseudonym after stepping into modelling. Qandeel became famous through her tireless self-promotion and suggestive "selfies" posted on social media, and had amassed tens of thousands of followers. She had expressed her desire many times to marry ex-cricketer, and opposition politician, Imran Khan. Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to send Qandeel's body to her hometown of Shah Saddardin, in Dera Ghazi Khan, for burial. (PTI)

Brother arrested for Qandeel Baloch's murder

Nineteen people, including 12 Pakistani nationals, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia following suicide attacks on Monday, including one near Islam&#39;s second-holiest site in the city of Medina, the kingdom&#39;s interior ministry said on Thursday. 
 
Seven people are believed to have been killed and two wounded in three separate attacks - in Medina, at a Shiite mosque in Qatif, and in western Jeddah, the economic capital, not far from the US consulate. 
 
A 26-year-old Saudi man, Naer Moslem Hammad al-Balawi, who had a &quot;history of drug use&quot; had been identified as the perpetrator of the Medina attack, the ministry said in a statement published by the official SPA news agency. 
 
The Qatif attack, it added, was carried out by three &quot;terrorists&quot; including one man named as Abderrahman Saleh Mohammed al-Amr, 23, who it said was known to the security services for taking part in protests. 
 
The Jeddah attacker was a Pakistani man identified as Abdullah Qalzar Khan, a driver who had been living in the city for 12 years, the ministry said earlier. 
 
Four people were killed in the Medina explosion near the Prophet&#39;s Mosque, which came as Muslims prepared for this week&#39;s Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramzan. 
 
The body parts of three people were found after another suicide bombing in the Shiite-populated Gulf city of Qatif, the ministry said earlier.&nbsp;Two police officers were wounded the Jeddah attack. 
 
The US embassy in Riyadh reported no casualties among consulate staff during the attack, which coincided with the US July 4 Independence Day holiday. 
 
Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, said while visiting the wounded policemen in Jeddah that the attacks would &quot;only increase our solidarity and make us stronger&quot;. 
 
No group has claimed responsibility for Monday&#39;s attacks so far.&nbsp;However, a series of bombings and shootings claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) in Saudi Arabia since late 2014 has targeted minority Shiites as well as the security forces, killing dozens. 
 
Most attacks have taken place in Eastern Province, home to the majority of the country&#39;s Shiites. 
 
IS group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which is taking part in the US-led coalition bombing the jihadists in Syria and Iraq. 
 
The group also considers Shiites to be heretics. 
 
(AFP)

As of yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the three separate strikes on Monday, one of which targeted the city of Medina

Nineteen people, including 12 Pakistani nationals, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia following suicide attacks on Monday, including one near Islam's second-holiest site in the city of Medina, the kingdom's interior ministry said on Thursday. Seven people are believed to have been killed and two wounded in three separate attacks - in Medina, at a Shiite mosque in Qatif, and in western Jeddah, the economic capital, not far from the US consulate. A 26-year-old Saudi man, Naer Moslem Hammad al-Balawi, who had a "history of drug use" had been identified as the perpetrator of the Medina attack, the ministry said in a statement published by the official SPA news agency. The Qatif attack, it added, was carried out by three "terrorists" including one man named as Abderrahman Saleh Mohammed al-Amr, 23, who it said was known to the security services for taking part in protests. The Jeddah attacker was a Pakistani man identified as Abdullah Qalzar Khan, a driver who had been living in the city for 12 years, the ministry said earlier. Four people were killed in the Medina explosion near the Prophet's Mosque, which came as Muslims prepared for this week's Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramzan. The body parts of three people were found after another suicide bombing in the Shiite-populated Gulf city of Qatif, the ministry said earlier. Two police officers were wounded the Jeddah attack. The US embassy in Riyadh reported no casualties among consulate staff during the attack, which coincided with the US July 4 Independence Day holiday. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, said while visiting the wounded policemen in Jeddah that the attacks would "only increase our solidarity and make us stronger". No group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks so far. However, a series of bombings and shootings claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) in Saudi Arabia since late 2014 has targeted minority Shiites as well as the security forces, killing dozens. Most attacks have taken place in Eastern Province, home to the majority of the country's Shiites. IS group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which is taking part in the US-led coalition bombing the jihadists in Syria and Iraq. The group also considers Shiites to be heretics. (AFP)

12 Pakistanis among 19 arrested over Saudi suicide attacks

An Angolan court today ordered the conditional release of 17 young activists, including a well-known rapper, three months after they were jailed for rebellion against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. 
 
Most of group were arrested during a book club meeting in June last year where one of the books on the line-up was about non-violent resistance to repressive regimes. 
 
The activists maintained throughout their trial they were peaceful campaigners for the departure of dos Santos, who has been in power since September, 1979 and rules the oil-rich country with an iron fist. 
 
&quot;Release warrants under house arrest were issued on behalf of 17 applicants to be executed from the present day,&quot; the Supreme Court in Luanda said in a statement. 
 
The ruling overturns sentences ranging from two to eight years in prison, which were handed down at the end of a lengthy trial in March amid complaints about political repression. 
 
One of the accused, rapper Luaty Beirao, went on hunger strike for over a month last year to protest against his detention. 
 
Defence lawyer Francisco Miguel Michel said today that he was &quot;very happy&quot;. 
 
&quot;Any court concerned with the application of justice would have ruled the same,&quot; he said, insisting his clients &quot;committed no crime&quot;. 
Human Rights Watch researcher Zenaida Machado told AFP the ruling was &quot;long overdue&quot;. 
 
&quot;The order should have been given immediately after the verdict in March... I am satisfied that the Supreme Court is upholding the law of the country,&quot; she said. 
 
(AFP)

The activists were jailed for rebellion against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been in power since 1979

An Angolan court today ordered the conditional release of 17 young activists, including a well-known rapper, three months after they were jailed for rebellion against President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Most of group were arrested during a book club meeting in June last year where one of the books on the line-up was about non-violent resistance to repressive regimes. The activists maintained throughout their trial they were peaceful campaigners for the departure of dos Santos, who has been in power since September, 1979 and rules the oil-rich country with an iron fist. "Release warrants under house arrest were issued on behalf of 17 applicants to be executed from the present day," the Supreme Court in Luanda said in a statement. The ruling overturns sentences ranging from two to eight years in prison, which were handed down at the end of a lengthy trial in March amid complaints about political repression. One of the accused, rapper Luaty Beirao, went on hunger strike for over a month last year to protest against his detention. Defence lawyer Francisco Miguel Michel said today that he was "very happy". "Any court concerned with the application of justice would have ruled the same," he said, insisting his clients "committed no crime". Human Rights Watch researcher Zenaida Machado told AFP the ruling was "long overdue". "The order should have been given immediately after the verdict in March... I am satisfied that the Supreme Court is upholding the law of the country," she said. (AFP)

Angolan court frees 17 jailed activists

Almost 22 months ago, Maldivian journalist, Ahmed Rilwan, 28, disappeared in Mal?. He was last seen&nbsp;on a closed-circuit television camera while trying to buy a ferryboat ticket on his way home. His family still believes he will return one day, but his colleagues have a far more grim take on this. They believe Ahmed has been murdered.&nbsp; 
 
A police chief inspector recently confirmed that he was in fact abducted on the same night from his apartment. &nbsp; 
 
&quot;The situation is very bad. The media is under attack from all fronts,&quot; said Zaheena Rasheed, editor of the online newspaper, The Maldives Independent, where Rilwan worked as a reporter. 
 
For most travellers, Mal?, the capital city of the Maldives, is just a quick stopover on their way to dreamlike beaches and crystal blue waters. However, the dreamy landscape has a much more sinister side to it and Zaheena has good reason to be worried. &nbsp; 
 
&quot;I am very afraid. I myself have received death threats. I could disappear or I could be killed. My office has already been attacked. Other media offices have been burned to the ground,&quot; he fears are not unfounded. 
 
The streets of Mal? are home to criminal gangs involved in drug dealing, robberies and violence on commission. A survey by the Asia Foundation, based on interactions with 130 gang affiliates, reports that there are &quot;between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in Mal?, with 50 to 400 members in each group.&quot; This means that more than a thousand individuals are involved in such criminal activities in a city of 150,000. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
These gangs often carry out violence on behalf of political groups. The report reads: &quot;Politicians and businessmen often offer drugs and alcohol when they (the gang members) complete an illegal task (commissioned by them). Hence, there is a reciprocal relationship between gang members and politicians and businessmen.&quot; They often act in an atmosphere of impunity.&nbsp; 
 
Gang members are most likely to get away with it given the protection offered by the rich and influential. Even if some are caught they are able to get out of police stations without their crimes being brought to book. Escaping a gang is nearly impossible for a designated victim. Mal? is a small town on an island. Hiding is not really a viable option.&nbsp; 
 
It is not only about the fear of gangs. The Maldivian media is facing an increasingly difficult situation. In April, a group of journalists was arrested for a day. They were part of a protest against a draft law aiming to reintroduce defamation as a crime that was abolished seven years ago. Just a month before, the Civil Court had halted the printing of Haveeru, the oldest and most widely-circulated Maldivian newspaper. An order issued against a three-decade old ownership dispute. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The turbulent situation took off in 2008, a turning point in the history of the archipelago. The human rights activist and environmentalist Mohamed Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the country. His victory ended three decades of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was the longest-serving politician in South Asia. Gayoom granted economic growth to the archipelago, but democracy paid a high price. One-party elections, politicians appointed only by the president, heavy restrictions on freedom of press, religion and dissent were the norm. 
 
Nasheed&#39;s liberal agenda came as a break with the past. After decriminalising defamation, his government passed a bill to establish a Media Council &quot;to preserve the freedom of media&quot;. He allowed foreign journalists to travel freely to the country and granted greater access to the local press. Minivan News, then the only local English online newspaper, could start working in the Maldives rather than in exile in Sri Lanka. &nbsp; 
 
Young democracies, however, are often fragile, and so was Nasheed`s presidency. After less than three years, a police mutiny and weeks of protest staged by his opponents, he decided to resign &ndash; or was forced to do so &quot;at &nbsp;gunpoint&quot;. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
In a contested run-off, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, half-brother of the man who ruled for 30 years, became the new Maldivian President. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
In 2015, events abruptly turned and Nasheed&#39;s situation plummeted. Following a trial that Amnesty International called &quot;deeply flawed and politically motivated&quot;, the former president was sentenced to 13 years for terrorism. He was accused of arbitrarily removing the criminal court chief judge during his presidency. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Some Maldivians did not accept the verdict in silence and took to the streets in Mal?. The police arrested many protesters, including three reporters, who were covering the protest. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;There is a big crackdown on media freedom. It is very difficult for a person who is critical of the government to find any kind of work in the country,&quot; said Azra Naseem, a Maldivian research fellow at the Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction in Dublin City University. &quot;If you are not with the government there is no space for you in the Maldives.&quot; 
 
Former president Nasheed is currently in London. 
 
He was authorised to leave his prison cell for a delicate surgery on the condition that he would return to jail once the treatment was done. However, that may not happen now. The British government has granted former president Nasheed political refugee status. A news welcomed by the media community and sections of Maldivian citizens who are not keen to toe the totalitarian line. 
 
&quot;Maldivians want to see better days. I am not alone and this is my home. I grew up in a dictatorship and I don&#39;t want to see my country regress into fear. I want to see a freer and more equal Maldives,&quot; Zaheena Rasheed said.

Journalists arrested, a former president on the run, criminal gangs, political unrest, radical Islamists and more...

Almost 22 months ago, Maldivian journalist, Ahmed Rilwan, 28, disappeared in Mal?. He was last seen on a closed-circuit television camera while trying to buy a ferryboat ticket on his way home. His family still believes he will return one day, but his colleagues have a far more grim take on this. They believe Ahmed has been murdered. A police chief inspector recently confirmed that he was in fact abducted on the same night from his apartment. "The situation is very bad. The media is under attack from all fronts," said Zaheena Rasheed, editor of the online newspaper, The Maldives Independent, where Rilwan worked as a reporter. For most travellers, Mal?, the capital city of the Maldives, is just a quick stopover on their way to dreamlike beaches and crystal blue waters. However, the dreamy landscape has a much more sinister side to it and Zaheena has good reason to be worried. "I am very afraid. I myself have received death threats. I could disappear or I could be killed. My office has already been attacked. Other media offices have been burned to the ground," he fears are not unfounded. The streets of Mal? are home to criminal gangs involved in drug dealing, robberies and violence on commission. A survey by the Asia Foundation, based on interactions with 130 gang affiliates, reports that there are "between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in Mal?, with 50 to 400 members in each group." This means that more than a thousand individuals are involved in such criminal activities in a city of 150,000. These gangs often carry out violence on behalf of political groups. The report reads: "Politicians and businessmen often offer drugs and alcohol when they (the gang members) complete an illegal task (commissioned by them). Hence, there is a reciprocal relationship between gang members and politicians and businessmen." They often act in an atmosphere of impunity. Gang members are most likely to get away with it given the protection offered by the rich and influential. Even if some are caught they are able to get out of police stations without their crimes being brought to book. Escaping a gang is nearly impossible for a designated victim. Mal? is a small town on an island. Hiding is not really a viable option. It is not only about the fear of gangs. The Maldivian media is facing an increasingly difficult situation. In April, a group of journalists was arrested for a day. They were part of a protest against a draft law aiming to reintroduce defamation as a crime that was abolished seven years ago. Just a month before, the Civil Court had halted the printing of Haveeru, the oldest and most widely-circulated Maldivian newspaper. An order issued against a three-decade old ownership dispute. The turbulent situation took off in 2008, a turning point in the history of the archipelago. The human rights activist and environmentalist Mohamed Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the country. His victory ended three decades of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was the longest-serving politician in South Asia. Gayoom granted economic growth to the archipelago, but democracy paid a high price. One-party elections, politicians appointed only by the president, heavy restrictions on freedom of press, religion and dissent were the norm. Nasheed's liberal agenda came as a break with the past. After decriminalising defamation, his government passed a bill to establish a Media Council "to preserve the freedom of media". He allowed foreign journalists to travel freely to the country and granted greater access to the local press. Minivan News, then the only local English online newspaper, could start working in the Maldives rather than in exile in Sri Lanka. Young democracies, however, are often fragile, and so was Nasheed`s presidency. After less than three years, a police mutiny and weeks of protest staged by his opponents, he decided to resign – or was forced to do so "at gunpoint". In a contested run-off, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, half-brother of the man who ruled for 30 years, became the new Maldivian President. In 2015, events abruptly turned and Nasheed's situation plummeted. Following a trial that Amnesty International called "deeply flawed and politically motivated", the former president was sentenced to 13 years for terrorism. He was accused of arbitrarily removing the criminal court chief judge during his presidency. Some Maldivians did not accept the verdict in silence and took to the streets in Mal?. The police arrested many protesters, including three reporters, who were covering the protest. "There is a big crackdown on media freedom. It is very difficult for a person who is critical of the government to find any kind of work in the country," said Azra Naseem, a Maldivian research fellow at the Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction in Dublin City University. "If you are not with the government there is no space for you in the Maldives." Former president Nasheed is currently in London. He was authorised to leave his prison cell for a delicate surgery on the condition that he would return to jail once the treatment was done. However, that may not happen now. The British government has granted former president Nasheed political refugee status. A news welcomed by the media community and sections of Maldivian citizens who are not keen to toe the totalitarian line. "Maldivians want to see better days. I am not alone and this is my home. I grew up in a dictatorship and I don't want to see my country regress into fear. I want to see a freer and more equal Maldives," Zaheena Rasheed said.

Mal?: Political hit jobs, drugs, robberies - the grime under the sun and sand

Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested at least 103 militants as part of a broad crackdown on Islamists after a wave of deadly attacks on members of minority groups and liberal activists, police said on Monday.

In addition to the arrest of the Islamist militants, about 6,000 suspected criminals have been arrested since law enforcement agencies began a week-long drive on Friday to halt a series of targeted killings in the mainly Muslim nation.

All the arrests were made on specific charges, national police chief AKM&nbsp;Shahidul Hoque said, relating to firearms, narcotics and other offences.

&quot;We will have to prevent the emergence of militancy collectively as a whole nation. It is not possible to eliminate it by police alone,&rdquo; Hoque said.

Over the past week, an elderly Hindu priest, a Hindu monastery worker and a Christian shopkeeper were hacked to death in attacks for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. The Muslim wife of a counter-terrorism police official was also stabbed and shot dead.

Militants have killed more than 30 people in Bangladesh since early last year, with atheist bloggers, liberal academics, gay rights campaigners, foreign aid workers, members of&nbsp;minority Muslim sects&nbsp;and other&nbsp;religious&nbsp;groups among the victims.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for 21 of the attacks since its first claim in September last year and al Qaeda has claimed most of the rest, according to Site Intelligence Group, a US-based monitoring service.

The government denies that either group has a presence in Bangladesh and says home-grown radicals are responsible.

Last month, junior foreign minister Shahriar Alam told Reuters that Islamic State was trying to ride a wave of religious radicalisation by falsely claiming killings and said there was enough evidence implicating domestic militant groups.

Police said two domestic militant groups - Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team - were behind the attacks as part of their efforts to impose strict Islamic law on Bangladesh, whose population of 160 million are mostly moderate Muslims.

At least 10 suspected members of the outlawed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen have been killed in shootouts since November, including five last week, police said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to track down the killers, blaming the growing violence on political opponents linked to Islamist parties.

The main opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, dismisses such accusations and said the mass arrests were a ploy to suppress political opponents.

Police also arrest 100 Islamist militants, who killed over 30 minorities and activists, in the mainly Muslim nation

Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested at least 103 militants as part of a broad crackdown on Islamists after a wave of deadly attacks on members of minority groups and liberal activists, police said on Monday. In addition to the arrest of the Islamist militants, about 6,000 suspected criminals have been arrested since law enforcement agencies began a week-long drive on Friday to halt a series of targeted killings in the mainly Muslim nation. All the arrests were made on specific charges, national police chief AKM Shahidul Hoque said, relating to firearms, narcotics and other offences. "We will have to prevent the emergence of militancy collectively as a whole nation. It is not possible to eliminate it by police alone,” Hoque said. Over the past week, an elderly Hindu priest, a Hindu monastery worker and a Christian shopkeeper were hacked to death in attacks for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. The Muslim wife of a counter-terrorism police official was also stabbed and shot dead. Militants have killed more than 30 people in Bangladesh since early last year, with atheist bloggers, liberal academics, gay rights campaigners, foreign aid workers, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups among the victims. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for 21 of the attacks since its first claim in September last year and al Qaeda has claimed most of the rest, according to Site Intelligence Group, a US-based monitoring service. The government denies that either group has a presence in Bangladesh and says home-grown radicals are responsible. Last month, junior foreign minister Shahriar Alam told Reuters that Islamic State was trying to ride a wave of religious radicalisation by falsely claiming killings and said there was enough evidence implicating domestic militant groups. Police said two domestic militant groups - Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team - were behind the attacks as part of their efforts to impose strict Islamic law on Bangladesh, whose population of 160 million are mostly moderate Muslims. At least 10 suspected members of the outlawed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen have been killed in shootouts since November, including five last week, police said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to track down the killers, blaming the growing violence on political opponents linked to Islamist parties. The main opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, dismisses such accusations and said the mass arrests were a ploy to suppress political opponents.

5,000 arrested in Bangladesh in crackdown on wave of targeted killings

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