News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Canada arrests two terror suspects

Two foreign men have been arrested in Canada and charged with plotting a terrorist attack on a passenger train with support from al-Qaida members in Iran. Police say Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser planned to derail a train near Toronto. They said there is no evidence Iran’s government was involved in the plot. Iran has also denied any link to the suspects being held in Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Police assistant commissioner, James Malizia, said the plot was in its early stages: “I want to assure our citizens that while the RCMP believed the accused had the capacity and intent to carry out these criminal acts there was no imminent threat to the general public.”

Boston bombing suspect charged

The surviving suspect in the Boston marathon bombings, Joklar Tsarnaev, has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Tsarnaev remains in a serious condition in hospital in Boston and charges were read at his bedside. US officials have said he will be tried in a normal criminal court, not by a military tribunal.

Spain holds two suspected of al-Qaeda links

Spanish police say they’ve arrested two North African nationals suspected of links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a branch of the terror group that operates in northwest Africa. A police statement said the men were from Algeria and Morocco, and described them as having a similar profile to the suspects in last week’s bomb attacks in Boston, but gave no details on the alleged similarities.

French embassy in Tripoli attacked

A car bomb has exploded outside France’s embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli, wounding two French guards, one seriously. French President Francois Hollande, condemning the attack, said it targeted all countries in the international community fighting terrorism.

Israel says Syria uses chemical weapons

Israel has for the first time explicitly accused Syrian President Bashar al Assad of using chemical weapons against rebel groups. Israeli Brigadier General Itai Brun said evidence suggests Syrian forces used sarin, a lethal nerve agent.

Japan warns China over islands

Japan has warned China that it will respond with force against Chinese government ships, if any attempt is made to land on islands in the East China Sea claimed by both countries. Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe delivered the warning as eight Chinese ships entered Japanese territorial waters near the islands. Ten Japanese boats carrying nationalist activists are also in the area.

Iraqi forces break up protest camp

At least 27 people have been killed when Iraqi security forces stormed a Sunni Muslim anti-government protest camp near Kirkuk. Local officials said a gun battle broke out between troops and protesters.

The weather

Changeable with scattered rain and thundershowers. Sunnier in low-lying areas. Top temperatures 14 to 23 degrees, warmest in the east.

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