UK authorities investigate attempted abduction of serviceman
UK authorities say they are searching for two people in the attempted abduction of a serviceman at a Royal Air Force base in eastern England.
Police said July 21 that two men, one of whom had a knife, approached the serviceman while he was jogging. One of the men shouted at the serviceman and attempted to grab him, but the serviceman fought him off and got away.
The incident July 20 shared some elements of the attack on British soldier Lee Rigby, who was attacked and stabbed to death on a London street in 2013 by two al Qaeda-inspired extremists.
Norfolk Detective Superintendent Paul Durham said the motivation for the attack is unclear and that authorities are “currently unable to discount terrorism,” though other hypotheses are possible. AP
Greece: 8 Turkish military personnel sentenced to 2 months
A Greek court July 21 sentenced eight Turkish military personnel who fled to Greece aboard a helicopter during an attempted coup in their country to two months in prison on charges of illegal entry into Greece.
All eight — six pilots and two engineers — received the same sentence, with the recognition of mitigating circumstances of having acted while under threat. The pilot was acquitted of an additional charge of violating flight regulations, and the other seven of being accomplices in the violation.
The sentence was suspended for three years, but they were being held in custody pending resolution of their asylum applications.
Turkey has demanded their return to stand trial for participation in the July 15 coup attempt. The eight deny involvement and have applied for asylum, saying they fear for their safety amid widespread purges in Turkey in the aftermath of the attempted overthrow of the government.
The eight arrived at the courthouse in handcuffs and with their heads covered by T-shirts or towels in an attempt to protect their identities. Their asylum applications were being examined, and they will appear before immigration authorities on July 27 for the second time for interviews.
The eight landed at the airport of the northeastern Greek city of Alexandroupolis early Saturday in a Black Hawk helicopter after issuing a mayday signal and requesting permission for an emergency landing, which was granted.
During the July 21 court proceedings, all testified that they were crew members of three helicopters and had been unaware that a coup attempt was underway. They said they had been tasked with transporting wounded soldiers and civilians and that their helicopters had come under fire from police and others on the ground.
They said they landed at a military base near a hospital and came under fire again, and were told by their unit not to return to their home base because the situation was too dangerous. After heading to another location, the personnel decided to flee for their lives in one helicopter, they said.
The eight spent the night in a clearing in woodland, where they found out from the internet on mobile phones that an attempted coup had taken place and that anyone in military uniform was being detained.
After debating on whether to flee to Bulgaria, Romania or Greece, they decided on the latter.
A Greek policeman also testifying in the trial said all eight were unarmed and cooperative after landing, offered no resistance to arrest, surrendered immediately and asked for political asylum. AP
Spain demands explanation over collision of Royal Navy sub
Spain is seeking an urgent explanation from British authorities after a Royal Navy submarine was forced into port in Gibraltar following a collision with a merchant vessel.
In a statement July 21, the Foreign Ministry said the government was seeking all information from the British embassy in Madrid regarding the damage done to the submarine and how the prior day’s incident occurred.
The British Royal Navy said HMS Ambush’s nuclear reactor was not damaged in the incident when the Astute-class submarine became “involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel” while submerged and conducting a training exercise.
It added that the vessel suffered some external damage but that no crewmembers were hurt.
Photographs of the submarine show its conning tower damaged.
The navy said it was in contact with the merchant vessel “and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage.”
The Astute-class vessels carry torpedoes for targeting enemy submarines and ships and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The Spanish ministry said the government had been aware the submarine was in the area.
Spain has expressed its annoyance over the presence of British nuclear submarines in Gibraltar in the past.
Spain ceded sovereignty of Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, but has persistently sought its return. AP
New Zealand invite to U.S. Navy marks end to nuclear stalemate
Vice President Joe Biden says the U.S. has accepted an invitation to send a Navy ship to New Zealand for the first time in three decades.
The move signals an end to a stalemate between the two countries that was sparked by New Zealand’s anti-nuclear policy.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced during a joint news conference with the visiting vice president July 21 that New Zealand had invited the U.S. to send a ship to participate in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary later this year.
Biden says he has gladly accepted the offer.
No U.S. warships have been allowed to visit the country since the 1980s, when New Zealand introduced its nuclear-free policy. AP