Syrian charged over plot to attack Taylor Swift Vienna concert
A young Syrian national has been charged by German authorities with supporting a foreign terror group over a foiled plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last August.Mohamed A, who is described as a juvenile and still at liberty, is accused of following the ideology of jihadist group Islamic State (IS) and helping another suspect to prepare the attack.Concert organisers called off Taylor Swift's three sold-out gigs on the eve of the first show at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium last year, disappointing tens of thousands of fans during her Eras Tour.Authorities arrested several suspects at the time saying they appeared to have been inspired by IS and al-Qaeda.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Judge grants Palestine Action urgent hearing to try to stop ban taking effect
Palestine Action has been granted an urgent high court hearing on Friday to try to prevent a banning order against the direct action protest group coming into effect. An order is due to be laid before parliament on Monday which would proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation, making being a member of – or inviting support for – Palestine Action a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail. The move, announced by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, last week, would place Palestine Action alongside the likes of al-Qaida, Islamic State and National Action. It has been criticised as draconian by protest groups, civil liberties organisations and various politicians. At a short-notice hearing at the high court on Monday, it emerged that Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, is to be given an opportunity to apply for 'interim relief' with respect to the proscription order. David Blundell KC, representing the Home Office, said that the plan had been for the order to be debated in parliament this week and then signed on Friday to come into effect on Saturday. But the judge, Mr Justice Chamberlain, said if an application by Palestine Action for interim relief on Friday was successful it would 'have the effect of suspending its [the order's] operation'. Ammori's lawyers contend 'there has been a failure of the duty to inform the claimant of the basis on which it is proposed to restrict her rights through proscription' and to 'afford her the opportunity to make representations before any decision to restrict her rights'. The submission also states that while 'extensive consultation has taken place with the Israeli government and arms companies … no opportunity has been provided for other groups affected or concerned by the proposal to proscribe Palestine Action, including Liberty, Amnesty International and other civil society organisations'. Liberty, Amnesty International and the European Legal Support Center have submitted supporting witness statements for Ammori's case alleging the unlawful misuse of anti-terror measures to criminalise dissent, Palestine Action said. Ammori said: 'The court's decision to grant an urgent hearing this week is indicative of the vital importance of what is at stake in this case, including the far-reaching implications any proscription of Palestine Action would have on fundamental freedoms of speech, expression and assembly in Britain. 'This is the first attempt in British history to criminalise direct action, political protest, as terrorism, mimicking many authoritarian regimes around the world who have used counter-terrorism to crush dissent. This would set an extremely dangerous precedent, with repressive impacts right across the Palestine movement.' 'Spraying red paint on war planes is not terrorism. Causing disruption to the UK-based arms factories used by Israel's largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, is not terrorism.' Palestine Action says it uses direct action to seek to prevent serious violations of international law by Israel in and against the Palestinian people. Cooper took the decision to ban it under anti-terrorism laws three days after the group claimed an action against military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Cooper said there had been 'a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action'. Another hearing has been scheduled for 21 July when Ammori would seek permission for a judicial review to argue that the proscription order should be quashed.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
At least nine girls as young as 11 sexually assaulted in public pool by ‘family of Syrian men who groped them in water'
AT LEAST nine girls as young as 11 were sexually assaulted in a public swimming pool in Hesse, Germany. Cops arrested four suspects aged 18 to 28 who are Syrian nationals, the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters confirmed to German newspaper Bild. 1 The heinous attacks occurred last Sunday at the Barbarossabad swimming pool. Several girls are said to have reported to pool staff that they had been assaulted by a group of men in the whirlpool area. Two of the men arrested are reportedly related. Criminal charges have since been filed against all of the suspects, who have also been banned from the pool. Five young girls initially came forward to report the incidents, but as the assaults became public knowledge, more bravely came forward. The victims also testified that they had been sexually harassed. A total of eight girls aged just 11 to 16 were victims of sexual assault at the pool. It currently cannot be ruled out that other girls or women were affected, reports claim. .
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Palestine Action to challenge terror ban in courts
Palestine Action is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it under anti-terror laws. An urgent hearing was held in the High Court on Monday related to an application for judicial review on behalf of Huda Ammori, one of the founders of the group. A further hearing will be held on Friday to decide whether the Government can temporarily be blocked from banning the group, pending a hearing to decide whether Palestine Action can bring the legal challenge. A decision on whether the group will be given the green light to bring the legal challenge will be given at a further hearing expected to be held in the week of July 21. Supporting statements have also been submitted by Amnesty International, Liberty and European Legal Support Centre over concerns of unlawful misuse of anti-terror measures to criminalise dissent, a spokesman said. It comes as Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is expected to publish a written statement to lay the order to make membership and support for the direct action group illegal. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Commenting on the hearing, Ms Ammori said: 'I have been left with no choice but to request this urgent hearing and to seek either an injunction or other form of interim relief because of the Home Secretary's decision to try to steamroll this through Parliament immediately.' She added: '[There hasn't been] proper opportunity for MPs and Peers to debate and scrutinise the proposal, or for legal and human rights experts and civil society organisations to make representations, or for those of us who would be denied fundamental rights as a result and criminalised as 'terrorists' overnight, including the many thousands of people who support Palestine Action.' The Government's move comes after two planes were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton on June 20 in an action claimed by Palestine Action. Five people have since been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence in relation to the incident. Unveiling the intention to ban the group following the incident on June 23, Ms Cooper said it was the latest in a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action'.
