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Dutch PM receives extra security on high alert over fears
of Moroccan Mafia kidnapping plot – media
27 Sep, 2021 11:28
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson © AP
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has reportedly received extra security after the appearance of “spotters” in his vicinity sparked fears of a potential Moroccan Mafia kidnapping plot.
Citing “well-informed sources” on Monday, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that suspicious “spotters” who are believed to be affiliated with the Moroccan Mafia, also known as the Mocro Mafia, were observed near Rutte and that he has subsequently been receiving extra security on high alert.
De Telegraaf also reported that such spotters are commonly deployed by the mafia before an attack is set to take place, which could include kidnapping or even assassination. Spotters were deployed before the 2019 murder of lawyer Derk Wiersum, who was shot to death while working for a client who was a witness against the Moroccan Mafia, and the July 2021 murder of crime reporter Peter R. de Vries, according to the newspaper.
Rutte’s extra security reportedly includes special officers from the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service (DKDB) and both “visible and invisible measures” are being used to protect the prime minister from any potential mafia plot.
The Netherlands is one of the Moroccan Mafia’s many territories and has recorded many incidents of violence related to the loose organization.
In September 2019, Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders – a member of the Netherlands’ House of Representatives – controversially questioned whether the government was “still the authority” or whether the Mocro Mafia had “become boss in this country,” and warned that the organization was “getting stronger and more violent every day.”
France makes ‘drastic’ decision to cull visas for Maghreb nationals
over region’s refusal to ‘take back people that we don’t want’
28 Sep, 2021 12:11
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to police officers during a visit on the strengthening of border controls
(FILE PHOTO) © Guillaume Horcajuelo/Pool via REUTERS
The French government has said it is slashing the number of visas available for people from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, complaining that those countries are not taking back the migrants that France does not want to keep.
On Tuesday, government spokesman Gabriel Attal told French Europe 1 radio that Paris was taking action against its former North African colonies as they were refusing to take back illegal migrants sent home by the French authorities.
Attal said the government was halving the number of visas available for nationals from Algeria and Morocco, while visas available to those from Tunisia would be cut by almost a third.
“It is a drastic decision, and unprecedented, but one made necessary by the fact that these countries are refusing to take back nationals who we do not want or cannot keep in France,” the spokesman said.
According to Europe 1, President Emmanuel Macron made the decision a month ago after negotiations with the North African nations failed to deliver. “There was dialogue, then there were threats, and today we’re carrying out those threats,” Attal stated on Tuesday, adding that they hoped the aforementioned nations would enhance their cooperation with Paris.
Attal’s comments come as political parties start positioning themselves for the 2022 presidential election, in which immigration is likely to play a major role.
On Monday, Rassemblement National leader Marine Le Pen vowed to call a referendum proposing severe limits on immigration if she is elected next year. "The referendum will propose a complete draft bill that will aim to drastically regulate immigration,” Le Pen told France 2 television.
Despite the popularity of her movement, Le Pen has always trailed more mainstream parties in the second round of voting, in which the top two candidates from the first round are pitted against each other, if neither had secured a majority in the first round. A survey conducted by research institute Odoxa last week suggested Macron would win the second round against Le Pen with 58% of the vote.
In 2017, Len Pen reached the second round of the presidential election, losing to now-president Macron who won more than 66% of the vote.
Blast & fire at Gothenburg apartment block likely caused by
explosive device, gas leak ruled out, police say
28 Sep, 2021 14:36
Apartment building hit by an explosion in Gothenburg. © Bjorn Larsson Rosvall / TT News Agency via REUTERS
A powerful blast that tore through an apartment building in Sweden’s second most-populous city on Tuesday was not caused by a gas leak and probably involved foul play, Swedish authorities have said.
Swedish police are investigating whether an explosive device caused the blast that went off in Annedal district in central Gothenburg on Tuesday morning, starting a serious fire. The Sahlgrenska University Hospital said it was treating 16 people injured in the incident, four of them in serious condition.
The explosion rocked through the building just before 5am local time, damaging three stairwells. Some residents used tied sheets to escape from their homes through windows, as the fire ignited by the blast spread and sent thick plumes of grey smoke in the air.
Emergency services ruled out a gas leak as the cause of the explosion, confirming that there was no gas pipeline in the area, police spokesperson Thomas Fuxborg told a news conference. He said investigators’ working theory was that an explosive device was planted at the site.
Sweden has been gripped by an increasingly violent wave of gang violence, in which bombs have been used by rival criminals against each other among other weapons. The police said they couldn’t immediately identify any particular resident as a possible target for a bombing attack.
The emergency in Gothenburg prompted mass evacuation from the damaged building, with hundreds escaping. Initial reports said 20 to 25 people sustained various injuries.
The police could not immediately collect evidence on the site to confirm foul play behind the explosion because of the blaze that followed. It required significant deployment of firefighters from seven nearby stations and hours of hard work to contain it. The responders managed to prevent its spread to other buildings, but the blast wave and the flames reportedly caused significant damage inside.
Annedal residents who lived nearby were advised to lock windows and stay inside due to the risk of smoke inhalation.
The four people hurt most by the blast were identified by health officials as three women in their 60s, 70s and 80s respectively and a man in his 50s. The youngest patient treated by the hospital is a 10-year-old child. One of the 16 is a firefighter, who was hurt when dealing with the fire.
Municipal authorities have offered assistance to people affected by the incident. A shelter was organized at a nearby church, with some 40 people, some in a state of shock, finding refuge there.
“This is terrible and of course completely unacceptable,” Axel Josefson, the chair of the Gothenburg municipal board, said of the explosion. He offered his condolences to victims and pledged that the city will do everything it can to support them.
Sweden’s national government reacted to the incident as well, with Interior Minister Mikael Damberg expressing confidence that the police would get to the bottom of what had happened.
Man in Russia charged with ‘hooliganism’ after badly beating male
dermatologist who said hijab-wearing wife’s skin was ‘beautiful’
28 Sep, 2021 07:45
A man has been placed under house arrest in Russia after he beat up and concussed a doctor who inspected his wife and complimented her. The woman, a hijab-wearing Muslim, claimed the dermatologist dubbed her skin “beautiful.”
The incident took place on September 21 in Nizhnevartovsk, Siberia.
According to the doctor, Vladimir Zhirnokleev, he simply asked the woman to show her elbows, stomach, and back, and did not ask her to undress. Once the inspection was complete, he found no cause for concern and said, “The skin is beautiful.”
After leaving the doctor’s office, the woman complained to her husband that the medical examination did not comply with “Muslim law.”
“I am sure the doctor complimented my wife during the examination, which is not befitting of my principles,” said Bakhriddin Azimov, the Tajikistan born 29-year-old husband of the patient. “If you are a doctor, do your job. Excessive compliments and questions are beyond a doctor’s job description.”
However, according to the doctor, he did nothing wrong and simply gave a positive judgement after inspecting the woman.
“Muslims should resolve all issues immediately with the management - calmly and constructively,” Zhirnokleev said, according to the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. “Running into a doctor’s office without a trial and smashing his nose is morally and legally wild.”
“I am an adult, I have several educations, a lot of experience, and we still live in a state governed by the rule of law. People should obey the law and follow the rules,” he said.
They do, just not Russian Law and Rules.
Zhirnokleev also noted that those who doubt his competence should see another doctor, where they will discover that all skin examinations are conducted in the same manner.
“I told her: ‘You are fine, your skin is beautiful,’” Zhirnokleev said. “She interrupted me: ‘Don’t pay me any compliment.’”
After the attack, Zhirnokleev was diagnosed with a head injury, concussion, and numerous bruises. Bakhriddin, in turn, was charged with “hooliganism” and is now under house arrest.
On Saturday, an imam in Nizhnevartovsk condemned the attack.
“We condemn this and call on all Muslims to treat doctors, medical workers and all people in general with respect, as our religion teaches us,” said Salavat Hazrat Sitdikov, head of the city’s mosque. “I urge everyone to study their religion, improve their morals, behave with dignity and not defame our religion.”
Good luck with that!
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