The news continues to be dominated by Friday night’s terrorist attacks in Paris, with many outlets reporting directly from the French capital. Prime Minister David Cameron has announced the government will provide 1,900 extra security and intelligence staff and a doubling of funds for aviation security.
Paris attacks
Monday’s newspaper front pages all carry reports on the events in Paris on their front pages. The Independent, Guardian, Times, Sun and Daily Telegraph all focus on the search for a 26-year-old suspect Salah Abdeslam whose brother was reportedly one of the seven ISIL suicide bombers in Friday's atrocities. The Times picks up on a thread of yesterday’s reporting that Special Forces could be ordered onto the streets in the event of an attack on UK. The MOD does not comment on UK Special Forces.
The Financial Times leads with a report saying that the US and France are ramping up air strikes in Iraq and Syria following the Paris while the Daily Mirror splashes on the Government’s announcement of extra security and intelligence staff and money for aviation security. Some media reporting has focussed attention on what the UK Government’s position is with regards to launching airstrikes against ISIL in Syria.
Speaking on the Today Programme this morning, Prime Minister David Cameron said:
Our security and intelligence services have stopped something like seven attacks in the last six months, albeit attacks planned on a smaller scale, but that’s one of the reasons why we’re strengthening the security and intelligence services with this announcement today.
Also running widely as part of the coverage of Paris is the fact that French warplanes have launched what officials have described as “massive” air strikes on the Syrian city of Raqqa, an ISIL stronghold. It is reported that 10 fighter jets operating out of French bases in Jordan and the UAE dropped 20 guided bombs on four targets on Sunday in co-ordination with US forces. The French defence ministry is quoted as saying that they targets included a command centre, recruitment centre for jihadists, a munitions depot and a training camp for fighters.
G20
Many outlets, including the Guardian and Financial Times, report on today’s G20 summit in southern Turkey, with articles focusing on yesterday’s “fresh overtures” from the West to Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at reaching a deal to unite against ISIL and end the Syrian civil war.
You can listen to the Prime Minister’s Today Programme interview here.
Flood defences
The Times reports the contribution of British troops in Lancashire and Cumbria to build flood defences after days of heavy rain. The article reports that 50 soldiers from 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment spent some of the weekend helping officials from the Environment Agency erect flood barriers to protect homes deemed vulnerable to flood waters..
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
Soldiers from 2 LANCS have been supporting the Environment Agency in Lancashire and Cumbria, with 50 troops assisting in the erection of demountable flood barriers to protect vulnerable homes as part of a multi-agency response to the severe weather in the north west. They have now been stood down, but will be on hand to assist further should they be required.
Eviction
Following the Mail on Sunday reports that a wife and children of an RAF officer who had an affair are being forced to leave their Service family home, The Sun has reported on the situation in this morning’s paper. It is reported that Mrs Walker has been given three months to vacate the property; however she has called on the MOD to let her stay until next summer. The MOD’s position is as follows:
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
We are committed to the welfare of Service personnel and their families. However, when occupants cease to be entitled to Service Family Accommodation they are given reasonable notice to vacate the property to ensure it is available for the next entitled Service family.
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