A variety of Defence stories are covered in today’s media, including on-going coverage of the terrorist attacks in Brussels.
BRUSSELS / TERRORISM
There is continued widespread reporting of the unfolding investigations into the terrorist attacks in Brussels. Eleven Belgian nuclear workers had their work passes revoked amid fears the Brussels bombers were plotting to build a radiological dirty bomb, according to the Times. Ibrahim and Khalid el-Bakraoui are reported to have been involved in a Daesh plan to create a bomb to scatter radioactive material over a populated area. A senior Belgian nuclear industry official was secretly filmed by jihadists late last year, according to the country’s nuclear authority and yesterday the brothers were linked to the surveillance.
The Daily Mail claims the only Paris terrorist still at large visited Britain last year and took pictures of a football stadium. Mohamed Abrini is said to have made trip in July, just four months before his terror cell launched an attack on the Stade de France and other buildings in Paris. The ease with which he was able to slip in and out of the UK and take potential reconnaissance pictures of targets is a cause for alarm, the paper suggests, along with concerns about links he may have with would-be jihadis in Britain.
An EU crisis summit was called as a first step towards agreeing a clearer Europe-wide security strategy to counter the rapidly growing threat from Daesh.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has defended Belgian intelligence despite alleged blunders which allowed the Brussels bombers to strike, according to the Daily Express. Mr Fallon said it is "far too early" to blame Belgium's security chiefs for losing track of fanatic Ibrahim el-Bakraoui after warnings they received suggested he was a danger. He added that a plan to support police with up to 10,000 military personnel is "being implemented".
MOD LAND SALES
The Sun reports defence chiefs will sell land worth £140m that will hold 7,000 new homes. The MOD announced yesterday that the 10 sites will raise funds for the defence coffers, it is reported, as the department seeks to reduce the size of its estate by 30 per cent. So far the MOD is said to have released land for 22,000 homes in deals expected to yield around £640 million.
You can read more about this story here.
RUGBY BRAWL
The Daily Telegraph, Times, Daily Mail, Sun and Mirror report online footage showing a brawl during a rugby match on Wednesday involving the Royal Navy and the French Marine Nationale. Several suggest that both sides shared a drink afterwards and there were no hard feelings.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said:
We are aware of an incident at a rugby match between the Royal Navy and the Marine Nationale in Toulon, France. We understand the match continued without further incident and the two sides socialised together after the game.
RADOVAN KARADZIC
All newspapers, including splashes in the Guardian and Independent, report the 40-year jail term handed to the former Bosnian-Serb leader for genocide and war crimes committed during the Balkans conflict. The newspapers suggest the conviction ranks as the most serious handed down in Europe since the Nuremberg trials following the Second World War.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT VISITS THE ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARDS IN FIFE
His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent paid a special visit to The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards today (Thursday 24 March 2016) at Leuchars Station in Fife.
Prince Edward, who is Deputy Colonel in Chief of the regiment met with officers and soldiers to learn about their current role and was shown the equipment and vehicles currently utilised by the unit.
The Duke went on to officially open the new Corporals Mess before attending a specially arranged lunch with military personnel and their families.
SCOTS DG Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Coombes said:
It is very exciting to welcome our Deputy Colonel-in-Chief HRH The Duke of Kent to Leuchars for the first time. As a retired Regimental Officer he has a wonderfully intimate understanding of the Regiment. It has been great to introduce His Royal Highness to the place in which the serving Regiment is very happily settled, and to show him what we have achieved since moving here.
His opening of the Corporals Mess is hugely significant as yet another step in cementing our roots in Leuchars and demonstrating our commitment to Fife and the local community. This is our home and we are delighted to be here.
The SCOTS DG recently took over the role of the UKs Lead Light Cavalry Battlegroup and is on high readiness to deploy in the UK and overseas if required.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
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