Latest news with #Semtex
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mike Atkinson, bomb-disposal officer who was targeted by the IRA after defusing a powerful device
Major Mike Atkinson, who has died aged 67, was a bomb-disposal officer who dealt with more than 1,000 explosive-related incidents in a career which saw him defuse bombs in Northern Ireland, as well as reportedly the largest bomb to date in Germany, as a result of which he was targeted for assassination by the IRA. It also saw him parade naked for Margaret Thatcher, as well as becoming an acknowledged authority on military medals and the designer of the British Iraq war medal in 2003. Atkinson was an expert on Napoleon Bonaparte and possessed one of his personal medals. Asked what he was thinking as he attempted to defuse a bomb – which might at any millisecond atomise him – he replied that he simply thought of it as a series of small problems to address and solve, one after the other. Michael Neil Atkinson, always known as Mick, was born on September 14 1957 in the British Military Hospital Gibraltar into an Army family. His father, Maurice, was a sergeant-major and his mother, Sylvia, who was born in Madras, had been in the Women's Royal Army Corps. Atkinson had a peripatetic childhood, with his father's postings to West Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and back home in the UK. In 1974 he enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Army Apprentices College, Chepstow, graduating in 1976 as an ammunition technician responsible for maintaining the safe use, storage and disposal of ammunition and explosives. He completed two gruelling tours of bomb-disposal duties (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD) in Northern Ireland in 1979 and 1984. In his first tour he worked in Belfast, where the tempo of operations was intense. On a single day, July 4 1979, he blew up six suspect vehicles using a remote-controlled robot nicknamed the 'wheelbarrow' – resulting in the eventual loss of the robot. Atkinson's second tour was based in Armagh, including the 'Bandit Country' of South Armagh, where he defused a number of large IRA improvised explosive devices, or IEDs – including a 300lb car bomb, and a 600lb landmine deliberately planted to kill the EOD team. From the end of 1982 until the middle of 1986 Atkinson was based in West Germany with the British Army of the Rhine, then 55,000-strong. With a great deal of live-firing training, the demands upon ammunition technical staff were exacting. On a subsequent tour in Germany, in May 1990, Atkinson was responsible for defusing the most powerful IRA bomb discovered in Germany, at Langenhagen Barracks in Hanover, consisting of more than 100lb of Semtex high explosive. During the subsequent court proceedings his personal details were disclosed, and this was to have serious consequences for Atkinson and his family. Some time later, back in the UK, his wife saw two men in their garden; they were later identified as IRA terrorists on a reconnaissance mission with the intention of assassinating him. He and his family were immediately relocated. In 1986 Atkinson completed a short tour in the Falkland Islands, where he was kept busy with the explosive and ammunition left-overs, principally Argentinian, from the 1982 conflict. On one occasion, on what was officially known as a Counter Improvised Nuclear Device Emergency Response (CINDER) demonstration, Atkinson, thanks to a tear in his protective clothing, had to complete the full decontamination drills – which included him having to shower naked in front of Mrs Thatcher. In June 1992, after a six-month posting to Belsize, Atkinson, by then a Warrant Officer (Class 1), was commissioned as an Ammunition Technical Officer. In 2000 he resigned his commission and accepted the offer of a post as a Retired Officer and deputy in charge of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich. With his interest and expertise in medals and his usual enthusiasm he was well-suited for the job as it entered possibly the busiest time in the history of the office. There, he was described as an enthusiastic perfectionist with a deep knowledge and passion for medals. He designed the 2003 Iraq War medal which features on the reverse an image of Lamassu, an ancient Assyrian deity with the head of a man and the body of a bull, above the word 'IRAQ'. He said the idea came to him while he was lying in his bath. Atkinson was an expert on Napoleon and regularly lectured on the man, his battles and his leadership. The subject allowed him to combine two of his great enthusiasms, the studies of history and of medals. Atkinson bought what he believed was a medal which had once belonged to the Emperor and made it his mission to prove its provenance – in which he succeeded. His research also included the Royal Flying Corps and German First World War medals. In 2005 he updated the Queen's Royal Medals Collection. He was a member of the Orders and Medals Research Society and the Birmingham Medals Society. He also regularly briefed new bomb disposal officers and lectured at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham in Oxfordshire. Atkinson was a modest and generous person who for many years acted as a carer and friend for a soldier injured by a bomb in Oman in the early 1970s. He was always fit – he ran for the Army, was a keen walker and took part in the demanding Nijmegen Marches, which claim to be the world's largest multi-day walking event. Mike Atkinson is survived by his wife Christine and their son. Mike Atkinson, born September 14 1957, died March 31 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Libya Review
05-05-2025
- Business
- Libya Review
Libya Warns UK Against Using Frozen Funds
The Libyan Parliament has strongly rejected any attempt by the United Kingdom or other countries to seize or utilise Libya's frozen assets held abroad, calling such actions a 'blatant violation' of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions. In a statement issued by the Parliamentary Committee for Investigating Libyan Frozen Funds Abroad, lawmakers condemned recent discussions in the UK's House of Lords regarding the possible use of Libyan assets to compensate victims of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The committee cited UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 (2011), which explicitly prohibit tampering with Libyan funds frozen overseas. The UK has previously ruled out using the assets to pay compensation, although it has acknowledged that former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime supplied weapons to the IRA during its conflict with Britain. Among these were large quantities of Semtex explosives, reportedly used in several IRA bombings. Committee head Yousef Al-Aqouri warned that any action to appropriate Libyan funds would be seen as 'an unacceptable and unjustified act' and a direct assault on the Libyan people's national resources. He added that Libya reserves the right to take all necessary legal and diplomatic measures to safeguard its financial assets and prevent their misuse. 'This issue is a national priority that cannot be compromised or negotiated,' Aqouri stressed, urging countries hosting Libyan assets to comply with international obligations and respect Libya's sovereignty. The statement concluded with a call for friendly nations to uphold international law and support mutual interests through respectful bilateral relations. Libyan lawmakers warned that failure to do so would damage diplomatic ties and undermine global trust in the international financial system. The frozen assets, valued in the billions, remain a sensitive and politically charged issue amid Libya's ongoing struggle for stability and sovereignty. Tags: Frozen AssetslibyaLibyan parliamentUnited Kingdom
Libyan Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- Libyan Express
UK government rejects proposal to use frozen Libyan assets
A Union flag blows in the wind near the Houses of Parliament on October 3, 2019 in London, England |The British government has rejected a parliamentary proposal debated in the House of Lords on Thursday, May 1, 2025, which called for the use of frozen Libyan assets to provide compensation to victims of IRA bombings that utilised explosives supplied by the Gaddafi regime. During the debate, Lord Collins of Highbury, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that the government distinguishes between victims of IRA attacks using Libyan-supplied Semtex and victims of operations 'directly carried out by Libya' in other Western countries. The proposal, put forward by Baroness Hoey, aimed to utilise a portion of the approximately £12 billion in frozen Libyan assets held in the UK to compensate around 150 victims of IRA bombings. Baroness Hoey noted that victims from France, Germany, and the United States had received compensation from the Gaddafi regime averaging $5 million per victim, with these victims collectively seeking about £353 million in compensation. Baroness Hoey argued that recent UK legislation allowing the seizure of frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine—specifically a £2.26 billion loan to be repaid using profits generated from sanctioned Russian sovereign assets—created a legal precedent that could be applied to the Libyan assets case. She characterised this as 'What is good for the Russian goose's assets is good for the Libyan ganders assets.' The government defended its decision by citing United Nations resolutions stipulating that frozen Libyan assets should be preserved 'for the future benefit of the Libyan people.' Officials argued that seizing these assets could undermine international efforts toward Libyan stability. The government also declined to redirect the estimated £5 million collected annually in taxes from these frozen assets, with Lord Collins explaining that these funds go into 'the Government's consolidated fund, which is used for essential public services.' During the parliamentary debate, several peers expressed frustration over what they described as 'secret arrangements' with the former Gaddafi regime that successive Conservative and Labour governments have maintained, prioritising these agreements over compensation for victims. Lords also pressed for the publication of a government-commissioned report by William Shawcross regarding compensation options. The government refused this request, maintaining that the report contained 'private and confidential conversations' and that its release would potentially harm 'UK national security and international relations.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arrests in Jordan over rocket and drone plots
Jordan's security services say they have arrested 16 people suspected of plotting attacks inside the country involving rockets and drones. The General Intelligence Department said the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021 and their plans were aimed at "targeting national security, sowing chaos and sabotage". They involved possession of explosives and automatic weapons, the manufacture of rockets, the concealment of one rocket ready to be launched, a project to manufacture drones, and the training of individuals both in Jordan and abroad, it alleged. State media cited the government's spokesman as saying the suspects were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which denied any involvement. Communications Minister Mohammed al-Momani told reporters that the 16 suspects were divided into four cells with separate assignments, according to Petra news agency: The first cell, which had three main members who were arrested in 2023, transported and stored explosives, including TNT, C4 and Semtex, as well as automatic weapons smuggled from abroad, he said. A fourth member of the cell allegedly worked to conceal a Katyusha rocket equipped with a detonator in the south-western Marj al-Hamam neighbourhood of the capital, Amman. Momani said the rockets had a range of between three and five kilometres, which indicated that the suspects planned to target locations in Jordan The second three-member cell, which was arrested in February, had begun manufacturing short-range rockets and storing them in warehouses in Amman and the city of Zarqa, just to the north-east, he said, adding that they had received training and funding from abroad External parties were also allegedly supporting the third, four-member cell involved in the drone manufacturing project Momani said the fourth cell, with five members, had worked to recruit operatives to undergo illegal security training courses. All 16 suspects have been referred to the State Security Court on charges of violating the Anti-Terrorism law. Later, state-run Jordan Television broadcast what it said were confessions of eight of the suspects, six of whom said they were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Petra. A statement from the Brotherhood rejected what it called the "unjust accusations" made by Momani and insisted it had no links to, or knowledge of, the plots. The Islamist group – whose political arm, the Islamic Action Front, is the largest opposition group in parliament - also stressed that it "adhered to the national line" and "remained committed to its peaceful approach". Jordanian officials have previously accused the Brotherhood of instigating pro-Hamas protests with the aim of destabilising the kingdom, which borders Israel and several Arab states. More than half of Jordan's population is estimated to be of Palestinian origin, since the start of the Gaza war in 2023. Several suspects were also cited as saying that they had travelled to Lebanon to meet and undergo training with the person overseeing the plots. Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, told his Jordanian counterpart Jafar Hassan that it was ready to co-operate in tackling potential threats to their countries, Petra reported. Three Israelis shot dead at West Bank-Jordan crossing Israel arrests Jordan MP for alleged gun-smuggling Jordanian police die in shootout with suspect
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arrests in Jordan over rocket and drone plots
Jordan's security services say they have arrested 16 people suspected of plotting attacks inside the country involving rockets and drones. The General Intelligence Department said the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021 and their plans were aimed at "targeting national security, sowing chaos and sabotage". They involved possession of explosives and automatic weapons, the manufacture of rockets, the concealment of one rocket ready to be launched, a project to manufacture drones, and the training of individuals both in Jordan and abroad, it alleged. State media cited the government's spokesman as saying the suspects were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which denied any involvement. Communications Minister Mohammed al-Momani told reporters that the 16 suspects were divided into four cells with separate assignments, according to Petra news agency: The first cell, which had three main members who were arrested in 2023, transported and stored explosives, including TNT, C4 and Semtex, as well as automatic weapons smuggled from abroad, he said. A fourth member of the cell allegedly worked to conceal a Katyusha rocket equipped with a detonator in the south-western Marj al-Hamam neighbourhood of the capital, Amman. Momani said the rockets had a range of between three and five kilometres, which indicated that the suspects planned to target locations in Jordan The second three-member cell, which was arrested in February, had begun manufacturing short-range rockets and storing them in warehouses in Amman and the city of Zarqa, just to the north-east, he said, adding that they had received training and funding from abroad External parties were also allegedly supporting the third, four-member cell involved in the drone manufacturing project Momani said the fourth cell, with five members, had worked to recruit operatives to undergo illegal security training courses. All 16 suspects have been referred to the State Security Court on charges of violating the Anti-Terrorism law. Later, state-run Jordan Television broadcast what it said were confessions of eight of the suspects, six of whom said they were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Petra. A statement from the Brotherhood rejected what it called the "unjust accusations" made by Momani and insisted it had no links to, or knowledge of, the plots. The Islamist group – whose political arm, the Islamic Action Front, is the largest opposition group in parliament - also stressed that it "adhered to the national line" and "remained committed to its peaceful approach". Jordanian officials have previously accused the Brotherhood of instigating pro-Hamas protests with the aim of destabilising the kingdom, which borders Israel and several Arab states. More than half of Jordan's population is estimated to be of Palestinian origin, since the start of the Gaza war in 2023. Several suspects were also cited as saying that they had travelled to Lebanon to meet and undergo training with the person overseeing the plots. Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, told his Jordanian counterpart Jafar Hassan that it was ready to co-operate in tackling potential threats to their countries, Petra reported. Three Israelis shot dead at West Bank-Jordan crossing Israel arrests Jordan MP for alleged gun-smuggling Jordanian police die in shootout with suspect
