
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 Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Police identify seven suspects in Post Office Horizon scandal inquiry
Police investigating the Post Office Horizon scandal have identified seven suspects, and more than 45 'people of interest'. Commander Stephen Clayman said police are 'making some real progress' but warned it would take time as they widen the investigation from people 'involved in the immediate decision-making'. Criminal trials stemming from the scandal might not get underway until 2028, he said. The investigation, known as Operation Olympos, is focusing on potential crimes of perjury and perverting the court of justice, linked to the wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters and the wider presentation of the Horizon IT system. More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Police have described the investigation as 'unprecedented in scope and size, with potentially more than 3,000 victims. The inquiry has gathered more than 1.5 million documents to be reviewed, and several forces across the UK are involved. No decision will be made over potential criminal charges until the public inquiry into the scandal has published its final report and investigators have 'thoroughly reviewed' its contents. Former sub-postmaster Tim Brentnall told the BBC that victims were 'desperate to see some kind of accountability', but backed the need for police to 'do it properly'. In March 2024, the government passed historic legislation to clear wrongfully convicted individuals. According to the latest official figures, just over £1bn has been paid out in compensation to more than 7,300 claimants up to 2 June. Hundreds of sub-postmasters are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government saying that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts. The scandal is one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British legal history. A Post Office spokesperson said: 'Post Office has co-operated fully and openly with the Metropolitan Police since early 2020 to provide whatever information it needs for its investigations.'


Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Who's looking after your home this summer?
In the modern world, high-profile individuals aren't just securing their super-prime homes with more locks, higher fences or better CCTV, they're looking to protect their properties from digital break-ins too. 'It's about converged security, where physical security meets cyber security and human intelligence,' says Jack Charman, managing director of National Private Investigators. 'Security is extremely important to our clients, especially international buyers, in regard to both their person and homes,' says Rosy Khalastchy, head of Beauchamp Estates St John's Wood. 'This is especially so for those with large and detached houses, where primary security is the concern solely of the homeowner.' Jo Eccles, founder of buying agency Eccord, agrees. '[They're] much more security-conscious than they used to be, not just in terms of protection against break-ins but also in safeguarding their personal cyber-security. We'll often recommend to our buying clients that a specialist security survey is carried out to identify and rectify any weaknesses before they move into their new home, and that can include their digital domain.' The so-called 2016 'grandpa robbery' of Kim Kardashian in Paris, which saw £7.5m of her jewellery stolen, including a £3m engagement ring, is a good example of how digital and physical security are interconnected. 'During Paris Fashion Week, she posted photos of her jewellery and real-time updates of her location on social media. That information was enough,' says Charman. 'The attackers conducted hostile reconnaissance online, identified her security weaknesses, and struck when she was alone. The lesson? Even the best physical security can be undone by a careless post.' Since the incident, the TV star only has personal drivers, hires security guards to sleep outside her room and refuses to keep jewellery anywhere she's staying overnight. Closer to home, Petra Ecclestone and Frank Lampard were the victims of a £26m series of London celebrity burglaries that took place in December 2019 and, in May this year, PM Keir Starmer saw two of his homes targeted in an arson attack. 'Modern threats exploit the gaps between physical, digital, and human elements of security. It's these blind spots, the assumptions we make and the systems we overlook, that expose high-profile households to real danger,' adds Charman. While Charman can't divulge who his clients are, the services he provides to secure their homes, tech and possessions are extensive. 'Many breaches come from within. Whether intentional or not, household staff pose one of the biggest risks.' Along with comprehensive background checks before they're hired, staff are regularly reassessed, particularly if they exhibit any behavioural changes or financial distress. Part of this ongoing monitoring includes social media checks for red flags. 'Many of our clients have different alarm codes for their housekeeper, property manager, and anyone else who might be visiting the property, so they can see exactly when they arrived and left – and keep tabs on what they're doing while they're there,' explains Eccles. When it comes to protecting against external threats, there's been a growth in smart security in recent years. 'Today's break-ins don't always involve a crowbar. They happen through your doorbell or wifi network,' says Charman. 'Avoid Hikvision and similar systems; these brands have been linked to Chinese state surveillance and remote backdoor vulnerabilities.' As well as the obvious, using unique, complex passwords, app-based access controls and two-factor authentication, Charman helps clients create segmented networks, so there's one for smart home devices, one for personal use and one for guests, and set up end-to-end encrypted platforms for calls and emails of legal or financial importance. HNWIs still use traditional methods of security because the price of insuring their property has increased so significantly. 'House insurance is usually arranged ahead of exchange, so that will always raise questions about alarms, locks on the doors and windows, CCTV, safes and so on,' says Eccles. She flags that, in order to satisfy an insurer, anyone with £500,000 of jewellery is expected to have a grade 4 or 5 safe, which costs £20,000 to install somewhere discreet, such as behind a sliding panel or mirror. Some residents also employ private security patrols, particularly if they spend long periods abroad. 'We look after properties that are rarely used, where people have their main home overseas... We offer patrols or can go in and check that the place is secure,' says Geoff Davies of City Keyholding. Alongside this, they might also engage a maintenance company to be on hand, should there be a leak or fault that might damage the property while they're away. 'Much of our work is concentrated in SW3, in privately owned flats, houses and mews,' says Robin Westlotorn of Aspire Construction London. 'Our clients include high-profile footballers and horse-racing correspondents. We don't always get to meet them or get to know them, but we sign NDAs and can't photograph the properties.' While London's physical crime is on the wane, digital offences are up and HNWIs are targets because of their status, wealth, and online footprint. 'Threat actors now go to great lengths to gather information and plan targeted attacks. That means protecting the physical estate is only half the battle,' says Charman. 'The rapid spread of connected devices, smart tech, and online exposure has made the digital space just as vulnerable and often overlooked.'


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Counter-terror police make four arrests over RAF base break-in
Counter-terror police arrested four people in London and Newbury following damage to two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on 20 June. Three individuals, a 29-year-old woman and two men aged 36 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, while a 41-year-old woman was arrested for assisting an offender. The incident, which involved spraying paint on the military planes, was claimed by the campaign group Palestine Action. The Home Secretary announced a decision to proscribe Palestine Action, which will make supporting the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Liberty, have criticised the proscription, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the broad definition of terrorism.