Latest news with #DarrenCormack
Arab News
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UK bomb disposal expert injured in Gaza blast
LONDON: A bomb disposal expert from the UK has been injured in an explosion in Gaza. The unnamed 51-year-old was wounded at a UN facility in Deir Al-Balah on Wednesday. Four others were injured and a UN worker was killed in the incident. The Briton, who was working in Gaza as an explosive ordnance disposal expert for the Mines Advisory Group, was treated locally before being moved to a hospital in Israel. Darren Cormack, the charity's CEO, told the BBC that the man was conducting an explosive hazards assessment at a UN Office for Project Services facility when the explosion occurred. 'The UN has confirmed that today's incident did not occur in the course of normal EOD operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working,' Cormack said. 'It is shocking that a humanitarian facility should be subject to attacks of this nature and that humanitarian workers are being killed and injured in the line of duty.' Cormack added: 'Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law.' Health authorities in Gaza said the explosion was a result of Israeli military activity. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein posted on X: 'The circumstances of the incident are being investigated. We emphasize that the initial examination found no connection to IDF (Israel Defense Forces) activity whatsoever.' Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, told the BBC: 'We are making it clear that all military operations have to be conducted in a way that ensures that all civilians are respected and protected.' UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva said the explosion was 'not an accident' and described the situation in Gaza as 'unconscionable.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
British bomb disposal expert working for Manchester charity injured in Gaza explosion
A British bomb disposal expert has been injured in an explosion in Gaza during an attack on a UN facility, the charity he works for have said. Manchester-based Mines Advisory Group (MAG) said the 51-year-old is one of five people injured at the facility in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday morning. A UN worker was killed in the same blast. The charity said the man, an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) expert, was rushed to hospital in Gaza in an 'unknown' condition. He now has been taken to a hospital in Israel. They added their thoughts are with 'him, his family, and everyone affected'. READ MORE: Man forced to choke his own dog with his forearms during horrific 45-minute mauling READ MORE: MH370 'breakthrough' as scientist believes speck is plane missing since 2014 In a statement, MAG chief executive Darren Cormack said: "A MAG explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) expert on secondment to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is one of five people to have been injured in an explosion at a UNOPS facility in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, that also claimed the life of a UN worker. 'Our colleague, who is 51 and British, was conducting an explosive hazards assessment at a Unops building when the incident happened this morning. 'He was transferred to hospital in Gaza for treatment and has now been evacuated to a hospital in Israel. His condition is not known. 'We are in contact with both his family and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and doing everything we can to offer our support to them at this time." Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE He said MAG has been supporting UNMAS in Gaza since May, adding the injured Brit is 'vastly experienced' and has worked for MAG since 2008. "The UN has confirmed that today's incident did not occur in the course of normal EOD operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working," he continued. "It is shocking that a humanitarian facility should be subject to attacks of this nature and that humanitarian workers are being killed and injured in the line of duty. "Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law." The Israeli military, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes throughout Gaza since early on Tuesday, denied reports that it had targeted the UN compound and said the explosion was not caused by Israeli fire. Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X: "The circumstances of the incident are being investigated. "We emphasize that the initial examination found no connection to IDF activity whatsoever."
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
British bomb disposal expert injured in Gaza
A British bomb disposal expert has been injured in an attack on a UN facility in the Gaza Strip, the charity he works for has said. The 51-year-old, who was not named, was one of five people injured in an explosion that also killed a UN worker at the facility in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday morning, the Mines Advisory Group said. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary general, told BBC Newshour a full investigation into the incident would be needed. The Israeli military has denied reports it targeted the UN compound and has said the explosion was not caused by Israeli fire. Israel said earlier it was resuming fighting in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire - launching a wave of strikes that killed more than 400 people, according to the Palestinian territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The injured Briton is an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) expert who works for the Manchester-based mine clearance charity. The charity's chief executive, Darren Cormack, said the man had been conducting an explosive hazards assessment at a UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) building at the time of the incident. He was initially taken to hospital in Gaza for treatment and has since been moved to a hospital in Israel, Mr Cormack said. "The UN has confirmed that today's incident did not occur in the course of normal EOD operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working," he added. "It is shocking that a humanitarian facility should be subject to attacks of this nature and that humanitarian workers are being killed and injured in the line of duty," he said. "Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law." Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X: "The circumstances of the incident are being investigated. "We emphasize that the initial examination found no connection to IDF activity whatsoever." Gaza's health ministry blamed an Israeli strike for the attack. The UN's Farhan Haq told the BBC: "We are making it clear that all military operations have to be conducted in a way that ensures that all civilians are respected and protected." The head of the UNOPS, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said he believed the explosion was "not an accident", adding that the situation in Gaza was "unconscionable". The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as captives. Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says, and caused huge destruction to homes and infrastructure. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, called for "restraint" during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday night. "The Prime Minister underscored that he is deeply concerned by the return to fighting and urged for Israeli restraint," a Downing Street spokesperson said. UN says worker killed in Gaza as Israeli air strikes resume Why has Israel bombed Gaza and what next for ceasefire deal? 'Once again, fear has gripped the people' Aid workers killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza, charity tells BBC
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
British bomb disposal expert injured in Gaza
A British bomb disposal expert has been injured in an attack on a UN facility in the Gaza Strip, the charity he works for has 51-year-old, who was not named, was one of five people injured in an explosion that also killed a UN worker at the facility in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday morning, the Mines Advisory Group Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary general, told BBC Newshour a full investigation into the incident would be needed. The Israeli military has denied reports it targeted the UN compound and has said the explosion was not caused by Israeli fire. Israel said earlier it was resuming fighting in Gaza following a two-month ceasefire - launching a wave of strikes that killed more than 400 people, according to the Palestinian territory's Hamas-run health injured Briton is an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) expert who works for the Manchester-based mine clearance charity's chief executive, Darren Cormack, said the man had been conducting an explosive hazards assessment at a UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) building at the time of the incident. He was initially taken to hospital in Gaza for treatment and has since been moved to a hospital in Israel, Mr Cormack said."The UN has confirmed that today's incident did not occur in the course of normal EOD operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working," he added. "It is shocking that a humanitarian facility should be subject to attacks of this nature and that humanitarian workers are being killed and injured in the line of duty," he said. "Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law." Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X: "The circumstances of the incident are being investigated. "We emphasize that the initial examination found no connection to IDF activity whatsoever."Gaza's health ministry blamed an Israeli strike for the UN's Farhan Haq told the BBC: "We are making it clear that all military operations have to be conducted in a way that ensures that all civilians are respected and protected."The head of the UNOPS, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said he believed the explosion was "not an accident", adding that the situation in Gaza was "unconscionable".The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says, and caused huge destruction to homes and Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, called for "restraint" during a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday night."The Prime Minister underscored that he is deeply concerned by the return to fighting and urged for Israeli restraint," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
British charity worker injured in strike on UN facility in Gaza
A British charity worker has been injured in a fatal strike on a UN facility in the Gaza Strip, the demining charity he works for has said. The 51-year-old was among the five people injured in an explosion at a UN Office for Project Services (Unops) facility in Deir al-Balah that also killed a UN worker, Darren Cormack, the chief executive of the Mines Advisory Group (Mag) said in a statement. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer called for 'restraint' during a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening amid a renewed series of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. However, a spokesperson for Israel's military said it was not responsible for the Wednesday morning strike that left the British citizen injured. Mr Cormack said: 'Our colleague, who is 51 and British, was conducting an explosive hazards assessment at a Unops building when the incident happened this morning. 'He was transferred to hospital in Gaza for treatment and has now been evacuated to a hospital in Israel. His condition is not known. 'We are in contact with both his family and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and doing everything we can to offer our support to them at this time. The 51-year-old was seconded to the UN Mine Action Service at the time of the strike, Mr Cormack said, adding: 'The UN has confirmed that today's incident did not occur in the course of normal explosive ordnance disposal operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working. 'It is shocking that a humanitarian facility should be subject to attacks of this nature and that humanitarian workers are being killed and injured in the line of duty. 'Attacks against humanitarian premises are a breach of international law.' Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of Unops, declined to say who he thought had carried out the strike, but said the blast was not accidental or related to demining activity. The Israeli military, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes throughout Gaza since early on Tuesday, denied reports that it had targeted the UN compound and said the explosion was not caused by Israeli fire. I am horrified by the death and critical injuries of @UN @UNOPS colleagues when their compound was struck in Gaza today. I condemn all attacks against UN personnel and call for a full investigation. — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 19, 2025 Mr Moreira da Silva said strikes had hit near the compound on Monday before direct strikes on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, when the UN team member was killed and their British colleague injured. He said the agency had contacted the Israeli military after the first strike and confirmed that it was aware of the facility's location. Sir Keir spoke to Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday night and called for the ceasefire in Gaza to be reinstated. A Downing Street spokesperson added: 'The Prime Minister underscored that he is deeply concerned by the return to fighting and urged for Israeli restraint. 'The Prime Minister underlined the need for all parties to urgently come back to the table, so that a ceasefire could be reinstated to see all hostages released and an increase of aid into Gaza. 'Securing a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state was the only way forward, he added. 'The leaders looked forward to speaking soon.' The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, have been killed since Israel launched its new offensive on Tuesday, with 678 wounded. The Israeli military says it only strikes militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas. Nearly 49,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict, according to local health officials, and 90% of the population in the Gaza Strip has been displaced. The war erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. While most of the hostages have been released, 59 remain although more than half of those are believed to be dead.
