Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

Distraught families Muslim and Christian affected by bombing close to Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore (Image, EPA)

Pakistan Tehreek -e-Taliban Jamaat -ul-Ahrar (TTP JA) appears to have hardened its stance with the group’s latest suicide attack hitting families at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore, Punjab region during the Easter holiday week-end. At least 72 people were killed and over 300 injured on Sunday when an alleged suicide blast hit families at leisure in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore, Punjab region during the Easter holiday week-end. The explosion occurred in a car park close to a play area. The deceased included 29 children and 7 women. Although TTP JA stated their intent to target Christian families, according to some Pakistan media and reports coming from local hospitals, the majority of those killed appeared to be Muslim. Reuters reported,

“Eyewitnesses said they saw body parts strewn across the parking lot once the dust had settled after the blast.

‘When the blast occurred, the flames were so high they reached above the trees and I saw bodies flying in the air,’ said Hasan Imran, 30, a resident who had come to Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park for a walk.”

Aftermath of suicide bombing, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park Lahore (Image http://www.news.cn) 

According to Samaa TV, one young girl Afafa age 17 lost 13 members of her family in the attack, “Afafa was in the park along with her extended family when the blast occurred. She saw her parents and younger sister dying in front of her eyes and there was little she could do to save their lives.”

Calls went out on social media for blood donations which were quickly answered, blood of Christians going to Muslims and blood of Muslims going to Christians to save lives. When it mattered most many Pakistanis gave the most special gift of life to whoever needed it.

TTP claim of responsibility

Photo of suicide bomber who took the lives of Christian and Muslim families (Image via Ehsanullah Ehsan)

TTP JA statement admitting responsibility for the Lahore bombing was posted on a social media account in the name of TTP JA spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, it read,

“Martyrdom Mujahid, Salah ud din Khorasani

On 27th March 2016 on the occasion of Christian festival of Easter executed a martyrdom attack in Gulshan-e- Iqbal Park as per his wishes and to gain love of Allah sacrificed his life.

The responsibility of this is taken by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat- ul Ahrar.

Video will also be released soon Inshah Allah (God willing).

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Jamaat -ul Ahrar) “

End

Dawn media stated, “DCO Captain (Retd) Muhammad Usman said the head of the suicide bomber was recovered. Ball bearings were also found at the site.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave the following message reported in Express Tribune,

“It is imperative for us to win the war on terror. Our resolve as a nation and as a government is getting stronger and coward enemy is trying to hit soft targets.

Provinces should speed up intelligence based operation against terrorists. We must take this war to the doors of terror outfits before they are able to hit our innocent countrymen.”

Spokesman of “Jammat Ul Ahrar”, group claiming responsibility for Lahore bombing … account now suspended (Image via Harald Doornbos)

TTP JA threatened that war had come to the Prime Minister’s doorstep adding, “after the Lahore attack Nawaz Sharif has once again in a state of confusion narrated old sentimental words to give himself false consolation.”

Christians and Hindus are the largest minority groups in Pakistan, each representing about 1.6% of the population as highlighted by the BBC. Imran Khan, Chairman of political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said, “it is strictly against the teachings of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and basic principles of Islam.” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury – serving the Church of England and worldwide Anglican Communion stated, “we pray for the victims of Lahore to the crucified God who brings hope in despair, whose love is with the victims, who promises justice.”

Khajeel Mag tweeted an image of the park showing how it looked before the blast,

This beautiful Gulshan-e-IQBAL Park crushed Today in Lahore. Request to pray for those who Martyrs #LahoreBlast

Facebook activated its safety check facility for those in the area to determine that they were harmed in the incident, however it was also received by those thousands of miles away. FB later apologized stating,

“Unfortunately, many people not affected by the crisis received a notification asking if they were okay. This kind of bug is counter to our intent. We worked quickly to resolve the issue and we apologize to anyone who mistakenly received the notification.”

There was also advice to the media from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). Khalid Khan tweeted the following post,

Electronic Regulatory Body PEMRA issues advice to Pak media in wake of Karachi, Lahore events

Many people tweeted their messages of shock, anger and condolence,

Raza Ahmad Rumi,

This killed me: Newly married couple who lost their lives in the #LahoreAttack v @shemiparshad #LahoreBlast

Bernie Sanders, US politician,

We are grieving today for the families affected by the deplorable attack in Lahore. No one should ever fear taking their children to a park.

Zidi,

10-year old boy survived in bomb blast but Lost his father, Mother, Sister & Brother. Do You Still think Boy has Survived?

“In pics Islamabad, chaos due to protest by Sunni Tehreek, pics via Nadeem” (posted by Khalid Khan)

There was also unrest in Islamabad when demonstrators breached the Red Zone on Sunday evening.

Teargas was fired by police and a bus set alight as crowds took to the streets to protest the recent hanging of Mumtaz Qadri for the murder of Salman Taseer. The Punjab governor became a target after he defended a Christian woman in prison for blasphemy. The charge of blasphemy is sometimes seen as controversial as it is a law which has been used at times to frame people where someone has harboured a personal grudge. Dawn media reported,

“The protesters led by Sunni Tehreek (ST) and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool (SAW) leadership had arrived in the capital on Sunday to attend Qadri’s chehlum presented a charter of demand before the government and announced to stay in the Red Zone unless the government accepts these demands, which include implementation of Shariah in the country and declaring Mumtaz Qadri a martyr.”

Attacks were carried out against the press in Karachi with protesters complaining with regard to limited media coverage of Qadri. A media van was allegedly set alight according to Khalid Khan Cyber Journalist.

TTP JA earlier attack

TTP JA also consider Qadri a martyr and recently claimed responsibility for a “retaliation” suicide bomb attack on a sessions court in the Shabqadar area of Charsadda (7th March) in which at least 15 people were killed and over 2 dozen others including women and children injured. See following link,

“Pakistan: TTP JA claim responsibility for blast at Shabqadar sessions court, retaliation for hanging of Qadri”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/pakistan-ttp-ja-claim-responsibility-for-blast-at-shabqadar-sessions-court-retaliation-for-hanging-of-qadri/

TTP JA Polio fatwa

TTP have also hardened their stance on polio recently issuing a fatwa against the vaccination, see article below.

“Pakistan Taliban TTP JA posts fatwa stating mistrust of vaccine and behaviour of CIA!

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/pakistan-taliban-ttp-ja-posts-fatwa-stating-mistrust-of-vaccine-and-behaviour-of-cia/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Parveena Ahangar along with other Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) members during a sit-in in Srinagar.

(Photos: Bilal Bahadur/Kashmir Life)

Press Release
25 March 2016

On 21 March 2016, the International Criminal Court [ICC] convicted Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, a Congolese national, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by soldiers under his effective control between 2002 and 2003 in the Central African Republic. He is yet to be sentenced. On 24 March 2016, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia [ICTY] convicted and sentenced [40 years] Radovan Karadzic, President of Republic Srpska and Supreme Commander of the armed forces, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995.

Both judgments re-affirm the internationally recognized principle that it is not only the person who pulls the trigger or physically perpetrates crime that is culpable. Persons in power who control, order, incite, plan, and fail to stop crime, are the true perpetrators of crime, the most responsible, and must be held accountable. With the aid of legal principles such as command responsibility and joint criminal enterprise, the international community has strived to deliver justice for victims of horrific crimes by targeting, investigating and prosecuting the men and women at the top and at the helm of affairs.

In contrast to the movements for justice internationally, the Indian State has worked towards building structures of violence and impunity. In Jammu and Kashmir, 70,000+ killings, 8000+ enforced disappearances, mass torture and sexual violence, a majority committed by the armed forces, has resulted in zero prosecutions of armed forces personnel in civilian courts. A recent report by Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, “Structures of Violence: The Indian State in Jammu and Kashmir” documented 333 cases where 972 armed forces personnel are accused of committing serious crimes. Despite evidence, there have been no prosecutions in these cases, as the government through all its institutions is ensuring impunity for the culpable officials.

The reason for this absolute impunity is also due to the fact that many senior officials – political, military and police are individually and collectively responsible for the crimes. Ex-Chief of Police Kuldeep Khoda, Additional DG of Police SM Sahai, Ex-DIG Aashiq Bukhari, Ex-DIG Farooq Khan, Major General Ajay Saxena, Brigadier Deepak Bajaj, Colonel KS Dalal and many more senior officials amongst the Indian armed forces and police have directly been named in relationship to their role in various crimes.

The widespread and the systematic nature of the human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir and the absolute impunity granted to the culpable officials, is only possible if the political leadership were themselves involved in directing these crimes or through their acquiescence were allowing the armed forces to carry out the crimes. In any case, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, urge the international community to institute a similar mechanism to investigate the crimes perpetrated institutionally and systematically in Jammu and Kashmir. In any future credible investigation, the role of Governors of Jammu and Kashmir from Jagmohan to N. N. Vohra, Chief Ministers like Farooq Abdullah, Mufti Sayed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah and most importantly the people at the helm of affairs of the Indian army and the overall military apparatus, like the Prime Ministers and the Home Ministers of India will definitely come under scrutiny.

Spokesperson
Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan makes use of all pathways available aimed at freeing its Mujahideen prisoners and prisoner exchange is an option amongst them.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has a Commission for Management and Release of Prisoners Affairs in its organizational structure tasked with looking after the affairs of its own as well as enemy prisoners. Looking at the value of prisoner exchange, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has established special rules and regulations on top of the said Commission’s Layha (Legal Code) which makes it possible for both sides to carry out exchanges in a confident and reliable manner.

The remarks by the enemy a few days earlier about a possible exchange of its imprisoned soldiers for the former provincial governor for Faryab, the respected Qari Salahudeen Sahib (may Allah free him) in Faryab province are baseless and empty propaganda. In reality the enemy does not believe in prisoner exchange nor has it exerted any efforts in this regard. An example of this is when a number of enemy soldiers were imprisoned by the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate on 3^rd of Qaws 1394 Hijri Solar after a helicopter crashed in Faryab, the Islamic Emirate expressed its willingness about a possible prisoner exchange via local elders and tribal chiefs but the opposition did not show any interest either because they do not have authorization or they do not care about the life and release of its personnel.

Similarly the officials of Islamic Emirate have carried out preliminary talks with some impartial international organizations and expressed their willingness for prisoner exchange in a principled framework.

Here through this statement we once again declare that the Islamic Emirate believes in prisoner exchanges with our enemies within the framework of our principles and is ready to participate in such a process.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi

14/06/1437 Hijri Lunar

04/01/1395 Hijri Solar                    23/03/2016 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

“Blood for Blood” (posted by IS supporter) 

In recent days, Amaq media which reports news from the Islamic State (IS) claimed Coalition airstrikes had targeted the University of Mosul, Iraq, dated 20th March 2016. A video was released entitled, “Mosul – First Instants of the American Bombing on the Majmu’ah Yesterday”. Mosul is known as a public university and one of the largest educational and research centers in the Middle East. It is the second largest university in Iraq after the University of Baghdad.

Video footage from Amaq showed a man pointing to the sky, aircraft could be heard, terrified cries, car horns and huge clouds of smoke and dust rising above the university building. Bodies could be seen on the ground amidst the debris.

A further news post under “headlines” was published within the last 24 hours entitled, “Breaking: 6 women and 2 children killed by US airstrikes on faculty housing inside Mosul.”

CNN claimed,

“CNN confirmed the strikes with two sources: someone inside Mosul University and with Athil Al Nujayfi, the former governor of Nineveh province, where Mosul is located.

Nujayfi, who says he maintains a network of contacts and a militia loyal to him inside Mosul, said 17 senior ISIS fighters and numerous local leaders were killed in the strikes, which he called a “blow” to the terror group.”

Iraqi News also reported the strikes stating, “The coalition aircraft targeted a security headquarters belonging to ISIS in the University of Mosul, killing dozens of ISIS members, including Arab and foreign nationalities.”

However the question remains… how could Coalition forces justify targeting a university which is utilized as a main learning resources for thousands of civilians, students, lecturers and houses administration and support staff who may or may not support the Islamic State? Isn’t this a war crime?

Mosul University before the airstrikes (posted by Dr Dahlia Wasfi, from @MousaAlomar)

Mosul University following alleged Coalition airstrike

(posted by Dr Dahlia Wasfi from @MousaAlomar)

Dr Dahlia Wasfi, Iraqi-American physician and peace activist posted two “before and after” photographs on Facebook showing the devastation, writing the following,

“This past weekend marked the 13th anniversary of the start of the illegal Shock and Awe invasion of Iraq. Yesterday, an American plane dropped a bunker buster bomb on a women’s dormitory at Mosul University, in the name of targeting ISIS. Scores dead and injured. Shock and Awe continues.”

Asghar Bukhari founding member of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK stated,

“As the wall to wall coverage about Brussels dominates the airwaves, guess who murdered 40 students in a University?

40 dead Muslim students murdered in a class room – that’s not terrorism, that’s fighting terrorism!”

Maghrebi tweeted,

Coalition airstrike on the University of #Mosul captured live on camera. Where’s the world?

Mosul Eye which is anti-IS news site alleged the following regarding the strikes on Mosul University (this could not be independently verified),

The targets were as follows:

– The University’s headquarters – the new building:
ISIL uses it as a command center for its intelligence operations. It is totally destroyed and about 8 of ISIL Intel and militia leaders and 18 fighters at this site.

– The University mall building:
ISIL uses it as the central communication center. ISIL’s communication Commander and 8 other fighters were killed and totally destruction of ISIL’s modern telecommunications equipment in addition to the spare Albayan Radio database were all destroyed.

– Marriage and Contracts center:
Behind Alkarama Cafe, a building ISIL uses to conduct marriage deeds, where three of ISIL’s Shar’i leaders and six other fighters were killed.

– Ammunition manufacture workshop at the university’s old headquarters and the girls’ college of education:
Total destruction of the building and large supplies of equipment and ammunition were destroyed and six of ISIL’s fighters were killed at the site.

– Alhisba center:
One of ISIL’s offices inside the university of Mosul, totally destroyed and three of Alhisba leaders and nine fighters were killed.

Civilian casualties:
12 dead
87 injured

End

———————

Islamic State emphasise the civilian casualties but their status with regard to IS role at the university could not be independently determined.

Names of alleged victims

Dr. Dhafir Ramadan Matar Albadrani, alleged victim of air strikes on Mosul University (Mosul Eye)

The strikes took place in broad daylight when the university would have been most heavily used. If the civilian casualties figures are correct, it is a huge price to pay for taking out alleged IS operatives. Mosul Eye also claimed, “Dr. Dhafir Ramadan Matar Albadrani, the former dean of the College of Computer and Arithmetic sciences and his wife were among the fallen civil causalities of today’s air strike at the professor’s residential buildings behind the university of Mosul.”

Ashraf, father of 2 children, worked at a call phone store near Mosul University (Via @zyaad_alsenjary )

Professor Qusai, Dep. of languages & literature, Mosul University.. (Via@sonawa1 )

Alleged war crimes?

TeleSUR also reported on the Mosul airstrikes quoting the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Convention in relation to protecting civilians in conflict zones that should not be deliberately targeted. Where combatants are suspected to be embedded with civilians, the emphasis is on protecting civilians. TeleSUR reported,

“Chris Woods, director of the Monitoring Group, Airwars told TeleSUR his group had seen, ‘credible evidence of 25 or more than civilians killed’ in the March 19th attack which he said was ‘shocking in its ferocity and reckless in its apparent disregard for human life”

Colonel Steve Warren, spokesperson for the US Coalition was also reported by TeleSUR stating that if there was “credible evidence” of allegations in relation to civilian casualties at Mosul, the information would be reviewed and investigated further.

See “Did the US just admit to carrying out war crimes in Iraq?”

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/Did-the-US-Just-Admit-to-Carrying-Out-War-Crimes-in-Iraq-20160322-0040.html

Was Brussels retaliation for Mosul University attack?

Mosul University after alleged Coalition airstrikes

(Image via Amer Al-Kubaisi)

Prior to the Brussels attacks, IS were keen to highlight the attack on civilians in Mosul to media claiming western double standards on human rights, that a Muslim life was not treated as equal to the lives of non-Muslims. It is well documented that the US have bombed and droned weddings, funerals, hospitals, clinics, schools with a muted reaction from the west. One recent example was the bombing of Kunduz hospital in Afghanistan where patients were recently burnt alive in their beds following airstrikes see following link,

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO’s headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels where the Supreme Allied Commander also resides. Belgium is also a hub of the arms trade. Belgium has also become a key location for IS fighters residing in Europe. Statista graph shows the estimated number of IS fighters in the country compared to others in Europe, see below.

Yesterday Brussels was hit by deadly blasts at at Zaventem international airport Brussels shortly before 8am and a further blast at Maalbeek metro station soon after which left at least 34 dead and over 200 injured. See following link for full story,

“Brussels: Islamic State claim responsibility for 2 explosions at Zaventem airport and explosion at Maalbeek metro”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/brussels-islamic-state-claim-responsibility-for-2-explosions-at-zaventem-airport-and-explosion-at-maalbeek-metro/

Although the recently IS statement did not specifically name the airstrikes on Mosul University in their official statement on Brussels, the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in last year’s Paris attacks in the Belgian capital and the killing of civilians in Mosul may have spurred on IS to speed up execution of their terror campaign. They targeted “crusader Belgium, which has not ceased to wage war against Islam and its people.”

IS promise “black days for all crusader nations allied in their war against the Islamic State, in response to their aggressions against it.” Mosul and Brussels were being linked on a number of IS related sites and accounts with comments as follows, ” the Brussels attack was the answer to the mosul attack …..” “blood for blood”, “eye for an eye”

IS statement on Brussels attacks

There are areas of the world such as Mosul that may be difficult to monitor in relation to news. It is hard to verify independently information coming from the city. There are valid concerns that this may also be seized as an opportunity by the west for indiscriminate bombing in attempts to disable IS. The Brussels attack had 24 hour in depth media coverage reaching around the globe. In comparison Mosul University was barely featured.

Today (Wednesday 23rd March) Dr Wasfi posted additional information she had received from Mosul,

“UPDATED INFORMATION from contacts in Mosul: the airstrikes at the University hit administrative headquarters; the College of Science; University publishing center; women’s dormitory; vocational high school within the campus; and the women’s education college. The impact of the massive explosions also caused death and destruction in restaurants and shops in front of the university.”

What constitutes enough credible evidence to warrant an investigation? How many more attacks on civilians are going unnoticed and who will ensure accountability for upholding the rights of the most vulnerable within hard to reach conflict zones?

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Passengers fleeing the airport building at Zaventem following blast

(Image via 32.4 cat) 

Islamic State have allegedly claimed responsibility for explosions at Zaventem international airport Brussels shortly before 8am and a further blast at Maalbeek metro station soon after which left at least 34 dead and nearly 200 injured.

Islamic State claim via Almaq News

Brussels – Amaq Agency: Islamic State fighters carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices on Tuesday, targeting an airport and a central metro station in the center of the Belgian capital Brussels, a country participating in the international coalition against the Islamic State.

Islamic State fighters opened fire inside Zaventem Airport, before several of them detonated their explosive belts, as a martyrdom bomber detonated his explosive belt in the Maalbeek metro station. The attacks resulted in more than 230 dead and wounded.

End

——————————-

How the attack unfolded

Passenger cower on the floor of the airport (Image via Guardian)

Belgium media initially put out an unconfirmed report that a “suicide attack” shook the airport building located 7 miles from the city which handles around 23 million passengers a year according to the BBC. Telegraph stated, “Eyewitnesses said the first blast took place at an excess baggage payment order, and the other near to a Starbucks cafe.” The attacks claimed 20 lives on the metro and 14 at the airport. A third device did not go off and was detonated by controlled explosion.

Footage emerged of passengers cowering in shock behind their luggage not knowing if more explosions would follow, others travellers could be seen fleeing in terror. Dazed passengers were guided on to the tarmac by airport staff and were later removed to a nearby crisis centre by a fleet of buses. Brussels is now in lockdown. Flights have been cancelled or diverted to other airports with instructions put out by authorities not to come to the airport. Trains in the vicinity have also been stopped.

Aftermath of explosions at Zaventem (Image via WikiIsrael)

Sky News reported that shots were fired and shouting heard in Arabic (unconfirmed) before a blast near to an American Airlines in the Departure hall. A Kalashnikov weapon was found next to the body of an alleged attacker. Smoke could be seen rising from an airport, photographs taken inside revealed a scene of devastation, broken plate glass windows and the floor covered in ceiling tiles, bodies and blood.

Scene after attack on Zaventem (Image via Ahan Demir)

Person injured at the airport (Ketevan Kardava, AP) 

Windows shattered by blast at Zaventem (via Telegraph)

Ceiling tiles cover the floor of Zaventem airport following blast (Image via Jef Versele)

Belgium authorities have now raised the terror level to maximum. The country was already on high alert following the arrest of Saleh Abdeslam and several other suspects in relation to the attacks in Paris (November 2015) which left 130 dead, see following link,

“Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam shot and arrested in Brussels”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/18/paris-attacks-suspect-salah-abdeslam-wounded-in-brussels-terror-raid-reports

Max Abrams tweeted,

Belgian Minister of Interior said Monday: “We know that stopping one cell can… push others into action. We are aware of it in this case.”

Carriage devastated by blast at Maalbeek metro ( Image via @alxdm) 

An explosion was also heard later at Maalbeek metro station near to European Union with casualties seen being attended to outside the station. At least 10 people are thought to have died with 55 injured. A Loud muffled thud was reported and the station evacuated see following link,

http://www.transport-online.nl/site/69859/mogelijke-tweede-aanslag-brussel-metrostation-maalbeek/

Evacuation after explosion at Brussels metro (via Evan Lamos)

Evan Lamos, Freelance multimedia communication in Brussels, Belgium who was caught up in the metro attack at Maalbeek near to European Commission tweeted the following ,

On the Metro between Schuman and Maelbeek. We have just been stopped due to an “incident on the line”. Can hear soft thudding in distance.

We felt a blast of air and my ears popped shortly after leaving Schuman station. The Metro stopped immediately.

Can still hear soft thudding in the distance

We are being evacuated from the back of the Metro, between Schuman and Maelbeek.

Smoke in the tunnel as we evacuate.

Just arrived at Schuman station after walking on the tracks.

Gare Centrale now evacuated and locked down after #Zaventem and metro bombings (Image, Danielle Schwarzer) 

Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium tweeted,

I strongly condemn these hateful attacks. Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families. We stand united against terrorism.

Jon Williams, Editor/Foreign Editor tweeted the following images,

Belgian federal police spox confirms to @ABC photo shows possible suspects from #BrusselsAirport attack. (Jon Williams, ABC) An alert has now gone out for the man in the white jacket according to Sky News

WH releases photo of Obama & @AmbassadorRice being briefed on #BrusselsAttacks inside secure room in #Havana, #Cuba.

(Jon Williams, ABC)

All metro stations are now closed and travel via the Euro Tunnel is suspended. US Embassy Brussels Emergency Security Message stated, “the U.S. Embassy recommends sheltering in place and avoiding all public transportation.” Security at nuclear plants has also increased according to news agency Belga with reports of Tihange nuclear plant being evacuated. Yahoo reported, “in February, investigators probing the Paris attacks found video footage of a senior Belgian nuclear official at the property of a key suspect.”

An additional 225 soldiers are being sent to Brussels which as Rukmini Callimachi, Correspondent for The New York Times, focusing on al-Qaeda and ISIS pointed out,

“has been an ISIS hotbed since 2011/2012. More jihadists per capita have gone to Syria from Belgium than from any other European country.”

Posted by an IS supporter

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted,

PM: I have chaired a meeting of Cobra – we are increasing police presence at ports, airports, Tube stations & international railway stations

PM: The terrorists behind today’s atrocities attack our way of life and they attack us because of who we are. We will never let them win.

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Brussels.

Mohammad Matter a Gazan living in Berlin posted the following statement on Facebook,

“Excuse me but there are 10 of children getting killed in yemen everyf……day.
Where is the media and the human outrage?
Why is it only when someone dies in Europe everyone Starts speaking up?
Am sorry ‪#‎Brussels‬. i swear, i feel bad for what has happened today and we condemn and reject such madness but our lives and the lives of our children should matter and should worth as much as yours.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Anger on the streets of Sanaa at Saudi led Coalition killing of civilians in airstrikes

(Image via Nasser Arrabyee)

Crowds of demonstrators took to the streets of Sanaa on 18th March led by Ansar Allah (Houthis) to protest at the high number of civilian casualties as a result of Saudi Coalition airstrikes over Yemen, labelling attacks as alleged “war crimes”. Two missiles caused devastation on Tuesday hitting the busy Al Khamis market in the Mustaba district of Hajja province killing 119 people with a further 47 injured.

Nasser Arrabyee, Yemeni Journalist, Film-maker, Owner and Director of Media Production Company (Yemen Alaan, meaning Yemen now) posted the following photographs of Al Khamis market bombing on Twitter showing remains of bodies and shattered buildings. 

Images via Nasser Arrabyee

Zeid Raad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told the BBC,

“Looking at the figures, it would seem that the coalition is responsible for twice as many civilian casualties as all other forces put together, virtually all as a result of air strikes,”

“They have hit markets, hospitals, clinics, schools, factories, wedding parties – and hundreds of private residences in villages, towns and cities including the capital, Sanaa.”

“Despite plenty of international demarches, these awful incidents continue to occur with unacceptable regularity.”

Nasser Arrabyee tweeted, “yesterday I spoke to Yemen-based UN chief Jamie McGoldrick about US-backed Saudi war crimes in Yemen: watch” (see following video link)

Demonstrators against arms to Saudi Arabia killing civilians in Yemen

(via Nasser Arrabyee)

There were demonstrations also outside Downing Street to highlight the British government’s role in arms trade with Saudi Arabia. Those participating wore white space suits and carried mock arms. As well as conventional weapons there have been major concerns regarding the use of cluster bombs (banned in many countries) and chemical weapons in the region.

Back in January according to the Independent, research by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) showed that, “the Conservative government has licenced £5.6bn in sales of arms, fighter jets and other military hardware to Saudi Arabia since David Cameron came to power.” This included selling Saudi 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and “major deals between Saudi Arabia and British companies include a £1.6bn agreement for Hawk fighter jets and bulk sales of machine guns, bombs and tear gas” see following link for full story,

“UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia ‘worth £5.6bn under David Cameron'”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-has-sold-56bn-of-military-hardware-to-saudi-arabia-under-david-cameron-research-reveals-a6797861.html

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

HELMAND, Mar. 21 – Reports arriving from Gerishk district say that foreign invaders accompanied by their hirelings carried out a raid on a Mujahideen prison at midnight in Shoraki area.

The cowardly enemy martyred 7 remand prisoners, injured 5 and abducted 8 others from the prison from which political prisoners (hireling soldiers) were already transfered by Mujahideen to a different location.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

URUZGAN, Mar. 20 – Officials reporting from Char Chino district say that the operation launched by Mujahideen on Sunday in Hoshi area located 2 km from the district administration center was paused at 04:00 am local time today.

Enemy claims that they have retaken the said area and inflicted heavy casualties on Mujahideen are baseless, the only change in the situation is that of US-nato choppers hovering in the sky.

Only 3 Mujahideen have been injured in the entire fighting while 3 enemy check posts and a base have also been overrun with 4 enemy corpses still laying in side the base, reports say adding that a mortar tube with 80 rounds, Dshk heavy machine gun, 82mm recoilless rifle with 100 rounds, 8 US rifles, 100 RPG rounds and a sizable amount of other equipment was seized.

Similarly 16 police officers along with 2 commanders repented their mistakes and surrendered to Mujahideen, bringing in all their weapons, ammunition.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

URUZGAN, Mar. 20 – Reports from Char Chino district  say that a few moments earlier Mujahideen managed to overrun a strategic enemy outpost Du Sung Kotal area of Hoshi region, causing the enemy heavy casualties and seizing a sizable amount of arms and equipment.

It must be mentioned this operation on enemy positions in Hoshi region about 3 KM from Char Chino district center was launched by Mujahideen at 04:00 am this morning in which 3 check posts and a base have so far been overrun.

More details about the operation will be updated as information arrives.

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

John Cantlie reporting from the site of a ruined IS media kiosk in Mosul,Iraq

British journalist John Cantlie appears in a newly released 3 minute 36 second video from the Islamic State, A’maq Agency reporting from the city of Mosul in Iraq. Cantlie was captured in Syria in November 2012 on a reporting assignment along with American journalist James Foley who was later beheaded in a gruesome video in August 2014.

Stills from the video which appeared on Twitter

Cantlie highlights that the US are using their 30 million dollar F18s and 100, 000 dollar missile systems not to target tanks, truck or even the mujahideen but Islamic State media kiosks. He points out that these 50 dollar structures are there to distribute information on IS to the public and are situated in the centre of busy residential and business areas putting civilians at risk. The video shows Cantlie on the site of a demolished kiosk where he mocks that with all the might of US weaponry, this is all they manage to target. He states, “and you know what’s really just amazing, given the amount of money that America is spending on this war, that it would go to the effort of destroying a small shack like this, in the middle of Mosul.” See video, below,

https://archive.org/details/1knt19032016

Cantlie has appeared in a number of IS videos and publications and last appeared in Dabiq publication 12, see link,

“John Cantlie writes from Islamic State, Paradigm Shift part II Dabiq”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/john-cantlie-writes-from-islamic-state-paradigm-shift-part-ii-dabiq-12/

Posted by Free John Cantlie showing John prior to his capture by IS

Posted by Miruna Armiono “I pray for his safe release. Everyday.”

In the most recent recent video Cantlie is dressed in black and appears pale and gaunt compared to the last time he appeared on camera. It is unclear whether IS are prepared to open channels of communication to discuss his release. Supporters continue to post daily, sharing their memories of the journalist, posting photographs, petitions to the British government and drawings featuring Cantlie.

A former captive of IS said, “I am optimistic that the lectures the captors have asked him to deliver will be a way for him to pay for his life since his government does not let him go in another way”. He described John as a “good guy” and hoped they would understand that he is “a good journalist, just doing his job and also very sincere”

Links

“John Cantlie writes from the Islamic State… what messages should we take from his article”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/john-cantlie-writes-from-islamic-state-what-messages-should-we-take-from-his-article/

“In the interests of free speech, John Cantlie writes from the Islamic State”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/in-the-interests-of-free-speech-john-cantlie-writes-from-islamic-state/

“John Cantlie: Paradigm shift written from Islamic State, Dabiq publication”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/john-cantlie-paradigm-shift-written-from-islamic-state-dabiq-publication/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.