Netherlands nightclub standoff ends with hostages freed, suspect in custody - Al Jazeera English

Police said there was no indication of a ‘terrorist motive’ after four people were held in the town of Ede.

An hours-long standoff at a nightclub in the central Netherlands has ended with the release of all the hostages and a suspect in custody, Dutch police said.

“The last hostage has just been released. One person was arrested,” police said on X on Saturday.

The man walked out of the club in the town of Ede, before being ordered by armed police to kneel with his hands on his head. He was then handcuffed and led into a waiting police car.

Earlier, three young hostages walked out of the club with their hands above their heads. A fourth person was released shortly before the suspect was arrested. The hostages were all workers at the club.

Police had said earlier that several people were taken hostage in the building in the centre of Ede, located 85km (53 miles) southeast of Amsterdam.

“We are exceptionally happy that it ended this way. That the victims came out safely and that we were able to arrest this suspect without using violence,” said Marthyne Kunst, head of the regional public prosecutor’s office.

Police stand near the Cafe Petticoat nightclub, where people were taken hostage in Ede, the Netherlands, on March 30, 2024 [Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters]

There was no immediate word on a motive, but police and prosecutors said they did not believe it was a “terrorist” incident.

Police said the hostage-taker was armed with knives, and a backpack he carried was being examined amid reports he had threatened to use explosives.

Kunst told reporters that the man was known to law enforcement authorities and had previously been convicted of threatening behaviour. She gave no further details, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.

The suspect’s identity was not released. Ede Mayor Rene Verhulst said he was a Dutch citizen.

Authorities also released no details about the four hostages.

Verhulst said that after an emotionally charged morning, “everything is fine. The hostage-taker is arrested by the police and they are now speaking to him. And the hostages are free, they are very emotional.”

‘Confused’ man

Police said they had received reports of a potential hostage situation at 5:15am (04:15 GMT) on Saturday at the Cafe Petticoat, with local media saying a “confused” man burst in as staff were clearing up after a party.

Police spokesman Anne Jan Oosterheert said officers were on the scene within minutes, opening negotiations immediately with the man.

“Luckily, that all went well,” he said, declining to offer details of the negotiations.

The incident prompted a major deployment including riot police and explosives experts.

Police cleared the centre of the town and evacuated the residents of some 150 buildings near the cafe. Trains were diverted away from the town as a precaution.

Images from the scene showed police and firefighters on the streets in a cordoned-off area.

The Netherlands has seen a series of attacks but not on the scale of other European countries, such as France or the United Kingdom.

In 2019, the country was stunned by a shooting spree on a tram in the city of Utrecht that killed four people.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vbmV3cy8yMDI0LzMvMzAvc2V2ZXJhbC1wZW9wbGUtYmVpbmctaGVsZC1ob3N0YWdlLWluLWR1dGNoLXRvd24tcG9saWNlLXNhedIBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vYW1wL25ld3MvMjAyNC8zLzMwL3NldmVyYWwtcGVvcGxlLWJlaW5nLWhlbGQtaG9zdGFnZS1pbi1kdXRjaC10b3duLXBvbGljZS1zYXk?oc=5

2024-03-30 13:40:37Z
CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vbmV3cy8yMDI0LzMvMzAvc2V2ZXJhbC1wZW9wbGUtYmVpbmctaGVsZC1ob3N0YWdlLWluLWR1dGNoLXRvd24tcG9saWNlLXNhedIBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vYW1wL25ld3MvMjAyNC8zLzMwL3NldmVyYWwtcGVvcGxlLWJlaW5nLWhlbGQtaG9zdGFnZS1pbi1kdXRjaC10b3duLXBvbGljZS1zYXk

Standoff at Dutch nightclub ends with hostages freed, suspect in custody - Al Jazeera English

Police said ‘no indication of terrorist motive’ but did not say how many people were held.

An hours-long standoff at a nightclub in the central Netherlands has ended with the release of all the hostages and a suspect in custody, Dutch police said.

“The last hostage has just been released. One person was arrested, we cannot give more information at the moment,” police said on X on Saturday.

The man walked out of the club in the town of Ede, before being ordered by armed police to kneel with his hands on his head. He was then handcuffed and led into a waiting police car.

Police had said earlier that several people were taken hostage in the building in the centre of Ede, located 85km (53 miles) southeast of Amsterdam.

There was “no indication of a terrorist motive”, police said.

Three hostages were subsequently released but police said at the time that “the situation is not over yet”.

It was not immediately known how many people were held captive.

Police stand near the Cafe Petticoat nightclub, where several people were taken hostage in Ede, the Netherlands, on March 30, 2024 [Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters]

The hostages were held at the Cafe Petticoat nightclub by a man with weapons and explosives, national newspaper De Telegraaf reported, citing several anonymous sources.

Officers evacuated 150 homes near a central square, saying there was a person in the area “who could be a danger to themself or others”.

A reporter for broadcaster NOS said a remote-controlled robot was at the scene as well as anti-explosives units and police in protective gear. Images from the scene in Ede showed police and firefighters on the streets in a cordoned-off area.

Authorities called on residents to avoid the town centre. Trains to and from Ede were cancelled, railway operator NS said on its website.

The municipality said all shops in the centre of Ede would remain closed.

The Netherlands has seen a series of attacks but not on the scale of other European countries, such as France or the United Kingdom.

In 2019, the country was stunned by a shooting spree on a tram in the city of Utrecht that killed four people.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vbmV3cy8yMDI0LzMvMzAvc2V2ZXJhbC1wZW9wbGUtYmVpbmctaGVsZC1ob3N0YWdlLWluLWR1dGNoLXRvd24tcG9saWNlLXNhedIBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vYW1wL25ld3MvMjAyNC8zLzMwL3NldmVyYWwtcGVvcGxlLWJlaW5nLWhlbGQtaG9zdGFnZS1pbi1kdXRjaC10b3duLXBvbGljZS1zYXk?oc=5

2024-03-30 13:18:45Z
CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vbmV3cy8yMDI0LzMvMzAvc2V2ZXJhbC1wZW9wbGUtYmVpbmctaGVsZC1ob3N0YWdlLWluLWR1dGNoLXRvd24tcG9saWNlLXNhedIBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFsamF6ZWVyYS5jb20vYW1wL25ld3MvMjAyNC8zLzMwL3NldmVyYWwtcGVvcGxlLWJlaW5nLWhlbGQtaG9zdGFnZS1pbi1kdXRjaC10b3duLXBvbGljZS1zYXk

Baltimore Key Bridge collapse latest news: Massive crane arrives to haul wreckage - The Independent

Baltimore to receive $60 million in federal funds to rebuild

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Enormous cranes have started to arrive in Baltimore to help clear the wreckage after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge — an essential step before recovery efforts to find the missing construction workers continue, officials say.

A massive cleanup operation is now underway to clear the wreckage of the bridge from the river, with huge crane ships, and thousands of relief workers headed for Baltimore.

One of the cranes, the Chesapeake 1000, is capable of lifting 1,000 tonnes — but the bridge is estimated to weigh around three or four times that, so it will need to be cut into sections, Maryland governor Wes Moore said.

Mr Moore surveyed the scene and saw shipping containers ripped apart “like papier-mache.”

To understand the scale the teams are working with, the governor said that the freight was roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower.

“The best minds in the world” are working on the plans for removal, Mr Moore said.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden said on Friday he will go to Baltimore next week.

He also announced he has approved $60m in initial aid to rebuild the bridge.

1711803600

Fundraisers garner $200k for families of victims

One GoFundMe page raised over $98,000 in just nine hours.

The fundraiser, organised by the volunteer group Latino Racial Justice Circle, explained that the cash would be “distributed directly” to the “families of the victims” of the bridge collapse.

Eight construction workers, employed by Brawners Builders, were filling potholes in the early hours of 26 March, when the Dali container ship lost power and rammed into the bridge, causing them to fall into the Patapsco River.

While early search efforts led to the safe rescue of two men, six others were killed in the accident.

All of the missing men from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Col Roland Butler Jr of Maryland State Police said at a press conference.

The organisers of the fundraiser wrote, “We know that the 6 victims were all Latino immigrants,” some of whom “were supporting partners and children in the Southeast Baltimore and Dundalk communities.”

“As they move forward with their shock and grief, the families will need support with basic needs, such as rent, groceries, and utilities,” they wrote.

Read the full story...

Kelly Rissman30 March 2024 13:00

1711801800

Baltimore Key Bridge worker reveals last-minute shift change saved his life

A construction worker from Baltimore has revealed how he narrowly escaped the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse thanks to a last-minute change in his work shift.

Moises Diaz, a 45-year-old worker at Brawny Builders, told the New York Post that he should have been working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday morning but asked to switch his shift.

“If I didn’t ask to switch, I would have been in the water right now,” Mr Diaz said through a translator.

“It’s tragic,” Mr Diaz continued. “I’m really appreciative that I wasn’t on the bridge. I give thanks to God.”

Mr Diaz’s colleagues weren’t so lucky.

Amelia Neath has the full story...

Kelly Rissman30 March 2024 12:30

1711800000

Clearing the debris could take a while, expert says

Officials announced that the search efforts have concluded and they have now moved into the clean-up process.

“This is daunting. This is complicated,” Maryland Gov Wes Moore said about the start of the process. He did not provide a timeline for how long it would take, but warned: Our timeline will be long...People should rest assured we are going to get this done.”

The process could take “a few weeks,” James Bell, president of Chicago-based company ADCO Environmental Services, told the Washington Post.

“The hazmat crew always goes in after the emergency responders,” Mr Bell said.

“You have to remove the hazards, so that when you bring your new workers in to start removing the bridge, they’re not in harm’s way.”

Kelly Rissman30 March 2024 12:00

1711798200

ICYMI: The timeline of the events before the crash

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have unveiled a more precise timeline of exactly what happened in the runup to the cargo ship’s brutal collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Here’s the NTSB’s revised timeline of the disaster, given in hours, minutes and seconds after experts’ first full day examining the scene on Wednesday:

12.39am: Dali container ship departs from Seagirt Marine Terminal.

1.07am: It enters Fort McHenry Channel.

1.24.59am: Numerous audible alarms recorded on ship’s bridge audio. Voyage data recorder (VDR) stops recording the vessel’s system data, although it is able to continue taping audio from alternative power source.

1.26.02am: VDR resumes recording ship’s system data after glitch. Steering commands and orders regarding its rudder captured on audio.

1.26.39am: Pilot issues very high frequency (VHF) radio call to nearby tugboats requesting assistance for the stricken vessel. Pilot association dispatcher also notifies Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) duty officer regarding blackout, according to data from latter organisation.

1.27.04am: Pilot orders ship’s port anchor to be dropped and issues additional steering commands.

1.27.25am: Pilot issues radio call over VHF radio, reports that vessel has lost all power and is approaching bridge. Transit authority duty officer radios two of its units — one on each side of bridge — that are already on scene and orders them to close traffic. All lanes shut down.

1.29am: Ship’s speed recorded at just under 8 miles per hour. VDR records 33 seconds of sound consistent with vessel’s smash with bridge. MDTA dash cameras meanwhile capture bridge lights going out.

01.29.39am: Pilot radios US Coast Guard to report bridge is down.

Stuti Mishra30 March 2024 11:30

1711796400

In photos: the scene of the collapse

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Kelly Rissman30 March 2024 11:00

1711794677

Watch: Massive crane arrives to haul wreckage

The largest crane on the US eastern seaboard has been called in to help clear the wreckage of Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Shipments in and out of one of America’s busiest ports are suspended while the wreckage hangs over the cargo ship that crashed into it.

Crews were still surveying the damage as of midday on Friday 29 March and a search for the bodies of four workers remains on hold because of the dangers of diving amongst the wreckage.

The crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons, arrived late Thursday night and is expected to start hauling debris out of the water on Saturday morning.

A cargo ship crashed into the Key Bridge early on Tuesday, sending the structure tumbling into the Patapsco River.

Watch here:

Largest crane on eastern seaboard in place to clear wreckage of Baltimore bridge

The largest crane on the US eastern seaboard has been called in to help clear the wreckage of Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Shipments in and out of one of America’s busiest ports are suspended while the wreckage hangs over the cargo ship that crashed into it. Crews were still surveying the damage as of midday on Friday 29 March and a search for the bodies of four workers remains on hold because of the dangers of diving amongst the wreckage. The crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons, arrived late Thursday night and is expected to start hauling debris out of the water on Saturday morning. A cargo ship crashed into the Key Bridge early on Tuesday, sending the structure tumbling into the Patapsco River.

Stuti Mishra30 March 2024 10:31

1711794637

Construction worker ‘miraculously’ survives Baltimore bridge collapse without knowing how to swim

A construction worker who was part of the team on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed early on Tuesday morning in Baltimore, miraculously survived the incident despite not knowing how to swim.

Julio Cervantes’ and seven other workers from Mexico and Central America were taking a break inside their cars just moments before the bridge collapsed around 1:30am.

Mr Cervantes and another man were rescued the same day. The remains of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, were recovered by searchers.

He was taken to the hospital with a chest wound and was released the same day

“My husband doesn’t know how to swim. It is a miracle he survived,” the wife of Cervantes, who did not wish to reveal her name, told NBC.

Stuti Mishra30 March 2024 10:30

1711792800

ICYMI: Four bodies remain unaccounted for

Four bodies are still missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday morning.

Divers found the two victims trapped in a red pickup truck a little before 10 am on Wednesday in about 25 feet of water around the bridge’s middle span.

They were identified as construction workers Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk, Maryland.

Meanwhile, four other missing construction workers remain unaccounted for.

On Tuesday, officials said two people had been rescued alive from the water. One was uninjured while the other was in a serious condition.

Kelly Rissman30 March 2024 10:00

1711791037

Trump criticised for staying silent on Baltimore bridge collapse

Since Tuesday night when a cargo ship slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six people, all immigrants, Mr Trump has only posted one clip of Sean Hannity criticising President Joe Biden for making only a brief remark and "making it all about himself by mentioning his personal connection".

Mr Trump, who is usually known for his consistent and repeated posts on social media on any topic in the national news, is being criticised for remaining largely silent.

Republican strategist Scott Reed said this silence from Mr Trump is "a little weird," journalist Mike Sington shared on Twitter.

"It was a national tragedy, it’s going to cost $2 billion, it’s going to screw up a lot of people’s lives and impact goods travelling around the world," Mr Reed said, according to Mr Sington's post on X.

"At a minimum, express sympathy toward the poor six men that died that were doing their jobs on the midnight shift, keeping commerce flowing.”

Stuti Mishra30 March 2024 09:30

1711789518

Transport secretary responds to 'wild conspiracy theories' over Baltimore bridge collapse

Transport secretary Pete Buttigieg said the "misinformation or disinformation" spreading on social media following the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse has been "upsetting" for his department.

Speaking with Kaitlan Collins on CNN, the transport secretary said his department was not in the habit of dealing with rampant conspiracies or "that kind of wild thinking".

"But unfortunately, it is a fact of life in America today," he said.

"What's really upsetting of course is that when misinformation or disinformation circulates that is not without victims."

Speculations about how the bridge collapsed and what happened in the final hours have ranged from cyber attacks to the captain of the ship having side-effects from Covid vaccine, Ms Collins said.

Mr Buttigieg said what his department needs right now is "good and factual information".

"We as a department need good factual information about how this happened so that we can include that in future decisions on everything from maritime and shipping policy to bridge design for the 2030 2040," he told CNN.

"All of that requires being grounded in fact and that's what we're doing," he said, adding that he respects independent work.

Stuti Mishra30 March 2024 09:05

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvYmFsdGltb3JlLWtleS1icmlkZ2UtY29sbGFwc2UtZGVhdGhzLWNyYW5lLXVwZGF0ZXMtYjI1MjA5NjIuaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5

2024-03-30 10:48:18Z
CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvYmFsdGltb3JlLWtleS1icmlkZ2UtY29sbGFwc2UtZGVhdGhzLWNyYW5lLXVwZGF0ZXMtYjI1MjA5NjIuaHRtbNIBAA

Several people injured after shell explodes near UN observers in southern Lebanon - Sky News

Four people have been wounded after a shell exploded near a UN patrol in southern Lebanon, the UN peacekeeping mission has said.

Earlier, Reuters reported an Israeli strike had hit a car carrying UN observers outside the border town of Rmeish, citing two security sources.

But the Israeli military said "contrary to the reports" it did not strike a UNIFIL vehicle in the area.

UNIFIL - the UN peacekeeper mission in southern Lebanon - said three military observers and one Lebanese translator on foot patrol along the Blue Line, which divides the border between Lebanon and Israel, were injured in an explosion near their location.

It said they had been evacuated for medical treatment and it was investigating the origin of the explosion.

Image: The incident happened near the border town of Rmeish in southern Lebanon

"Safety and security of UN personnel must be granted," UNIFIL said. "All actors have a responsibility under international humanitarian law to ensure protection to non-combatants, including peacekeepers, journalists, medical personnel, and civilians.

"We repeat our call for all actors to cease the current heavy exchanges of fire before more people are unnecessarily hurt."

More on Israel

Related Topics:

Israel has exchanged regular fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.

Israel's shelling of Lebanon has killed nearly 270 Hezbollah fighters - as well as around 50 civilians including children, medics and journalists - and has hit both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.

Advertisement

In November, UNIFIL said one of its patrols was hit by Israeli gunfire in southern Lebanon. No casualties were reported.

A series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed 16 people on Wednesday, while a barrage of rockets fired by Hezbollah killed one Israeli man, making it the deadliest day in more than five months of fighting along the border.

A day later, UNIFIL said it was "very concerned over the surge of violence occurring across the Blue Line right now".

"This escalation has caused a high number of civilian deaths and the destruction of homes and livelihoods," it added.

"It is imperative that this escalation ceases immediately. We urge all sides to put down their weapons and begin the process toward a sustainable political and diplomatic solution."

Concerns have grown about further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, with tens of thousands of people on both sides displaced by the violence.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L3NldmVyYWwtaW5qdXJlZC1hZnRlci1zaGVsbC1leHBsb2Rlcy1uZWFyLXVuLW9ic2VydmVycy1pbi1zb3V0aGVybi1sZWJhbm9uLTEzMTA0MzUw0gFyaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL3NldmVyYWwtaW5qdXJlZC1hZnRlci1zaGVsbC1leHBsb2Rlcy1uZWFyLXVuLW9ic2VydmVycy1pbi1zb3V0aGVybi1sZWJhbm9uLTEzMTA0MzUw?oc=5

2024-03-30 10:30:00Z
CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L3NldmVyYWwtaW5qdXJlZC1hZnRlci1zaGVsbC1leHBsb2Rlcy1uZWFyLXVuLW9ic2VydmVycy1pbi1zb3V0aGVybi1sZWJhbm9uLTEzMTA0MzUw0gFyaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL3NldmVyYWwtaW5qdXJlZC1hZnRlci1zaGVsbC1leHBsb2Rlcy1uZWFyLXVuLW9ic2VydmVycy1pbi1zb3V0aGVybi1sZWJhbm9uLTEzMTA0MzUw

Putin the autocrat comes of age – POLITICO - POLITICO Europe

But it also resulted in him suffering “delusional beliefs” about the state of affairs in his country, as underlings feared sharing any information that could be seen as negative, Umarov said. 

He added that although there are clear parallels between the autocracies in Central Asian countries and Russia today, there is also an important difference.

Speaking several days before the Crocus terror attack, he said that “these countries didn’t declare such sky-high results after an attempted coup, a hugely popular opposition leader dying in prison, people coming out in protest, or a war that put the country under strain.”

“Rather than a reflection of real consolidation, it feels as if Putin is trying to overcompensate for the destabilized situation in his country,” Umarov said.

Not ISIS

Two days after the attack, a more confident Putin appeared on television once again. This time he spoke of “radical Islamists” who had acted on the instruction of the “neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.” 

By then, his propagandists had already found culprits in Ukraine, Britain and the United States, who had apparently used the radical islamists to cover their tracks.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiS2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmV1L2FydGljbGUvdmxhZGltaXItcHV0aW4tYXV0b2NyYXQtZWxlY3Rpb24tdGVycm9yaXNtL9IBAA?oc=5

2024-03-30 00:29:00Z
CBMiS2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmV1L2FydGljbGUvdmxhZGltaXItcHV0aW4tYXV0b2NyYXQtZWxlY3Rpb24tdGVycm9yaXNtL9IBAA

Haiti: Gang leader Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier demands peace talks role - BBC

Reuters

By Morgan Gisholt Minard, in Cap-Haitien, Haiti

BBC News

One of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders says he would consider laying down weapons if armed groups were allowed to take part in talks to establish a new government.

Groups led by Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, are in control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince.

He predicted the violence which has gripped Haiti in recent weeks could escalate in the coming days.

However, he told Sky News: "We are ready for solutions."

Haiti, an impoverished Caribbean nation home to more than 11 million people, has been without a prime minister since 12 March.

Ariel Henry resigned after being blocked by armed gangs from returning from Kenya, where he had signed a deal to import a military peacekeeping force in a bid to restore law and order.

Gangs have capitalised on the power vacuum and expanded their control over swathes of the country, which has effectively been rendered lawless in places.

A Presidential Transitional Council has been established to draw up a plan to return Haiti to democratic rule, backed by other Caribbean nations and the US.

• US guns pour into Haiti, fuelling surge in violence

• 'I go to bed with an empty stomach' - Haiti hunger spreads
• The gangsters and rebels jostling over power in Haiti

Mr Chérizier - the most prominent figure in a loose alliance of gangs known as Viv Ansanm (Live Together), which is in control of around 80% of Port-au-Prince - believes his group should have a seat at the table in any future talks.

He told Sky News: "If the international community comes with a detailed plan where we can sit together and talk, but they do not impose on us what we should decide, I think that the weapons could be lowered."

He said he was "not proud" of the spiralling violence in Haiti, and warned the crisis could continue if groups like his - which rail against "corrupt politicians" - are not part of a future government.

He also said any Kenyan forces drafted into the country to bolster security would be considered "aggressors" and "invaders".

The situation in Haiti has been described as "cataclysmic" by the United Nations in a report issued earlier this week.

It said there had been more than 1,500 people killed and 800 injured in the first three months of 2024.

The report detailed the "harrowing practices" of the gangs, which are accused of using extreme violence and sexual abuse as a means of punishment and control.

Aid groups have reported difficulty in getting food and water into the capital, warning that millions are unable to find sustenance, with some on the verge of famine.

Haiti: The basics

• The Caribbean country shares a border with the Dominican Republic and has an estimated population of 11.5 million
• It has a land area of 27,800 sq km, which is slightly smaller than Belgium and about the same size as the US state of Maryland
• Chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters in recent decades have left Haiti the poorest nation in the Americas
• An earthquake in 2010 killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and the economy
• A UN peacekeeping force was put in place in 2004 to help stabilise the country and only withdrew in 2017
• In July 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Port-au-Prince. Amid political stalemate, the country continues to be wracked by unrest and gang violence

Related Topics

• Haiti

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWxhdGluLWFtZXJpY2EtNjg2OTc0MDbSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1sYXRpbi1hbWVyaWNhLTY4Njk3NDA2LmFtcA?oc=5

2024-03-30 02:23:40Z
CBMiN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWxhdGluLWFtZXJpY2EtNjg2OTc0MDbSATtodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1sYXRpbi1hbWVyaWNhLTY4Njk3NDA2LmFtcA

Baltimore bridge: Massive US crane to haul wreckage after deadly collapse - BBC

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

By Nadine Yousif

BBC News

The largest crane on the eastern US seaboard has arrived in Baltimore as part of a massive clean-up effort after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Shipments in and out of one of the country's busiest ports are suspended while the wreckage hangs over the cargo ship that crashed into it.

The search for the bodies of four workers remains on hold because of the dangers of diving amongst the wreckage.

Some $60m (£48m) in federal emergency funds will go towards recovery efforts.

President Joe Biden said he is headed to Baltimore next week to view the crash's fallout and speak to federal efforts.

The port is a main economic generator for the state of Maryland and a vital artery for imports and exports of US and global trade.

• Father of two among Baltimore bridge victims
• Insurance loss for US bridge collapse could hit $3bn

Eight construction workers were repairing potholes on the Key Bridge early on Tuesday when the Dali container ship veered into one of its columns, sending most of the structure crashing into the water.

Two were rescued. The bodies of two others were recovered and the remaining four are presumed dead.

Sonar scans indicate the vehicles that fell into the water are encased in a "superstructure" of concrete and other debris, say state police.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said each stage of the recovery and salvage operation would be difficult.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

"We're talking 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel that's sitting on that ship," Mr Moore told reporters on Thursday.

The Dali container vessel - which is nearly as long as the Eiffel tower - remains on the water. Its 22-person crew, all Indian nationals, are reportedly still aboard.

The recovery has been further complicated by the amount of debris in the dark waters of the Patapsco River. Divers have been unable to see more than a foot or two in front of them.

The effort will be paid for by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is sending several officials to oversee the efforts. US Navy contractors will also join the efforts, and they will be joined by more than 1,100 engineering specialists.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

The largest crane on the eastern US seaboard, which can lift 1,000 tons, is being erected at the site on Friday. The crane, called the Chesapeake 1000, was built in 1972 and is 191 feet (58 metres) long. It will be followed by a smaller crane on Saturday.

Those involved in the operation must figure out how to cut debris from the bridge into pieces so they can be lifted by the crane, officials said.

It must be done carefully to ensure none of the hazardous material held in shipping containers atop the Dali spills into the river.

Some of those containers stored sheen, which is used in paint. A few have already broken open, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said.

Authorities have deployed floating booms in an effort to corral any leaks.

Experts estimate it could take a month for the Port of Baltimore to reopen and years to rebuild the bridge. The incident investigation may take two years.

People in Baltimore are still reeling from the disaster.

The city's Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, marked the start of their season on Thursday with a moment of silence for the victims, who were from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

The wife of one of the construction workers who was pulled from the water said it is a miracle that he is alive as he does not know how to swim.

Julio Cervantes' spouse told NBC News that "all the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit".

The wife said her nephew is still among the missing.

"We haven't been able to sleep, waiting for word if they're going to find a relative," she said.

Related Topics

• Baltimore
• Maryland
• United States

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLXVzLWNhbmFkYS02ODY5MzQ5OdIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLXVzLWNhbmFkYS02ODY5MzQ5OS5hbXA?oc=5

2024-03-29 19:41:30Z
CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLXVzLWNhbmFkYS02ODY5MzQ5OdIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLXVzLWNhbmFkYS02ODY5MzQ5OS5hbXA