Saharan Islamist group claims responsibility for Mali attack, killing five.

Saharan Islamist group claims responsibility for Mali attack, killing five. (France24).

A Sahara-based Islamist group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a rare attack in Mali’s capital that killed five people, including two foreigners.

Early Saturday morning on La Terrasse, a popular restaurant with expatriates in Bamako, left a French citizen, a Belgian security officer and three Malians dead and nine others wounded, a senior Malian security official told Reuters.

“There were two individuals who were armed and hooded. One burst into the La Terrasse restaurant and opened fire on people. Then he got into a vehicle in which the other was waiting,” senior police officer Falaye Kanté said.

Five people have been killed in a machine-gun and grenade attack on a bar in Mali's capital, Bamako.

Private daily Bamako, Le Combat , claimed on its website that a man and a woman opened fire with large caliber weapons while a third assailant stood guard at the entrance of the restaurant, but this information could not be verified immediately.

According to the same newspaper , witnesses said they saw the attackers escape in two vehicles , a black Mercedes and a BMW.

One witness said an attacker shouted "God is Great" in Arabic ("Allahu Akbar"). It is the first attack of its kind in the capital.

“As they fled down a neighbouring street, they shot a Belgian man who was in front of his house. He’s dead. Not far away they came across a police vehicle and threw a grenade, killing the driver,” he said.

Mali’s desert north, where French forces wrested control of territory from separatist rebels and Islamist fighters, is plagued by frequent attacks. But this is the first such attack for years in Bamako, located in the south, raising fears the capital will become targeted more often by militants.

Mauritanian news website Al-Akhbar posted an audio recording on social media of a man it said was a spokesman for al-Mourabitoun, a militant group.

In Paris, French President Francois Hollande’s office said the French leader had spoken with Keita and that they had agreed on new “common measures” to reinforce security in Mali. The statement gave no details.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the Belgian victim was a security officer at the European Union’s delegation in Bamako.

Two international experts with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) were among the wounded, according to initial reports, said Mongi Hamdi, U.N. special envoy for the peacekeeping mission to Mali (MINUSMA). Read the full story here.

Are you kidding me? Belgian Euthanasia Doctors Seek Existential Answers at Auschwitz.

Are you Kidding me? Belgian Euthanasia Doctors Seek Existential Answers at Auschwitz. (Spiegel).

A group of Belgium's leading practitioners of euthanasia recently visited the Auschwitz concentration camp memorial to learn more about death and humanity. The trip proved to be just as controversial for the doctors as it did insightful. 

Some 70 people gradually gather around Distelmans. The group consists of doctors, psychologists and nurses from Belgium, most of whom work in the area of euthanasia. One of them is Eric Vandevelde, who during the course of his career has killed 20 people at their own request even as he helps women give birth every day. He's accompanied by his wife Colette, who was instrumental in introducing Belgium's euthanasia law 12 years ago. Manu Keirse, a psychologist, is also on hand. He's the author of 35 books, nearly all of which are on the topic of mourning. There's also Bea Verbeeck, a psychiatrist who is currently examining a request by a manic depressive man who gambles away tousands during his manic phases. Distelmans, who is the chairman of the Belgian government's Euthanasia Commission, has invited all of them on a trip to Poland.

Death with Dignity.

In Auschwitz he intends to reflect with them on the meaning of "death with dignity". That's also the title of the tour, which is printed on the program booklet. It has to do with existential questions: self-determination, fear and freedom -- and what these things mean to us today. And it concerns how far we go, should go, and should be allowed to go.

But the group is not limited to euthanasia specialists. A Belgian journalist is also standing at the gate. "I'm traveling as far as Birkenau, and when I have enough material, I'll go back home," he says. A tour operator accompanying the group says, "I normally do football trips."

There's also a homeopath who says: "A well-balanced individual has no need for euthanasia." Some of the medical professionals have taken along their wives, who are looking forward to seeing the picturesque medieval city of Krakow. A Jewish photographer named Guy Kleinblatt is also there. Members of his family died in Auschwitz and he is visiting the site for the first time. What all of these people have in common is that they support euthanasia and a liberal society.

They are following Distelmans to Auschwitz, they say, to learn more respect for their fellow human beings. In Auschwitz they intend to find out why the right of the individual to decide over his own life is inalienable -- and why people must be absolutely free to make their own decisions in this respect. Auschwitz, they say, is the antithesis of everything that they hope to achieve, and they are seeking to reflect there upon what it means to kill out of humility and love.

Protesting 'Dr. Death'.

There were protests in the run-up to this trip. The British Daily Mail Online dubbed Distelmans as "Dr. Death" and described his trip to Auschwitz as tasteless. 

Meanwhile, Belgian journalists have also picked up on the debate using the Dutch translation for the same moniker. In the northern Belgian city of Antwerp, ultra orthodox Jews staged protests to voice their outrage at Distelmans referring to Auschwitz in his travel itinerary as an "inspiring venue." 

They called him a "professional killer." Distelmans received an email from a German-speaking scholar that contained just one word: "murderer." After the trip was over, the deputy director of the Auschwitz memorial wrote an email in response to the protests in which he said: "We feel that the attempt to link the history of Auschwitz with the current debate about euthanasia is inappropriate." Hmmm......This is so wrong on so many levels i can't even find words for it. There is no 'Death with dignity in the NAZI extermination camps...... whats next Follow the Nazi way of exterminating disabled and mental patients.....Why stop there?Read the full story here.

'Chemical' Attack on Canadian, Belgian and German Embassies in Turkey?

'Chemical' Attack on Canadian, Belgian and German Embassies in Turkey? (Hurryet)[GoogleTranslate].

Consulate in Istanbul received an envelope sent to them containing  "yellow dust" has alarmed the police. AFAD teams, Germany, Canada and the Consulate General of Belgium is inspected. AFAD said in a statement, "According to information received from the Consulate General, the first person who opens the envelope, directly and indirectly in the same environment as the material is exposed to six people," he said. These developments last year in the United States to mind the poison letters brought panic.

Germany, Canada and the Consulate General of Belgium in the yellow powder was sent to the envelope. Consulate officials to report on the status of the police were alerted. Firstly, on the 16th floor of a business center in Levent to the Canadian Consulate General in special outfit includes officials from entering AFAD launched an investigation. Consulate General of Germany and Belgium also come to the notice of the same on the team were sent to this place. Consulate General of investigations in progress.

Consulate officials see when they arrive in the morning they opened the envelope. Turned yellow powder inside the envelope. It was reported on the state police.

Canadian Consulate General in the envelope in the yellow dust-related examination continues Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) a written statement said. statement said: "Canada's Consulate in Istanbul opened in an envelope inside the yellow powder substance on the emergence AFAD Chemical, Biological , Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) teams rapidly intervened did. CBRN first responders arrived at the scene, during the AFAD Central CBRN Team providing coordination consular officials to be taken initial measures briefed. reached the scene of Istanbul AFAD CBRN teams, suspicious envelope procedures held subject to the necessary procedures in accordance with "

"the envelope is opened the room's ventilation system by closing agent has contacted the people who can fold leaving them was allowed cross-contamination has been blocked. Consulate General information received from the According to the envelope which one person directly in the same environment 6 people found the indirectly exposed to material I stayed. reached the scene CBRN first responders sampling completed; area and the people decontamination processes are underway. ARTICLE come in contact with 6 PEOPLE scene present UMK Team, substance comes into contact with people who may be the necessary medical support is provided. İstanbul Provincial AFAD of samples taken by the team of CBRN security was provided and analyzed in the laboratory in Ankara for Public Health in the ministry of health was delivered to the team " Hmmm...Sorry for the [Ghoolish] translation by Google, as soon an english update is available the story will be updated. Read the full story and see videos here.

 Update: The MSM has finally awoken and here's an English update : Canadian consulate in Istanbul gets package containing yellow powder: Turkish disaster body ; more here.

"Yellow powder" alarm at Canadian/Belgian/German Consulate buildings in #Istanbul #Turkey, first images pic.twitter.com/vOZwP4WfQ9
— CNN Türk ENG (@CNNTURK_ENG) October 24, 2014

Update:

Turkish officials were put on alert on Friday after the Canadian consulate in Istanbul reported receiving an envelope containing an unidentified yellow powder on Friday morning.

The German and Belgium consulates also reported suspicious envelopes in their incoming mail, reinforcing the consulates' alert as well. Receiving letters with suspected material has prompted immediate precautions. All events at the consulates have been cancelled for security, although the consulates have not been closed.

The officials in the Canadian consulate said, "One person, who opened the letter, has been exposed to the substance directly and six others in the same environment have been exposed indirectly."

An emergency squad from Turkey's disaster management unit, or AFAD, was immediately sent to the Canadian office, which is located on the 16th-storey of a business center in the Levent district.

The team, made up of chemical, nuclear and radiology experts, examined the mystery package and conducted further tests on staff, who were exposed to the substance when the envelope was opened in the office.

"The air conditioning system was immediately shut down in the room where the envelope was opened, and people who could have been exposed to the substance were evacuated from the consulate office as a precaution," said AFAD in its statement.

"The experts delivered the samples, which were taken from the suspected substance, to a team from the Health Ministry for further examination at a public health laboratory in Ankara," said AFAD.

Video - French & Belgian ISIS caught by YPG when crossing border from Turkey.

Post by Azad Orkêş.

HT:

Video of French & Belgian ISIS caught by YPG when crossing border from #Turkey. https://t.co/u7CcXMLKOO v @rezanorkes #TwitterKurds #Syria

— A Dunon (@ArjDnn) September 22, 2014

Video - SYRIA 'Laughing beside dead bodies: for Belgian jihadists the daily reality'

Warning contains graphic images - As if it is a game: with a smile on his lips filming jihadists together between the horror in Syria.

In this shocking video you can see how seven dead bodies are dragged behind a pickup truck. 

The images come from a documentary that aired tonight on BFMTV. According to the French channel includes twenty Belgians to this brigade, which is part of the radical movement in Syria.

The shooting took place last month in Azaz, about eight kilometers from the Turkish border. 

After six months there have sown terror 'smiling assassins' other places searched. About the abomination that prevailed, however, leaves no doubt as a resident. "People who resist, were publicly beheaded," said one resident. "Then the heads were exhibited at the top of the statue. Every two to six days were happening massacres like that." Source: HLNnews.[Google Translate].

Freed Belgian, Italian faced 'mock executions' in Syria by Obama backed 'Islamist' rebels.

Freed Belgian, Italian faced 'mock executions' in Syria by Obama backed 'Islamist' rebels.(HD).

Pierre Piccinin, the Belgian freed in Syria with Italian journalist Domenico Quirico, said Monday they faced "real violence" and mock executions after being captured by rebel forces in April.

Scant detail has emerged of their release on Sunday but Quirico's newspaper said Italy's secret services had stepped up efforts to secure their release ahead of feared US military strikes.

"Physically, we are okay despite the torture we suffered," Piccinin told Bel RTL radio station shortly after returning to Belgium.

"There was sometimes real violence ... humilation, bullying, mock executions ... Domenico faced two mock executions, with a revolver," he said.

Piccinin, a history teacher in a southern Belgian town, and Quericio, a correspondent for Italy's La Stampa daily, entered Syria via Lebanon in April.

Shortly afterwards, the Western-backed Free Syrian Army picked them up and handed them over to the Abu Ammar brigade, a rebel group "more bandit than Islamist," Piccinin told Le Soir daily.

The five months they were held proved to be "a terrifying odyssey across Syria," he told Bel RTL. "We were moved around a lot... it was not always the same group that held us, there were very violent groups, very anti-West and some anti-Christian." Piccinin said they tried to escape twice, once while their captors were at prayer, but they were tracked down after two days and "seriously punished." Piccinin, an Arabic speaker who has travelled to Syria seven times since the conflict broke out in 2011, said the rebel cause had changed, descending into banditry.

"I think it has become very dangerous for Westerners to go to Syria in current conditions, with the revolution (against President Bashar al-Assad) disintegrating," he said.

After the two men were freed Sunday, they were flown to Rome on an Italian government plane.

Quirico, who was on his fourth trip to Syria when he was kidnapped, spoke to prosecutors in Rome on Monday about his ordeal after meeting with Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

Quirico looked gaunt and tired in images shown on Italian television.

"I have lived for five months as if I was on Mars. I was badly treated and scared," he told journalists.

La Stampa said the kidnappers were part of the "galaxy of rebel groups -- a jumble of slogans, movements and war profiteers that is hard to work out." The concern had been that as the possibility of US-led air strikes on Syria increases, "the frontline could move rapidly and contact could be lost with kidnappers," it said.

The media rights watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) says 13 journalists are still missing in Syria. Among the kidnapped are two French journalists, Didier Francois and Edouard Elias, who were picked up in June on the road to Aleppo. According to the head of their support committee, Serge July, they are being held by a group that claims to be part of the resistance.

US journalist James Foley, 39, who worked for Global Post, Agence France-Presse and other international media, was kidnapped in northwest Syria and has been missing since November 22, 2012.

Foley's family have said they believe he is being held by Syrian security services in a detention centre near Damascus. In an interview in May, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he had "no information" on this.

Italy is also trying to free another one of its nationals missing in Syria since July, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, a Jesuit priest who has lived in Syria for many years to promote inter-religious dialogue.Hmmm.....Lets not forget the two Christian Bisshops still 'missing' since April.