France: The Police Shooting

France Bleu

As riots in immigrant communities rage in cities across France since the police shooting of a 17-year-old youth of Algerian background on Tuesday, I have been thinking a lot about the incident, not just because it has led to riots across the country, but because it recalls an incident I was involved in decades ago as a DEA agent in Los Angeles. The circumstances were almost the same.

We had just arrived at the home of a heroin dealer we were going to arrest. We knew that he was violent and was a user of PCP. As we were walking up to his house, we saw that he was pulling his car out of his driveway. It was late at night, and one of our agents pretended to stagger drunkenly onto the street and the driver stopped. At that point, he pulled out his badge as we all approached the car with the intent to pull the suspect out of the car. At that point, the suspect briefly accelerated and braked a couple of times, knocking the first agent out from in front of the car. He actually struck the agent twice. 

Did this justify shooting the suspect at this point? Would it have been justified?

As it was, the first agent then shot at the left front tire in an effort to flatten the tire as the vehicle took off  He only succeeded in putting a hole in his hubcap. At this moment, I was just feet away from the driver's side window and had a clear shot.  I decided not to fire, partly because I saw a potential crossfire situation if one of my partners were to make a sudden move to his right and into my line of fire. Looking back, maybe I didn't think that the threshold for discharging my weapon had really been met. But I was very close to firing.

To make a long story short, no other shots were fired, a long car chase ensued before the suspect crashed on the side of the road and he was arrested. To this day, I thank God that I did not fire. Would it have been ruled justified, or would I have been prosecuted? I don't really know the answer to this day. Merely shooting at a fleeing felon is not an option for US federal agents unless the person fleeing poses a danger to the agents or others. An example would be a running gunfight. I was involved in one of those as well, but that is another story.

As I watch the French video, I see a similar situation. One officer is at the driver's side window, I assume talking to the driver. The other officer is leaning astride the left side of the hood with his weapon pointed at the driver. Someone is heard to say, "You are going to get a bullet in the head." Was this one of the cops? If so, is it ever permissible to say that to a suspect? If it that instant, the situation has become so dangerous, the answer in my view would be yes. There are many ways to warn a suspect that you are prepared to shoot, and at times, in the heat of the moment, the language isn't always so delicate.

It appears from the video that the second officer was forced off the left side of the hood by the acceleration of the suspect's vehicle. At that point, one of the officers fired a round into the chest of the driver as the vehicle was taking off.

At this point, I should mention that French law governing the use of deadly force by police may be different than American law. Many suspects have been shot by police in the US as they tried to run down an officer with their car-a deadly weapon. When that happens, the incident is closely analyzed, and when video is available, examined frame by frame. The key point under American law is whether the officer(s) felt that his/her life or that of another was in imminent danger. In some cases, it is clear. In other cases, not so much.

Different people may come to different conclusions as to whether the French cop leaning on the hood of the car was in imminent danger. That is the officer's version of the incident. While my natural inclination is to support the cops, I have to say this video does not look good from the police point of view. That said, the video does not show what or who might have been in the path of the car just ahead as it took off. (It crashed several dozen meters down the street.) We don't know what the cops saw in the car or everything that was said between the parties. If it turns out that the aforementioned statement was actually uttered by the driver, that would add an additional element to be considered. I also wonder what prompted the officer to point his weapon at the suspect just before he drove off. It should also be kept in mind that French police are operating in a very dangerous environment these days, and they are surely in a heightened state of awareness when confronting certain suspects in certain areas of the city. This particular young man had rather long history with the law for a 17-year-old.

Aside from the obvious societal issue involved (the riots and unrest in France's immigrant/Muslim community), there is a murder investigation to be resolved, and it will be closely watched. The officer has been charged with intentional homicide and placed into custody. The statements of President Emmanuel Macron do not help. Macron has basically convicted the cop in his initial reaction to the case.

So now France is facing a major investigation and possibly trial, which would be carried out under the greatest pressure. If the cop is not convicted and jailed for a long time, the cities will once again explode. While I am not ready to positively condemn or exonerate the actions of the officer, I would hate to see him convicted in a political trial just for the benefit of the mobs who would otherwise set France's cities on fire once again.  The fate of the officer should be determined only by the facts of the case.

The US Supreme Court Decision-Why It's Right

This article first appeared in New English Review.

This week, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision along conservative-liberal lines, ruled that race-based college admissions are unconstitutional. The lawsuit was brought specifically against Harvard and the University of North Carolina, both of which had been using race as a factor to determine admissions.

Amid the outcry from the left, one fact is being largely overlooked. This lawsuit was not just about ending discrimination against white prospective students in favor of black and Hispanic ones, it was largely protecting the rights of Asian-American students, who were also being discriminated against.

It is hardly a secret that our Asian-American students generally excel academically, so much so that in many universities, most notably in California, they make up almost 50% of the student body. Indeed, in the years I was teaching part-time at the University of California at Irvine (1998-2016), they made up just over 50%.  I am sure somewhat similar numbers can be found in most of the UC campuses up and down the state. 

Why is it that Asian-American kids are doing so well? A big part of it is cultural. Asian-American families, whatever their generation, come from backgrounds in countries where education is greatly respected and valued. Parents tend to be involved in the schooling of their children. They make sure the homework is done and do the necessary interaction with the school. When I was getting my masters in Social Foundations of Education (University of Virginia) in the 1990s, much of our study was examining the educational systems in Japan, China, Korea, and other Asian lands as possible examples to improve our own. 

If these commitments to their children's education in Asian-American families are not matched in black and Hispanic families, it must be admitted that white families don't measure up either. Rather than be envious of Asian-American educational accomplishments, we should all be trying to keep up with them. Instead, while most Asian-American students are hitting the books in real fields of study, the rest of us-including white students- are learning all about identity politics and gender/sexuality issues. 

Naturally, of course, the response of academia has been to quietly attempt to reduce the number of Asian-American students in order to increase that of other minorities. That constitutes discrimination. It is a fact that many academics have bemoaned the fact that Asian-Americans are overrepresented in the student body.

It is laudable that universities want to increase black and Hispanic enrollment, but it should not come at the expense of another minority group-or anyone, for that matter, who qualifies to get into college.

We are living in a time when Asians and Asian-Americans in the US are facing increasing hostility and increasing hate crimes based on who they are. In my own experiences with Asian-Americans (mostly Japanese Americans) in Southern California, I have often noted they are uncomfortable with the term, "model minority", which has long been attached to them. Obviously, they don't want to be pitted against other minorities. Unfortunately, that is what is happening.

But does this ruling mean the end of educational opportunities for deserving black and Hispanic Kids? Of course not. The secret to academic success is the same for all-study hard and stay out of trouble in and out of school. It is in the interest of all of us that the black and Hispanic numbers increase on campus. But doing it artificially helps nobody, including kids who are not prepared to succeed in college. Preparing them for college begins in the secondary schools. Can anyone seriously argue that school districts in places like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles-just to name a few- are doing a good job? I myself came out of the LA Unified School District at a time when my own high school was ranked number 2 in the nation. Not anymore.  The LAUSD has been a failure for decades. They cannot even produce high school graduates with competent math and reading skills let alone successful college students. And that includes a lot of white kids as well.

Hopefully, this ruling will help nudge universities away from artificial diversity statistics in favor of finding real solutions to improving education at all levels for underrepresented minorities.

France: Riots Continue in Cities Across the Country-Day 4

 Hat tip Francois deSouche

-Le Monde

Once again I am cross-posting a report from the French blog, Francois deSouche, which contains numerous videos from around France. It is Friday night in France, and during the day, cities across the country were again hit by riots in response to Tuesday's police shooting death of a 17-year-old youth of Algerian origin in Nanterre outside Paris. Today is the 4th consecutive day of riots in France.

https://www.fdesouche.com/2023/06/30/direct-emeutes-post-nahel-vendredi-jour-et-soiree/

3rd Night of Rioting in France

Hat tip Francois deSouche

I am cross-posting the reportage from the French blog, Francois deSouche on the third night of rioting across France after the police shooting death of a 17-year-old youth of Algerian origin in Nanterre Tuesday. The writing is all in French and too much to translate, but the videos speak for themselves.

https://www.fdesouche.com/2023/06/29/nahel-direct-sur-la-troisieme-nuit-demeutes-la-marche-blanche-a-degenere/

Biden's Latest Gaffe: "Putin is Losing War in Iraq"!

 

"Good news, mein Fuehrer. The Russians are losing the war in Iraq."

France: The Fallout Continues After Deadly Police Shooting in Nanterre

The below article is from France 24, posted yesterday as riots continued across France after the police shooting death of a 17-year-old on Tuesday. The article is translated by Fousesquawk. Note that the article reports 20 arrests. Since yesterday, that number has grown considerably.

  https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230627-jeune-automobiliste-tu%C3%A9-%C3%A0-nanterre-apr%C3%A8s-un-refus-d-obtemp%C3%A9rer-un-policier-en-garde-%C3%A0-vue1

Urban violence in Nanterre after the death of a minor killed by a police shot

Posted June 28, 2023 at 00:27, updated June 28, 2023 at 09:34

Incidents have occurred Tuesday evening in Nanterre, a Parisian suburb, after the death of a young driver during his detention by police. Police sources claimed that the vehicle had run into the police, but a video shows one of the two police officers involved holding the driver at gunpoint and firing point blank when the vehicle restarts. President Macron expressed his emotion, spoke to the family, and restated the need for justice to do its job.

Caption: The police check that led to the death of young, Nahel, killed by a police officer in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine) after a refusal to comply, on 27 June 2023.

Violence has punctuated the evening and a part of the night of Tuesday, 27th to Wednesday 28th June in Nanterre after the death of a young motorist, aged 17, killed because of a refusal to comply by a police officer who has been placed in custody.

The tragedy, which has revived the controversy over the response of police in these situations, occurred Tuesday morning near the RER Nanterre Prefecture station in the Parisian suburb.

Initially, police sources stated that a vehicle had run into two motorcycle policemen. But a video circulating on social media, authenticated by Agence France Presse (AFP), showed that one of the two police officers had the driver at gunpoint, then fired point blank when the vehicle restarted.

In the video, you hear, "You're going to get a bullet in the head," without being able to attribute this phrase to anyone in particular. The vehicle ended up embedded in a post dozens of meters further on. The victim, Nahel M., 17, died shortly after being shot in the chest.

The death of the adolescent and its circumstances have aroused emotion and anger in Nanterre, a residential town west of Paris where he lived. In the beginning of the evening, tensions broke out between the inhabitants and police in the Vieux-Pont quarter, reporters from AFP reported.

Emmanuel Macron expressed his emotion 

Emmanuel Macron expressed his emotion Wednesday in the Council of Ministers after the death of the adolescent, government spokesman Olivier Veran stated, who also called for an "appeal for calm" after the urban violence in Nanterre and its surroundings.

The president of the Republic "expressed his emotion after the death of the 17-year-old youth, he, obviously spoke of the family, friends, the French people," stated the government spokesperson at the conclusion of the Council of Ministers. The head of state also expressed the"need for answers" and the need "for justice to do its work." 

"We understand the desire for answers, and we want them to be provided in complete transparency as the elements become known," stated Olivier Veran, "appealing, obviously, for calm in this very particular situation full of emotion."

Questioned multiple times, especially as to the demand from the left to review the 2017 law regarding refusal to comply, Olivier Veran refused "to open whatever debate there may be". " We really need measure," he noted, refusing to "participate in this recovery movement". "We are not in a political moment, we are in a time of emotion and in a time of investigation," he continued.

Twenty arrests

Twenty persons have been arrested, according to a report from the Haut-de-Seine prefecture around 3 am. The departmental prefecture reported "sporadic movements" in several quarters, adding that "incidents" continued, even if their intensity decreased.

Several fires illuminated the streets of the municipality of Pablo Picasso, where a car was burned, according to Agence France Presse at the scene. Police tried to disperse small groups of rioters with tear gas. 

Caption: Firefighters try to extinguish a fire at the edge of a protest in Nanterre following the death of a young man hit by a police shot on 27 June 2023.

If the prefecture of police assured that the situation was "contained" shortly before midnight, tensions continued, spreading to other municipalities of the Paris region. The same source also reported "very sporadic incidents" in Asnieres, Colombes, Suresnes (Haut-de-Seine), Clichy-sous-Bois (Seine Saint-Denis), and Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines).

In Nanterre, some fireworks were thrown in the proximity of the prefecture. A fire broke out in the Music Academy, where the firefighters quickly intervened. Fires were lit along the RER A (public rail) tracks between Nanterre and Rueil-Malmaison, several cars were set on fire, as well as trash containers, and bus stops were destroyed. Protesters set up some barricades, 

After the death of Nahel M., an investigation was opened for refusal to comply and attempted intentional homicide of a public official. Another investigation, opened for intentional homicide by a public official, was assigned to the IGPN (General Inspectorate of Police), internal affairs.

The officer suspected of the fatal shot, age 38, was placed in custody for intentional homicide. 

Two complaints

The lawyer for the victim's family, Attorney Yassine Bouzrou, has announced two complaints "in the coming days". One will target the shooter for intentional homicide and his colleague for complicity. A second complaint, for a false official document, will be filed against the police," who claimed that the young man had tried to commit homicide against them by trying to run them down, which is formally refuted by viewing the video," the lawyer announced.

Two other persons were in the vehicle at the time of the incident. A first passenger fled while the second, also a minor, was arrested and placed in custody. The latter (was released) early in the afternoon.

Some 40 people briefly gathered early in the afternoon near the site of the tragedy, tears in their eyes, to share their "anger". "It is so sad, he was so young. I saw him born," sighed Samia Bough, 62, a former neighbor of the adolescent, who came to lay a bouquet of yellow roses.

The victim was already known to the courts, notably for refusing to comply.

The mayor (DVG) of Nanterre, Patrick Jarry, said he was "shocked" by the video of the tragedy, which has been much commented on by the left.

"The death penalty doesn't exist anymore in France. No police officer has the right to kill except in legitimate self-defense," wrote on Twitter the leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Melenchon, stating that the police must be "entirely reconstituted."

In the National Assembly, Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, spoke of "extremely shocking" images.

"May justice worthy of its name honor the memory of this child," tweeted actor Omar Sy.

In 2022, 13 deaths were recorded after a refusal to comply during routine checks, a record.

Some 2,000 police officers and Gendarmes will be mobilized Wednesday evening in the Parisian suburbs, particularly in Hauts-de-Seine, to prevent new urban violence in reaction to the death of a young motorist killed Tuesday in Nanterre by police, announced Gerald Darmanin.

*Update: Riots are continuing in several French cities Thursday night. This is the third consecutive night of rioting.

Swedish Embassy in Baghdad Stormed by Mob

-Daily Mail (UK)

Yesterday, we reported on the latest Koran burning in Sweden, this time outside a Stockholm mosque by an Iraqi immigrant to Sweden and another unidentified man.

Today in Baghdad, Sweden's embassy was stormed by a mob. Embassy personnel were safely removed. The below article from today's SVT news is translated by Fousesquawk.

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/uppgifter-sveriges-ambassad-i-bagdad-stormad 

Caption: Watch demonstrators storm Swedish embassy in Baghdad

Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed

Updated today 08:42. Posted today 06:29

Sweden's embassy in Iraq's capital city, Baghdad, was stormed Thursday. The embassy's personnel were able to leave the building and get to safety, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"It is not so surprising," says SVT's Turkey correspondent.

The populist and influential Shia Muslim leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, reportedly earlier in the day reportedly urged his followers to go and protest against Wednesday's Koran burning in Stockholm. Afterward, the followers reportedly made their way to Sweden's embassy in Baghdad. 

"It is not so surprising. We have seen very strong reactions to the Koran burnings in Sweden, "says SVT's Turkey correspondent Thomas Thoren.

Images posted on social media, which have not been verified, show a large gathering of people outside Sweden's embassy and inside the embassy area as well. The storming reportedly lasted about 15 minutes, according to Agence France Presse's photographer, and ended after a security force arrived in the area. 

Reaction to Koran burning

Many strong reactions and many condemnations have come in reaction to the Koran burning outside a mosque in central Stockholm by 37-year-old Salwan Momika, who resides in  Järna and comes from Iraq.

"This has awakened sharp reactions in many places in the Middle East. We have seen public statements from Jordan, Morocco has withdrawn its ambassador. Iran has also come out with a statement and Iraq has come out with an official statement condemning the burning," says SVT's foreign affairs reporter, Lina Malers.

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also condemned the Koran burning during the day.

Personnel are safe

The embassy's personnel reportedly have left the embassy and gotten themselves to safety.

"We are well informed on the situation. Our embassy personnel are safe and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is in constant contact with them," writes the Foreign Affairs Ministry in an email to SVT News.

France Explodes Again: Two Nights of Rioting After 17-Year-Old Killed by Police

France 24

On Tuesday in the municipality of Nanterre, outside Paris, two French police officers were attempting to stop and investigate a car driven by a 17-year-old named Nahel, who was known to the police for various infractions including refusing to comply with police. The driver attempted to take off with one officer standing at the driver's side window, apparently talking to the driver, and  the other officer leaning across the left side of the hood and pointing his weapon at the driver. As the driver took off, one of the officers (it is not clear which) fired at the driver who crashed the car and died. 

The officer who fired the fatal shot(s) has been placed in custody pending investigation of murder charges.

French President Emmanuel Macron publicly stated that the shooting was inexcusable.

Meanwhile, many French cities, including Nanterre, Toulouse, and others have had two nights of riots by immigrant communities. (Nahel was part of the "immigrant community", but it is not known to me if he was born in France or not.) Dozens have been arrested and the French prison of Fresnes has reportedly been attacked by dozens of men attempting to free those arrested.

The below report from France 24 (translation pending) starts off with a video camera showing the actual shooting. It has been reported that one of the officers allegedly said, "I'm going to put a bullet in your head" just before the shooting. 

 https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230627-jeune-automobiliste-tu%C3%A9-%C3%A0-nanterre-apr%C3%A8s-un-refus-d-obtemp%C3%A9rer-un-policier-en-garde-%C3%A0-vue

The French blog, Francois deSouche, has a multitude of videos showing the rioting in various French cities. You can scroll down through them.

https://www.fdesouche.com/2023/06/28/seconde-nuit-demeutes-nanterre-lille-amiens-toulouse-en-direct/

We will continue to follow this story and provide some translation from French as well. I will have more to say on the shooting itself as well.

Sweden: Another Koran Burning

Rock throwing protester arrested

-Aftonbladet

Today, there was another Koran-burning in Stockholm. This was carried out by an Iraqi identified as Salwan Momika and another unidentified man outside a mosque in central Stockholm. Several Muslims verbally protested, but only one man was arrested after he threw rocks at Momika. Whether Momika will face any charges is questionable since the Swedish courts have ruled that police cannot deny someone's right to burn a Koran. Other related charges are being considered.

The Turkish government has reacted angrily, and, of course, this further jeopardizes Sweden's chances of getting Turkey's yes vote as to NATO membership.

The below article from Aftonbladet is translated by Fousesquawk. The video in the article is pending translation into English subtitles.

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/nQl6VL/en-person-har-omhandertagits-under-koranbranningen

Koran burner suspected of incitement against ethnic group

Ebba Torstensson, Nivette Dawod, Amanda Hällsten

Updated 17:17, Posted 13:53

A man was taken into custody by police when he tried to throw rocks at a Koran burning that took place at the mosque on Medborgare Square in Stockholm.

Salwan Momika, who carried out the Koran burning, is suspected now of incitement against an ethnic group and violating the ban on fires 

It was the first authorized Koran burning in Stockholm since the Administrative Court ruled that police had erred when they denied permission last winter.

Around lunchtime, people began to gather around the planned site of the demonstration at Stockholm's mosque on Medborgare Square in central Stockholm, where 37-year-old Salwan Momika was allowed to burn a Koran at 13:30.

Shortly thereafter, police took a man into custody who tried to resist.

"He tried to throw rocks, but he was stopped before he could throw (them)," says police press spokesperson, Helena  Boström Thomas.

On a later occasion, the man returned to throw stones again. This time, he succeeded but was taken into custody quickly thereafter. He is suspected of attempted assault.

Caption: A man taken into custody by police in Stockholm.

Shouted abuse

The organizer, Salwan Momika, comes from Iraq and wants to direct criticism at Islam by burning Korans. Before the acts, he told TT (news):

"We come to burn Korans. We come to say,  Wake up, Sweden. This is democracy. It is in danger if they say we cannot do this".

During the initial part of the gathering, there were about 200 people in the audience at the location, including a large media presence, according to police information.

Several of the spectators were upset and shouted abuse at Salwan Momika and the aide who stood next to him.

”Terrorist”

Among other things were shouted, "terrorist" and "skäll*, nobody can hear you", but also insults, which Salwan Momika answered from his megaphone. * skäll- to scold or to tell off, but not easily translated to English in this context (translator).

The 37-year-old played the Swedish national anthem, and waved the Swedish flag before he continued by tearing out pages from the Koran, laying bacon on several of the pages, and putting out a cigarette inside the Scripture.

When he then lit the Koran on fire, one of the demonstrators shouted," The Koran isn't in your hands, it is in our hearts, we know it by heart."

Passed out chocolates

Several people tried to calm the mood, which was tense at times, by passing out chocolates, among other things.

"It is my duty as a Muslim to participate here and show what our religion is about. I am trying to calm the mood, even if I myself am angry over this Islamophobia. But the right way to show what I feel is through peaceful actions," said 35-year-old Husam el-Gomati, who on his own initiative, bought over 6,000 kronors worth of chocolates to pass out.

"We usually pass out sweets on the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is today. We also usually grill lamb, but that might not look so good with a grill here, and there is a ban on fires, " he said laughing.

Incitement against ethnic group

At 15:15, police reported that the gathering was carried out without disorder and that a report had been filed against the organizer, Salwan Momika.

In the report, there are two crime classifications, according to the police press release. Partially incitement against an ethnic group since the Koran was outside a mosque, and partially violation of the ban on fires.

Prior to the actions, police reported that Momika would be fined for breaking the ban on fires, but that his application for a demonstration permit could not be denied due to freedom of speech.

"Constitutional protection trumps the regulation on fire bans," said press spokesperson, Helena Boström Thomas to Aftonbladet.

Caption: Salwan Momika

Portugal: Head of Chega Party (Andre Ventura) Warns of Uncontrolled Migration

 

Andre Ventura is the head of Portugal's conservative Chega party, a new party that has already become the third-largest party in the country. Among the issues they are most concerned about is uncontrolled and illegal migration. With almost 800,000 immigrants, they are approaching 10% of the total population, according to Ventura. 

 Of course, much of Portugal's non-Portuguese population has traditionally been made up of people from former Portuguese colonies, such as Brazil, Mozambique, Cabo Verde, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau. It should also be noted that centuries ago, Portugal was a major player in the African trans-Atlantic slave trade. Now, in addition, the country is getting people from other parts of the world who are flooding into Europe. 

 This week, Ventura spoke before the Portuguese Parliament and warned of the increasing danger of migrants coming from high-risk countries. Ventura sees the risk of Portugal having the same problems as other Western European countries. He argues that Portuguese immigration laws are too lax. Among other things, he points to a 2007 law that was enabling migrants to enter the country claiming to have a promise to work as opposed to firm documentation that the applicant actually had a job contract. The above speech by Ventura is translated by Fousesquawk. Hat tip to Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes for assistance in subtitling.

Italy: Horrific Murder of a Three-Year-Old Child

Three-year-old girl thrown off balcony

(l) Fatima, (r) Mohssine Aznar

-La Stampa

Prosecutors in Turin, Italy (Torino) are asking the court to sentence Mohssine Aznar to life in prison for the murder of three-year-old Fatima, who was thrown off a fifth-floor balcony to her death last year in Turin. The below article from La Stampa is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.lastampa.it/torino/2023/06/26/news/omicidio_fatima_requisitoria_pm_corte_assise_torino-12877767/?ref=LSHST-BH-P1-S1-T1

Little girl fell from balcony, life in prison asked for the stepfather: "Aznar threw the little girl to punish his companion.

The drama of January 2022 in via Milano. According to the prosecutor, the man was drunk, in an altered state, and drugged.

-Giuseppe Legato

June 26, 2023-Updated 17:18

Caption: On the left, Fatima. The girl fell from the balcony. On the right, the companion of the mother, Mohssine Aznar, accused of her murder.

"Mohssine Aznar? A monster who threw little Fatima from the 5th floor in an indirect vendetta. He wanted to punish his companion, the mother of the little girl, because she was complaining that he was on drugs and the same morning was sentenced in court to 8 months in jail. For this, he will be sentenced to life in prison."

The tragedy of Fatima, thrown from the balcony at the age of three: "Aznar struck her after the fight with the mother."

Thus, it began this morning in the criminal court, the indictment by Public Prosecutor Valentina Sellaroli, in the trial for the murder of little Fatima, murdered at the age of three, thrown from the balcony of an apartment building at via Milano 18, according to the prosecutor by a man who was drunk, in an altered state, and on drugs in January 2022. "The little girl had already escaped death at the age of one year, the magistrate recounted, when the natural father (another man than the defendant) who had already mistreated the little girl's mother, took Fatima in his arms and doused himself with alcohol threatening to set himself on fire.

Prior to the indictment, a man who was present in the home of Mohssine at the time of the incident (testified). In his statements to the prosecutor on January 18, 2022, he had said that he was sleeping and that he was awakened by two men who had witnessed the incident. "One of them said that the little girl had slipped from the hands of the father, (then) corrected it saying that Mohssine had thrown her." Today, he radically changed (his) version of the incident. The prosecutor has requested the court to transmit the files to the prosecutor's office for false testimony. 

Spain Awaits the Next Migrant Border Assault from Morocco

Spain has two enclaves (Melilla and Ceuta) which actually sit on the African continent bordering Morocco. Every now and then, sub-Saharan Africans use Morocco as a jumping-off point to storm the border fences in Melilla and Ceuta, overpowering border guards before claiming asylum. To make matters worse, Morocco, a country that has already sent thousands upon thousands of criminals (Moroccan Mafia) into Western Europe to control the drug trade and commit mayhem, also turns a blind eye to the thousands upon thousands of sub-Saharan Africans who use Morocco as their transit point.

Below is an article from yesterday's El Mundo (Spain) in which sources within the border guards complain that the border is ruled by Morocco and when that country wants to punish Spain, they open the floodgates.  The Civil Guards complain that the Spanish Ministry of Interior does not give them the necessary support. They also expect another massive assault at Melilla soon with hundreds of migrants already nearing the border.

The below article is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2023/06/23/649469edfc6c8316688b459f.html

Immigration

The police in Melilla warn: "Morocco rules here, when they want to punish Spain, they will once again permit a massive crossing."

One year after the tragedy, Guardia Civil personnel stationed at the fence warn that there are some 1,500 migrants at Mount Gurugu.

Caption: Civil Guards try to contain the assault on the fence at Melilla on 24 June, 2022.

The polemics and the questions involving the tragedy at the fence in Melilla are not fading rather they are growing one year after 23 migrants-according to the official number and 37 according to the NGOs- died at the border crossing while trying to reach Europe. The fence crossing in the early hours of the morning on 24 June 2022 was dynamite for the ministry of Fernando Grande-Marlaska. What happened here attracted the attention of Europe and global media, and inflamed the NGOs and all opposition parties.

Five months later, the BBC threw salt on the wound in the worst possible way: A documentary placed some of the deceased migrants in a zone under Spanish control. Up to today, the number of persons who lost their lives continues to be unknown. At this time, Grande-Marlaska has always attempted to distance his ministry from the tragedy and knock down any alternative construction to his story-shared by the Guardia Civil- that there were no deaths on the Spanish side and that police action took place on a legal basis.

The Minister of the Interior has also had to face the Public Defensor's Office, who accused him of illegal and massive deportations, the insistence of the European Parliament for him to appear and explain what happened, and the contempt of humanitarian organizations. In the middle, the civil guards in charge of guarding the border. Twelve months later, they reflect on a drama that, they warn, will repeat itself "when Morocco wants". Their years of experience lead them to that conclusion. They know how the Alaouite kingdom works and also the determination of the migrants to reach Europe.

“They will keep coming, they will keep trying to cross the fence because they are desperate. They have not traveled 3,000 kilometers in Africa to the gates of Europe, to return home”, reasons one of them. At this time, says another of the agents consulted, they have evidence that there are 1,500 migrants at Mount  Gurugu, the redoubt in which they take refuge before trying to violate the fence. They regret that what happened on June 24, 2022 did not help (the Ministry of) Interior to take note. "We continue exactly the same as a year ago. Without the resources, neither material nor human, to face another avalanche of this type," they complain.

They report that shields broken on that day have not been repaired, and anti-riot helmets announced by the minister after the events have not arrived either. "We still have the same equipment as 30 years ago," they lament. "We feel abandoned by the hand of God," they conclude.

"Nothing has CHANGED"

Among the border agents' personnel, there is resentment. “At first, it was all demonstrations of support. The minister comes a lot, but at the moment of truth, nothing has changed. Things continue at exactly the same point and here, we all know from our own experience that Morocco is in charge. When they want to punish Spain, they will return to allowing a massive crossing." At the time of the avalanche, they say, there were only five guards to contain the more than 2,000 people who were trying to reach Spain. The border crossing experienced an episode of extreme violence.  

The assault showed that nothing has changed in the structure of border control. The agents had to contain the multitude with the same anti-riot equipment from 30 years ago, despite the ministry announcement after the border debacle that occurred in the month of March. At that time, there were 16 Civil Guards guarding the fence, the same as occurred in March 2022- when the most massive assault in the history of the Melilla fence was recorded with 2,500 people in an avalanche, which was the 4th massive attempt the Guardia Civil had to repulse over 6 days. A total of 800 migrants succeeded (4,300 attempted), and practically all of them have already applied for asylum. (It) turned into a pitched battle between those who wanted to enter Spain and the agents charged with guarding the border. There were 50 agents of the Guardia Civil and National Police who were injured, and 23 migrants who died, according to official numbers. Shortly afterward, the Interior Ministry provoked a monumental storm in the Guardia Civil-especially among the agents who guard the fence at Melilla- with the sudden dismissal of the chief of the city's command. Jesus Vicente Torresano was removed from the Melilla command after going public with his differences with the General Director of the Armed Institute weeks after being appointed.

According to agency sources, Torresano wanted to implement specific instructions so that the agents could act under legal protection against the migrants who assaulted them in successive charges against the fence and refused to open an inquiry into the Civil Guards who threw rocks at the Sub Saharans who wanted to reach Spain last June 24.

The Secretary of Communication of Jucil, Agustin Leal, describes a chronic situation. "This administration and the (Interior) Ministry continue to neglect security, and the consequences are paid, in the first instance, by Civil Guards and afterward, by the population. We are asking that the national legislation and that of the EU in matters of immigration be applied because this will mitigate the effect. It is unacceptable that everyone who enters our territory illegally and at unauthorized points is entitled to the process of asylum."

Hunter Biden and the Big Guy

Remember back during the 2020 presidential election when Fox News' Peter Doocy asked Joe Biden if he had ever spoken to his son, Hunter, about his son's business dealings?

"Uhhhh....yeaaaah."

Since then, there have been a number of revelations that debunk that response by Joe Biden (aka the Big Guy). For that, we can largely thank Hunter for his careless handling of his laptop and his numerous communications that refer to his dad. 

Remember the one about "10% to be held by H for the Big Guy"? Of course, Joe has never fessed up to being the "Big Guy". Maybe Hunter was referring to Shaquille O'Neal.

Then there was Hunter's time spent on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that was under investigation by Ukraine's top prosecutor during the time Biden was vice president. At one point, Joe was visiting Ukraine and telling the president of that country that he had better fire the prosecutor if he wanted some one billion dollars in American aid. The prosecutor was fired that same day. How do we know that?  From Joe's own words before the Council on Foreign Relations.

Then-former Vice President Joe Biden (second right) and his son Hunter (far left) golfing in the Hamptons with Devon Archer (far right), who served on the board of the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings with Hunter. (screenshot/Tucker Carlson Tonight)

The latest revelation is a screenshot from a WhatsApp message Hunter Biden sent to Chinese businessman Henry Zhao on July 30, 2017 (hat tip IRS whistleblower).

Here is more on the nature of that business deal.

 July 30, 2017 screenshot of a WhatsApp message from Hunter Biden to Henry Zhao 

Of course, some wise guy fact checker might point out that Hunter was just blowing smoke, and the only person sitting next to him was his crack dealer. Nevertheless, I suspect that father and son were in a symbiotic relationship. In other words, Hunter was using his father's political position(s) to make business deals-with a little help from the Big Guy, like taking him on trips to China on Air Force 2- then selling access to the Big Guy (see photo on the links above), making millions,and giving the Big Guy 10%.

But then again, I'm just a right-wing conspiracy theorist.

Sweden: Easter Koran Riots Revisited

 During the week of Easter 2022, Danish activist Rasmus Paludan appeared in several Swedish cities for the stated purpose of publicly burning Korans. The result was a series of Muslim riots in the cities concerned. Many police were injured in those riots and many police cars were destroyed. Some 50 people to date have been prosecuted for those riots.

Below is a video special report by the Swedish news outlet, Aftonbladet. It is translated by Fousesquawk. Hat tip to RAIR Foundation USA, Vlad Tepes, and Gates of Vienna for the subtitling.

 

NBA Draft: Spurs Select............

 Breaking: San Antonio Spurs select Adam Silver with the number one pick.

Adam Silver (l) being congratulated by Victor Wembanyama

France: Grandmother and Granddaughter Attacked in Bordeaux

On Monday, June 19, a 73-year-old grandmother and her young granddaughter were attacked by a homeless man as they walked out of their residence in broad daylight and in the middle of the city. The entire attack was captured on security cameras and is shocking and graphic.

The below article from CNEWS (France) is translated by Fousesquawk. It contains a somewhat fuzzy version of the video. Resistance Republicaine has a slightly more complete version of the video.

Bordeaux : ce que l'on sait du suspect de la violente agression d'une grand-mère et de sa petite-fille, déjà condamné 15 fois | CNEWS

Bordeaux: What is known about Brahima B., suspect in violent attack on a grandmother and her granddaughter, already convicted 15 times.

Caption: The suspect is very unfavorably known to police (AFP)

By CNEWS

Published June 20, 2023 at 08:55-Updated June 20, 2023 at 21:23

A grandmother and her granddaughter were victims of a violent attack Monday, June 19 in front of the door to their residence in Bordeaux (Gironde). Here is what we know about the suspect arrested.

A very violent attack. It was about 17:30, Monday, June 19 when a grandmother and her granddaughter were violently attacked just in front of the door to their residence in the middle of Bordeaux by a man well known to police, and who was arrested by police an hour.

Tweet: 

"Unbearable images of an attack on grandmother and her granddaughter on the Course of Martinique in the heart of Bordeaux in the middle of the day.

I send all my support.

I call for the utmost severity (from the courts)."

-Nicolas Florian, June 19, 2023

(ex-mayor of Bordeaux)

According to a source close to the case (as told to) CNEWS, Brahima B,. the suspect arrested is a Frenchman, age 29, born July 1993 in Bordeaux, without a fixed abode and very unfavorably known to police. He has already been convicted 15 times, mostly in connection with traffic disputes and narcotics violations. He reportedly also has more than 20 references in judicial matters (TAJ), a police file that identifies persons implicated in criminal matters. 

According to the press release of the national prosecutor (office) in Bordeaux, the subject is also reportedly under guardianship and was reported to the police for psychological monitoring and to be out of treatment.

This man, who attacked a 73-year-old woman and her granddaughter, a minor under the age of 15, was recognized by the Anti-Crime Brigade teams, who immediately proceeded to his arrest. "The police know him by (sight), they see him every week prowling central Bordeaux," Xavier Bounine, zonal secretary of the Aquitaine Police Alliance, told CNEWS on Tuesday.  

According to a police source (statement) to CNEWS, the man reportedly "doesn't have all his (marbles)" and will be interrogated by police to try and understand the reason and the circumstances of the attack.

IPT Unmasks CAIR

I am cross-posting an article by Steven Emerson in the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) regarding a book they have just published on the Congress of American Islamic Relations (CAIR). The book, written by Emerson and his staff, is entitled, "CAIR's anti-Semitism unmasked"

This organization, founded in the US in the 1990s as a front group for Hamas, poses as a civil rights organization for Muslims in the US. In reality, it is a subversive organization that exists to advance the interests of Islamists and disseminate propaganda against the Jewish state of Israel. In truth, this organization is anti-Semitic-anti-Jewish to its core. Its chapter leaders across the nation have a long history of anti-Semitic statements.

In Southern California, I have had several encounters with two of CAIR's regional chapter leaders, Hussam Ayloush of Southern California, and Zahra Billoo of San Francisco. Both have incurred accusations of anti-Semitism many times over the years. On one occasion, I personally heard (and videotaped) Ayloush making derogatory references about Jewish Americans who join the Israeli Defense Forces, "killing the people of Gaza".  I am proud to note that one of the footnotes (#693) in this book refers to a posting I wrote on Ayloush's anti-Jewish comments. (I have told Ayloush to his face that I consider him an anti-Semite who represents a despicable organization.)

In the below link, you can download a pdf copy of the book. 

https://www.investigativeproject.org/9329/cair-antisemitism-unmasked

Looks Like a Sweetheart Deal for Hunter Biden

 Not long ago I wrote that Hunter Biden would likely get a sweetheart deal wherein he would come in, plead guilty to some tax charge and some gun charge, get probation, and the Justice Department would declare the case closed and this proves everybody gets equal justice, blah blah blah.

So now it is happening. Of course, the sentence remains to be seen, but if he gets jail time, I will be shocked. After all, Merrick Garland's Justice Department has bigger fish to fry-like Donald J. Trump.

Today, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told the press that this may be a positive development in that if the FBI and DOJ close their investigation of Hunter Biden, Congress may be-should be- able to get documents more easily since "the matter is no longer under investigation".

In addition, I would like to know if this plea deal entails cooperation-full and complete cooperation- on the part of Hunter Biden as to the full nature of his business dealings with foreign countries like Ukraine and China, and to what extent was he trading access to "the Big Guy (Joe Biden), also how much money was Joe Biden getting out of all this.

If such cooperation is not required as part of Hunter's plea deal, that will speak volumes about how our current DOJ is conducting business.

Keep in mind that the Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith (appointed by Garland), has also indicted Trump's valet, who apparently helped move those infamous boxes from the White House to Florida. Was this unfortunate fellow charged because he refused to roll over on Trump? If so, should not the same pressure be brought to bear on Hunter Biden to tell all he knows about "government corruption" and influence peddling? 

Obviously, that will not happen. Hunter will pay a fine, get probation, and community service, and it will all go away  (as far as the DOJ is concerned.)

The Ghost of the Graf Spee

The Graf Spee was a German pocket battleship that sank several Allied merchant ships in the Atlantic after the outbreak of World War 2. In December 1939, the Graf Spee suffered damage in a  battle against British naval forces off the coast of South America. The ship pulled into the Uruguayan port of Montevideo for repairs and to get injured sailors to a hospital.  Later forced to leave Montevideo as British forces waited outside Uruguayan waters, the captain of the ship chose to scuttle her rather than have it fall into the hands of the British. On December 17, 1939, the ship was scuttled just outside of the port of Montevideo in the estuary of Rio Plate. 

In 2004, an operation was launched to raise the wreck from the Rio Plate estuary. The project has apparently never been completed.

In 2006, the imperial eagle clutching a swastika, which had adorned the stern of the ship, was recovered from the sea and stored in a naval warehouse. Thus began years of legal wrangling over who owned the Graf Spee remains and what to do with her, particularly the eagle. A court eventually ruled that Uruguay was the rightful owner.

This month, the president of Uruguay stated that the eagle would be melted down and transformed into a dove as a sign of peace. Many objected saying that the eagle should be housed in a museum.

Now it appears that the eagle will not be melted down due to popular opposition.

The below two articles are from the Uruguayan media and German media respectively and translated by Fousesquawk.

From Uypress (Uruguay)

 https://www.uypress.net/Actualidad/Juntan-firmas-para-evitar-que-el-aguila-del-Graf-Spee-sea-transformada-en-una-paloma-Superan-las-17-800-adhesiones-uc129799

"Conserve the eagle of the Graf Spee in a museum"

Signatures collected to avoid the Graf Spee eagle being transformed into a dove: More than 17,800 (signatures)

June 17, 2023

Montevideo (Uypress)- The announcement by President Luis Lacalle Pou on the conversion of the Graf Spee eagle into a dove of peace generated mixed opinions and provoked a group of citizens to collect signatures on the Change.org platform under the title: "Conserve the Graf Spee eagle in a museum," which has surpassed 17,806 (signatures).

"We consider the transformation of the Graf Spee eagle to be inappropriate. (The eagle) should be conserved in a museum. History should be remembered in order not to commit the same errors. New generations are prone to forgetfulness and recidivism. Remember the bad, keeping in mind the symbols that represent them is an enormous responsibility for society, both locally and globally," the petition states on Change.org.

The publication already has more than 17,806 people who have signed, and among the comments, appears that of the actor and comedian, Diego Delgrossi. "It is part of the history of Uruguay and a stage in world history. We do not have an excess of material from that period. We do a disservice to history."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Berliner Zeitung (Germany)

https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/news/uruguay-streit-um-reichsadler-von-deutschem-kriegsschiff-admiral-graf-spee-geht-weiter-li.360692

Uruguay: The fight over the Imperial Eagle of the "Graf Spee" continues

The 350-kilo bronze eagle from the stern of a German warship was actually to be melted down. Now apparently, there will be no dove.

June 19, 2023 at 06:30

Caption: In 2006, Uruguayan workers salvage the stern eagle of the German ironclad ship, "Admiral Graf Spee", sunk in  River Plate outside Montevideo in 1939.

The stern eagle of the German ironclad ship. "Admiral Graf Spee" from the Second World War will now apparently not be transformed into a dove of peace. On Friday, Uruguay's president, Luis Lacalle Pou announced the 2.80 meter-high and 350-kilogram bronze eagle with a swastika and oak leaf wreath would be melted down. But now he has decided differently. On Sunday,  he announced to the press that there is no agreement on the handling of the eagle.

After a years-long legal battle, a court had recently awarded the eagle to Uruguay. Now the Uruguayan artist Pablo Achugarry was to prepare a dove that would have served as a mold for the transformation. A symbol of violence would become a symbol of peace, so the idea went.  However, there was much opposition to the plan to melt down the historic eagle from the public and also Lacalle's own party. " I still believe it is a good idea. But a president must listen and represent," Pou said, according to the daily newspaper, El Pais.

Bronze eagle of "Admiral Graf Spee" recovered in 2006.

At the start of World War 2, the "Admiral Graf Spee" was sailing in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic and had sunk 9 British merchant ships there. The Royal Navy was hot on her heels and finally was able to catch her off the coast of Uruguay. Somewhere off the sea resort of Punta del Este in December 1939, came the first great sea battle of the Second World War between the "Graf Spee" on the one side, and the heavy cruiser "Exeter" as well as the light cruisers, "Ajax" and "Achilles" on the other side.

Heavily damaged, the "Graf Spee" fled to the port of Montevideo, but was given insufficient time there to repair the ship. Captain Hans Langsdorff had the ironclad ship sunk in River Plate off Montevideo and shot himself that same evening. The crew crossed over into then-still-neutral Argentina while some men remained in Uruguay. Plans to raise the wreck have been postponed over the decades in view of the difficulties. According to media reports, the Imperial Eagle was recovered in 2006.

Austria: Police Foil Planned Islamist Attack on Gay Pride Event

On Saturday, Austrian police foiled a planned terror attack on a gay pride parade in Vienna. The would-be attackers are three males, ages 14, 17, and 20. They are described as ISIS followers and Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen origin.

The below article from today's Krone Zeitung (Austria) is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.krone.at/3036326

June 18, 2023 at 12:25 Domestic-Vienna

Three men in custody

Terror attack on rainbow parade prevented

Caption: Police prevented an attack on rainbow parade in Vienna

The Vienna Pride 2023, which celebrated its climax Saturday with a rainbow parade, would have been the target of an attack, as the Vienna police announced on Sunday in a hastily called press conference. There are three arrests. 

An Islamist group allegedly chose the big event as the target of the attack.  However, it was possible to thwart the plans of the extremists. For participants in the parade, there was, "at no time, a specific danger," the director of State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN), Omar Haijawi-Pirchner stressed.

Director of State Security and Intelligence Service, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, and State Police President Gerhard Puersti.

Radicalized Austrians in custody

The suspects, who are all in the St Poelten prison,  are three young Austrians with Bosnian and Chechen roots respectively. The boys are 14, 17, and 20 years old.

All three were radicalized on the Internet (and) sympathized with the Islamic State. One of the suspects was reportedly already known to the police in connection with terrorist acts. Indications of weapons purchases abroad were also received.

The men were under observation

The DSN received information in advance about the alleged plans of the young suspects, and kept them "under constant surveillance", as Haijawi-Pircnher further explained. Thus, well before the rainbow parade the Cobras carried out house searches which led to the discovery of various items of evidence and ultimately to the arrests prior to the big event. Among other things seized from the men were sabers, axes, airguns, knives, and spiked metal throwing disks (see above image). Cell phones and computers were also found, which now have to be analyzed.

Caption: With these weapons, the men wanted to carry out the attack on the rainbow parade in Vienna.

The evidentiary material currently suggests that the ISIS followers had planned to carry out an attack using "knives, weapons, or a vehicle". One of the suspects reportedly owns a car.

Avoid the spread of panic

The organizer of the rainbow parade was deliberately only made aware of the attack plans on Sunday morning in order to "avoid fear, alarm, and panic reactions," as the Security chief explained. Because that would be what the terrorists wanted to achieve, and it is "our task not to let that happen". 

The LGBTIQ community, in particular, is an intense enemy target for extremists, and that's why the Vienna Pride event organizer, Katherina Kacerovsky-Strobl, hopes to "be in a better position together with the city of Vienna in regards to such dangers".