Questions raised over British radicals
LONDON — After three years of terrorist attacks in Europe in which security services frequently sought to explain how the alleged perpetrators were able to avoid detection, British authorities faced a far different question after Saturday’s London Bridge attack. How could a group of three radicals — of whom at least two were known to the authorities — prepare an attack in the heart of London with a death toll that rose to eight on Wednesday?
Valeria Khadija Collina, the Italian mother of one of the London Bridge attackers, said her 22year-old son Youssef Zaghba, an Italian national of Moroccan descent, became radicalized in Britain, falling under the spell of Islamic extremism and confiding to her that he had dreams of moving to Syria. He changed, she said, when he went to Britain about a year ago and was seduced by radical views propagated on the internet.
Brazil judges clash
RIODE JANEIRO — Judges on Brazil’s top electoral court argued on Wednesday whether to accept new evidence of alleged illegal campaign contributions that stem from a sweeping probe of graft in Latin America’s largest nation as they consider a case that could force President Michel Temer from office.
The ruling on revelations from recent plea bargains would be a strong indication of how the court is leaning, and Wednesday’s testy debate showed sharp divisions between the judges who appear to favor accepting the damaging revelations and those who oppose. The latter camp includes Superior Electoral Tribunal President Gilmar Mendes, who has called the president whose political fate he is deciding “a friend of decades.”
Mr. Temer could be removed from office, adding further to the country’s corruption-fueled political turmoil — it is the first time in Brazil’s history that a sitting president has risked having the job taken away by the electoral court.
Indian press freedom
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday raided the home and offices of top television executives Prannoy and Radhika Roy, co-founders of news channel NDTV, which has often clashed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. In response, the network put out scathing statements and broadcasts, saying the raids amounted to a “witch hunt” and “a blatant political attack on the freedom of the press.”
“We adhere to the highest levels of integrity and independence. It is clearly the independence and fearlessness of NDTV’s team that the ruling party’s politicians cannot stomach and the CBI raid is merely another attempt at silencing the media, read a statement posted on NDTV’s website.
India ranks 136th on the World Press Freedom index, slipping three places since last year.
Notre Dame attacker
PARIS— The man who attacked police officers patrolling in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, crying out “This is for Syria!,” was a former journalist who was working on a doctoral thesis and had not been suspected of radicalization, according to university officials and the French government’s spokesman.
An officer was slightly injured in the Tuesday attack and the attacker remained hospitalized after being shot by police. Police have not released his name.