UNDOC: Opium cultivation in Afghanistan

Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, opium cultivation increased by 32%, or 56,000 hectares, compared to the previous year. This represents the third largest area under cultivation since the beginning of systematic monitoring. The area Read More …

Northern Ireland: Fire at Orange Hall in Magherafel treated as hate crime

A fire that extensively damaged an Orange hall in Magherafelt is being treated as a hate crime, police have said. Firefighters tackled the blaze at the premises on the Aghagaskin Road on Sunday evening. Police believe entry was forced at Read More …

Northern Ireland: ‘Miracle no one was hurt’ after petrol station ATM explosion in County Down

It was a “miracle” no one was hurt after an explosion at a petrol station ATM on Monday, the site’s owner has said. Police received a report shortly after 03:15 BST of an ATM on fire at Temple, south of Read More …

UK: Cash stolen from ATM after ‘small explosion’ at Launceston Co-op

Cash was stolen from an ATM in Launceston after thieves caused a ‘small explosion’ and reversed their van into the machine. The incident happened at a Co-op store on Newport Industrial Estate at around 2am on Thursday 20 October. Devon Read More …

Ohio: Costumed sex offender pleads guilty to planting bomb at romantic rival’s Maryland home

An Ohio cosplayer pleaded guilty Wednesday to planting a bomb at a perceived romantic rival’s house in Maryland, which nearly killed the recipient and caused more than $45,000 in damage to the home. Clayton Alexander McCoy, a 32-year-old registered sex Read More …

North Dakota: Charges filed after 1,000 pounds of explosives discovered in Williston

A Williston man accused of storing more than 1,000 pounds of homemade explosives in his garage is now facing criminal charges. Court records show Ross Petrie, 28, is charged with a felony called “release of destructive forces.” An affidavit of Read More …

Thailand: Loan shark bombs debtor’s house in Phattalung province

A loan shark allegedly threw a deadly military-grade hand grenade at a woman’s house in Phattalung province, southern Thailand, after she failed to meet repayments. At 2pm yesterday, police were called to a house in Mueang district after a gardener Read More …

Russia: More than 50 military draft centres have been targeted in arson attacks since the invasion of Ukraine

There have been 18 attempts to set fire to draft centres and state administrative buildings across Russia since the Kremlin announced that it was mobilising Russian citizens to fight in Ukraine last week. They are the latest in a wave Read More …

Saskatchewan: Man charged with possession of explosives after confrontation at business

A 26-year-old man is facing explosives charges after he was allegedly caught with two “improvised explosive devices” after a confrontation at a business on Broad Street on Monday. Police said staff at the business told a man to leave after Read More …

UNODC/UNIDIR: Addressing the linkages between illicit arms, organized crime and armed conflict

Linkages between illicit arms, organized crime, and armed conflict can reinforce one another while also escalating and prolonging violence and eroding governance.1 Financial gains from crime can lengthen or intensify armed conflicts by creating revenue streams for non-State armed groups Read More …

Northern Ireland: PSNI make two arrests and seize drugs after army make suspect device ‘safe’ at Dee Street

The news comes after the Dee Street area of east Belfast was closed off for a period today due to a security alert, which ended at 5pm. At 6pm today the PSNI revealed that a suspected device, located during a Read More …

Maryland: Frederick County man with explosive devices charged in home invasion

A Frederick County man is charged with forcing his way into a relative’s home, with explosive devices, and threatening to stab the person with a steak knife. Dominic M. Valenti, 25, is accused in the incident on West C Street Read More …

Northern Ireland: Police arrest woman as part of investigation into Oglaigh na hEireann criminality

A 42-year-old woman has been arrested under the Terrorism Act as part of an investigation linked to Oglaigh na hEireann criminality. Detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Unit arrested the woman following a search of a property in west Belfast on Read More …

The Netherlands: More self-made explosives used in attacks on houses

Criminals are shifting from hand grenades to improvised explosives when attacking houses and vehicles in the Netherlands, according to the Ministry of Defense’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Service (EOD). The number of incidents involving self-made bombs using, for example, fireworks is Read More …

California: Second Defendant Sentenced for Non-Injury Pipe Bomb Explosion at Kearny Mesa Hotel

The second of two suspects charged with planting a pipe bomb that detonated at a Kearny Mesa hotel earlier this year but caused no injuries was sentenced Wednesday to two years behind bars. Grover Preston Everett, 39, received the same Read More …

Israel: Police foil attempt to bomb restaurant in Be’er Tuvia amid apparent criminal dispute

Police on Saturday said officers had foiled an attempt to bomb a popular restaurant in southern Israel days earlier, amid an apparent criminal dispute. According to police, a large explosive device planted at the restaurant in a town in the Read More …

Mounties say thieves in southern Alberta used a homemade bomb to rob an ATM

RCMP say charges have been laid against three men in connection with a series of break-and-enters and ATM thefts where officials say the thieves used some unconventional methods to get into the machines. Officials say an investigation was launched on Read More …