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EJ

@spik3ej

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Investigations & OSINT at @lbc, covering global defence and intelligence. Specialist Consultant at Minerva Solutions. Watch geek and EDC nerd ⌚🎒

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🚨 Britons will be asked to make “sacrifices” and help defend the country as the Army chief warns of the need to prepare for war.

General Sir Roly Walker said political leaders would “very soon” begin a “frank conversation” with the public about the threats facing Britain and what people must be prepared to do.

Speaking to around 700 soldiers at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, the head of the Army delivered a blunt message: “You didn’t know this, but our nation is going to need you.”

🪖 In remarks filmed by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, he warned that the days when Britain could avoid thinking about its soldiers fighting a war were over.

“They are going to try and explain to our citizens that our citizens have got to consent to sacrifices to prioritise defence and security,” he said.

“And then they are going to ask those citizens, for whom we are not necessarily at the front of their mind, that they too need to play a part in the defence and security of this country.”

Sir Roly said troops would need the public’s understanding, consent and backing if they were called upon to fight.

“Ultimately we are going to need them to back us, to back you to do the one thing that you do that nobody else gets to do and that is to take the fight to the enemy.”

⚠️ He did not spell out what those sacrifices would involve or exactly what civilians would be asked to do.

His warning comes as the Government faces questions over a promised national conversation on defence and a campaign to help households prepare for emergencies, including armed conflict.

The message from the head of the Army is clear: defending Britain will require more than its soldiers. The public will have a part to play too. Link in Bio

#LBC #BritishArmy #UKDefence #RolyWalker #NationalSecurity #Preparedness #ArmedForces by @spik3ej

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8 hours ago

🚨 Iran’s military has been battered. But a new report warns its campaign of terror, sabotage and cyber attacks still threatens Britain.

The Henry Jackson Society says damage inflicted during Operation Epic Fury has pushed Tehran towards armed groups, hackers and covert operatives capable of striking far beyond the Middle East.

Its warning comes after MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum revealed that Iran-linked operations led to more than 50 arrests in Britain over the past year, with much of the aggression aimed at Jewish communities. He also warned of “Iranian ambitions to come at harder targets, like military sites”.

🇬🇧 The threat has come into focus following suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, used by American bombers. Seven men were arrested and subsequently released on bail. Police are investigating possible foreign state involvement. No improvised explosive devices were found, although petrol was recovered.

A dozen American B-1 bombers were withdrawn after the incident, raising fresh questions about Britain’s ability to protect US forces operating from its bases.

The report’s central warning is that destroying Iran’s military equipment does not remove its ability to strike back. Tehran can fund armed groups, support cyber attacks and supply intelligence while keeping its distance from those carrying out an operation.

🔎 That makes proving responsibility harder. Investigators must establish whether an attack was ordered by Tehran, supported by it or carried out independently by an allied group.

The report also warns that Iranian-backed organisations are increasingly sharing expertise and resources, helping the network survive even when individual groups are weakened.

Iran rejects accusations of malign activity in Britain.

The report concludes that military bases, ports, transport hubs and essential services may need greater protection against a threat that extends well beyond the battlefield.

#LBC #Iran #MI5 #NationalSecurity #RAF #Fairford #Defence #CyberSecurity by @spik3ej

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10 hours ago

🚨 UK Special Forces associations have united in a rare public intervention over what they call the “persecution” of veterans.

The SAS Regimental Association, SBS Association and Special Reconnaissance Regimental Association have accused the Government of leaving former soldiers exposed to endless investigations under its Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Their warning is blunt. They say the proposed amendments give a “green light for the continued pursuit of veterans after decades have passed and where there is nothing new to learn”.

The three associations say investigations could begin without new evidence, promised protections against unexpected contact would leave many veterans unprotected, and soldiers’ decisions could be judged decades later with the benefit of hindsight.

⚠️ They say they supplied ministers with proposed amendments ELEVEN months ago, but accuse the Government of failing to engage properly.

Their intervention follows a warning from General Sir Peter Wall and General Sir Nick Parker that ministers must “stop pretending” the Bill offers meaningful protection.

“The process itself is going to continue to be the punishment,” the generals said. They stressed they were not seeking immunity, that those who broke the law must remain accountable and that families must have a route to answers.

🎙️ The SAS Regimental Association previously told LBC that repeated legal action had caused a “significant moral injury” among serving personnel and veterans, who believed “the contract between the Armed Forces and Government has been broken”.

The Government says its amendments will reduce repeat investigations, strengthen protections for veterans and help bereaved families get answers.

But the three associations warn that veterans still face “years of hostile adversarial litigation” and say ministers must act to rebuild trust between the state and its military.

#LBC #UKSpecialForces #Veterans #TroublesBill #NorthernIreland #SAS #SBS #SRR #ArmedForces by @spik3ej

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2 days ago

🚨 British Army chef who wanted to form far-right militia jailed after police find homemade cannon, guns and explosives in bedroom

A serving British Army soldier who amassed an arsenal of weapons and expressed an interest in forming an armed militia has been jailed for three years and ten months.

Mark Broadhurst, 28, worked as an Army chef at Catterick Garrison when counter-terrorism police arrested him in September 2024.

🔴 Officers searching his home in Chesterfield discovered knives, crossbows, black powder, 9mm ammunition, air pistols, rifles and an improvised cannon made from wood, a metal pipe and duct tape.

Police began investigating Broadhurst after he posted racist and extreme right-wing views online, including expressing an interest in establishing an armed militia.

Investigators discovered he had spent nearly two years communicating with three convicted far-right terrorists on Facebook and Telegram.

Christopher Ringrose, Brogan Stewart and Mark Pitzettu were jailed for a combined 29 years after plotting terrorist violence against Jewish and Muslim communities.

⚠️ Broadhurst was also found to have been actively ordering components to manufacture explosives.

He admitted firearms and explosives offences but denied having a terrorist motive.

Following a special court hearing, a judge ruled his offending was terrorism-related, finding that Broadhurst wanted threats of serious violence involving a firearm to be taken seriously by extremists whose ideology he supported.

⚖️ Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said investigators had uncovered an "extreme right-wing mindset".

He added that Broadhurst had amassed multiple weapons and posed a danger to the public.

Broadhurst was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, 14 October, and will also be subject to a 10-year terrorism notification order.

#LBC #BreakingNews #CounterTerrorism #BritishArmy #FarRightExtremism #Terrorism #UKNews #CrimeNews by @spik3ej

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2 days ago

🚨 BRITAIN’S LIGHTS COULD GO OUT: MI5 warns the UK has entered a dangerous new era of national security.

Power cuts. Water shortages. Mobile networks failing. Card payments stopping.

⚡💧📱 These are the everyday consequences experts fear if hostile states attack Britain’s critical infrastructure.

MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum warned that Russia, Iran and other adversaries threaten far more than military bases and government buildings. Britain’s essential services, businesses and communities must become harder targets.

“We have again entered a new era of national security – requiring a new response,” he said.

And there’s another worrying possibility.

LBC previously revealed warnings from cyber specialists that hostile states could spend years secretly establishing access to vital networks, potentially preparing to cause disruption during a future crisis. MI5 has not confirmed that British infrastructure is already compromised.

Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Preparedness Commission, warned LBC that an enemy could wait until Britain was already battling floods, wildfires or another emergency before attacking electricity, water or communications.

⚠️ Sir Ken also warned:

🇷🇺 Russia remains MI5’s “aggressor number one”.

🇮🇷 Iran-linked operations have led to more than 50 UK arrests in the past year, with military sites an increasing concern.

🇨🇳 China poses threats through espionage, coercion and political interference.

🤖 AI could put dangerous knowledge, including information relevant to biological weapons, into the wrong hands.

Sir Ken said national security isn’t just about spies, drones or distant wars. It’s about the power supplying your home, the community around you and what your children encounter online.

Britain’s next national security crisis might not begin with an explosion.

It could begin when the lights go out.

Read more at LBC.co.uk.

#LBC #MI5 #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #Russia #Iran #UKNews #CriticalInfrastructure by @spik3ej

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3 days ago

🚨 “We guard your secrets with our silence.” Now a former SAS commander says the Government has broken its bond with soldiers.

Speaking exclusively to LBC, retired SAS commander Col David White warned that the treatment of special forces veterans goes beyond a dispute about the past: “The ongoing lawfare against special forces is a direct threat to national security.”

White said the understanding was simple: soldiers risk their lives carrying out dangerous, classified missions and keep the state’s secrets afterwards. In return, he said, “we rely upon the State to have our back”, adding: “which it currently does not.”

He said that broken trust had prompted him and other veterans to break years of silence about their operations in Northern Ireland in *The Shadow War*.

⚠️ White called the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill “not fit for purpose”, accusing ministers of refusing amendments he says would protect former soldiers from “meritless, vexatious cases”.

His warning comes as four former senior Army commanders demand stronger safeguards against repeated investigations. They say they want protection from unfair legal processes, not immunity, and are calling for a requirement for “new and compelling evidence” before cases can be reopened.

The concern they raise also affects those serving today: what confidence can soldiers have that the Government will stand behind them once their operations are over?

🇬🇧 Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant said the Government’s commitment to personnel and veterans was “unshakable” and promised amendments containing provisions to prevent repeat investigations.

“There is no equivalence whatsoever between the acts of soldiers doing their lawful duty, and those of terrorists,” he said.

Bryant also said the agreement with Dublin did not prevent protections for veterans and stressed the importance of getting answers for bereaved military families.

Link in bio.

#LBC #SAS #SpecialForces #Veterans #NationalSecurity #NorthernIreland #BritishArmy by @spik3ej

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11 days ago

September Member of the Month; and so September comes to an end and I can think of no one more deserving of this accolade than EJ. The investigate journalist and butlins advocate sat down with us to chat how he handles talking to confidential sources while taking beer pics, whether he’s invited members of the royal family to the group and why you should always carry a roll of tape. by @spik3ej

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15 days ago

🚨 RAF Fairford security alert: several men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences as nearby homes are evacuated.

The base is at FPCON DELTA, the highest force protection level, with other US Air Force bases in the UK raising their security posture to CHARLIE.

🚔 A major incident has been declared in Whelford, with residents moved to a nearby leisure centre while the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team examines a number of vehicles. A cordon is in place, with a large emergency services presence, including a Hazardous Area Response Team.

Police say the men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They have sought to reassure residents that they believe the incident is contained.

The US Air Force says it is aware of the reporting but will not discuss specific security measures for operational reasons. A spokesperson said its UK-based wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate action to protect personnel, their families and installations.

➡️ Iran described Fairford as a “legitimate target” in July after the US used the base for bombing raids. The US military deployed a B-1 bomber from Fairford for strikes on Tehran, prompting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to condemn Britain.

#RAFFairford #Fairford #Whelford #Gloucestershire #USAF #Iran #BreakingNews #LBC by @spik3ej

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20 days ago

🚨 The moment a £16m RAF jet erupts in a fireball after crashing just metres from a farmhouse in North Wales.

Dramatic footage shows two pilots ejecting from the Hawk T2 training aircraft, their parachutes opening before the jet plunges into the ground near RAF Valley on Anglesey. Both are being treated for what police believe are minor injuries.

The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, with witnesses describing a “massive bang” followed by a plume of black smoke near Rhosneigr.

🚑 A major incident was declared, with police, fire crews and air ambulance helicopters sent to the scene in the Pencarnisiog area. North Wales Police said there were no reports of wider damage or injuries at that stage.

The Hawk T2 is used to train fast-jet pilots at RAF Valley. The RAF has confirmed an investigation is underway.

⚠️ People have been urged to avoid the area until further notice.

#LBC #RAF #Anglesey #RAFValley #NorthWales #HawkT2 #UKNews by @spik3ej

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23 days ago

Brits need to get used to the idea that during a major national emergency they may have to look after themselves for a period of time, one of the country’s leading resilience experts has warned. ⚠️

Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Preparedness Commission, told LBC that households cannot always assume somebody will immediately arrive to fix things when a serious crisis hits.

“There tends to be a situation that ‘they’… will sort it out,” he said.

But during a major blackout or other national emergency, the reality could be very different.

📱 Mobile networks could begin to fail as backup power at phone masts runs down.

🚰 Water supplies could be affected because pumps rely on electricity.

🚽 Wastewater and sewage systems could face serious problems.

💳 Card payments and parts of the financial system could stop working normally.

💡 Power could remain unavailable for hours or even days in a major incident.

“All of the things that we just take for granted would fail,” Lord Harris warned.

His message is not that people should panic or become extreme “preppers”, but that Britain needs to normalise basic preparedness.

That means having some essential supplies, thinking about how your household would cope without power, water or mobile communications, and accepting that during a serious crisis the emergency services may be dealing with more urgent problems elsewhere.

“We all need to be prepared for those circumstances when the things we just take for granted are no longer available,” Lord Harris said.

The Government is preparing a wider public resilience campaign aimed at encouraging households to become better prepared.

Lord Harris said preparedness needs to become part of everyday life.

“We’re not talking about necessarily six-month supplies in your basements,” he said, but simply being ready enough that disruption does not immediately become an emergency.

Sometimes help will not be immediate.

Britain needs to be ready for that.

#LBC #UK #Preparedness #Resilience #EmergencyPreparedness #Blackout #NationalSecurity #CyberSecurity #PowerCut #BreakingNews by @spik3ej

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24 days ago

🚨 Calls for Britain to create a civilian ‘war register’ in case the country comes under attack come as NATO declares itself ready for Russian escalation.

The Liberal Democrats want Andy Burnham to establish an emergency register of volunteers who could be called upon during an attack. The party’s defence spokesperson says Britain “urgently” needs a network of people willing to help, and warns politicians must be “more direct” about the threats we face.

“Countries like Finland and others already have these kind of registers out there, and I think it’s something a lot of people would be very willing to sign up to if we gave them the option.”

The proposal is for a voluntary civilian register, although the roles people would undertake have not been set out. The party also wants a dedicated secretary of state for civilian readiness, arguing preparations for war aren’t being taken seriously enough.

🇫🇷 It comes as Emmanuel Macron warns that Russian hybrid attacks against France and other European countries have intensified. He has ordered stronger protection for critical infrastructure and sensitive defence and technology sites against drone and cyberattacks.

🇵🇱 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned Moscow could launch drones or missiles into NATO countries, then claim the strikes were accidental — testing the alliance and trying to divide its members.

🛡️ NATO’s military committee chair, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, says the alliance is prepared: “In case of an attack, we know how to do it.”

Russia denies planning to attack Europe, but has renewed warnings that British military facilities in Ukraine used to support strikes on Russian territory would be “legitimate targets”.

The call for a register puts Britain’s civilian preparedness in the spotlight: how people could help, who would organise them and whether those plans are in place before a crisis hits.

#War #UKNews #NATO #Russia #Defence #NationalSecurity #Preparedness by @spik3ej

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a month ago

🔴 BREAKING: British Army officer Major Paul Wilks, 40, has died in a road traffic incident in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The incident happened away from the front lines on 12 September.

The Intelligence Corps officer leaves behind his wife and two sons. He commissioned from Sandhurst in 2012 and served on multiple operational tours, including in Afghanistan.

Tributes describe an exceptionally gifted intelligence officer whose warmth, humour and care for those under his command stood out alongside his professional ability. His former commanding officer said: “He was the best of us.”

His commanding officer said: “He spoke often of his love for his wife and two sons, expressing his deep gratitude for the support they provided, which allowed him to serve with such distinction.”

Lieutenant General Matthew Jones, Chief of Defence Intelligence, described Major Wilks as “one of the most talented intelligence officers of his generation”, adding that his example would continue to inspire those who served alongside him.

#BreakingNews #Ukraine #BritishArmy #IntelligenceCorps #LBC by @spik3ej

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a month ago