Demonstrators chant slogans as they protest outside the courthouse where the trial is held for Sudan's ousted president Omar Al Bashir along with 27 co-accused over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power. AFP
Demonstrators chant slogans as they protest outside the courthouse where the trial is held for Sudan's ousted president Omar Al Bashir along with 27 co-accused over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power. AFP
Demonstrators chant slogans as they protest outside the courthouse where the trial is held for Sudan's ousted president Omar Al Bashir along with 27 co-accused over the 1989 military coup that brought him to power. AFP
Demonstrators chant slogans as they protest outside the courthouse where the trial is held for Sudan's ousted president Omar Al Bashir along with 27 co-accused over the 1989 military coup that brought

Sudan arrests 41 people who have enough explosives to 'destroy' Khartoum

No indication of suspects' motivation but officials warn of sabotage

Hamza Hendawi
Hamza Hendawi
Cairo

September 17, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sudan has arrested dozens of people who had enough explosives to “destroy” the capital Khartoum, the country’s attorney general said on Wednesday.

Taj Al Hebr did not say when the arrests were made or whether the 41 arrested belonged to any terrorist groups.

Mr Al Hebr said the explosives included ammonium nitrate, the chemical that caused the massive explosion that ripped through the Lebanese capital of Beirut on August 4.

That blast killed nearly 200 people, wounded more than 6,500 and devastated several districts in the city.

Beirut blast in pictures 

A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
Army personnel around entrance to port.
Army personnel around entrance to port.
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP

Jamal Jumaa, spokesman of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, said the arrests were made after an intelligence-gathering operation on terrorist groups began last month.

“This is a threat to Sudanese national security,” Mr Jumaa told Agence France-Presse.

"We fear now that some Sudanese people will resort to carrying out sabotage and bombings.”

Suspicion immediately fell on religious hardliners loyal to the regime of ousted leader Omar Al Bashir.

In March, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok survived an assassination attempt in which his convoy hit an explosive device before gunmen opened fire.

Sudan’s transitional government this month announced its intention to enshrine the separation of religion and state in the country’s next constitution.

The issue is a key demand of rebel groups fighting the government in the south and west of the country.

Since the removal of Al Bashir in April 2019, Sudan has moved to dismantle the legacy of the autocrat’s 29-year rule.

It lifted a ban on the sale of alcohol to non-Muslims, ended capital punishment for apostasy and discontinued the public dress code for women.

Read More

Third UAE aid plane arrives in flood-stricken Sudan

Sudan reckons with bid to separate religion from state

Al Bashir has been convicted of corruption and sentenced in December to two years in a detention facility.

He is also facing charges linked to the shooting and killing of protesters during street demonstrations against his rule in late 2018 and early 2019.

Al Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity during the 2000s.

In that time, government forces suppressed a rebellion by ethnic Africans demanding an end to discrimination and a larger share of national resources.

Analysts have repeatedly warned in the past that hardcore Al Bashir loyalists could stage terrorist attacks to avenge his removal and to try to stop the ethnically and religiously diverse nation from embracing secularism.

Sudan under Al Bashir was a haven for militants in the 1990s, including the late leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden.

His government was also linked to high-profile terrorist attacks, including those on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, and the bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen, in 2000.

The transitional administration is in talks with the US to settle compensation claims related to the attacks and allow Sudan to be removed from Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.

But on Wednesday, Mr Jumaa said that if some groups in the country tried to transfer explosives to neighbouring states, it would undermine the government’s efforts.

Even being removed from the US blacklist, "we fear that we will once again be classified as a state sponsor of terrorism", he said.

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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

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