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CRIME

Bitter ex-pupils fake Isis school attack

Three people in central Italy have been caught by police trying to set their former school on fire, setting up the arson attack as a crime by terrorist group Isis.

Published: 25 May 2015 17:09 CEST
Bitter ex-pupils fake Isis school attack
People pose with an Isis flag. Photo: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP

One minor and two young adults, aged 20 and 18, were caught by police as they fled the school in Scandiano at around 4.00am on Sunday morning.

The gang of would-be arsonists allegedly threw bricks against windows and sprinkled petrol over two classrooms, before their plan was foiled by the school alarm.

They did however have time to write a note on a blackboard, attributing the planned attack to the militant group currently taking over swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

“Isis will pass among us again,” the message said according to Corriere della Sera.

But rather than the trio adhering to extremist ideology, they reportedly intended to burn the classrooms as revenge for their former teachers being too strict. They now face charges over damages caused to the school.

The school attack comes just weeks after pupils in north-east Italy were suspended for reenacting the beheading of Isis hostages.

The 13-year-olds were taken out of lessons for three days after impersonating the terrorists, before distributing the images on social media.

READ MORE: Italian pupils suspended for Isis beheading stunt

CRIME

Danish neighbourhood watches keep Christmas burglaries in check

The number of burglaries reported in Denmark this Christmas remained at the historic lows seen in 2022, with the country's Crime Prevention Council giving credit to its neighbourhood watch app.

Published: 3 January 2024 17:00 CET
Danish neighbourhood watches keep Christmas burglaries in check

Just 660 burglaries were reported between December 19th 2023 and January 1st 2024, more or less level with the 559 recorded the previous year. 

This is a historically low level, with 1,343 burglaries reported over Christmas as recently as 2019, with the Nabohjælp app, a joint venture between the Crime Prevention Council and TrygFonden perhaps playing a role.  

“There are many indications that the Danes have become very good at helping their neighbors during the holidays and also tricking burglars into thinking that someone is home in the many houses that have been empty during the Christmas holidays,” Julie Kofoed, communications consultant for Nabohjælp, said in a press release. 

“Nabohjælp is about cooperation between neighbours, so that you make sure that each other’s homes are always kept an eye on.”

The app, which was launched by the Crime Prevention Council, together with the insurance company TrygFonden, has been downloaded by 270,000 people in Denmark, and its spin-off Nabovenner, or “neighbour friends”, numbers as many as 1,000 volunteers, who run networks of Nabohjælpere, or “neighbourhood helpers” in their areas. 

“Neighbor friends are enthusiasts who promote neighborly assistance where they live,” Kofoed said. “We are convinced that Neighbor Friends play a decisive role in getting the neighborhood helpers activated, around the whole of Denmark and especially in the areas plagued by burglaries.” 

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