Robber hijacks French truck laden with explosivesMarch 1, 2012 - 17:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An armed robber hijacked a truck carrying around one tonne of explosives as it left a depot in south-eastern France Thursday, March 1 but police caught up with him after 200 metres, media reported. The truck was transporting industrial explosives for use in mining, quarries and construction, according to RTL radio. The gunman tied up the driver and a security guard, slipped behind the wheel and drove off. The two captives quickly freed themselves and raised the alarm. Using satellite tracking, police found the suspect and the truck close to the depot in Veurey-Voroize, near the city of Grenoble. RTL reported that about 150 kilos of explosives were missing from the consignment and that the man appeared to be working alone. According to RTL, the depot - owned by the explosives manufacturer Titanobel - was held up in 2001 by members of the Basque separatist group ETA. ETA was not suspected in Thursday's attack, after declaring an end to its armed campaign last October, M&C reported citing DPA. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. Armenian government besieged by protesters Protesters led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan poured into Yerevan’s Republic Square to try to surround the seat of Armenia’s government. Armenia, Russia agree on repairing railway destroyed in floods Yerevan and Moscow have agreed to repair a flood-stricken railway in northern Armenia. |