British citizen among 37 people sentenced to death in DR Congo over failed coup
A British citizen is among 37 people who have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after being found guilty of an attempted coup in the central African country.
A foreign office spokesperson told Sky News they are giving consular assistance to “a British man detained in DRC” and are in contact with the local authorities.
“We have made representations about the use of the death penalty to the DRC at the highest levels, and we will continue to do so.”
Marcel Malanga (second right) and other defendants wait for the verdict. Pic: Reuters
Three US citizens, a Belgian and a Canadian were also among those sentenced, along with several Congolese.
Judge Major Freddy Ehuma, speaking at an open-air military court in Kinshasa that was broadcast live on television, said they had been given “the harshest penalty, that of death”.
The defendants have five days to appeal their verdicts after being convicted on charges that included terrorism, murder and criminal association.
Fourteen people were acquitted in the trial, which opened in June.
Six people were killed during the attempted coup in May, which was led by Christian Malanga, a little-known opposition figure.
The rebels occupied DRC President Felix Tshisekedi’s office in the presidential palace for almost an hour before they were arrested, mediacongo.net said.
Mr Malanga was fatally shot while resisting arrest soon after live-streaming the attack on his social media, the Congolese army said.
Mr Malanga’s 21-year-old son, Marcel, who is a US citizen, was convicted, along with fellow Americans, Tyler Thompson Jr and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun.
Marcel Malanga’s mother Brittney Sawyer has said her son is innocent and was simply following his father, who believed himself to be president of a shadow government in exile.
Read more:
TV star charged with coercive behaviour
Beckham and Dell’Olio at Eriksson’s funeral
Timberlake admits ‘impaired driving’
Mr Thompson Jr flew from Utah with Mr Malanga for what his family believed was a holiday. Mr Zalman-Polun, 36, is reported to have known Christian Malanga through a gold mining company set up in Mozambique in 2022.
Mr Thompson Jr’s family said he didn’t know what Christian Malanga was scheming and wasn’t even planning to enter the DRC.
The British citizen has not been named.
Earlier this year, the DRC reinstated the death penalty after more than 20 years amid growing violence and militant attacks.
Despite that, Richard Bondo, the lawyer who defended the six foreigners, said he disputed whether the death penalty could be imposed and said his clients had inadequate interpreters during the investigation.
He said they would appeal.
World
Germany: At least one dead and 60-80 injured after car attack in German city – police find suspected explosives in vehicle
At least 11 people have been killed and dozens of others injured after a car was driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in Germany, local media reports.
News agency dpa said the driver has been arrested following the incident in the eastern city of Magdeburg, while Public broadcaster MDR reports almost 70 people have been injured – 15 seriously.
A city spokesman said the initial assessment is that this was an attack, with all hospitals in the nearby city of Halle preparing for a mass casualty event, according to a security official.
Germany latest as car shown ‘driving at speed’
German newspaper Bild reports at least 11 people have been killed and MDR said police have blocked off the area as there is a suspicion of explosives in the suspect’s car.
City spokesman Michael Reif said he suspects it was a deliberate act, adding there are “numerous injured” and that the “pictures are terrible”.
Magdeburg’s University Hospital said it is treating 10-20 patients and preparing for more, dpa reports.
Emergency services at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. Pic: AP
Germany‘s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said “the news suggests something bad” and that his thoughts are with “the victims and their families”.
The state premier Reiner Haseloff, who is on his way to the scene, said it is a “terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas”, according to MDR.
Pic: AP
Police said on X that “extensive operations” were taking place at the market, which has been closed.
Weihnachtsmarkt Magdeburg has posted on Instagram warning people to leave the market and allow emergency services to do their work.
Pic: D’rthe Hein/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Sky News’s Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins said initial videos from the scene show what appears to be a car “driving at speed” into a crowd at a Christmas market.
“The police have put out a statement saying there’s an extensive police operation that’s going on and they haven’t officially said yet whether this is terror,” she added.
“That of course will be something that a lot of people will be asking. There has been a warning for Christmas markets across Europe to be on high alert for possible terror attacks.”
Pic: dpa via AP
Germany’s interior minister Nancy Faeser said last month there were no concrete signs of a danger to Christmas markets this year, but added it was wise to be vigilant.
On 19 December 2016, an Islamic extremist drove a car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more.
Magdeburg, which is west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has a population of about 240,000.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
World
Russia should have invaded Ukraine ‘earlier’ says Putin – as he addresses possible peace talks
Vladimir Putin has said Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier, in a national address spanning more than four hours.
Russia began the conflict with its neighbour in February 2022 and at his annual televised news conference, Mr Putin claimed the war has made Russia “stronger”.
The decision to invade “should have been made earlier” he added, before stating Russia could have “prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly”.
Ukraine war latest: Russian general inflated 2024 territorial gains, analysts find
He claimed: “Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country.
“We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defence potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world.”
The news conference also saw Mr Putin address a possible end to the war, as he said he is “ready to compromise” in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.
He said he was open to meeting Mr Trump, who has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the conflict, saying the two would “have things to discuss”.
“Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromise,” he said.
Mr Putin’s news conference being broadcast on a giant screen in Moscow. Pic: AP
“Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out, in my opinion, soon there will be no one left who wants to fight,” he continued. “We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises…”
Any talks should be based on “the situation on the ground”, Mr Putin added, referring to conditions he previously laid out.
He has previously demanded Ukraine withdraw its bid to join NATO and asked it to recognise Russia’s gains. Both Kyiv and the West have rejected those demands.
Read more:
Analysis: At Putin’s TV marathon the theme was Vlad’ll Fix It
UK troops could be deployed to Ukraine
Russia detains man over general’s killing
Mr Putin also said Moscow will only be ready to sign a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he secures re-election.
Mr Zelenskyy’s five-year term technically came to an end in May but was extended due to martial law.
In response to a question about Moscow’s new hypersonic missile, he mockingly challenged the US to a “high-tech duel” to see whether Western tech could protect Ukraine from a strike using the weapon.
With a dry smile, he said: “Let them select a target, possibly in Kyiv, put their air defence assets there and we shall strike it with the Oreshnik [missile]. Let’s see what happens.”
Zelenskyy responds to Putin’s comments
Mr Putin’s comments have already sparked a strong response from Mr Zelenskyy, who is currently in Brussels for a summit on the Ukraine war.
In response to the duel suggestion, Mr Zelenskyy replied: “Do you think he is a sane person?”
Mr Zelenskyy addressing a European Union leaders summit in Brussels today. Pic: Reuters
In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, a number of EU leaders at the summit repeated a variation of a common mantra – nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden said: “We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step […] needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union.
“The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway