Argentina: Attempt to kill Vice President fails when handgun misfires
Buenos Aires (AP): A man tried to kill Argentina's politically powerful Vice President Cristina Fern ndez outside her home, but the handgun misfired, the country's president said.
The man was quickly overpowered by her security officers in the incident Thursday night, officials said.
President Alberto Fern ndez, who is not related to the vice president, a former president herself, said the pistol did not discharge when the man tried to fire it.
A man pointed a firearm at her head and pulled the trigger, the president said in a national broadcast following the incident. He said the firearm was loaded with five bullets but didn't fire even though the trigger was pulled.
The vice president did not appear to have suffered any injury, and the man was overpowered within seconds as he stood among a crowd of her supporters.
Gina De Bai, a witness who was near the vice president during the incident, told The Associated Press she heard the sound of the trigger being pulled. She said she didn't realize it was a handgun until the man was rushed by security personnel.
President Fern ndez called it the most serious incident since we recovered democracy in 1983 after a military dictatorship and urged political leaders, and society at large, to repudiate the attempted shooting.
The attack came as the vice president is facing a trial for alleged acts of corruption during her 2007-2015 presidency charges that she vehemently denies and that have led her supporters to surround her home in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood of Argentina's capital.
Video broadcast on local television channels showed Fern ndez exiting her vehicle surrounded by supporters when a man is seen extending his hand with what looks like a pistol. The vice president ducks as people around the apparent gunman appear shocked at what is happening.
Unverified video posted on social media shows the pistol almost touched Fern ndez's face.
The alleged gunman was identified as Fernando Andr Sabag Montiel, a Brazilian citizen, said an official at the Security Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He does not have a criminal record, the official said. ading that the weapon was a .32-caliber Bersa.
The president declared Friday a holiday so the Argentine people can, in peace and harmony, express itself in defense of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice president."
Supporters of the vice president have been gathering in the streets surrounding her home since last week, when a prosecutor called for a 12-year sentence for Fern ndez as well as a life-long prohibition in holding public office in the corruption case.
Shortly after the incident, government officials were quick to decry what they called an assassination attempt.
When hate and violence are imposed over the debate of ideas, societies are destroyed and generate situations like the one seen today: an assassination attempt, Economy Minister Sergio Massa said.
Cabinet ministers issued a news release saying they energetically condemn the attempted homicide" of the vice president. What happened tonight is of extreme gravity and threatens democracy, institutions and the rule of law.
Former President Mauricio Macri, a conservative who succeeded the left-of-center Fern ndez in the presidency, also condemned the attack. This very serious event demands an immediate and profound clarification by the judiciary and security forces, Macri wrote on Twitter.
Patricia Bullrich, president of the opposition Republican Proposal party, criticized President Fern ndez's reaction to the attack, accusing him of playing with fire. She said that instead of seriously investigating a serious incident, he accuses the opposition and the press, decreeing a national holiday to mobilize activists.
Tensions have been running high in the Recoleta neighborhood since the weekend, when the vice president's supporters clashed with police in the streets surrounding her apartment amid an effort by law enforcement officers to clear the area. Following the clashes, what had been a strong police presence around the vice president's apartment was reduced.
When Fern ndez leaves her apartment every day at around noon, she greets supporters and signs autographs before getting in her vehicle to go to the Senate. She repeats the same routine every evening.
Following the incident, allies of the vice president quickly pointed the finger at the opposition for what they said is hateful speech that promotes violence. In recent days, several key officials have said opposition leaders were looking for a fatality.
This is a historic event in Argentina that must be a before-and-after, Buenos Aires Gov. Axel Kicillof said.
Regional leaders also condemned the attack.
We send our solidarity to the vice president in this attempt against her life, Venezuelan President Nicol s Maduro said on Twitter.
Former Brazilian President Luiz In cio Lula Da Silva, who is a candidate in that nation's presidential election next month, also expressed solidarity with Fern ndez, calling her a victim of a fascist criminal who doesn't know how to respect differences and diversity. (AP)
Condenamos el cobarde intento de magnicidio en contra de nuestra hermana @CFKArgentina. Toda nuestra solidaridad a la vicepresidenta. La Patria Grande está contigo hermana. La derecha criminal y servil al imperialismo no pasará. El pueblo libre y digno de #Argentina la derrotará. pic.twitter.com/oKQe5oI2BZ
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) September 2, 2022
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru airport introduces AI-based system to enhance safety at vehicle-aircraft intersections
Bengaluru: Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has introduced an integrated smart airside safety system at Kempegowda International Airport to improve operational safety at key intersection zones.
According to The Hindu, the system has been designed to enhance safety at Cross Service Roads (CSRs), where aircraft and ground vehicle movements intersect.
According to BIAL, the system integrates AI-based computer vision, automation, and centralised monitoring to manage right-of-way movements and reduce the risk of human error.
“CRSs are among the most sensitive areas within airport operations, requiring precise and seamless coordination between aircraft and ground vehicles. Traditionally, right of way protection at these intersections relied on manual or semi-manual inset light activation, creating dependencies on human intervention, increasing the risk of delays and limiting operational visibility,” TH quoted BIAL as saying.
The new system uses real-time detection of vehicle movement, risk assessment, and automated signalling. AI-enabled cameras identify potential conflicts and trigger automated inset light signals to ensure aircraft priority. Normal operations resume once the area is confirmed clear.
“Based on these detections, the system triggers automated inset light activation to protect aircraft right‑of‑way and restores normal signalling once the intersection is confirmed clear. A centralised monitoring and analytics platform digitally logs all events, strengthening governance, compliance, and operational control,” BIAL said.
By embedding technology into operations, the system creates a data-driven separation layer between aircraft and ground vehicles, significantly reducing human error, especially during night and low-visibility conditions.
“Precision-led signal activation improves traffic flow, minimises unnecessary stoppage and enhances turnaround efficiency. It also establishes a scalable foundation for predictive safety analytics, enabling trend analysis, peak-hour optimisation, compliance mapping and risk forecasting to support continuous improvement and stronger airside governance,” BIAL said.
