Saadi Gaddafi Bodyguard Outlines Escape

Mr. Gary Peters name has been attached to many story surrounding the fall of the Gaddafi family in Lybia, almost to the point where it reads like a Hollywood film.   I’ll say one thing for him, he’s standing by his client to the end.

via:  Lateline

EMMA ALBERICI: What exactly did Saadi Gaddafi ask of you?

GARY PETERS: Nothing was asked of me from Saadi Gaddafi. Ah, my concern and always is with all my clients is their safety, their well-being, their rite of passage, how they’re going to get there. The secondary is their families. The third is their associates. Beginning of 2011, I instigated or tried to begin a process of getting him or extracting him from Libya to a different destination. That was in 2011. Um, why? Because of how I knew how he felt about Libya, how I knew how he felt about the circumstances there, how I knew how he felt about his family. And then my thoughts and my feelings on his safety. Not willing to lose a friend. Not willing to lose a client. And also having feelings of the same way he does about the people of Libya.

EMMA ALBERICI: I’ll just pick you up on that point about knowing what Saadi Gaddafi was feeling. Can you articulate that for us?

GARY PETERS: He wasn’t happy with the situation in Libya. He wasn’t happy with the situation in Benghazi in February when there was a massacre in Benghazi. He had nothing to do with that. The media was reporting that he ordered this and ordered that. That’s rubbish. That’s garbage. He had nothing to do with that massacre. But – he went there because he was ordered to by his father to go and talk to the people. That’s why he went there in February. But the situation in Libya, for the people, for – everything that was happening, he was very distraught about that.

EMMA ALBERICI: You talk about extracting him from Libya; what was the plan?

GARY PETERS: The plan was to get him out of Libya and his family to another destination legally, somebody that would host him, some country that would host him and do everything legally. There was like paperwork, documentation, transportation, air transportation, property acquisition and ongoing security, so to speak. That was the plan. Now he never asked for this. This was done on our own bat to be presented to him to say, “OK, boss, you know, OK, Saadi, this is what I think should happen.”

For the full (and interesting) interview including video, click HERE.

See related HERE.

Australian Prime Minister Security Disaster

“Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard clung to her bodyguard as she was dragged to safety through a crowd of angry protesters in Canberra today.

Riot police formed a shield around the prime minister as they helped her force a path through the protesters who surrounded a restaurant where she was attending an awards ceremony to mark Australia Day.

Miss Gillard stumbled after losing a shoe in the scuffle, but was caught by her personal security guard and managed to get into a waiting car. “

After watching the video of the events that transpired ,I was very confused by he lack of security procedures that should have been in place prior to having a VIP on site (The Advance) as well as some of the actions that were taken when the decision was made to quickly remove the Prime Minister THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF A CROWD OF ANGRY PROTESTERS???

Maybe these guys know something I don’t…

Check out the video yourself HERE.

Stage Crashers & Bodyguards 1

A humorous example of what happens when you don’t have security.  (I think the artist was a great sport)  While the guy on stage was harmless, what if he wasn’t, or decided later not to be? I’m guessing it was a promoter who *finally* came on the stage, (not artist security) and STILL didn’t get the fan off.  (If it was security, he might want to trying some continuing training like the ICON CELEBRITY PROTECTION COURSE)

Partners of US Security Firm Arrested For Alleged Gaddafi Rescue Connection

A Canadian who led a fact-finding mission to Libya last summer has been arrested in Mexico, and two partners of the U.S. private security contractor who supplied her plane are also in custody.  The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa confirmed the arrest of Cynthia Vanier and said consular officials at the Canadian embassy in Mexico City were gathering information from local authorities.  Also arrested were two partners of Gregory Gillispie, an ex-Marine who heads Veritas Worldwide Security, a San Diego-based company that offers, among other services, “clandestine operations,” “armed combat” and provision of weapons.

The Reason Behind Herman Cain Request for Secret Service Protection?

Herman Cain on Thursday became the first Republican presidential candidate to receive Secret Service protection.  Cain asked for the security and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and congressional leaders approved his request Thursday, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan confirmed.

As stated above Mr. Cain had to formally request and be approved for services this early in the campaign.   Campaign sources are stating the request came as the result of  ”threats” made against the candidate.   Spokesmen for the USSS would neither confirm or deny these statements.

While it stands to reason that having the current Republican front runner be an African American might certainly inflame hostile fringe elements,  prior to the request being approved Mr. Cain had been suffering from a series of bad press regarding his bodyguards see HERE and HERE.   This has caused  some to wonder if eliminating this negative attention and the potential errors a less-than-effective protection detail could provide played any part in the early request.

From a security perspective Herman Cain now has what many (including myself) would call the best protection team in the world watching his back and can now get back to campaigning.

Turkish Bodyguards Scuffle With UN Security

The story of scuffles between the Close Protection Team for Diplomats and the Security Detail of the Host have been a topic of recent discussion on the public message boards of the North American Bodyguard Association.  Add another example into a long list, this time occurring at the United Nations.  

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s security detail got into a violent brawl on Friday with U.N. security guards outside the General Assembly hall, leaving at least two U.N. personnel injured, including one who was taken to the hospital, possibly with broken ribs, according to U.N. diplomats and officials.

The Turkish leader tried to rush to get into the U.N. chamber to take his seat.

He and his entourage, however, were stopped at an exit near the meeting room and told they could not enter the hall from that exit. The Turkish guards demanded that their prime minister be allowed to pass, and allegedly pushed the U.N. security guards. The U.N. guards pushed back, and the Turks apparently began swinging. One diplomat who was working on the floor two stories below said he could hear the fighting.

Read the full story HERE.

* UPDATED * Now includes the (shaky) video between the Turkish Protection Detail and the Uniformed UN Security Staff

Caption This 18

Our weekly edition of “Caption This” is back on track where we ask readers to supply their own witty comments to our humorous selection of Executive Protection/ Law Enforcement / Military related photos.

This photo proves we all need a little pomp and circumstance in our life, so let’s  “Caption This…”

The fine print: As some readers have have some great comments in the past but have not met the eligibility requirements to win the prize:

*To participate, leave your comment below AND on our Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/IconServices. (just do a simple cut and paste)

The one with the most “likes” next to their comment will win a surprise gift.  (also remember, even if you are not leaving a comment, give yourself some good karma and vote for the one you think is the most humorous.)

**Check out previous edition of Caption This by clicking HERE

Caption This 17

“Caption This” makes a long overdue appearance as readers  supply their own witty comments to our humorous selection of Executive Protection/ Law Enforcement / Military related photos.

Today’s photo comes by way of the very umm… subtle appearance of a security team in South Africa that raised more than a few eyebrows.

So , let’s turn this into a teachable moment and “Caption This…”

Please read below, as some readers have have some great comments in the past but have not met the eligibility requirements to win the prize:

*To participate, leave your comment below AND on our Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/IconServices. (just do a simple cut and paste)

The one with the most “likes” next to their comment will win a surprise gift.  (also remember, even if you are not leaving a comment, give yourself some good karma and vote for the one you think is the most humorous.)

**Check out previous edition of Caption This by clicking HERE

Officers Suspended for Moonlighting for Celebrity

Looks like moonlighting for a celebrity came back to bite these law enforcement officers in the long run…

6 Metro Nashville Police officers were suspended for driving Taylor Swift’s security team after being denied permission to perform the outside work.

5 Officers were suspended for 10 days, with one Sargent  suspended for 12 days.

The officers sought approval for the driving job, but their request was rejected, according to the department’s internal investigation, which was completed in May.

Elrod, who recently retired from the department, said in an interview that they continued doing the job anyway, hoping supervisors wouldn’t find out.

He said they needed the $30 an hour the work provided.

Click HERE for the full story.

Rupert Murdoch Attacked During News Corp Hearing

Rupert Murdoch narrowly avoided what at least initial reports claim to be a pie on the face live on international television.   As Mr. Murdoch and his son neared the end of testimony on the News Corp Phone Hacking scandal, an unknown assailant rushed into the area carrying a tin plate that contained a white cream substance.

Interesting enough, one of the first persons that appeared to respond was Mr. Murdoch’s wife Wendi Deng, (in the pink) who jumped up and lunged at the attacker with an open hand yelling “no, no”.   Law enforcement then reacted grabbing the man.    From the vantage point of the camera, no members of the Executive Protection team could be identified responding, but here’s hoping they were onsite and just slightly out of frame.

Click HERE for an initial report

*Updated*  From the video it appears as if a member of Mr. Murdoch’s Close Protection Team jumps up to respond from the right of the frame.