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One of the unidentified armed men patrolling in front of the airport today AP Photo/Andrew Lubimov

Armed men are patrolling one of Ukraine's main airports

However the airport is operating normally, despite their presence.

THE AIRPORT IN Crimea’s capital Simferopol is operating normally this morning despite armed men in military clothes who have begun patrolling outside it.

Passengers had normal access to the airport, on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, and were checking in for flights.

An earlier report said that it had been seized overnight by armed assailants.

However a dozen unidentified armed men could be seen outside the airport perimeter. They did not respond to questions about where they were from.

The airport’s information service said that the airport was “working as normal”.

image

(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Interfax-Ukraine news agency had earlier reported that around 50 unknown gunmen carrying Russian flags had seized the airport building in the early hours of this morning, a day after pro-Russian armed men took control of the city’s regional government and parliament buildings.

Another dozen unarmed pro-Russian men were standing outside the entrance to the airport territory and told a reporter that they were there to keep order.

“We are against fascism and nationalism. We are remaining outside the airport,” said Dmitry, a young lawyer, without giving his surname.

On Thursday Crimea’s regional parliament, which remained under the control of pro-Moscow gunmen, voted to hold a referendum on May 25 to expand the region’s autonomy from Kiev and replaced the local government with a pro-Russian official.

The raid followed the ouster of Kremlin-allied Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych last weekend in an avalanche of change following the deaths of scores of people in clashes in Kiev.

image

(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

- © AFP, 2014

Read: ‘Wanted for mass murder’ – Arrest warrant issued for toppled Ukraine leader Yanukovych >

Read: Unity government to be formed in Kiev, as US stops just short of endorsing interim leader >

Column: The fight for the future of Ukraine is not over – not by a long shot >

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    Mute Donagh O Connell
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:50 AM

    I spoke to a parent who was at the concert and I believe the condition of some of the young teenagers at the concert was nothing short of disgraceful. Under age girls falling around getting sick Surely something has to be done about this. Can the gardai not have a holding area where these people can be held for their own safety until a responsible guardian collects them.

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    Mute Enda Nolan
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    Jun 27th 2014, 12:05 PM

    The article says the met the men in a night club after the concert as for the holding area it is a way to stop underage drinking seen it enforced at an underage disco worked perfectly

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    Mute Stephanie Ní Challanáin
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    Jun 27th 2014, 12:56 PM

    I heard it was 2 members of the jason derulo fellas entourage! Not sure how true that was though. I dont know how girls in there got so drunk. Any time i went there you were properly searched before you went in, turned away if you were pissed and could only by one drink at the bar per time so you couldn’t by loads for teenagers. It’s stupid getting that locked at a concert … ruins it for yourself and everyone around ya!

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    Mute Donagh O Connell
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    Jun 27th 2014, 2:34 PM

    I believe they have done away with searches. Probably cutbacks so these greedy organisers can squeeze every last penny out of teenagers. Also I believe most of these kids were drunk going in so should have been stopped at the entrance if people were doing their jobs

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    Mute Enda Nolan
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    Jun 27th 2014, 3:29 PM

    Searches and people being stopped for being drunk all falls down to who was providing security at the event

    15
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    Mute Zozzy Zozimus
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    Jun 27th 2014, 12:18 PM

    Comments should be closed on this article.

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    Mute Stan Smith
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    Jun 27th 2014, 10:49 AM

    Castrate them and put them in a cell with a lifer. Unfortunately this is Ireland so they will be out in time for the next big concert

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    Mute Richard Rodgers
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    Jun 27th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Stan
    No need for a trial?

    112
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    Mute Stan Smith
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    Jun 27th 2014, 10:58 AM

    Yes if they are guilty of course. It is true that some women falsely accuse men of sexual assault but that is most likely not the case

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 27th 2014, 10:59 AM

    I will hold my powder on this

    39
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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:05 AM

    Stan, a bit early in the morning to be grabbing your lighted torch and pitchfork isn’t it? I thought mob rule only came out after dark.

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    Mute david dickson
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:07 AM

    I doubt very much that we have any lifers in Irish prisons.

    55
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    Mute Stan Smith
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:08 AM

    Ok I relent. I’ll put the pitchfork down.

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:19 AM

    So Stan you were the car and saw everything ?

    27
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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    Jun 27th 2014, 1:06 PM

    Do you not understand what the word “allegation” means? There’s also a principal in the justice system that people are innocent until they’re proven guilty.

    26
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    Mute Liam carlin
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    Jun 27th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Stan … I think you mean castrate them if they’re guilty

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    Mute Malcolm Lackey
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:52 AM

    Why so many red thumbs for Stan? 29 people think it’s ok to sexual assault young girls? Castration would be too good for these two perverts. Obviously they are guilty or it wouldn’t have made the news, journalist have good sources in the police, this isn’t just hear say. I wish the girls all the strength in the world to get over this horrible act of perversion.

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    Mute Dublinguy2013
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:59 AM

    Ah well if it’s in the news it must be true. Cancel the court case so.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jun 27th 2014, 2:48 PM

    Malcom, if someone made an allegation against you and you were arrested by the police do you think that you should be castrated on the spot? Only this week a woman was jailed for making false allegations against a man who was totally innocent. no doubt you would have had him castrated as well.

    Look up “due process” and perhaps that will explain the 29 red thumbs for you.

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    Mute pad mul
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    Jun 28th 2014, 4:49 AM

    Malcolm, you’ve forgotten that the employees at “thejournal.ie” aren’t actually journalists.
    they engage in journalism’s equivalent of the ‘retweet’.

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    Mute Liam carlin
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    Jun 27th 2014, 11:05 AM

    Yes Stan it is most likely not the case … Still can’t castrate someone based in most likely

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    Mute Carol Duff
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    Jun 28th 2014, 2:58 AM

    Personally I think anyone who is guilty of sexual assault should be put in life behind bars for life, if only it was like America here, and that they would be locked up for 23 hours of the day in their own cell. This way they are left to think of what they done for the rest of their lives and eventually they will go mad. Unfortunately we don’t have laws that hold criminals to 60+ years. I really think we should revise our law system and instead of locking people up for minor things we should lock up the seriously dangerous people up for the rest of their lives. You ruin someone’s life then your life deserves to be ruined.

    5
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