Four dead & 18 injured in horror mass shooting with victims ‘caught in crossfire’ as cops hunt multiple gunmen

Published

4 hours ago

September 22, 2024

Four dead & 18 injured in horror mass shooting with victims ‘caught in crossfire’ as cops hunt multiple gunmen

AT LEAST four people have been gunned down and 18 others injured after a horror mass shooting.

A huge manhunt has since been launched as cops search Birmingham, Alabama for multiple gunman they believe may have been behind the attack.

The shooting happened near the University of Alabama in Birmingham

Cops quickly arrived to the scene where onlookers were left in shockCredit: x/@daily_newsz

Two men and a woman were found dead at the scene on Saturday evening.

A fourth man later died in hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

Rounds of gunfire first erupted in the Five Points South entertainment district outside the popular Hush hookah and cigar lounge on Magnolia Avenue.

The victims were caught in the crossfire after “multiple shooters fired multiple shots on a group of people,” according to Birmingham police officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Among the 18 left injured some are said to still be in life-threatening conditions.

Many are receiving treatment at the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital.

Shocked witness Dajon Singleton told WVTM that screaming and crying voices could be heard along the street.

Cops are still said to be investigating if the gunmen walked up to the victims or was in a car when they fired the shots.

They believe the attack was “not random and stemmed from an isolated incident”.

Over 100 shell casings were found in the area, say police.

No arrests have been made as of yet.

Officer Fitzgerald said: “Rest assured, we are going to do everything we possibly can to uncover, identify and hunt down whoever was responsible for preying on our people.”

Cops believe the weapon used was a Glock switch gun where the handler is able to flip between an automatic and semi-automatic weapon attached to a Glock.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin declared the weapons are “the number one public safety issue” in the city.

He has called on them to be outlawed after the attack.

The nearby streets where the shooting took place have all been closed off as cops continue to search the area.

Officer Fitzgerald said they have been in contact with the FBI and ATF for support on the investigation.

A $5,000 reward is also being offered in exchange for information on the possible killers and their motives.

Birmingham police have also asked for any businesses in the local area with CCTV cameras to check the footage and hand it over to officers.

There have been more than 400 mass shootings across the US this year, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Police have cordoned off the street where the shooting took place as investigations continueCredit: Getty

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Tata Steel: ‘Port Talbot won’t feel or look the same

Published

5 mins ago

September 22, 2024

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Tata Steel: 'Port Talbot won’t feel or look the same

When Steven Partridge retired in 2021, he was still working alongside six others who started their apprenticeships on the same day more than forty years ago

Steven Partridge Man wearing blue and yellow overalls in a white helmet standing to the right of frame with industrial sized cogs behind him and a bright, white light in the background. He also has a pair of protective goggles hanging around his chest and a walkie-talkie attached to the left side of his chest. You can also see the hand and the white heltmet of another worker peaking into the right side of the frame. — When Steven Partridge retired in 2021, he was still working alongside six others who started their apprenticeships on the same day more than forty years ago

Thousands of families have depended on Port Talbot’s steelworks to provide local jobs for more than a hundred years.

At the end of the month, the second of its two blast furnaces will shut down and around two thousand jobs will be lost.

“Steel town – it’s in our DNA,” said former Port Talbot steelworker Steven Partridge.

The 60-year-old missed family birthdays and wedding anniversaries because of shift patterns and overtime at the plant.

He said the pressure to ensure there were no accidents whilst making high quality steel was “immense”.

“You see taxis called steel town. Cafes, shops – steel town. We live and breathe steel,” said Steven, who retired in 2021.

Most of the town’s only male voice choir – Cymric Choir – have had decades of employment at the Abbey Works, which was acquired by Tata Steel in 2007.

During a recent weekly rehearsal in a hall behind Taibach Methodist Church, some of the group’s members shared fond memories of their time at the works.

A photo of the Cymric Choir standing on a hill overlooking Port Talbot

Roo Lewis A male voice choir in dark green suits, white shirts and green and yellow striped ties standing on a green hill with yellow daisies. In the background is the industrial town of Port Talbot and the large steelworks. To the left of the frame is another lush green hillside. In the distance is the sea and a blue sky with little cloud and some grey smoke. — A photo of the Cymric Choir standing on a hill overlooking Port Talbot

Steve Williams, 72, is one of six generations in his family to have worked at the steel plant. His daughter and grandson are still there.

“My first encounter with the steelworks was when I was seven years old. My mother was from Merthyr and there was a tragedy, so she had to go back pretty sharp. My father was afternoons, so there was nobody to mind me,” he recalled.

“My father took me into the works on his moped and I was sitting on his traction crane whilst he was working and then at the end of the day then we went back to the canteen and had a game of cards.”

Among the many sounds and smells of the steelworks, Steve’s most notable memory is the smell of “rotten eggs”, which comes from the slag that’s formed during the steel-making process.

“I always remember the smell. My father used to smash up the slag from the torpedoes and he had to break it up with his crane. That smell has lived with me for the rest of my my life.”

Steve Williams said whether you were in the pub or walking down the street, the conversation would often be about life in the steelworks

An older male with thinning white hair is centre of the photo wearing a navy blue jumper and the white and blue striped collar of his shirt is also visible. Behind him and out of focus are mustard and cream colour walls, some wooden red chair are also stacked over his left shoulder and there are some tables stacked in the background over his right shoulder. — Steve Williams said whether you were in the pub or walking down the street, the conversation would often be about life in the steelworks

In its heyday during the 1960s, more than 18,000 people were employed at Port Talbot’s steelworks.

But the site has gone through many periods of change, which has sometimes resulted in strikes and job cuts.

“In my first years after my apprenticeship I was locked out of work for 26 weeks with two young children and no pay, so yeah, I’ve seen a lot of different times,” said Steve.

“We scrimped and saved. My wife had to go out and find a part time job. I had a young baby and daughter and milk tokens was the only thing I was entitled to.”

Port Talbot’s Cymric choir was established in 1911 and the majority of its members are either former or current steelworkers

Male voice choir standing in a semi circle singing in a room which has cream walls and parquet flooring. In front of them with his back to the camera is the conductor and to his left is a female pianist who is wearing a floral dress. — Port Talbot’s Cymric choir was established in 1911 and the majority of its members are either former or current steelworkers

Peter Sharp’s father came from Scotland to find work in Port Talbot.

The 67-year-old lives on the Sandfields estate, which was built initially to house some of the town’s steelworkers during the 1940s and 50s.

“I worked in the pick line. It’s where they run the steel coils through the acid baths,” Peter said.

“The job was tough, dirty, noisy but the camaraderie there was brilliant.”

Peter’s son was the third generation of the Sharp family to enter the steelworks, but he left earlier this year after it was announced that the furnaces would close.

“It breaks my heart. Port Talbot won’t feel or look the same. Maybe one day in the future we’ll be glad to see it move on but not right now,” he said.

“It’s integrated right throughout the community. I was a big rugby player and all steelworkers played and even though we were in different teams, we were all friendly. It’s the centre – the heartbeat of the town, really.”

The choir’s pianist Angharad Young, 46, is a teacher at a local primary school.

As well as a connection to the steelworks through her grandfather, she said a number of her pupils also have parents who are employed at Tata Steel.

Later this month, virgin steelmaking at the town’s Abbey Works will end after more than 70 years

A shot of the steelworks' blast furnaces in Port Talbot. White smoke is coming from the steelworks and a number of other industrial buildings can also be seen. The photo is at dusk and the sky is pink with very few wispy clouds. — Later this month, virgin steelmaking at the town’s Abbey Works will end after more than 70 years

What’s happening at the steelworks is of “great concern” to her, especially in a town which has high levels of deprivation.

“You see it, you hear it, you smell it sometimes too. Port Talbot wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the works,” Angharad said.

She said there was also an understanding about the impact the current steel-making process has on the environment.

“I know it’s not always been the cleanest of places but I think it’s improved over the years,” she said.

“We’re proud of it. The children are proud to be able to say someone in their family works there.”

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Business

López Obrador’s son takes senior party post as Mexico president bows out

Published

23 mins ago

September 22, 2024

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Mexico’s ruling party chose the son of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for a senior role on Sunday, in a sign the leftist leader will continue to influence public life after he steps down.

López Obrador is in his final weeks of a six-year term that has polarised Mexican politics and concentrated legislative power in his party. His handpicked successor, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, will replace him as president in October.

In a conference centre in the capital on Sunday, Sheinbaum and party delegates emphasised “unity” as the younger generation of leadership was chosen.

Andrés López Beltrán, the president’s second-eldest son, has for years worked closely for his father behind the scenes and from next month the 38-year-old will take up the administrative position of organisational secretary for the Morena party.

“We all know that he [Obrador] will remain present in this party with his example, with his legacy. Our job running this secretariat will be to keep that legacy, that line,” López Beltrán said of his father to a cheering audience.

López Beltrán, who keeps a low public profile and has not given speeches or interviews, has alongside his brothers been the subject of numerous investigations linking them or close friends to alleged corruption in public contracts. The president and his sons have strenuously denied any allegations of wrongdoing.

The choice of López Beltrán, known as Andy, is seen as a way for the president to have greater influence over his successor and position his son for a future run at the presidency.

“It screams ‘I want to stay in power for the next 12 years’,” said Joy Langston, a professor at the Centre for International Studies at the Colegio de México. “It speaks of this powerful dark cloud that is hanging over Sheinbaum in the near future.”

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum at a memorial on Thursday © CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM’S PRESS OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images

Founded as a civil society group to help López Obrador’s 2012 presidential campaign, Morena now controls the presidency, a working supermajority in both houses of congress and two-thirds of governorships.

Morena’s members refer to the party as a “movement” but few dare to publicly disagree with the president, who has 60 per cent approval ratings and a devoted base among lower-income voters.

Through the transition Sheinbaum stuck close to her mentor, physically in his farewell tour across the country, and rhetorically in her statements.

Some of Sheinbaum’s supporters paint her as a more moderate, technocratic leader than the president, with debate in the media over whether she secretly disagrees with some of his policies.

But the presence of López Obrador’s son, the possibility of recall referendums, and the placing of loyalists in influential positions will make it hard for her to stray too far from the path he has set, analysts said.

The choice of López Beltrán for a role managing party structures cements the perception that Morena is based around the president himself. In office López Obrador raised the minimum wage and social programmes, while at the same time empowering the military and slashing the capacity of the state bureaucracy.

Some members of Morena have already suggested that López Beltrán could be the party’s candidate for the 2030 election, complicating Sheinbaum’s efforts to control her own legacy.

Others say his presence, if she keeps him on side, could be an asset amid potentially fierce jostling for control within the party. Leading Morena officials have made clear that keeping the ruling coalition together will be its biggest task.

“Our challenge is unity,” said senate president Gerardo Fernández Noroña. “People are already talking about 2030, so we have to be careful on that to not be divided.”

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News

Disabled UUP politician ‘frustrated’ over airport lift

Published

26 mins ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

Disabled UUP politician 'frustrated' over airport lift

A Northern Ireland politician, who is a wheelchair user, was left frustrated after his plane took off without him, because there was no lift ready to assist him onto the aircraft in Birmingham Airport.

Andy Allen, an Ulster Unionist Party MLA, told BBC News NI he was due to get on an Aer Lingus flight to Belfast City on Sunday but could not board.

Mr Allen, a former soldier, was 19 when he was injured by a bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2008.

Mr Allen said that he sat on the tarmac ready to depart, and was later informed that there was a request for his luggage to be taken off the plane and that the plane was leaving without him.

He was then brought back into the terminal.

The airport provided a hotel for the night and he has been put on a flight on Monday.

The airport apologised for the inconvenience and said the issue was due to “technical issues” and the matter would be fully investigated.

However Mr Allen said that accessibility for disabled customers must be improved.

Mr Allen explained that the issue was not that he missed his flight but that he did so because he was a wheelchair user.

“In society as a whole there are things that need to be improved for disabled people, to ensure disabled people can play a full part I society and we aren’t prevented from being able to do so,” he told BBC News NI.

“It’s devastating,” he said.

“How many other people have experienced it that haven’t felt they’ve been able to speak, that’s why I felt it was important to call it out,” he added.

He said there was an issue with special assistance at the airport.

“I’m not asking for special treatment, just a level playing field,” he added.

Former UUP leader Dough Beattie said it was “appalling”.

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said that the airport works “closely with our assisted travel provider, Mitie, to deliver the highest possible customer service to all our passengers.”

“Unfortunately, on this occasion due to technical issues, Mr Allen experienced a delay. We will fully investigate this matter. Mr Allen has been rebooked on a flight for tomorrow and a hotel is being arranged for him and his travel companion for this evening.

“We apologise to Mr Allen for any inconvenience.”

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Travel

Peter Island Resort Opens November 2024, Transformed And Reimagined

Published

45 mins ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

(credit: Peter Island Resort)

A treasured secret among sophisticated travelers for decades, Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands re-opens in November 2024 after a six-year hiatus. The property closed during the Virgin Islands’ 2017 hurricane season and now offers brand new and upgraded accommodations as well as other state-of-the-art facilities. Rebuilt and re-envisioned, the island boasts a new level of luxury while maintaining and preserving its relaxed, casual elegance, personalized service, five stellar beaches and hundreds of acres of unspoiled tropical island.

Situated on the largest private island in the British Virgin Islands, the 52-room resort is a tranquil seaside oasis featuring an oceanfront spa that takes pampering to the next level. With the exception of two villas, all accommodations are located on the beachfront just steps from the sea, including eight beachfront rooms with private outdoor hot tubs and two two-bedroom villas.

(credit: Peter Island Resort)

The 21,000 sq. ft. Falcon’s Nest Villa is a site to be seen. This six-bedroom three-story villa offers their most discerning guests sweeping 360 degree island and ocean views, an infinity pool with hot tub, as well as two outdoor showers. Guests who stay in Falcon’s Nest or the Hawk’s Nest Villa overlooking the Yacht Club, also are afforded villa staff and the option of a private chef.

Peter Island comprises hundreds of acres of lush, tropical island terrain including five pristine beaches and the scenic five mile loop with draw-dropping views of the surrounding Virgin Islands. Whether alongside the new infinity pool overlooking the sea, or the beachside cabanas’ butlers service, the areas offer guests an array of pool and beach-based activities along with a selection of small bites and creative cocktails. Guests will undoubtedly stop at Drunken Pelican for a round of sunset Painkiller cocktails before indulging their taste buds at Drake Steakhouse for a vibrant atmosphere.

(credit: Peter Island Resort)

Along with a new 3,200 sq. ft. conference center, the revamped 10,000 sq. ft. spa carries products by 111Skin and features seven treatment rooms, two relaxation lounges, a fitness center, a saltwater pool and a beauty salon. Offering moments of renewed decadence, guests can choose from a variety of services including the Spa’s signature treatments which use local ingredients. The resort can also plan private dinners on the beach as well as off-island excursions, such as scuba diving, sail and snorkeling excursions, helicopter tours, sailing charters and deep-sea fishing to immerse guests in the picture-perfect surroundings.

A must on every sailing itinerary, the newly christened Peter Island Yacht Club offers a full-service marina with dockage that accommodates superyachts of up to 200 feet. Complete with its own commissary, boutique and the Drunken Pelican bar & grill, the marina makes use of more than 250 feet of new dock space to accommodate vessels of all types and sizes.

(credit: Peter Island Resort)

With its unspoiled natural wonders and abundance of land and sea activities including diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, deep sea fishing, pickleball, hikes up the island’s scenic Sunset Loop and more, Peter Island continues to enchant guests in its private island paradise. Guests can arrive via helicopter service from St. Thomas (STT), private charter boat from one of St. Thomas’ docks, or a 20-minute taxi ride from Tortola’s Beef Island Airport (EIS) to the Peter Island Ferry Launch, followed by a 30-minute private yacht transfer to Peter Island Resort. Rates starting at $1,000 a night.

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News

Teenage boy stabbed to death in Woolwich as suspect remains at large

Published

49 mins ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

Teenage boy stabbed to death in Woolwich as suspect remains at large

A TEENAGE boy has been stabbed to death – with his killer still at large, police have confirmed.

Cops were called at just after 6.35pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance in Woolwich, southeast London.

A police cordon remains in place at the sceneCredit: Getty

Officers found a teenage boy with a stab injury on Eglinton Road and he died at the scene soon after, a Met spokesperson told the Sun.

His next of kin has been informed and a crime scene remains in place.

No arrests have been made at this stage, with an investigation ongoing.

The spokesperson said: “Police were called approximately 18:35hrs on Sunday, 22 September to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road, SE18.

“Officers attended and found a teenage boy with a stab injury. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics at the scene, he sadly died a short time later.

“His next of kin have been informed

“A crime scene remains in place.

“There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

“Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 5989/22Sep.”

Have you been affected by this incident? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk

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Business

Leftist outsider Dissanayake wins Sri Lanka election

Published

54 mins ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to receive the newsletter every weekday. Explore all of our newsletters here

Good morning. In today’s news:

But first, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a neo-Marxist outsider candidate, has won the Sri Lankan presidency.

The 55-year-old leftist beat incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took power in 2022 after the country defaulted on its foreign debt and its leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, and the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, son of a former president.

Dissanayake’s victory is the nation’s biggest political upset since independence from Britain and throws fresh doubt on its fragile IMF-backed debt restructuring. In a statement on social media, Dissanayake, widely known by his initials AKD, promised “a fresh start”.

He has pledged to continue with Sri Lanka’s $3bn IMF loan agreement, but alter some rigid conditions to grant more relief to the country’s 23mn people, about a quarter of whom are in poverty after two years of crisis and austerity.

In his campaign, Dissanayake vowed to end corruption and rid public life of scandal, while slashing the privileges of the ruling class such as generous pensions and car permits.

Analysts said the outcome was a stunning result for a bloc with just three MPs in a parliament dominated by parties supported by legacy elites. Here’s what to know about Sri Lanka’s next president.

And here’s what else I’m keeping tabs on today:

Economic data: Singapore and Malaysia publish consumer price inflation data for August. Labour market data is due from Taiwan.
Japan: Financial markets are closed for Autumn Equinox Day.

What lies ahead for India after the first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term? Join FT, Nikkei Asia and Asia Society experts for a webinar on October 10 and put your questions to our panel now. Register for free.

Five more top stories

1. Chinese electric-car maker BYD’s expected expansion into Pakistan has raised hopes in the country that the company can help jump-start exports in the automotive manufacturing sector. For BYD, a planned EV assembly plant in Pakistan would mark the company’s first venture into south Asia after being blocked in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

2. European steelmakers have pleaded with trade officials to tackle a surge in Chinese steel exports that has driven European prices below the cost of production. A new, comprehensive system of tariffs is needed to address the market-distorting effects of global overcapacity, producers and Europe’s main trade body told the FT.

3. The US warned Israel against opening a full-blown war with Hizbollah yesterday as the Lebanese militant group and Israeli forces engaged in some of their fiercest exchanges of fire since October 7. Here’s the latest.

4. Germany’s Social Democrats were on course for a narrow victory over the far-right Alternative for Germany in elections in the eastern state of Brandenburg. The projected result is an unexpected reprieve for Olaf Scholz as he prepares to run for a second term as chancellor next year.

5. US banks made a $1tn windfall from the Federal Reserve’s two-and-a-half-year era of high interest rates, an analysis of official data by the FT has found. Lenders got higher yields for their deposits at the Fed but kept rates lower for many savers, the review of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation data showed. The boost to the US’s more than 4,000 banks has helped pad out profit margins.

The Weekend Essay

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has won and lost fortunes with his bets on technology. So is the investor a visionary — or a gambler who got lucky? Lionel Barber’s Weekend Essay untangles the mystery of the world’s greatest disrupter.

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Business lunches: Lack of time, elbow room and alcohol have created a problem in the world’s business capitals.
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What our Tupperware is telling us: The celebrated brand may be in danger, but demand for storage solutions has never waned, writes Harriet Fitch Little.

Chart of the day

HSBC’s exposure to defaulted commercial property loans in Hong Kong surged almost sixfold to more than $3bn in the first half of this year, underscoring the risks the UK bank faces from a slump in the Chinese territory’s real estate market.

Line chart of Rents under pressure amid high vacancy showing Hong Kong office rents are in decline and could further drop

Take a break from the news

The success of India’s cricket premier league has spawned a flurry of new fast-paced competitions around the world designed to draw in untapped audiences. But can they all survive?