The murderer remains in a critical condition in an induced coma in hospital

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Double child killer Ian Huntley was reportedly struck from behind whilst bent over during a prison assault that sources have described as “chaotic”.

Huntley, 52, remains in a critical condition in an induced coma in hospital following the attack, which took place just after 9am on Thursday morning. The convicted murderer was allegedly crouched down fastening string on a recycling crate in a workshop at HMP Frankland in County Durham when his attacker struck him up to 15 times with a three-foot metal pole, according to sources.

The Soham killer was rushed to hospital, where his mother Lynda, who has since visited, reportedly told friends he was “unrecognisable” due to the severity of his injuries. He was given just a five per cent chance of survival following the assault, which is said to have left his head severely wounded.

READ MORE: Ian Huntley ‘guarded by police’ as he fights for life in hospital after alleged inmate attackREAD MORE: New prisoners at jail Ian Huntley was attacked in see same terrifying three-word sign

Huntley sustained a broken jaw along with brain and skull injuries during the attack at the recycling workshop, and is understood to be connected to a ventilator. The prime suspect in the assault has been named as triple killer Anthony Russell, although police have yet to officially confirm this.

A source characterised the assault as “unbelievably savage”, noting: “It is astonishing that Huntley is still alive. He was bending down tying some string onto a recycling crate when he was first hit – so was in a position like you’d be in when tying your shoelaces. And people who saw it say he was battered around 15 times.”, reports the Mirror.

The source further claimed that fellow prisoners appeared to have anticipated the violence, stating “none of the prisoners there helped.”

They explained: “They just watched it happen and it was staff who stepped in – but not before the attacker had inflicted some really severe damage. Everyone thought Huntley was dead and inmates and staff are absolutely stunned he is still alive.”

According to the source, following the incident: “Afterwards, Russell was handcuffed and led away towards the chapel and was smirking. He has apparently admitted the attack in interviews and said he was proud of it. But he has also said he is ‘gutted’ that Huntley is still alive – because he was sure he’d killed him.”

A prison insider told The Mirror the alleged perpetrator faces years of isolation from the general prison population. They remarked: “It’ll be business as usual [in the prison], it’ll be absolutely same as always, just there’ll be one less prisoner to worry about.

“Because it’s a serious assault, he’ll be moved to the segregation unit. He’ll probably just be held there for the foreseeable, certainly, because you can’t go around either trying to kill another prisoner or killing other prisoners, so he’ll probably be in a segregation unit for the next five, 10 years, maybe.”

Durham Constabulary confirmed Huntley remains under medical care. “He remains in hospital in a serious condition,” a spokesperson stated.

Huntley is currently serving a life sentence for the horrific murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who disappeared after leaving a family barbecue to purchase sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, back in August 2002. He subsequently dumped their bodies in a ditch and brazenly attempted to deflect suspicion by appearing in media interviews discussing the police investigation.

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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dressing room has come under fire from a player he signed

Former Manchester City winger Nolito has taken aim at the dressing room egos he saw while he played for the club.

The Spaniard was signed by City from Celta Vigo in July 2016 after the Blues triggered his £13.8million release clause. Then aged 29, he signed a four-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, becoming one of the recently-appointed manager Pep Guardiola’s first signings.

Nolito went on to make 19 Premier League appearances and 30 across all competitions in his first and only season with City, scoring four league goals as the side finished third. Yet, he remained unsettled both on and off the pitch and left in the summer of 2017, joining Sevilla before returning to Celta in 2020.

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Now 39 and retired, Nolito recently reflected on his year in England, shedding light on his struggles. Speaking on El after de Post United podcast, he explained what it was like to step into a City dressing room filled with stars and, apparently, egos.

Nolito said: “I remember it with a lot of stars and, above all, a lot of ego. There were players with huge egos. We’d all shower together and then each one would leave straight away. It wasn’t a very friendly locker room.

“But anyway, I was always with the Spaniards, with Davis Silva or Jesus Navas, and we shared a lot in the locker room. But there were so many good players that I noticed a lot of ego. I saw many things but I’ll keep that to myself. I think ego is a problem in society nowadays.”

He went on to say he didn’t get the opportunities he would have liked, adding: “At first, I started playing. I played a lot and then I played less. In the end, they’re top squads and I had a lot of competition.

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“I didn’t adapt well because if I don’t play… time… maybe the Premier League has a bit more pace. They let you play more, there aren’t as many fouls. But I still prefer La Liga without a doubt.

“Guardiola asked me what he asked me at Barcelona: to do what I knew how to do, to play football the way I had always played and to keep doing it. And then, tactically, he tried to correct the shortcomings I had. And I said, ‘Whatever he tells me, I’m at his disposal.’”

Some of the key players at City that season were Nicolas Otamendi, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Gael Clichy, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.

Ilkay Gundogan had just been signed too, while youngsters John Stones and Gabriel Jesus were starting to leave their own mark.

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During Sunday night’s Actor Awards – previously known as the Actor Awards until a recent name change – the pair brought their own unique brand of chaos to the proceedings while presenting an award.

After taking to the stage, Meg immediately launched into an acceptance speech for her supposed work in Hamnet, before Paul jokingly pointed out that their scenes had been “cut”.

“So, we were the comic relief in Hamnet,” Paul explained to the actors in the audience, as an incandescent Meg looked on. “We played two provincial nobles who were inbred. It was political satire, I think…”

Meg then chimed in: “This is unbelievable, even the freaking merkin stuff? I was in my trailer for four hours gluing that damn thing on. I still have it on!”

Watch Megan and Paul’s full segment – impromptu musical number and all! – for yourself below:

The two are best known for their work in the Emmy-winning series Hacks, which Paul co-created and co-writers, as well as starring in.

Meanwhile, Seth Rogen’s hit comedy The Studio was the big winner at the 2026 Actor Awards, with Sinners coming out on top when it came to the most-awarded films.

The driver ran away across a number of fields following the incident

A teenager has been arrested after a car ended up in a Co Antrim field following a police chase on Friday.

Police attempted to stop a silver BMW in the Cushendall Road area of Ballymena on Friday, February 27, after noticing a “poor standard of driving” with the driver then speeding away from the officers.

A pursuit then took place with the BMW driver losing control of the vehicle which ended up in a field in the Newtown-Crommelin area. The driver then fled the vehicle on foot across a number of fields with police launching a search of the area, later finding a male at an address nearby.

READ MORE: Ian Huntley ‘bludgeoned 15 times from behind’ in prison attackREAD MORE: 10 cases heard before Northern Ireland courts this week

An 18-year-old has since been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences which include dangerous driving, failing to stop for Police, no insurance and possession of a Class B controlled substance.

A PSNI spokesperson said on Friday: “Road Policing Interceptors (Sprucefield) attempted to stop and speak to the driver of this Silver BMW earlier today in the Cushendall Road area of Ballymena after observing their poor standard of driving.

“The driver had other ideas and decided to make off from Police at speed, a pursuit ensued which resulted in the driver losing control of his vehicle which came to rest in a field in the Newtown-Crommelin area. The driver then made off on foot across fields in an attempt to evade Police. The male was located a short time later in an address nearby after a search of the area by Interceptors, Ballymena LPT officers and colleagues from our Air Support Unit (ASU).

“An 18 year old male was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, no insurance and possession of a Class B controlled substance, they will now have to explain their actions to a local court.”

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I’VE always believed that cash is king and much prefer using it on a day to day basis.

But with the increase of illegal workers and money laundering, cash in hand has become an easy way to pay and fund illegal activities.

With this in mind cash in certain situations has become a liability.

Certain jobs that involve cash payments should be instructed to receive only card payments and monitored. By removing ready cash it will be harder work illegally and prevent money laundering.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street ,

Monkgate,

York

—

Why the PM is ‘delusional’

LISTENING to Starmer at PMQs, I did not realise we live in such a well run country, prosperous, where the cost of living is of no concern to anyone, utility services virtually cost free, a health service without fault, business growth beyond even Trump proportion.

The man is so delusional he is in love with his own propaganda, he needs telling the moon is not made of green cheese and only fantasists reside in cuckoo land.

Peter Rickaby,

Moat Way,

Brayton,

North Yorkshire

—

‘Crackpot’ idea

SO the latest crackpot idea from Ed Miliband is to create solar panel farms in space. Perhaps a good idea if the rocket taking these panels included Miliband.

Barrie Crowther,

Walton,

Wakefield

—

Number crunching

WHO can remember their Co-Op ‘divi’ number from years ago?

Curiously I can recall it better than far more recent ‘digital age’ numbers.

I can’t reveal the actual digits for security reasons.

Knowing the number ‘off pat’ (not the local postman by the way) was part of growing up; it had to be quoted accurately and unerringly, whenever on an errand to the Co-Op shop (not to be confused with the Cop shop, a place to be avoided by the kids on the estate!).

Cheating in the form of ink tattooing the palm of your hand with the magic number was allowed though a sign of weakness.

A copying ink pencil was useful for this purpose, a tool often deployed by blue-lipped ‘beat bobbies’ back then when noting in their pocket-book the name and address of a miscreant. The ‘divi’ number was a sort of treasured memory ultimately convertible into cash.

We’re required to memorise different numbers these days.

Too many for some.

People not confident in their powers of recollection can set a dangerous precedent by risking a tiny written memo to be secreted in cunning fashion but not so cunning that you forget where you put it.

Hiding places for these valuable and potentially vulnerable scraps of paper can range from a tooth cavity to under a bucket near the front door or from the sock drawer to the diary, or somewhere else.

I can also remember my Service Number which is of course, highly classified.

Derek Reed,

Middlethorpe Drive,

York

What do you think?

Feel strongly about an issue? Write us a letter. Please write no more than 250 words and you must provide your full name, address and mobile number. Send your views by email to: letters@thepress.co.uk

Challenging times

MANY older people are unable to manage in this digital world.

Nor can they afford it!

I am luckily able to use a computer but now find if I try to shop online I also need a mobile.

Good luck all you pensioners. The shops will value your custom.

Eunice Birch,

Sutton on Forest,

York

The signs for Arcadia, which was originally meant to open in late 2025, have gone up at the site on Skinnergate.

Designed by Direct Signs (Northern) Ltd, based on North Road in Darlington, the Arcadia logo is now up above the building.

Signs for a bar and rage room have also been added to the windows of the gaming venue.

Earlier this month, bosses provided an update on the renovation works and said when residents can expect the venue to open.

Signs have gone up for Arcadia on Skinnergate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Writing on Facebook, Arcadia said: “You may now see plenty of people coming and going out of the building, upstairs renovation is coming on quick and it’s looking amazing!

“Downstairs bar starts next week, today we finished ripping out the old bar and plumbing. We’re not covering the windows so you can keep an eye on us! If you see people inside, give them a knock and a wave!

“We’ve ordered our signs and window stickers for the front of the building, hopefully they should be up in the next couple of weeks.

“We’ve got our internet going in next week finally, only took Virgin a month to get sorted, all our 4K CCTV is up and active to keep an eye on everyone during their time inside.

A picture posted to social media showed how the work is progressing at Arcadia Darlington (Image: ARCADIA)

“The second building lease process is coming along nicely and moving at a fast pace.

“Approximately four-six weeks until opening now, it’s finally so close and we cannot wait to show you all, what we’ve been creating, we want to be Darlington’s ultimate social fun safe space for everyone.”

In January, The Northern Echo reported the gaming site is set to open in early 2026.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Andrew Hoggart, the brains behind the idea, said: “It is not far off from being completed. Downstairs has not really been touched, but that is not going take that long to do. It should be open by February/March time.

Andrew Hoggart (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

“I can put a month on it now when I have not been able to before. Most people have been asking for a while when Arcadia will open, but I can say it will be February or March.”

The venue is set to have everything from 360° virtual reality to adrenaline-pumping simulators and retro arcade classics.

The gaming spot will also have a licensed bar and offer three different children’s party experiences.

BBC Breakfast hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent shared a heartbreaking update on Monday

BBC Breakfast stars Jon Kay and Sally Nugent announced some devastating “breaking news” during the latest live show.

During Monday’s (March 2) edition of the hit morning programme, Jon and Sally updated viewers on the day’s biggest headlines from across the UK and around the world. They were joined in the studio by Matt Taylor, who presented weather forecasts throughout the show.

At the start of the programme, Jon and Sally shared breaking news after the US and Israel began an attack on Iran over the weekend. US President Donald Trump said it was to try and remove a threat from the Iranian regime.

Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and on Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. After strikes landed in cities across Iran, Trump announced that the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamene, had been killed.

“An RAF base in Cyprus [has been] hit by a drone strike, following a weekend of military action across the Middle East,” Sally announced on today’s BBC Breakfast.

Political correspondent Henry Zeffman later described the situation as “pretty concerning”.

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Daniel Cullen (18) from Shantallow was killed alongside friend Caoimhin Porter-McLoone in the St Johnston crash on February 24

The funeral of Daniel Cullen, one of two young men tragically killed in a Donegal collision, heard how “he had a magnetic charisma, a real wit and a charm that people found irresistible.”

The 18-year-old from Shantallow in Co Derry, lost his life alongside his friend Caoimhin Porter-McLoone, also 18, in the fatal incident that occurred in St Johnston, Donegal on Tuesday night, February 24. Both teenagers were passengers in the vehicle that collided with a lorry on the R236.

The car’s driver, another man in his late teens, sustained serious injuries in the collision and remains hospitalised in Belfast. Caoimhin’s funeral Mass was held on Saturday morning.

READ MORE: Teenage friends from NI killed in Donegal crash named locally as community left numbREAD MORE: Funeral hears heartfelt tribute to ‘kind-hearted’ NI teen killed in Donegal crash

Chief mourners at Daniel’s funeral Mass on Sunday afternoon at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Derry included his devastated parents John Morrow and Sharon Cullen, his twin John Paul, brother Joe, sisters Bridie and Doniella, along with extended family and friends.

A framed photograph of a beaming Daniel was positioned on a table at the altar, reports the Irish Mirror.

Parish priest Fr Declan McGeehan addressed mourners: “We come today broken-hearted, full of grief and sadness. We become united as one community, united in love for Daniel and his family.

“We also pray for Caoimhin Porter-McLoone.

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“Daniel was outgoing, extroverted, full of life,” Fr McGeehan told those assembled for Daniel’s Requiem Mass. “He was a sociable, gregarious and popular young fellow who loved being in the company of others – his family, his friends, his classmates here at Steelstown Primary, or in St Bridget’s College. Daniel would talk to everybody and anybody.

“He had a magnetic charisma, a real wit and a charm that people found irresistible.”

Fr McGeehan said over the past few days, the house has been packed with so many of his friends.

“And again, the crowds here this afternoon in this church are a witness to just how well loved he was among his peers, the whole of Shantallow, the whole of this parish, the city is united in grief, as Daniel made a great impression on everyone he met.

“He was a bit of a comedian too, a real wind up merchant, always willing and able to bring a bit of light-hearted banter to even the most serious situations,” said Fr McGeehan.

Fr McGeehan said that one of Daniel’s teachers said that whilst he was no trouble at all, it was always clear he never wanted to be in school.

“He had no interest whatsoever in the school work, but at the same time, he’d hardly miss a day, for he loved the social side of being at school surrounded by his friends, charming the girls, having a laugh and enjoying the banter,” said Fr McGeehan.

“He had ambitions to become a mechanic for he had an inquisitive mind that loved to know how things worked.

“He loved taking things apart, understanding them, fixing them and putting them back together.

“And again, he loved his time at the training centre, not for the formal learning side of things, but because he got to do practical things. And he also enjoyed the camaraderie with the other lads there.

“At home, Daniel was adored by all his siblings: his big brother Joe, twin brother John Paul, and two sisters, Bridie and Doniella. None of them were immune from his charm.

“He was the life and soul of any family gathering. He lit up any room he entered, and drew out the best in everyone.

“And of course, he was a firm favourite with all the younger children in the family, especially his wee cousins, they all gravitated toward him, for he was always there to play with them, to wind them up and to spoil them.”

Addressing Daniel’s grieving parents John and Sharon, Fr McGeehan said: “He was there for you when you needed him most. He was a rock for you at times, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and often, he had a wisdom beyond his years.

“He was the same for his grandparents too. All you needed to do was hint at something needed and done, and he’d be the first to get his hands dirty and muck in, clearing the garden, running messages, whatever it was he was on it, and you didn’t have to ask him twice.

“For Daniel was a big-hearted, compassionate young man who had that special ability to recognise when someone needed help, and more importantly, he was never slow to respond to that need and to offer whatever support he could.

“I think it’s fair to say that Daniel loved his style. He always made sure that he was dressed to perfection,” Fr McGeehan continued.

“He could never save any money for anything, for as soon as he gathered a few pounds together, he’d be up to town and to JD sports to buy another track suit or hats or trainers, sometimes at eye watering prices, not to mention his jewellery.

“He always looked dapper and would never leave the house without first looking at himself in the mirror and spraying a bit of scent,” said Fr McGeehan.

“It’s very easy when someone dies in tragic circumstances to allow those circumstances to define them, but our faith teaches us that it’s not the circumstances of life or death that define us.”

Speaking to Daniel’s heartbroken friends, Fr McGeehan assured them they are “not suffering alone, you have each other and there are many people out there who will be more than willing to help you and listen to you.

“If you do need help, or you need someone to turn to in the next days, weeks, months ahead, please reach out,” said Fr McGeehan.

Following the Requiem Mass, Daniel was laid to rest in Derry City Cemetery.

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F1 is stepping into the unknown with some of the biggest rule changes the sport has ever seen, with the power unit, chassis, tyres and fuel all new for 2026.

Cars are now smaller and more environmentally friendly, with engines that have a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power – and use fully sustainable fuels.

However, there is concern within F1 about the degree of energy management required, and how that will affect driving styles during qualifying and races.

The drag reduction system (DRS) has been replaced with overtake mode, which gives drivers a burst of extra electric energy when they are within one second of the car ahead at a detection point, typically the final corner.

DRS no longer exists because of active aero, which allows both the rear and front wings to adjust angles on the straights to reduce drag and to increase downforce in the corners.

During the second week of pre-season testing, Ferrari turned heads with their rotating ‘upside down’ rear wing when the car’s straight-line mode was activated.

Opinions were mixed on the new cars and regulations over the six days of testing in Bahrain.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said they were “like Formula E on steroids” because of the engine’s increased demands for energy management, while seven-time title winner Lewis Hamilton commented that the new rules make F1 “ridiculously complex”, although he did say the cars were “more fun” to drive.

Sky’s Data and Forensics team has been monitoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a strategically vital waterway for Iran and other oil producers in the Middle East. 

Maritime activity has been almost brought to a standstill as the US and Iran have traded strikes.

Hundreds of tankers are usually travelling through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman at all times, with Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. It’s the only marine outlet for this region’s main oil producers, including Iran.

In 2024, around a fifth of all global oil was flowing through the narrow waterway – the equivalent of 20 million barrels a day.

A snapshot from a month ago, on February 1, shows how busy the waterway is with vessels passing into and out of it.

On February 28, the day after the US and Israel carried out their first strikes on Iran, far fewer vessels were in the area and very little movement. By March 1, very few ships were in the strait, and vessels appeared to cluster around large ports on either side of the strait. 

Sky’s Data and Forensic team tracked several individual tankers. One – the KHK Empress – was already in the strait before turning back on Saturday at around 10:00 AM UTC. By Saturday evening, four others had turned away from the strait to head back out into the Gulf. And by Sunday, they were all on the move out of the region.

Analytics agency Kpler estimates that these five ships have the capacity to carry around 10 million barrels of oil.

Fear of being targeted on the route is not unfounded. On March 1, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, The Skylight, was attacked. Four people were injured, and the whole crew of 20 people was evacuated.

The US Navy is warning against navigation through the strait, and some traders are suspending transit. 

Interference with the ship tracking and communication system, AIS, is making the area even more dangerous. The images below show AIS signals, which ships use to broadcast their locations, on February 27 compared to 28 February.

The latter image shows distorted signals, with ships broadcasting locations that appear to be far from their true positions, or even on land.

Volatility in the Gulf will have an impact across the world. Disruption here will, in turn, disrupt global markets and international trade.