North Yorkshire Police said there has been “no evidence uncovered” to suggest the alleged firing of the rifle in Bull Lane during the early hours of Thursday (July 30) was “motivated by anything ideological” or “hate-related”.

The force said there was also no evidence to suggest the alleged incident was “specifically targeted against the Muslim community in York”.

Police said a 44-year-old York man arrested in connection with the investigation has been charged with possessing a loaded air weapon, a .22 air rifle, in a public place.

He has been bailed with conditions, including to keep away from York Mosque, and is due to appear at York Magistrates’ Court on September 21, police said.

No one was injured during the alleged incident and the mosque has since resumed its daily prayers.

York Mosque in Bull Lane (Image: Dylan Connell)

Superintendent Ed Haywood-Noble, senior operational commander for York and Selby, said it had been a “worrying time for everyone connected to York Mosque”, but the police investigation “has not identified an intention to cause injuries or distress to people”.

He said high-visibility police patrols will continue around the mosque in the coming days “as life begins to return to normal in the area” to “provide added reassurance for everyone in the city”.

“I again thank York Mosque for their understanding and patience during this time, and also our community partners and residents who have given so much support to the intensive police investigation,” Supt Haywood-Noble said.

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York Mosque’s president, Mohamad Douba, said the mosque has been “overwhelmed by the many messages of support we have received” after the alleged incident. “Once again, York has shown that our community stands together with kindness, resilience and unity,” he said.

Mr Douba said he did “not believe there is any further risk to those attending the mosque”, adding: “We remain hopeful that this will prove to be an isolated incident.

“York has always been a city built on mutual respect, friendship and understanding and we remain confident in the strength of our community to continue supporting one another.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and prayers, as well as North Yorkshire Police for their swift response and ongoing support.”

Police urge witnesses or anyone with information about the alleged incident to phone 101.

Information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12260145924 when providing information to police or to Crimestoppers.

CHICAGO (AP) — A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy won’t get an early medical release from his two-decade prison sentence for killing Sonya Massey inside her home after the Black woman called 911 about a possible prowler, state officials decided Friday.

Sean Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer prior to the 2024 shooting, and his attorney noted in January that the cancer had advanced to his liver and lungs.

The three-member Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously Friday to deny Grayson’s application for early medical release, Liz Mitchell, a board spokesperson, said in an email.

Grayson, who is white, was convicted in October of second-degree murder for Massey’s killing, a case that sparked protests over systemic racism and a U.S. Department of Justice review.

Body camera footage showed Grayson and another deputy enter Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois. Minutes later, Grayson shot the 36-year-old single mother in the face as she moved a pot of hot water from the stove and told him, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson was given the maximum possible sentence.

He filed for early release from prison in May, six months into his sentence, according to a copy of his application published by Capitol News Illinois. Grayson apologized for Massey’s death at his January sentencing but in the release application wrote she had “attacked me with a pot of boiling water.”

Daniel Fultz, an attorney who has represented Grayson, declined to comment Friday.

In a letter to the board opposing Grayson’s release, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said the former deputy’s medical condition was already considered at sentencing.

“To release Grayson under these circumstances would be a miscarriage of justice,” he wrote, “and an insult to Sonya Massey’s memory and family.”

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys representing Massey’s family, said Friday that the board “made the right decision.”

“Today the board recognized what this family has said from the start,” they said in a statement. “No one is above accountability, and a badge does not provide an early way out.”

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement that Illinois law requires the Prisoner Review Board to consider medical release requests. He called Massey’s killing “a profound loss.”

There was a sporting and cultural theme in July

July traditionally sees a winding down of business from elected representatives at Bangor Castle and Church Street Newtownards, despite council officials continuing to bear their steady load in the background.

But the business done in the few council meetings that were held had a decidedly sporty and cultural feel in July, though as usual controversy wasn’t too far away, this time over a “junket” down south.

Here is your latest round up of Ards and North Down Council matters so far this summer:

Petition against Bangor tennis club fails as floodlighting plan approved by council

A controversial plan for floodlights at a tennis club in Northern Ireland’s newest city was approved by the local council, despite significant opposition from locals.

76 letters of objection and a petition from 181 addresses were not enough to stop a plan to install new floodlights for three tennis courts at Bangor Lawn Tennis Club, beside Farnham Park. The original proposal comprised eight columns at a height of 10 metres, but was amended to six columns of 12 metres.

Elected representatives at the July meeting of the Ards and North Down Planning Committee by majority approved the planning application, from Bangor Lawn Tennis Club. Seven councillors voted in favour of the application, and two councillors abstained from voting.

Read more here

Plans for new BMX track and bike jump park in Bangor approved

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Plans for a new BMX track and bike jump park in North Down were approved.

Elected representatives at the July meeting of the Ards and North Down Planning Committee unanimously approved a planning application by the council for the new facility, to be built at Bangor Sportsplex, 292 Old Belfast Road.

The proposal is for a BMX track, a bike jump park, as well as alterations to an existing spectator stand to facilitate the creation of a bicycle workshop and new shared space. The BMX track will be designed to national standard specification.

Read more here

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to kick off in Bangor, not Belfast

A Bangor Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann fringe programme, the planning of which caused controversy earlier this year, will kick off the huge Fleadh celebrations this weekend.

In an irony not lost on the people of Ards and North Down, the first ever Fleadh Ceoil to come to Belfast, and only the second ever to come to Northern Ireland, will be kicked off this weekend in Bangor.

As excitement builds for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast, North Down is preparing to strike the first note with Bangor Beats and Rhythms, a vibrant celebration of Irish music, dance and culture taking place in the city centre on Saturday August 1 from 1pm to 9pm.

Read more here

NI council unveils USA 250 anniversary event line-up

Ards and North Down Borough Council revealed more details of the ongoing USA 250 celebrations in the borough.

While American Independence Day, the Fourth of July, has passed, from September to November 2026 Ards and North Down Council is highlighting a programme of commemorative activity continuing to mark the Semiquincentennial. This year the USA marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence when the US became an independent nation, overthrowing British rule.

The council says the programme will reflect the borough’s historic connections with the United States and align with existing borough events.

Read more here

DUP tries to block €50 council trip to conference in Wicklow

The DUP failed in an attempt to block a 50 euro council trip to a history conference in Wicklow, after a UUP Lord Mayor used a casting vote to back the trip down south.

Ards and North Down Borough Council had to go to a knife-edge vote at its full council meeting after officers received an invitation from Wicklow County Council to attend the 36th La Touche Legacy Seminar and 11th Festival of History, which will take place on Saturday September 19 at Greystones Golf Club, County Wicklow.

The seminar will feature presentations by Professor Frank Barry, David McCullagh of RTÉ and Stephen Collins, covering aspects of Ireland’s economic, political and social history.

Read more here

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Darlington Borough Council said construction on the second phase of improvements along Woodland Road would start next week (August 3), with the project expected to take until November 2027 to complete.

The scheme forms part of wider plans to create a continuous walking and cycling route linking West Park and Faverdale with the town centre through the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan.

The junction of Woodland Road, Staindrop Road and Carmel Road North in Darlington. (Image: Chris Booth)

Council officers had previously said in August 2025 that work on the second phase would begin later that year.

The latest stage will extend the cycle route from the Hollyhurst Road junction to Deneside Road, near Tennis Dene, and introduce new priority crossings on side roads to improve safety and visibility for pedestrians. 

Construction will begin at Dene Grove and be carried out in phases to reduce disruption. Two-way traffic will be maintained where possible, although temporary traffic lights, junction closures and pavement diversions will be required during the works.

The project has been beset by delays since wider proposals for the route were first unveiled in January 2022.

Plans initially stalled after the council failed to secure funding through the Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2023, raising uncertainty over whether the scheme would proceed.

Earlier this year, Green councillor Matthew Snedker cited the Woodland Road project as an example of infrastructure schemes repeatedly delayed despite significant work by council officers.

He said projects that had been “designed, costed, audited and approved” had “languished on the drawing board for a year or more”.

The wider scheme also includes proposed changes to roundabouts at Cockerton, Staindrop Road and Woodland Road.

Separate plans linked to those improvements remain outstanding. A planning application submitted by the council to demolish a council-owned property at 267 Carmel Road, rebuild a retaining wall, remove trees and divert utility services has yet to be approved, despite demolition work previously being expected to start in spring 2026.

Libby McCollom, the council’s cabinet member for local services, said the project would help deliver the authority’s ambitions to encourage more sustainable travel. 

“This work feeds into the ambitions we laid out in the Council Plan,” she said.

“It will make it safer and easier for people to use more sustainable modes of transport, which will benefit not only their health but also the wider environment.

“It will also help to connect our communities by giving one safe, accessible route from West Park to the town centre.”

JJ Gabriel has been included in the first-team squad for Saturday’s friendly against Atletico Madrid.

Goalkeepers: Bayindir,Heaton, Mee, Vitek.

Defenders: Amass, Armer, Dorgu, Heaven, Kamason, Maguire, Shaw, Yoro.

Midfielders: J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Mount, Santos, Thwaites.