Sir Keir Starmer and police have called for calm after a stabbing attack condemned as “sickening” by the prime minister sent shockwaves through Belfast.
Officers have declared a critical incident in response to the attack, which took place on Monday night on Kinnaird Avenue, a residential part of the city.
Horrifying video circulating online, which is too graphic to publish in full, appears to show a man with a knife pinning another man down on the ground and repeatedly stabbing him.
Bystanders intervened, hitting the attacker over the head with a hurling stick, in an act which police say “undoubtedly saved the man’s life”.
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A man in his 30s, who police say is Sudanese asylum seeker, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. Police believe the suspect had leave to remain in Northern Ireland after arriving in the UK from Dublin.
Read all the latest updates on the investigation in here
The victim, a man in his 40s, has been left with “significant injuries” to his eyes, face and back and remains in a serious condition after he was attacked with a kitchen knife, police said.
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Responding to the attack, Sir Keir said in a statement: “The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening. I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.
“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said it was the police’s understanding that the suspect had been granted leave to remain, having travelled from Sudan to Paris at dates unknown, before flying to Dublin. He then travelled from Dublin to Belfast by bus on 10 February 2023 and claimed asylum on that date.
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“There is no trace of this suspect on any of our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland,” he said.
He warned people against being influenced “from afar through social media” amid calls for protests in response to the attack from far-right agitators such as Tommy Robinson. He called for the public to allow police to work “unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder”.
“We understand the community concern, but this is a time for calm heads to allow the police to do their job, it is not a time for protest. Bringing disruption on to the streets and into communities will serve no purpose. …As a community we must stand united against hatred and against violence,” he added.
In an update to the investigation on Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said there was no evidence of a terror link at this stage but detectives were keeping an open mind over the motive behind the “brutal” attack. He said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing.
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He said he shared the “public revulsion” over the nature of the attack but issued an appeal for order after calls for protests.
“I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions from fear to anger,” he said, before adding that there should be no repeat of disorder previously seen in the city.
“No one needs to see a repeat of this. This only causes damage to the community, and unfortunately, young people often get caught up in that disorder, so I appeal for calm and the safety of all of our communities in response to this.
A police cordon at the scene of a stabbing outside apartments in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast (PA)
“All of our focus must be on a criminal justice investigation.”
Downing Street also said “it is time for calm”, adding: “It’s important that police have the time and space to investigate appropriately”. Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn said it was “innocent people who suffer” when political leaders failed to reduce tensions.
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Speaking in the House of Commons earlier on Tuesday, Mr Benn praised the actions of those who had intervened to try and halt the attack before police arrived.
Police attend the scene following a stabbing attack in North Belfast (Getty)
Referring to the video, he said: “Members of the public did not walk on by, instead a number of them stepped forward and at immense risk to their own safety they intervened to pull the assailant away and protect the victim until the police arrived.
“I would like to say this: you showed the very best of humanity and you have the gratitude of this entire house.”
Mr Henderson also praised those who intervened.
“Our officers were on the scene within minutes and we wish to acknowledge the members of the public who strived to save the man from further attack. Their willingness to step forward to help another person shows incredible bravery and community spirit,” he said.
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Political representatives expressed the shock felt in the local community.
A police cordon at the scene in north Belfast (PA)
Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the person responsible for the attack “must face the full force of the law” and urged the public not to jump to assumptions about the suspect’s immigration status.
She added: “My message today is one of calm and don’t allow those people that don’t care about people here to incite hatred, to incite fear.
“Don’t allow those people who are faceless to orchestrate campaigns on the streets.”
North Belfast MP John Finucane said his thoughts were with the victim. He said: “I am shocked following a horrific attack in north Belfast last night.
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“My thoughts are with the individual who has been taken to hospital following serious injuries, and I hope they make a full recovery.”
A man has been arrested following the attack (Getty)
Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran said he was “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online following the stabbing.
“Many residents have contacted me expressing concerns about community safety and seeking reassurance following this incident,” he said.
“Those concerns are entirely understandable. People deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, regardless of where they live.”
The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue in the lower Antrim Road area remained cordoned off on Tuesday, with markers visible on the ground where the attack had taken place.
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Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage has been urged to contact police.
The new app feature is free to use and gives each customer a team to back for the World Cup with prizes up for grabs.
When joining the sweepstake, you’ll receive a free treat to collect in store, and you can look forward to more prizes as the tournament gets underway.
Here’s what we know about the Big Match Sweepstake and how you can join in.
Morrisons launches Big Match Sweepstake for World Cup on More Card app
On Reddit, a Morrisons customer was confused when they saw an England flag next to their name, despite being a customer in Scotland.
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Sharing a screenshot of their profile and the England flag icon, they said: “Perhaps I have not noticed this but why do I have a flag next to my name on the Morrisons app?
“I don’t recall this before and I didn’t see a setting to add it.
“It’s also odd to have an England flag when my profile and shopping in Morrisons all take place in Scotland.”
Once you have been given a team on the More Card app, your profile will reflect the team it picked out for you.
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Someone commented: “Did you do the reveal your team thing.
“I got Spain so I have 🇪🇸 next to mine and a free bag of bacon crisps 😆”.
Morrisons customers must be signed up to the More Card loyalty scheme to play (Image: Newsquest)
Another person said: “I’ve just checked my app, had to ‘click to reveal’ my team, I got France and I now have the French flag next to my name.
“(Also go some free doughnut dots).”
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This Morrisons customer said: “I got England and a free box of mint matchsticks.”
Someone joked: “I got Scotland. I’m English ha. Swap?”
How to enter Morrisons Big Match Sweepstake for 2026 World Cup
Morrisons customers who have signed up to its More Card loyalty scheme can take part in the new Big Match Sweepstake by tapping on the feature on the app.
It explains that you must reveal your team (done by clicking the reveal team button) by Wednesday, June 24.
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Once you have your team, you can reveal your treat to get your first freebie, which can include things like Morrisons bakery cookies, ice cream and fresh fruit.
To claim this, you’ll need to check that your offer is activated so you can redeem in-store when scanning your More Card – you can do this in the ‘My Offers’ section on the app.
Make sure to claim the free treat before the expiry date, which is also available to check in this section.
UK supermarket rankings 2026
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Customers can look forward to rewards at each stage of the World Cup, including More Points, plus freebies and money-off vouchers.
If your team, selected by the app, wins the World Cup, Morrisons says there are 1 million More Points (worth £1,000) up for grabs.
Customers who hold the winning country will be entered into the draw, with 10 lucky winners each walking away with 1 million More Points.
Gareth Lloyd, Head of Loyalty at Morrisons, said: “Nothing says a summer of sport like a football sweepstake.
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“This interactive More Card app game allows our customers to enjoy the football with some added rewards, from delicious bakery treats to ice creams and money-off vouchers and millions of More Points.
Have you downloaded the Morrisons More Card app? (Image: Morrisons)
“We’re encouraging everyone to sign up now and reveal their team ahead of kick-off. Good luck to all who take part!”
When does the World Cup start?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on Thursday, June 11 and will see 48 countries battle it out for the prestigious trophy.
There will be 104 games over the course of six weeks, and both England and Scotland are hoping to impress.
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Have you backed a team with Morrisons’ Big Match Sweepstake? Tell us who you’re backing in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This story contains EastEnders spoilers.
It’s thought that Chelsea Fox is set to accept help from evil villain Gray Atkins’ nan Sheila who will appear in upcoming episodes, played by Sheila Ruskin.
Fox is struggling as she takes care of her injured son Jordan and comes to terms with her mum Denise’s cancer diagnosis.
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She feels she has no other option but to ask for help from her abusive ex-husband’s nan – someone she didn’t want to get involved, reports Digital Spy.
An insider told Digital Spy: “Chelsea vowed to banish evil Gray from her life forever.”
They added: “But with Jordan facing a long rehabilitation after his accident, there’s rising costs involved.
“And now with Denise’s news, the pressure is building up.
“Chelsea hates herself, but she has to do this.”
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Sheila reportedly helps Chelsea financially after asking her sister Libby for support and to tell her about Denise’s illness.
At first, the pair clash but then they start to get along.
Do you know what else these EastEnders stars have done?
Libby Fox, played by Belinda Owusu, is returning to the show for a short period after 20 years away from the soap – she was last seen in a flash forward episode in January this year.
Chelsea reveals that she has never cashed the cheques that Sheila has sent for Jordan.
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The pressure Chelsea feels is obvious and Libby takes it upon herself to contact Sheila behind her sister’s back.
It backfires as Chelsea sees Libby’s phone and a text from Sheila which makes her angry.
But, after speaking to Eve, Chelsea thinks she should take Sheila up on the offer of help for Jordan’s sake.
The Digital Spy insider adds: “Chelsea’s not making this decision lightly.”
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They continued: “And there are conditions attached.
“She has to know that Sheila is in no way involved with Gray, as she can’t risk any connection with that twisted man.
“But she has to do everything she can to help Jordan, so she needs to at least check out this option.”
Chelsea and Libby meet up with Sheila and Chelsea asks about Sheila’s relationship with Gray and she’s relieved to find out the pair are estranged.
The insider adds: “Sheila offers to help Chelsea out, and although it goes against her better instincts, Chelsea reluctantly agrees.”
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They add: “But as she returns home, Chelsea is overwhelmed with guilt.
“Should she have stuck with her gut – and could this money from Sheila come at a price?”
Newsquest has approached EastEnders for comment.
You can watch EastEnders on BBC One at 7.30pm or on iPlayer from 6am Monday to Thursday.
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Do you think Chelsea is doing the right thing? Tell us in the comments below.
The victim believed that the robber had a knife in his waistband
A robber who threatened to stab a man in Peterborough has been jailed for two years. Leonard Devall, 28, approached the 25-year-old man in Lincoln Road, Millfield, in the early hours of January 22.
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He asked the victim for money, which was handed over. Devall then threatened to stab the victim unless he allowed him to use his mobile phone to call someone. The victim complied but Devall refused to hand the phone back, forcing the man to leave without it.
Devall, of Whitsed Street, Eastfield, Peterborough, was identified through CCTV footage and arrested just over a week later in the city centre. He was jailed for two years at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (June 5), after previously pleading guilty to robbery.
DC Hannon, who investigated, said: “This would have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim who believed he saw a knife concealed in Devall’s waistband.
“Thanks to both the bravery of the victim in coming forward, and the quick work of our officers, we were able to arrest Devall, and he will now be spending time behind bars.”
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long has said “hate cannot be allowed” to win, as disorder broke out in a number of areas following a knife attack in Belfast on Monday.
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Ms Long said: “Earlier today, I stood beside the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the PSNI Chief Constable and we appealed for calm.
“Sadly, there are those who have chosen to ignore those pleas; they are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect.
“They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes.
“There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.
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“I would appeal once again to communities not to allow themselves to be used and abused in this manner. Disorder on the streets, such as we are seeing tonight, is diverting valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them. These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities.
“While I recognise and understand the concerns following on from the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win.”
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — More than 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo, a grim toll as officials intensify efforts to slow the disease discovered weeks late.
Attacks on health workers from angry residents, skepticism among some locals and armed conflict in hot spots continue to challenge efforts to stop the Ebola outbreak declared on May 15, caused by a severe form of the disease.
Out of the 550 cases confirmed as of Sunday, there have been 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, the latest situation report said late Monday. The outbreak is concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and has spread across the border to Uganda.
However, the number of cases in Congo is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed weeks late and the contact tracing coverage rate, which has improved in recent days, is still at 64%.
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The World Health Organization said Tuesday that over the last 24 hours, only 137 samples have been tested, with 35 coming back positive.
The latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which does not have an approved vaccine or treatment unlike the “Zaire virus,” another name for the Ebola virus, responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.
The rapid increase in the number of cases is partly due to the scale up of diagnostic capacities, enabling testing of the backlog of previously collected samples, authorities said.
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A health worker disinfects an ambulance that transported a suspected Ebola patient in Mongbwalu, Congo, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
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A health worker disinfects an ambulance that transported a suspected Ebola patient in Mongbwalu, Congo, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
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The outbreak disrupts a provincial capital
Health measures put in place to limit the spread of Ebola have disrupted daily life in Bunia, the bustling capital of Ituri province.
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Justin Abekani, who ferries customers on his motorcycle, said they are “now only allowed to carry one customer per motorbike.”
There is still widespread skepticism and disregard for health protocols in some parts of the province. Survivors of Congo’s 2018 Ebola outbreak, the second-biggest in history, have warned that a repeat of past mistakes could lead to a high number of preventable deaths.
Front-line health workers, who labor with little pay or rest, have been attacked multiple times by angry residents, and have been unable to reach some communities cut off by conflict involving armed rebels.
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Eastern Congo has for years seen attacks by dozens of separate rebel and militant groups, some of them with links to foreign countries or the extremist Islamic State group.
Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, more than 520 incidents impacting the work of health professionals have been reported, according to Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire, WHO’s emergency director for Africa. She did not elaborate on the incidents or say whether anyone was hurt.
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Red Cross workers place the body of a person who died of Ebola into a coffin at a health center in Rwampara, Congo, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
Red Cross workers place the body of a person who died of Ebola into a coffin at a health center in Rwampara, Congo, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
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A security guard runs in front of an Ebola treatment center in flames in Rwampara, Congo, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne)
A security guard runs in front of an Ebola treatment center in flames in Rwampara, Congo, Thursday, May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne)
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Conflict and movement complicate disease tracing
The fighting is “disrupting surveillance and response activities, and increasing the risk of undetected transmission,” WHO said Monday. “Such incidents underline the challenges of the context and the importance of working closely with local leaders and communities.”
Nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach.
Tracing also is difficult among the thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between remote sites in the mineral-rich region.
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WHO currently assesses the risk of spread for the rest of Africa and at the global level as low.
“(Ebola) patients can recover if they get the medical support they need,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday during a visit to Uganda.
Protests in Kenya over US plans for Ebola quarantine
A heavy deployment of riot and regular police prevented the protesters from marching toward the base.
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Last month, U.S. officials said Washington intends to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya rather than flying them back home. They said the center would be located at Laikipia Air Base with a capacity of 50 quarantine beds.
A protester holds a Kenyan flag near a burning barricade during a demonstration against a proposed U.S. Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
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A protester holds a Kenyan flag near a burning barricade during a demonstration against a proposed U.S. Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Kenya, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)
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A Kenyan court later suspended construction of the facility and barred the arrival of any foreign patients, pending the outcome of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya and a constitutional watchdog group. The petitioners cited concerns about Kenya’s fragile health system and the lack of transparency surrounding the bilateral agreement.
Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases but neighboring Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases.
___
Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press writers Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal, and Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.
The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Sharam Muhamadi was last seen in Birmingham after he vanished after being granted bail
Nick Horner and Olivia Bridge Reporter in Live News Network
22:24, 09 Jun 2026
A manhunt has been launched for a child sex trafficker who failed to appear in court for his trial after being granted bail.
Today (Tuesday June 9) Sharam Muhamadi was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation at Sheffield Crown Court. However, he was convicted of the crime in his absence as he failed to appear for the trial, which started on May 18.
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Last month, the 21-year-old was remanded in custody between being charged and his trial date, but he won a bail application submitted by his defence team and has seemingly vanished, reports Birmingham Live.
South Yorkshire Police said officers had been searching for him ever since but had been unable to appeal for the public’s help until the end of the trial due to reporting restrictions.
It said its officers were ‘actively conducting extensive enquiries’ to find Muhamadi and had trawled through hours of CCTV, and phone records.
His last known sighting was in Birmingham on Monday, May 18 – the date of the start of his trial.
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He was known to be in the city centre and then travelled to the Coventry Road and Small Heath Park area but then the trail went cold.
South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.
“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.
“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.
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“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.
“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”
South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.
“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.
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“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.
“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.
“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”
Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said: “Our priority has been and will continue to be securing full justice for the victims tragically involved.
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“They have shown commendable bravery throughout our full investigation and the complex trial which followed. We are wholly focussed on finding Muhamadi and ensuring his faces the consequences of his actions.
“Officers have been relentlessly pursing all lines of enquiries. We are keeping an open mind of his whereabouts.
“We believe he is still in the country, but if he is found abroad, we will seek the Government’s help in doing everything we can to extradite him.
“We will not stop until we find him, and we will ensure these young girls get the justice they deserve.”
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Anyone who sees Muhamadi was asked not to approach him but to call 999 quoting South Yorkshire Police incident number 610 of 21 May 2026.
People can also report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers, online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.
The figures show there were 27,352 recorded discharges from storm overflows during the year, lasting a combined 123,521 hours.
The data has prompted GMB to call for workers to be given representation on the board of the Government’s proposed new water regulator, which is set to replace Ofwat.
A waste water pipe on the beach (Image: PA MEDIA)
Delegates at the union’s annual congress debated a motion on Monday (June 8), calling for “a permanent worker seat on the board to safeguard from future failures”.
Water campaigner and former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey addressed delegates in support of the motion.
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Speaking at the conference, Mr Sharkey criticised the privatised water industry and regulation of the sector.
“The brutal reality is as employees, bill payers, as customers, we have been lied to, we’ve been misled, we’re being extorted, we’ve been cheated,” he said.
“For 37 years, we’ve been subjected to nothing more than the greatest act of organised criminality perpetrated against the British people.”
He added: “We’ve had little in return apart from corporate greed, profiteering, financial engineering, political failure and regulatory incompetence.”
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Water coming from a pipe into the river (Image: PA MEDIA)
However, Northumbrian Water said the figures relate to permitted storm overflow discharges, which are designed to operate during periods of heavy rainfall to prevent homes, businesses and infrastructure from flooding.
A spokesperson said: “We share our customers and communities’ passion for having clean waterways, and we understand that reducing the use of storm overflows is one of the most important things we can do.
“Between 2025 and 2030, we are investing £1.7 billion in environmental improvements, which will help reduce the number of spills from storm overflows and enhance water quality across our coasts and rivers.
“Data for 2025 shows that spills from our storm overflows have decreased by 32 per cent over the past year, and this is partly due to investment in infrastructure and trials of our world-leading Smart Sewers project, which uses AI to predict rainfall and reduce the reliance on storm overflows.”
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Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency to discharge excess water during periods of heavy rainfall when sewer systems risk becoming overwhelmed.
The discharges are typically heavily diluted with rainwater and are intended to protect properties and sewage treatment works from flooding.
The Government announced earlier this year that Ofwat would be abolished and replaced by a new water sector regulator, although details of its structure and governance have yet to be confirmed.
As for England, the Three Lions face Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in their final warm-up match. That should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament – including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States – with our rolling news live blog below!
Numerous E-bikes and E-scooters were seized in the operation
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and possession of a knife.
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He was apprehended as part of a police probe into illegal and antisocial use of E-bikes, E-scooters, and motorbikes in Cardiff.
Officers carried out the operation after what they said were ongoing concerns. They seized a number of E-bikes and scooters in the Fairwater, Gabalfa, and Whitchurch areas of the city.
Cannabis, cash, a mobile phone, and knife were also seized as a result of stop-searches.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and possession of a knife.
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The operation in Cardiff comes after police in Swansea city centre seized 29 illegal E-bikes in the months of April and May.
Riders were “given words of advice in most cases as officers aim to provide education on the law in the first instance,” they said.
PC Scott Pearson, from Swansea and Neath Port Talbot officers, said: “These bikes have been seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act due to the riders not having a license or proof of insurance. In either case, the E-bikes are also not registered for use on UK roads.”
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South Wales Police is urging people to check the law before buying an e-bike or e-scooter.
The force says on its website that electrical scooters (also known as E-scooters) and unregistered E-motorbikes are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act.
This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to E-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.
There are two ways of using an E-scooter:
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by privately owning one
by renting one through an authorised rental scheme.
It’s not currently possible to get insurance for privately-owned E-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.
If you use a privately-owned E-scooter in public you risk the vehicle being seized under the Road Traffic Act for having no insurance.
If you cause serious harm to another person while riding an E-scooter or E-motorbike the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.
If you own an E-scooter you can only use it in on private land such as in a garden but you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.
You can rent E-scooters in some parts of the UK. Where a rental trial scheme is running rental E-scooters can be used on public roads, some cycle lanes, and other public spaces. But you must follow the relevant road traffic laws or face prosecution.
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To use a rental E-scooter in an approved area you must:
hold the correct driving licence
have insurance (the rental companies provide this when you hire from them)
meet the minimum age limit (this can vary depending on the rental company)
If you breach the rules when using an E-scooter or E-motorbike you could face a fixed penalty notice as well as the seizure of your E-scooter/E-motorbike and its disposal.
Forces set and enforce penalties differently so the penalty will vary depending on where the offence is committed.
The fixed penalty notice could include:
a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance
a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence
You could also be committing an offence if you’re caught:
riding on a pavement: fixed penalty notice and possible £50 fine
using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding: £200 and six penalty points
riding through red lights: fixed penalty notice, £100 fine, and possible penalty points
drink-driving: the same as if you were driving a car meaning you could face court-imposed fines, a driving ban, and possible imprisonment
If you’re using an E-scooter or E-motorbike in public in an antisocial manner you can also risk the vehicle being seized as has happened in Cardiff.
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