Susan Whittles’ widow bravely faced her dangerous driver killer in court

The widow of a much-loved grandmother bravely faced the dangerous driver who killed his wife in court.

Susan Whittles was driving home from a Christmas shopping trip with her husband William Whittles in her Volkswagen T-Roc when an Audi A6 smashed into the side of the car. Driver of the Audi Timothy Kusemi was travelling at 50mph at the time, a court heard.

Mrs Whittle’s car rolled onto its side ‘as a result of the forceful impact’ and she sadly died of her injuries. The 70-year-old was described as a much-loved grandmother and local preacher.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Mr Whittles described in court how his wife was a ‘huge influence’ in the local community of their hometown of Bridlington. He told how he still has flashbacks to the crash that took his wife’s life as he faced Kusemi, 41, in court.

Hull Crown Court heard how Kusemi was on his way to work at a care home when he shot across a give-way crossroads in his Audi. The crash happened on November 24 2023 at 3pm on the B1253 Thwing Road, near Rudston, between Driffield and Bridlington, Hull Live reports.

Kusemi was northbound heading to work at Willows care home, Burton Fleming where he was due to start work at 3pm. It was a journey he had taken three times previously.

But that afternoon he failed to stop his Audi A6 and went across at 50mph. His car collided with a Volkswagen T-Roc, driven by Mrs Whittles. She and her husband were returning from a Christmas shopping trip to York.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans said Kusemi, a Nigerian national, was entitled to drive in the UK for 12 months after his arrival on a work-sponsorship scheme in 2022. The prosecutor said law permits drivers with a licence from their home country to drive in the UK for 12 months but they must pass a test to allow them to drive beyond that time limit.

Kusemi had passed his theory test but had twice failed the practical test. Mr Evans said: “The evidence is compelling. The tragic consequences resulted in him driving straight into the offside of the Volkswagen T-Roc driven by Sue Whittles.

“Mrs Whittles tragically lost her life, in all-likelihood, almost immediately as a result of the forceful impact that caused her vehicle to roll over and come to rest on its side on the grass verge.” In his victim personal statement, husband William Whittles, told how he was trapped in the front passenger seat of the vehicle, from which he was later cut free by firefighters.

He was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary where he received emergency medical treatment for serious injuries. Mr Whittles told the court his last words he can recall were “He’s not going to stop.” He said the car rolled several times and ended up in the door well with his wife strapped above him.

“I was able to hold her hand and beg her to stay with me. As medics fought to save her life, then there were the doctor’s awful words ‘We have lost your wife’.

“I still have flashbacks to the horror Sue must have felt as he hit us. I was badly injured due to the collision. I suffered a fractured ankle, fractured wrist, numerous broken ribs and compressed vertebrae,” said Mr Whittles. He spent four weeks in hospital and six weeks in a rehabilitation ward.

He added: “My broken bones have healed but my broken heart may never heal.” The widower said: “Sue was such a huge influence in the Bridlington community where we lived. She was a local preacher which she had been for 52 years and Girl Guide leader for a similar amount of time and over 30 years involvement with the Riding for Disabled charity.”

He said he struggled without his wife “by his side.” “The first Christmas without Sue was one of the hardest parts. A time usually filled with so much joy, taken from me because of your actions Timothy,” he said.

The husband said he had to pay £4,500 cost for a stairlift for his two-storey home because of his immobility. The crash injuries had also affected his balance severely and he is unable to stand for more than short periods of time and he suffers from panic attacks.

Mr Whittles said: “Timothy, your actions that day tore the centre of my universe from me.” He said their grandchildren miss their Nan.

Judge John Thackray KC commended him for his bravery reading the statement in court. His sons told of their devastation at hearing the news of the death of their stepmother and the impact it had had on their families.

Simon Whittles said: “Anniversaries are to be a poignant reminder of the events of that November night, Christmas, birthdays and November 24 itself . It has been very hard for us all losing such a loved, kind, generous and respected member of the family and has left scars which will never heal.”

Mr Evans said the reason for driving across the junction was inexplicable. Mitigating, Jessica Strange said her client was remorseful and always accepted he was at fault.

She said he was not racing or on his mobile phone or showing off as he was the only occupant of the car. “This is a hard-working young man with two children, highly-regarded by many.” She added: “He will punish himself for the rest of his life for the irreversible tragedy.”

Kusemi admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury. He also admitted not having a proper licence. Judge John Thackray KC jailed him for a total of six years and banned him from driving for 11 years.

After the hearing Sergeant Rob Mazingham from the Serious Collision Unit of Humberside Police said: “When speaking to key witnesses from the scene, Kusemi’s driving prior to the incident was described as swerving all over the road, showing a lack of care when driving his vehicle.

“During the investigation it was established that Kusemi held a driving licence that was no longer valid for him to drive legally in the United Kingdom, and he was not fully qualified to drive here at the time of the collision. This was a tragic and entirely avoidable incident which resulted in one person losing their life and another being seriously injured.

“By driving dangerously and taking no consideration to any road signs ahead, this will now leave a devastating impact on the lives of the family involved”.

Summer Robert, 28, from Glasgow, says she has the “biggest boobs in the UK” and proudly embraces her R-cup breasts, but she’s often targeted with cruel comments and body shaming

Advertisement

Whilst it might seem like an ideal situation to possess large breasts, one woman confessed it brings its complications despite her affection for her R-cups. Summer Robert, 28, acknowledged she’s proud to have what she maintains are the “biggest boobs in the UK” but, although she’s comfortable in her own body, she shared people frequently criticise her.

She spent years feeling anxious about her appearance, as her breasts attracted considerable unwanted attention to her during her formative years. As she matured, she began to accept her body image and develop greater self-love, which is why the unwelcome remarks from strangers can prove irritating.

Previously, she’s highlighted how she’s regularly told to “cover up” because she finds it difficult to obtain clothing that fits properly. A few months back, she claimed she was even removed from a popular theme park due to her breasts.

Summer, who has accumulated over 200,000 followers on Instagram, revealed life can be extremely challenging when you possess large breasts. Wearing an R-cup bra is something that frequently presents its difficulties.

The former restaurant manager, from Glasgow, Scotland, has consistently had large breasts. She suffers from a condition called Macromastia, which is the medical term for possessing abnormally large breasts, and it can trigger numerous complications including chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, bra strap grooving and difficulty performing daily activities.

When asked how people react to her boobs, Summer said: “Men will stare, sometimes approach. In fact, a few weeks ago I was at the airport and got approached by two different men.

“I had to call my friend as an excuse to walk away from them. One asked me to come to Berlin with him and the other was a worker and said if he ‘buys me a Prada bag, will he get all of this?’, and pointed to my boobs.

“Women stare, judge, tut and say mean things. I’m just used to the attention at this point so now, whenever women say things, I just compliment them and kill them with kindness back.

“More often than not they’ll say to my face to ‘cover up’, tell me I don’t have the body for the clothes I’m wearing [and] some will call me a sl*t, attention seeker. I get a lot of disgusted looks from women mainly.”

Advertisement

Summer said she’s frequently confronted in public for “literally just existing with large boobs”. According to Summer, it’s actually women who can be more hostile when they approach her.

She claims she’s been publicly shamed, accused of exposing herself and had drinks thrown at her from women whilst she was working in the service industry. Summer believes her body has consistently made her a “target”, particularly by older women who often respond with hostility.

However, she refuses to be embarrassed by her body. Her viewpoint is controversial, unfiltered and has sparked debate around internalised misogyny, body autonomy and who gets policed in public.

Discussing when she had a drink thrown over her, Summer continued: “At the time, getting a drink thrown over me was super frustrating. I definitely have cried over it and gotten angry but, after accepting faith into my life fully now when stuff like this happens, I just think of how sad it must be to be that woman who is so insecure over a young girl just trying to live her life.

“I don’t let it affect me too much anymore and feel empathy for them. ⁠I think it’s hard for people to to see a body that isn’t necessarily normal.

“For women as well there is a lot of competition and I think the world really does pit us against each other. More women feel like this than others, so seeing a girl with huge boobs who is actually confident whilst they are insecure and judging themselves must just trigger them. Men are just men, they love boobs.”

It was due to finish in May.

Salford’s electric scooters are set to stay for another two years after the council decided to extend the trial period. Managed by Lime Scooters, the scheme has been in place since October 2020 as part of a partnership between the council and the Department for Transport (DfT).

The e-scooters offer an alternative way to zip around the city for those who are over 18 with a provisional driving license, with a basic charge of £1 to ‘unlock’ a scooter using the Lime app, and then 17p per minute during a ride.

Salford council said the scooters are ‘great for short journeys or trips’ where other public transport options are not available.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

The trial period was due to end in May 2026 but has been prolonged.

A Salford council spokesperson said: “Salford’s e-scooter trial launched in October 2020 and has been growing in ridership as well as in the trial area, enabling more journeys to be switched to e-scooters.

“The current period as set out by the DfT was due to end in May 2026, which has recently been extended to May 2028.

“The council is currently exploring how the extension will be delivered and looking at agreeing these changes.”

Lime declined to comment.

The trial period allows the scooters to be used across Salford city centre including Blackfriars and Trinity, the University of Salford, MediaCity, Pendleton, and up to Salford Royal Hospital.

Parts of Eccles and Pendleton were recently added to the trial electric-scooter zone too.

Lime’s website explains that since the scooters were brought to Salford, they have saved ‘over 600 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere’, which is the ‘equivalent of avoiding over 190,000 car journeys.’

The Lime scooters are in use in around 230 cities across 30 different countries in total.

****

Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it.

That’s why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do – bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don’t miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News.

And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here.

You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street.

If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you’ll be the first to hear about it.

And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.

The A666, also known as the Devil’s Highway, had the most road traffic collisions according to the department for transport.

The most recent figures look at crashes on Bolton’s roads in 2024.

Bolton recorded 310 injury road traffic collisions in 2024, including seven fatal crashes that claimed seven lives, according to official Government data.

The figures come from the Department for Transport, which records all personal injury collisions reported to police.

In total, 113 people were killed or seriously injured on Bolton’s roads in that year.

That represents a nine per cent increase on 2023’s total of 104, though it remains seven per cent below the 2017–2019 pre-pandemic average of 121.

Analysis of the data shows a number of major A-roads account for a disproportionate share of the most serious crashes.

The A666, which runs through the borough as Blackburn Road, St Peter’s Way and Manchester Road, recorded 20 collisions in 2024.

Those included one fatal crash and six serious injury collisions, giving the route the highest number of killed or seriously injured casualties of any named road in Bolton.

Five people were injured on St Peter’s Way from the A666 slip road after a collision (March 10 2024) (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr John Walsh described the A666 as having “a very bad accident record”, noting it is sometimes referred to locally as the “Devil’s Highway” or the “treble six”.

He said: “The A666, known as the Devil’s Highway – the treble six as a devil’s symbol – has a very bad accident record, so much so there was a 50 mile per hour limit put in place and average speed cameras installed a few years ago.

“Yet you still get people speeding, just far less now.”

The A58 ring road, taking in Crompton Way, Moss Bank Way and Bury Road, recorded 16 collisions, six of which were serious.

A police chase results in a car crash on Moss Bank Way (April 2024) (Image: Newsquest)

Chorley New Road, the A673, also recorded six serious injury collisions from a total of 18 incidents.

Derby Street crash (March 2024) (Image: NQ)

Derby Street, Bradford Street and Newbrook Road, which form the A579, had the highest overall number of collisions at 22.

That route saw one fatal crash and four serious injury collisions.

The A676 corridor along Wigan Road and Deane Road recorded 21 collisions, including five serious injuries.

Walkden Road and St Helens Road, which form the A575, recorded five serious injury collisions from 11 total crashes.

Manchester Road through Kearsley and Farnworth, the A6, saw 15 collisions, four of them serious.

Halliwell Road and Chorley Old Road, the B6226, recorded one fatal and three serious injury collisions.

The M61 motorway recorded 16 collisions within the borough boundary, including one fatal and two serious incidents.

Bolton’s crash stats from 2024 (Image: Crashmap)

Unclassified residential and local roads accounted for 108 of the 310 total collisions.

Those smaller roads saw three fatal crashes and 31 serious injury collisions.

More than two thirds of all collisions in Bolton last year occurred on 30mph roads.

A total of 216 of the 310 crashes happened in 30mph zones, including three of the seven fatal collisions.

Cllr Walsh said poor driving standards were a major factor behind many incidents.

He said: “Driving standards in Bolton are pretty dismal.

“You get people speeding in residential areas in 30mph zones, you get U-turns in the middle of roads, you get people stopping and starting, parking on double yellows.

“In fact we raised this matter at the Greater Manchester Police scrutiny committee.

“We spoke about the issue of police doing more work to try to curb some of the bad driving around Bolton.

“The standards of driving are appalling. No one follows the Highway Code. You can recite it however many times.

“I can appreciate there will always be accidents when a car hits a patch of ice or skids, but even then drivers should be driving carefully when conditions are bad.

“They don’t obey the Highway Code, and all those examples I’ve mentioned – double parking, U-turns in inappropriate places, speeding – unfortunately result in a significant number of road traffic accidents.”

One long-standing hotspot is the junction of Blackburn Road, Crompton Way and Moss Bank Way in Astley Bridge.

Crash records show 35 injury collisions were recorded at the junction between 1999 and 2023.

Fifteen of those occurred in the five years between 2019 and 2023.

Greater Manchester Police carried out targeted enforcement activity on Blackburn Road and Chapeltown Road in January this year following concerns about collisions.

GMP’s Operation Classify, launched in February 2024, uses collision data and community feedback to target high-risk routes with increased patrols and electronic warning signs.

Bolton Council has also installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras as part of Greater Manchester’s Vision Zero programme.

Cameras on the A579, A676, Hulton Lane and University Way have been credited with reducing persistent speeding by 80 per cent.

The scheme was extended to the A58 ring road in October 2025 with six additional cameras installed.

Greater Manchester’s Vision Zero strategy aims to eliminate all road deaths and life-changing injuries by 2040.

It has a target of cutting deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

Nationally, the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, sets out plans to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 65 per cent by 2035.

The data covers all personal injury collisions reported to Greater Manchester Police within the Bolton local authority area.

An explosion has damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam, according to Dutch officials.

The city’s mayor Femke Halsema said she believed the blast was a “deliberate attack against the Jewish community”.

The incident happened early on Saturday, and police and fire services responded quickly.

Damage to the school in an upmarket residential neighbourhood on the south side ​of Amsterdam was limited.

And no injuries have been reported.

Police are investigating camera footage appearing to show the person who detonated the explosive.

“This ​is a cowardly act ​of aggression against the Jewish community,” Ms ​Halsema said.

“Jewish people in Amsterdam are ⁠increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable.”

Tight security at Jewish schools and institutions has been strengthened even more following attacks in recent days on synagogues in Rotterdam and in Liege, Belgium.

There was also an attack on a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, near Detroit in Michigan on Thursday, where a Lebanese-born US citizen allegedly rammed his car into the building.

Authorities said the attacker, who was armed with a rifle, was fatally shot.

None of the synagogue’s staff, teachers or the 140 children at its early childhood centre were injured.

Federal investigators said the Michigan incident was an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.

Fears about possible attacks against Jewish ⁠communities around the world have ​increased following US-Israeli ​airstrikes on Iran and a subsequent military response from Tehran.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

We all know cats represent a major threat to native animals and birds. Australia’s 5.3 million domestic cats kill a total of 546 million animals each year in Australia. What’s less well known is that allowing your domestic cat to roam outside exposes them to considerable danger – and the risk of a short life.

About two-thirds of all Australian cat owners have had a cat die while out roaming. The top risks are road traffic accidents, fighting and falls.

Our recent research review found keeping your cat at home at all times isn’t just good for wildlife – it’s much safer for your cat.

Losing a cat is tragic. But there are other risks too. Many owners rack up large veterinary bills while their cats are left with lifelong health conditions. Our review also found this situation is not unique to Australia, but reflects the global risk faced by free-roaming cats.

What are the risks?

Cameras mounted on collars provide a cat’s-eye view of the hazards roaming cats face. In one study of 55 free-roaming felines in the United States, 25% risked poisoning by eating or drinking while away from home – any substance could be hazardous. Nearly half (45%) crossed roads, 25% encountered other cats, 20% crawled under houses and 20% explored storm drains.

open image in gallery

This isn’t just American feline bravado. When cameras were fitted to 37 cats in New Zealand, 59% drank away from home, 40% ate away from home, 32% crossed roads and 21% risked falling by climbing onto roofs.

Australian cats are no exception. In one study, 428 radio-tracked cats averaged 4.8 road crossings per day.

What are the outcomes?

If you’re a fan of The Simpsons you might recall the fate of their family cats: Snowball I and Snowball II died on the road, Snowball III drowned, Coltrane (AKA Snowball IV) fell to his death, and Snowball V is still with us. The reality is uncomfortably similar. Our review found that trauma – mainly road traffic accidents, fighting and falls – kills or injures many free-roaming cats globally.

In a recent UK study, road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for cats aged less than one year old all the way to eight-year-old cats.

This aligns with European estimates, which suggest 18–24% of cats are struck by a car during their lifetime, with around 70% of those incidents proving fatal. Victims are often under five years old and predominantly male. Risks are higher for those not desexed, as they tend to roam wider and more frequently.

Love and status offer no protection. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s cat, Paddles, colloquially known as New Zealand’s first cat, died after being hit by a car in 2017.

open image in gallery

The dangers extend well beyond road accidents. Roaming pet cats face serious infectious diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and frequently engage in fights, often developing abscesses that can kill and require expensive veterinary treatment.

While it’s hard to quantify the instances of deliberate human cruelty to cats, there is global evidence for deliberate poisoning and injury to roaming cats, many of which die before receiving medical intervention.

In one study tracking 55 roaming cats in Western Australia over just eight months, two were poisoned, one lost a front leg in a traffic accident, one fractured two canine teeth in a fall, and two required veterinary treatment for fight-related injuries.

Drawing all these factors together, we estimated outdoor pet cats have lives at least 2–3 years shorter than the population of contained pet cats. Those that survive accidents or disease may have lifelong disabilities.

How can you reduce the risks?

The simplest way to protect your cats is to contain them on your property, just as Australians do with other domestic animals. Extensive advice is available on how to keep cats happy and healthy while contained.

Importantly, containment doesn’t mean keeping your cat indoors at all times. Backyards can be modified with fence-top rollers to prevent escape. Some owners enclose part of the yard to create a “catio” – an outdoor cat enclosure – allowing their cats to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while remaining secure.

Many cats can also be trained to walk on a harness or leash, making it possible to take them for supervised outings. A recent report from Norway found providing controlled outdoor access is often important for maintaining cat wellbeing.

Cats need to be entertained when in the house. They enjoy outside views, toys, scratching surfaces, above-ground climbing and sitting spaces, and opportunities for play. They are naturally solitary animals, so places to hide are useful.

If cats can’t go outside to toilet, they will need two indoor litter trays. Because cats are fastidious, trays must be cleaned frequently. In multi-cat households, provide one litter tray per cat, plus an extra. Place the trays in separate, quiet locations, and never beside the food bowl.

Responsible cat ownership

Australians love their cats. In 2019, roughly a quarter of Australian households owned a cat. By 2025, that figure had risen to a third. Over the same period, households reporting they kept their cats indoors rose from 36% to 48%.

Perhaps we are finally valuing our cats as we do our dogs and listening to Aussie songwriter and singer Eric Bogle’s sage advice: “Oh you who love your pussy be sure to keep him in. Don’t let him argue with a truck, the truck is bound to win. And upon the busy road don’t let him play or frolic. If you do I’m warning you it could be CAT-astrophic.”

Britain’s Got Talent has been dropped this weekend to make away for Six Nations Live rugby coverage

Advertisement

Britain’s Got Talent has been pulled off air this weekend.

Fans of the ITV competition will be disappointed at the change to the television schedule as the channel makes way for the Six Nations Live coverage.

The rugby tournament will instead air from at 7.20pm on Saturday (March 14) on ITV1 with the clash between France and England set to kick off at 8.10pm.

This time slot usually airs Britain’s Got Talent which returned for its 19th series back in February with the pre-recorded audition rounds have been airing since then.

However, viewers will have to wait and extra week to watch the next bunch of hopefuls take to the stage in front of judges KSI, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell.

Advertisement

Para-athlete Paul Nunnari – who stunned with an impressive aerial silk routine – received the first Golden Buzzer of the series with Simon hitting the coveted button, securing his place in the semi-finals.

It was reported earlier this week that bosses have signed a £120million deal to stay on ITV for another two years.

There is also another Champions Special lined up that will see the best global acts compete next year.

Advertisement

BGT, which last year expanded to run over three months, has had huge success, including being watched 27 billion times online since starting in 2007.

This current run has already had 317 million views in various forms across multiple platforms and has 51 million followers online.

A TV insider told The Sun: “This is a huge vote of confidence in the show, which celebrated the best week of overnight ratings for this series at the weekend.

“It also proved TV execs are looking beyond traditional viewing figures when making strategic decisions.”

Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions has not been staged since 2019, when acts from various Got Talent shows around the world came together to compete.

The event in front of 10,000 people at Wembley Arena, which was won by dance act Twist and Pulse, is expected to be matched when it returns.

Fans will know London-based street dance duo Twist and Pulse, Ashley Glazebrook and Glen Murphy, were the runners-up of the fourth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2010, coming second to Spelbound in the live final.

Britain’s Got Talent returns 6.45pm on Saturday, March 21 on ITV1 and ITVX

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website

Donald Trump has said US forces have ‘totally obliterated’ military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island.

Posting on Truth Social, the US president hailed American troops who ‘executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East’.

Kharg Island, located 16 miles off the coast of Iran and around 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz, handles around 90% of its oil exports.

Dubbed the ‘Forbidden Island’, it is heavily guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Announcing the bombing raid, Trump wrote: ‘Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.

‘For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.’

In a later post, Trump said: ‘Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel. JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!’

The president had earlier threatened to strike oil infrastructure on Kharg Island unless attacks on vessels on the Strait of Hormuz ceased.

The IRGC warned the energy infrastructure of US allies in the Middle East will be ‘reduced to ashes’ if Iranian energy assets were attacked.

It said oil and energy assets of any countries cooperating with the US would be ‘immediately destroyed’ in the event of more attacks on the country’s energy sites.

In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the regime ‘will abandon all restraint’ if the islands come under attack and said Trump will be responsible for ‘the blood of American soldiers’.

Markets were watching for any sign that US strikes had damaged the island’s intricate network of pipelines, terminals and storage tanks.

Even minor disruptions could further tighten global supply, adding pressure to a volatile market.

Oil prices have swung sharply on Trump’s changing comments about the likely duration of the war, which began on February 28 with massive US and Israeli bombardments of Iran and quickly spread into a regional conflict with broad consequences for worldwide energy and stock markets.

The US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad was hit in a missile attack on Saturday, causing smoke to rise from the building, Iraqi security sources said.

They did not have further details on the strike.

In other attacks across the region, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out additional attacks on Israel with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

Lebanon has become an escalating flashpoint in the war with Israel’s military and Hezbollah forces exchanging strikes in and around Beirut.

On Friday, the Israeli military said its air force had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran over the past day, including ballistic missile launchers, air-defence systems and weapons production sites.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Trump deploys 5,000 US Marines to Middle East amid spiralling oil prices

MORE: Photo of Marco Rubio’s feet goes viral after Trump’s shoe-size taunt

MORE: Dubai is now a ‘ghost town’ of empty sun-loungers and pools