Several Acklam schools will finish early on Monday, September 7, ahead of Theo Rae’s funeral at Teesside Crematorium.

Acklam Whin Primary School and Green Lane School will close at 1.15pm after pupils receive their usual lunch.

Theo Rae, 17 and Cole Robert Worthy, 17. (Image: SOCIAL MEDIA)

Acklam Grange and Outwood Academy, Acklam will close at 12.15pm, while Newham Bridge Primary School will finish at 1pm.

Acklam Grange will provide more information about future possible closures on Tuesday and Wednesday.

From left to right: Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Michael Robert Cahill, 23. (Image: SOCIAL MEDIA)

The closures come days after several schools shut early for the funeral of Jakub Matusiak, another victim of the A66 crash. It follows fears of distruption.

Ray was among five men killed when their Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked Cleveland Police vehicle near South Bank on August 22.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed in the crash.

Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38 (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

The Passat was travelling the wrong way when it collided with the police vehicle.

Schools’ decision to close early for Jakub’s funeral sparked concern, with politicians questioning why children’s education should be disrupted.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said there were “huge anxieties and worries in the community” and described the situation as a “very difficult and delicate situation”.

She said she wanted schools to stay open but trusted headteachers to protect their pupils.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “As Education Secretary, I want schools to be open. I want pupils attending schools all the time.

“And these headteachers of these small number of schools have taken a very difficult decision with the local authority and the police for the safety of their school community to close early.

“What I would say is that there are huge anxieties and worries in the communities.”

Ms Powell said she had contacted local MPs and Home Office ministers to arrange surge policing and extra resources to “calm those tensions down and to make those streets safe”.

She added: “I trust headteachers to make the judgments that they need to make to keep their school community safe. I hope this doesn’t have to happen again.”

Police at the scene of the A66 crash (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

After Jakub’s funeral on Friday, Cleveland Police said the day passed without incident and with minimal traffic disruption.

Superintendent John Wrintmore said: “Today’s events have passed without issue and very minimal traffic disruption.

“Our policing operation to ensure public safety will take the same approach next week when more funerals are taking place.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners to minimise disruption in these areas and keep the public safe.

“No schools, services or businesses have been instructed to close, and any decision to do so has been made by individual organisations after their own risk assessments.

“We would like to thank our communities for their continued cooperation and support. Our visible police presence in the area will continue throughout the week to provide reassurance and allow everyone to continue with their daily lives as normal.”

Theo’s funeral will take place at 2pm on Monday, September 7, at St Bede’s Chapel, Teesside Crematorium, on Acklam Road, Middlesbrough.

Makai Saddington’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, September 8, and Cole Worthy’s will follow at the same crematorium on Wednesday, September 9.

The funerals of the officers are also set to take place next week.

TEMASCALCINGO, Mexico (AP) — Pyrotechnic material exploded during the festival for a patron saint in a town in Mexico State, collapsing a wall, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 64, Mexican authorities said.

The explosion occurred Saturday night next to the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church in Temascalcingo, a municipality in central Mexico with 66,000 residents. Hundreds of them were preparing to watch a fireworks display that is part of a religious festival when the blast occurred.

The municipality is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Mexico City.

The cause of the explosion has not been determined and the Mexico State Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation.

A local bishop said two priests are among the injured.

A video on social media shows the aftermath of the blast, with dozens of people walking through smoke and debris in search of survivors.

Explosions involving pyrotechnics are common in Mexico, where fireworks are frequently used in street celebrations and religious festivals. Almost four years ago, a powerful fireworks explosion in a village in the municipality of Huejutla, in the central state of Hidalgo, left 17 people injured.

Sixty years on and hit with an engine penalty, Antonelli began Sunday’s contest virtually at the back. But the 20-year-old phenomenon capitalised on an explosive new power unit, a favourable strategy, and a demonstration of passing excellence, to see off a crestfallen Russell by passing him for the lead with just three laps left.

There’s a way to avoid your bin ending up halfway down your road on bin day

We’ve all had that annoying moment of realising our bin has been left halfway down the round, rather than outside our home after bin day. But now, the reason for this has been explained by a binman.

Ashley, a refuse collector known as The No1 Binman, has more than 200,000 followers on TikTok where he regularly shares advice from behind the wheel of a bin lorry.

Highlighting the one error homeowners are making, he explained: “It’s probably because you ain’t got your number on your lid.

“No point putting it on the side cause you can’t always see it. You want to be able to see it no matter where you’re looking, you can always see the top of the bin.”

How to get binmen to put your bins back

Adding a label to the lid, with your number, or house name, will ensure that the binmen know just which house each bin has come from and can return it without any confusion.

“Then the binmen will put your bin outside your house, as long as you have a good binman.”

Although not everyone was convinced, with one TikTok user commenting: “My number is on the lid and it’s always 4 or 5 houses up the road. It not really an issue, I just collect it. Why are people so lazy, the extra steps will do us good.”

While another added: “Mine has always been on the front name and street, never had an issue.”

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Ashley previously settled the debate on placing black bin bags in recycling bins, clarifying that this is something you should never do, or risk your waste being rejected.

He said: “Put it all in loose. Do not put anything in a bag in your recycling bin because it has got a chance of being contaminated and they won’t take it.”

Elsewhere, Ashley also explained just how to dispose of used up batteries, and whether they can be placed in your regular rubbish bin.

He told the BBC: “Do not put vapes or batteries in any bin. You can take them to B&Q or the vape shop you bought them from, and they’re meant to dispose of them themselves.”

While it may seem harmless to leave batteries in your bin for collection, doing so can pose a significant fire risk to refuse lorries. Ashley adds: “I’ve had this before — and I’m not sure if it’s a battery or a vape — the back of a lorry started smoking.”

The family of convicted killer Karmelo Anthony is seeking an additional $250,000 in donations on top of the roughly $634,000 already raised, despite questions about how previous funds were spent and the fact that his attorneys are working pro bono.

Anthony’s family and legal team held a press conference in Dallas on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after a judge denied his request for a new trial.  

Anthony, who was 17 at the time, claimed he acted in self-defense when he stabbed fellow 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in the heart at a Texas high school track meet on April 2, 2025. 

The case shocked America, with the killing of a white teenager by a black peer quickly becoming a flashpoint in debates over race, politics and privilege.

A previous fundraiser collected hundreds of thousands before it was taken down after a jury rejected Anthony’s self-defense claim and convicted him of murder. Anthony, now 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on June 9.

The Daily Mail previously revealed that Anthony’s family relocated to a $900,000 home in an exclusive neighborhood after allegedly receiving threats at their former residence. 

The family used the $515,000 raised in April 2025 to support ‘the safe relocation of the Anthony family due to escalating threats to their safety and well-being, as well as basic living costs, transportation, counseling, and other security measures,’ according to the previous GiveSendGo description. 

Despite the conviction, his parents have vowed to continue fighting for their son.

Anthony was found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf on June 9 and subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison

‘We love you, son. We’re going to keep fighting. And this is not over,’ Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, said. 

To fund the appeal, the Karmelo Anthony Legal Fund was launched and has already raised more than $30,000.

‘All contributions will be deposited directly into an attorney trust account administered by lead attorney Russell Wilson. Karmelo’s family will not receive, control, or spend these funds,’ the GiveSendGo page states.

‘Contributions will be used solely for legal expenses, briefs and filings, transcripts, investigators, experts, and other necessary litigation costs.’

Anthony’s attorneys said the appeals process could stretch into 2027.

During the press conference, NBC 5 questioned the legal team about how the previous donations had been spent. Dominique Alexander, president of NGAN, declined to answer.

‘We’re not gonna comment on that. We don’t know all of the information regarding those different fees,’ Alexander said.

Anthony’s lawyers later said his legal expenses have exceeded $300,000.

Anthony admitted stabbing Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco but maintained that he acted in self-defense. 

To fund the appeal, the Karmelo Anthony Legal Fund was launched and has already raised more than $30,000

Anthony’s parents have spoken out, claiming he did not get a fair trial and vowed to ‘keep fighting’

The jury rejected that argument and also declined to convict him on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

After roughly three hours of deliberations, jurors found Anthony guilty of murder and sentenced him to over three decades in prison.

Following the conviction, Anthony’s parents argued their son did not receive a fair trial and vowed to appeal.

Two months later, Anthony assembled a new six-lawyer legal team, which has argued that his rights were violated during the proceedings.

Judge Roach, who presided over the trial, was later removed from the case after Anthony’s attorneys argued that he imposed overly strict courtroom rules and gave an interview after the trial concluded.

Roach sat for an 18-minute interview with WFAA in Dallas, during which he said he had followed the law ‘to a T’ and acknowledged that the trial ‘started off bad.’

He also said he was ‘ticked’ when AI-generated images falsely claiming to depict scenes from inside the courtroom began circulating online. Cameras and photography were prohibited during the proceedings.

After Anthony’s murder trial, the judge who presided over the case released a trove of evidence, like this image of the Memorial High School tent where the stabbing happened on April 2, 2025

Defense attorney Russell Wilson argued the interview should not have taken place because Roach knew the case would be appealed.

Anthony’s supporters contend he acted in self-defense after being bullied, shoved and provoked.

Critics argue the stabbing was a disproportionate response that did not need to end in death.

Metcalf was unarmed when Anthony stabbed him in the heart.

Ciara excitedly announced that she is expecting her fifth child and fourth with NFL superstar husband Russell Wilson. 

The 40-year-old songstress jumped to her main Instagram page on Sunday to share the big news while also unveiling her growing baby bump to her followers. 

The music artist and Wilson are already parents to Sienna, nine, Win, six, and Amora, two. Ciara also shares her eldest child Future Zahir, 12, with rapper Future from their previous relationship. 

Her latest post included a clip that began to pan over white shirts hanging from a clothesline outside underneath the warm sun. 

Ciara was then seen hanging a small onesie at the very end as the camera gave a glimpse at her baby bump. 

She wore a white tank top and a pair of low-waisted denim jeans while her locks were placed in curlers. 

The songstress songstress jumped to her main Instagram page on Sunday to share the big news; The couple seen in February in San Francisco 

Ciara then turned towards the camera while flashing a big smile and held up five fingers. 

Another slide showed the singer posing next to the clothesline with the four shirts displaying the names of her children. 

The onesie was left blank on the front as she held it up while posing for a lighthearted picture. 

Wilson also filmed himself strolling past the line of shirts as he approached his wife, and the pair cozied up together for the sweet selfie video. 

Ciara paused for more photos while standing outside in a spacious backyard and at one point, rested her hands on her stomach. 

In the caption of the Instagram carousel, the Level Up songstress penned: ‘One more person to Love.’ 

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Ciara for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Social media users and celebrities flocked to the comment section to offer their congratulations to Ciara and Wilson. 

 She unveiled her growing baby bump to her followers

The music artist and Wilson are already parents to Sienna, nine, Win, six, and Amora, two

Her latest post included a clip that began to pan over white shirts hanging from a clothesline outside underneath the warm sun

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Ciara then turned towards the camera while flashing a big smile and held up five fingers

She wore a white tank top and a pair of low-waisted denim jeans while her locks were placed in curlers

Another slide showed the singer posing next to the clothesline with the four shirts displaying the names of her children

Wilson also filmed himself strolling past the line of shirts as he approached his wife, and the pair cozied up together for the sweet selfie video

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In the caption of the Instagram carousel, the Level Up songstress penned: ‘One more person to Love’

La La Anthony wrote, ‘Another beautiful blessing!!! More to love!!! Making space over at Auntie La’s house. love my family. I’m just over here cheesing so hard. CINCO!!!’

Rapper Latto typed, ‘Congrats Ci,’ followed by a red heart emoji while comedian Jessie Woo added, ‘When God said to be fruitful and multiply, yall took that PERSONALLY!!! congratulations.’ 

Kehlani penned, ‘he was never playing a single game w u,’ and Nicole Scherzinger said, ‘Omggg congratulations.’ 

Singer Major Girl shared, ‘Congratulations..that’s a lil boy there…,’ while iHeartRadio added, ‘OMGGGGG SO EXCITED!!!’

Back in July, Wilson had expressed his hopes to welcome another baby with wife Ciara. 

The couple tied the knot in 2016 during a romantic ceremony at Peckforton Castle in England. 

‘We have four amazing kids and I’m trying to convince Ciara to have a fifth,’ the sports star told E! News. ‘Cinco, you got to be on the way soon.’

He added, ‘I want to have five, Ciara does too. We’ll see. Hopefully, I can convince her.’  

Social media users and celebrities flocked to the comment section to offer their congratulations to Ciara and Wilson

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‘We have four amazing kids and I’m trying to convince Ciara to have a fifth,’ the sports star told E! News. ‘Cinco, you got to be on the way soon’

Ciara has previously opened up about motherhood and balancing her entertainment career simultaneously, calling it ‘organized chaos.’ 

‘I am a big believer in having some kind of schedule, especially for kids,’ the singer told USA Today last year. 

‘Having them on sleep schedules and having order for them because they function so much better when they have an idea of what’s happening and what to expect, for the most part.’ 

The star added that when it comes to parenting, ‘there is no perfect way to do it.’

She later said having Wilson as a partner is ‘a blessing.’ 

‘We are tag teaming on how to make the world better for our kids,’ Ciara further told the outlet. 

Ciara has previously opened up about motherhood and balancing her entertainment career simultaneously, calling it ‘organized chaos’

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Back in June, Wilson announced his retirement from the NFL after a 14-year professional career

‘And from a love perspective, that actually brings us closer because you are kind of doing everything together, and that is kind of sweet.’ 

Back in June, Wilson announced his retirement from the NFL after a 14-year professional career. 

Ciara soon shared a sweet tribute to her husband on social media and wrote, ‘The best in the world! There’s only one, 3!

‘Always so proud of you! It’s a true blessing to go on this journey with you! My greatest inspiration! I love you so much!’

The devastated widow of the former Team USA triathlete and father-of-two who died after drowning while on vacation broke down in tears as she paid an emotional tribute to him at his funeral on Sunday.

Spencer Korwin, 38, of Manhattan, was vacationing on Shelter Island at the Pridwin Hotel with his wife when he disappeared during his morning swim and tragically drowned.

A heartbreaking funeral service took place at Temple Israel in New York City‘s Upper East Side on Sunday and his wife, Carly, sobbed through her moving tribute to her husband.

‘This is a nightmare. This is the worst day of my life. I can’t accept that this is real and that Spencer is not going to come home,’ she said.

‘Spencer was more than I could ever have dreamed of when it came to a husband, a father, and a friend. He was the best human I have ever met, and he was the love of my life.

‘We had the most beautiful and special once-in-a-lifetime type of love, and we knew it.

Carly Korwin paid an emotional tribute to her husband Spencer after he tragically drowned

He was a former member of Team USA, where he competed at the Triathlon World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand in 2012 

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‘We always said forever isn’t long enough. And I will never be able to make sense as to why this incredible life we built together, filled with happiness and so much love, was ripped away from us in an instant.’  

The couple began dating years after they graduated from Syracuse University. They share two daughters, Sadie, 4, and Colette, 1. 

‘He wrote me and the girls notes all the time and hung them around the apartment,’ Carly continued.

‘He was filled with surprises and hugs just because… he had automated texts set up twice a day just to remind me that he loves me, I’m a wonderful mom and wife. 

‘I know the girls will never stop missing him, and he will forever be their hero.’

Korwin entered the water at the hotel’s docks around 8am on Wednesday, police said. The waters were calm that day, but the currents can be strong due to the narrow passage it flows through, authorities said. 

‘However, these are open waters where tides, currents and boat traffic are always considerations,’ Shelter Island Police Chief James Read told The Times.  

Marine and air units were deployed, and Korwin’s body was found around 3pm underneath the docks at the hotel. His body was pulled onto a boat.

Korwin and his wife were staying at the Pridwin Hotel at the time of his drowning 

He went for a swim around 8am and his body was found under the docs around 3pm

Officials believe Korwin died from accidental drowning, but his official cause of death is pending the medical examiner’s report. 

The Syracuse University graduate was a member of Team USA in 2012, when he competed in the Triathlon World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. 

He was sponsored by Gatorade for five years, his LinkedIn said.

Korwin opened a children’s outdoor summer camp in Southampton in 2020. A year later, he opened Korwin Health & Wellness, a company specializing in personal fitness and holistic health. 

He was also a trainer for SportsLab NYC in 2013.  

‘He was the sun around which so many of our lives orbited, and his loss is being felt deeply by everyone who knew and loved him,’ a family friend said in a GoFundMe set up to help his children. 

‘Spencer was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.’ 

The fundraiser has garnered just under $340,000 out of its $500,000 goal, as of Sunday night. 

Korwin was the second person to drown off Shelter Island this summer. On May 16, Timothy Magambo, a college student, drowned off Wades Beach.

He and a group were swimming to Shell Beach when he got separated and floated hundreds of yards away. 

Southold Police Captain Scott Latham told The Times that swimmers should not venture out too deeply into the water or where currents are strong. 

Lifeguards are typically on duty from 11am to 5pm.  

The FCDO is advising Brits against travel to parts of Indonesia following the volcanic eruption on Friday.

It says flights disruptions remain at Jakarta airports, Soekarno Hatto Airport and Halim Airport, which have been closed due to volcanic ash clouds.

It also says to avoid travellng to the following areas in Indonesia:

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province – to within 7km of the crater

Mount Sinabung, Karo Regency, North Sumatr – to within 5km of the crater

Mount Marapi, West Sumatra – to within 3km of the crater

Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, East Java – to within 5km of the crater and in the south-east of Mount Semura to within 500m from any riverbank of the Besuk Kobokan river for 13km from the crater

Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi – to within 7km of the crater

Mount Ibu, North Maluku Province – to within 7km of the crater

It warns travel insurance could be invalidated if you decide to travel against the FCDO’s advice.

It has been revealed The Celebrity Traitors will return on September 23 – after last year’s star Joe Marler leaked the date.

The former rugby star joined Richard Osman and Marina Hyde for a live edition of their The Rest Is Entertainment podcast at London’s Southbank Centre on Saturday.

Joe was offering his advice for this year’s contestants before he let slip the date the show will be back on screen.

Joe said: ‘What is it, September 23, the next series?’ as Richard confirmed: ‘By the way, to point out it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23… the cat’s out of the bag isn’t it?’

The BBC released the trailer for the hotly anticipated series last month, as host Claudia Winkleman left the star-studded line-up quivering in the teaser. 

Following Alan Carr’s win as a Traitor in last year’s series, this year’s celebrities include Maya Jama, James Blunt and Richard E Grant.

He joined Richard and Marina Hyde for a live edition of their The Rest Is Entertainment podcast at London’s Southbank Centre as he said ‘What is it, September 23, the next series?’

Richard explained he had spoken to some of the stars involved in this year’s series as he commented: ‘Sounds like it was quite intense,’ which Joe noted was very different to his series.

Joe said: ‘I believe it was a slightly different emotion than our experience. Ours was very laugh-led, and everyone was sort of enjoying catching up, you know, pratting about to the point where they went, “Guys, we’re trying to play a game.”

‘It’s not just for the laughs – “Oh, do you remember going to that party, darling?…”

‘Whereas this lot really want it from the start, and then I guess they see how well the first series has gone and there’s a little bit of pressure on them to be like: “Oh I’d quite like a bit of that.”

Maya and Jerry Hall are two of the biggest names leading this year’s cast as they join legendary actor Richard E Grant and comedian Romesh Ranganathan.

Also heading to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands are Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Bella Ramsey and James Blunt.

Comedians Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally and James Acaster will also join, alongside Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

The line up will be completed by mathematician Hannah Fry, broadcaster Amol Rajan, Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, prankster King Kenny, Industry star Myha’la, Heartstopper’s Sebastian Croft and My Mad Fat Diary’s Sharon Rooney.

Meanwhile the new series marks Claudia’s return to the BBC after she walked away from her chat show The Claudia Winkleman Show after just one series. 

In the new trailer the celebrities gather in the pews of an eerie church, as Claudia asks: ‘A moment of silence for the celebrities gathered today.’

Maya and Jerry Hall are two of the biggest names leading this year’s cast as they join legendary actor Richard E. Grant and comedian Romesh Ranganathan

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Claudia Winkleman left Maya Jama, James Blunt and Richard E Grant quivering in the chilling teaser

Michael Sheen and Maya Jama sit in the pews of an eerie church in the latest series’ trailer 

The camera then panned across a terrified Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Bella Ramsey, Ross Kemp and Sharon Rooney. 

‘Thoughts and prayers,’ said Claudia, before striding down the aisle as she added: ‘Who doesn’t love a dramatic exit.’ 

Funeral-style flowers can be seen behind Claudia, spelling out ‘RIP VIP’. 

Details about the new series are being kept secret, so it remains to be seen who Claudia will choose as her three Traitors.

With this line-up proving to be the starriest yet, it was previously reported that bosses were forced to double their £1million budget in a bid to cater to the A-List contestants’ demands.

In June, it was reported that producers of the show are ‘shocked’ by how the new series has unravelled after the original Traitors went on a ‘recruiting spree’.

A third of the 21 stars are said to end up as Traitors in a huge twist no one saw coming. 

Insiders say the tactics caused a ‘thrilling shift of power’ to take place in the game which reached new levels of backstabbing and betrayal. 

It is said to be completely different from the first series of the celebrity spin-off which saw Alan Carr and Cat Burns stick together as Traitors all the way through the series after Jonathan Ross got banished earlier on. 

The anti-migration party is set to win regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt

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The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) looks set to win a strong victory in a regional election on Sunday, the first in its history.

But it was not immediately clear whether it would be able to fulfil its ambition of forming the country’s first far-right state government since the Second World War.

The party of German’s unpopular leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, was set for a disastrous result in the the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany’s candidate for governor said that “we have written history”.

Ulrich Siegmund, 35, told public broadcaster ARD that voters had sent a signal that “things cannot carry on like this” and that it was “also a signal toward Berlin”.

Of Germany’s unpopular leader, he said: “A very good campaigner for us in this election campaign was Friedrich Merz. Every day this man is in the chancellery is one too many.”

The AfD went into the vote seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern on its own. That would overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD, but it was unclear after polls closed whether it would happen.

A first state government would be the biggest prize in the anti-migration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving.

Whether or not AfD can form a government, the projected result is a blow to Mr Merz, whose centre-right party has led Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years. Unlike other countries in Europe, modern Germany has not yet had a far-right or right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major city government.

AfD is the biggest opposition party in Germany’s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located.

Its regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is one of several classified by the domestic intelligence agency as a proven right-wing extremist group. AfD vehemently rejects accusations of extremism.

Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and early counting, put AfD at a little over 44% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin.

That was far ahead of Mr Merz’s Christian Democratic Union which was seen polling 18.5% and losing about half its support. The Left Party and the centre-left Social Democrats and Greens were seen taking around 9% each.

It was unclear whether the BSW party would get the 5% of the vote needed to win seats. The projections put AfD at least marginally short of an absolute majority, though that could change.

AfD’s national co-leader, Alice Weidel, described the projected result as “sensational” and said “we have received a very clear mandate to govern here”, The party’s “hand is outstretched to all who want to make Saxony-Anhalt better and move Germany forward”, she said.

A visibly disappointed incumbent governor, Sven Schulze, congratulated AfD on becoming the state’s strongest political force and said that “we as the CDU will also have to deal with this result,” without specifying how.

Franziska Hoppermann, the national general-secretary of Mr Merz’s party, rejected the idea of backing off its refusal to deal with AfD.

“AfD is a right-wing extremist party. It wants to leave the euro; that would be economic downfall … it works closely together with Russia, it wants a completely different social model,” she said. “We will not work with them.”

There already has been one case in which AfD won a state election but did not end up governing. That was two years ago in neighbouring Thuringia, where a CDU governor took power with a minority government, but against a regional AfD that was well short of a majority.

If the result allows Mr Schulze to try to put together some kind of alliance with smaller parties, that would be delicate, because it would require at least some tacit support from the Left Party, a hard-left party with which the CDU refuses to form coalitions.

Germany’s 16 states have extensive powers, for example in overseeing security matters and running the education system.

READ MORE: Ex-teacher dubbed Scotland’s Jimmy Savile ‘sexually abused by his alcoholic mum’

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Mr Siegmund has listed among his top priorities “a deportation offensive and above all dropping the incentives for why people come here and exploit our social system”.

He wants to initiate a long process to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster, citing concerns about “disinformation”.

AfD in Saxony-Anhalt wants to allow home schooling, which so far is not permitted in Germany.

It pledges to ban schools from officially raising the rainbow flag and ensure they fly the national flag. It opposes taxpayers’ money being “given away” to Ukraine and says it would push to lift sanctions against Russia, but that is not a matter state governments can decide.

State governments also sit in Germany’s upper house of parliament, which has to approve some government legislation. The influence there of Saxony-Anhalt, one of the smaller states in a nation of 83.5 people, is limited – it controls four of the 69 votes.

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