The attack happened on Eastgrove Avenue in Sharples at around 9.15pm on June 10 when a masked person smashed a window and threw a lit firebomb into the property.

The incident caused significant damage to the home and left the family shaken, although no serious injuries were reported.

Robert Poole, assistant district secretary for Bolton National Education Union (NEU), said: “This cowardice does not represent the people of Bolton.

“Our strength lies in our unity, and we will not allow acts of terror to divide us or intimidate our communities.

“We send our deepest support to the Imam, his family, and the wider Muslim community at this incredibly difficult time.”

(Image: Public)

The union said it was shocked by the attack and described it as a senseless act of violence.

And it added its members, local teachers, work “everyday to foster inclusion, mutual respect, and safety for all children and families in Bolton, regardless of faith or background.

The union says that hatred and division has not place in the classroom or on ‘our streets’.

In a statement, the organisation said an attack on a faith leader and family home was an attack on the fabric of the town’s diverse communities.

The comments come after Hassan Patel said his family had been left devastated by the attack and were struggling to understand why they had been targeted.

Mr Patel said the family wanted police to explore all possible motives and not rule out any lines of inquiry prematurely.

Greater Manchester Police previously said it believed the incident was a targeted attack and that there was no wider risk to the public.

The Bolton NEU said hatred and division had no place in schools or on the streets and pledged to continue working with community leaders, faith groups and residents to ‘ensue Bolton remaines a safe, welcoming , and united place for everyone’.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 quoting log 3561 of June 10, 2026, via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police and paramedics were called to Station Approach just after 1.20pm on Monday (June 8) after an 86-year-old woman was struck by a small van.

She was left with serious injuries to her hand and chest and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle – but tragically died there on Tuesday.

The woman has now been named as Violet Stannard.

Her heartbroken family, who are being supported by specially trained officers, said they would like to “express the heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported her at the scene.”

In a statement, they said: “We would also like to pay our tremendous respect to every single one of the outstanding emergency services who cared for and dealt with the traumatic injuries she sustained and the proceedings following the incident.

“Lastly, to all the amazing staff on Ward 18 Critical Care Unit, RVI, you will never know how much your diligence, quality of care and amazing support shown to the family made such a difference in how we coped with this sudden loss.

“We ask that respect for the family’s privacy be respected while we mourn.”

Drivers were urged to avoid the area following the incident, with the collision unit investigation team remaining at the scene for several hours.

The van driver, a man in his 50s, was not believed to have been injured.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident outside of Durham Train Station on Monday shortly after 1pm.

“We dispatched one ambulance crew and one patient was taken to RVI for further treatment.”

He said: “A lot has changed. The year of experience itself played a massive role – making your own experiences, understanding what is good and not good for you during the weekend and outside the weekend.

“The experience, being able to come back into the weekend and having done it the year before plays a massive difference. You know better the track evolution and so on and you are able to balance your energies in a better way so you feel better in the car in terms of energy.

“You become more aware of your potential and you know better the team, it’s all little things that play a massive role.”

Antonelli said that so far the pressure of competing for the championship had not affected him.

“I am not really worrying about it,” he said.

“Of course I know the opportunity that is on the table and of course I want to make the best out of it.

“But at the same time I don’t want to drive or race thinking about that.

“I want to really focus on the process and what I have to do and enjoy as much as possible the weekend and drive as fast as possible and then we will see where we end up at the end of the year.”

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who made his F1 debut more than five years before Antonelli was born, said the Italian was “an incredible talent”.

The Spaniard added: “Now he has a car that is dominating and he is adapting to that car and winning races without making mistakes and feeling the pressure of leading the championship and leading the race, which is a very good achievement.

“But this is F1 and you need to perform at the highest level always. He has the opportunity and if he is able to deal with the pressure and deliver the title, it is an incredible thing.”

Lord Liddle said: “I totally agree with my noble friend Lord Walker that that has to examine the challenge of the aging society and whether we can continue to support the pension triple lock and all the costs of NHS and social care, which if we’re not careful, are producing great generational inequality in Britain, and something has to be done to address that.”

Mark Pougatch fronts the coverage of the first of three opening ceremonies on ITV1. After the first ceremony in Mexico, the opening game takes place between Mexico and South Africa

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway this evening with a spectacular opening ceremony taking place at Mexico City Stadium. A record 48 nations will battle it out in the biggest World Cup tournament ever staged.

Mark Pougatch fronts the coverage of the first of three opening ceremonies tonight on ITV1. After the first ceremony in Mexico, the opening game takes place between Mexico and South Africa.

Transmission starts at 6.15pm and runs until 7.50pm on ITV1 and ITVX. The opening ceremony will showcase performances from Colombian music star Shakira, as well as singer J Balvin and South African singer-songwriter Tyla.

The programme will also include a preview of the competition. Particular attention will be given to the clash between Mexico and South Africa, which marks the first of 104 fixtures in a mammoth event.

This year will see three opening ceremonies across Mexico, Canada and the United States. This evening’s will be the first, preceding the 8pm kick-off between Mexico and South Africa.

Whether you’re a devoted football supporter or a casual observer tuning in for the major fixtures, it’s essential to know where you can access coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the three opening ceremonies, including viewing times and performance details.

How to watch World Cup 2026 Mexico Opening Ceremony.

The FIFA World Cup 2026: Opening Ceremony airs tonight at 6.15pm until 7.50pm. It will be available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX.

Music icon Shakira is also set to deliver a live performance from Mexico, alongside Burna Boy, Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana, and Tyla.

Opening match

The 2026 World Cup opener will take place on Thursday, June 11. Kick-off at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is set for 8pm UK time.

Canada Opening Ceremony.

The second opening ceremony is scheduled to take place in Canada on Friday, 12 June. The bill features Canadian favourite Michael Bublé, alongside Alessia Cara and Alanis Morissette.

It will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer ahead of Canada vs Bosnia’s 8pm kick-off.

USA Opening Ceremony.

The third and final opening ceremony will be shown live from Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium prior to the USA’s opening fixture against Paraguay, which gets under way at 2am.

This will air at 12.30am on Saturday, 13 June on BBC One and iPlayer. Katy Perry and rapper Future are confirmed to perform, with further appearances from Tyla and Lisa from Blackpink.

Stephen Ogilvie’s parents told DUP Leader Gavin Robinson they do not want what happened to be “used as an excuse for intimidation or division within our society.”

The parents of Stephen Ogilvie have said they do not want the attack on their son to be “used as an excuse for intimidation or division within our society,” as his condition begins to improve.

DUP Leader Gavin Robinson said he has spoken with the parents of the victim of the stabbing in North Belfast on Thursday afternoon and that he currently remains in a coma in hospital but will hopefully be released from this within the next day or two.

Speaking at Stormont, the East Belfast MP said that Mr Ogilvie’s parents have spoken out against the recent violent disorder that has taken place and also called for an end “to the misinformation, the falsehoods and the lies” that have been circulating following the incident on Kinnaird Avenue on June 8.

The condition of the Belfast stabbing victim is “improving” and he could be released from a coma within the next 48 hours, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said.

The East Belfast MP said he met with the parents of Stephen Ogilvie on Thursday afternoon and that the family were “broken” after what had happened to their son.

Ogilvie lost his left eye in a stabbing attack on Monday night which preceded two nights of disorder in Northern Ireland.

“They have spoken very powerfully, in my view, that their desire is that what happened to their son on Monday evening is not used as an excuse for intimidation or division within our society,” Mr Robinson said at Stormont.

“They have asked me to share that whilst their son remains in a coma, his condition is improving.

“They hope, pray and trust that he will be released from that coma within the next 24 or 48 hours, at which point assessments will be made about his sight and other impacts from the atrocity that happened on Monday evening.

“They are grateful for support, but they particularly are calling for an end to the misinformation, the falsehoods and the lies that are only making a very difficult situation all the worse.”

Mr Robinson said the party had challenged immigration statistics issued by the UK Government during a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn at Stormont.

He said there was a “lack of confidence” in the protection of borders and enforcement of immigration rules.

“There are questions that still remain not only about the efficacy of the figures they have given – when they say 1,000 people have been removed from Northern Ireland, we don’t believe that that is 1,000 people removed from the United Kingdom, but simply detained in London,” he said.

“They certainly seem to be in stark contrast to the one deportation that there has been to the Republic of Ireland.”

He said it was “a farce” that someone could travel through three safe countries and then claim asylum in the UK.

“I’ve said very clearly today that this has to be about strengthening the CTA (the common travel area),” he said.

“It is not beyond the will of man, through co-operation and agreement, that if they need our co-operation to protect the borders of the common travel area, then our Government should do so and, more importantly, the Prime Minister said that he’s engaged in those conversations.”

For all the latest on this developing story follow our live blog here.

Utah is suffering from such dry conditions that a group of kids with matches and a squirrel managed to start separate brush fires within hours, according to local media reports.

The ongoing severe drought in Utah has created the perfect conditions for destructive fires, prompting officials to warn that this year’s fire season could be particularly severe. Those concerns were highlighted Tuesday after firefighters battled two separate blazes in northern Utah.

A squirrel tangled in a power line managed to spark a half-acre brush fire Tuesday morning in Layton, a suburb of Salt Lake City, according to local outlet FOX 13. Later that day, children playing with matches reportedly started a brush fire that burned an acre in Saratoga Springs, a city on the northwestern shore of Utah Lake.

Both fires were extinguished, and it appears no one was injured, according to FOX 13. The Independent has requested more information from fire officials in Layton and Saratoga Springs.

This comes as firefighters battle multiple major blazes throughout the state.

The South Mountain Fire in northwestern Utah has burned through more than 1,800 acres and was at 40 percent containment as of Wednesday morning. The Tower Fire, which is burning near the small town of Scipio in central Utah, is currently 34 percent contained after spreading to more than 1,300 acres.

Utah fire officials have warned the ongoing drought, combined with warmer temperatures and low snowfall earlier this year, led to lots of dry vegetation that could serve as fuel for destructive fires.

“This year’s conditions, even more than recent years, are raising concern,” Salt Lake City Fire Chief Karl Lieb said at a press conference last month.

“If we all take this seriously now, our agencies and the public together, we can reduce the number of fires, limit how fast they spread, and better protect the communities we all care about,” Unified Fire Chief Dominic Burchett added.

Officials are asking residents to take steps to prevent wildfires, such as refraining from starting campfires on windy days and exercising caution when shooting outdoors.

“We identify target shooting as one of the behaviors that contribute to human-caused wildfires in the state,” a spokesperson for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and Estate Lands told ABC 4 this week.

Last year, fires burned more than 165,000 acres in Utah, which cost the state more than $191 million, according to KSL News. Still, firefighters managed to keep 92 percent of those fires under 10 acres.

Iilia Belov claimed that one member of a group of girls uttered “disrespectful” remarks before the incident in August 2025.

A man has told a court he pushed a 12-year-old girl as he could see a knife under her T-shirt and thought she was going to attack his sister.

Ilia Belov, 22, is accused of assaulting the girl during an incident in the Lochee area of Dundee in August last year.

Giving evidence to Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday, Belov said he had been with his father on his way to buy cigarettes when he passed a group of young girls walking in the other direction.

Speaking with the assistance of a Bulgarian interpreter, the father-of-two said as they approached, one of the girls uttered “disrespectful” remarks to him.

“They are coming and start making some cheeky remarks,” he said.

“They told me ‘son of a bastard’ and also ‘f****** migrant’.”

He said that after they passed each other on the street, the girls continued to “shout” remarks at him, so he turned round and went after them, leaving his father to continue to the shop.

“I went back to ask why they are disrespecting me,” he told the court.

“They have started to panic, saying I am following them.”

Asked why he had not just walked away, he said: “Because I am human.

“I deserve to ask them why I deserve so much disrespect. I didn’t do anything to them.”

He said more girls then turned up, at which point he said he phoned his sister as he was “worried”, and when she arrived a physical altercation broke out between her and one of the girls.

He said that during this, he saw another of the girls had a knife tucked under her T-shirt, and pushed her over in order to protect his sister.

“I pushed the other girl who was wearing the weapons because I saw the knife on her back,” he said, explaining he could see the handle under her T-shirt and he thought she was going to “do something” with it.

He added: “I pushed her away before anything happened.”

Belov told the court that after she got back up, the girl brandished the knife and axe she had concealed beneath her clothing, telling the court this was the first time he saw her holding them.

“She held the knife and axe and tried to get to us,” he said.

Cross-examining the witness, prosecutor Michael Robertson put it to him that as a grown man he had been the “adult” in the situation, and he could just have walked away or phoned the police.

Belov accepted this, but when asked whether staying in the area had been “wrong” he said he was “not sure”.

Belov also denied having directed sexual remarks at any of the girls, saying he had only wanted to ask why they were disrespecting him.

The prosecutor also disputed whether Belov had seen the knife before pushing the girl to the ground, suggesting he had only seen it after she had stood up.

He took the court through CCTV footage of the incident that he said showed the girl had been behind Belov immediately before he pushed her.

Belov denied this, saying during the incident the girl had been “acting aggressively” and he could “easily see what’s on her back”.

Giving evidence earlier in the trial, the girl said she had had the axe and knife in her waistband for five to 10 minutes before the incident, and she had brandished them after the physical altercation.

She said after revealing the weapons, she was “basically sat holding them”, saying she “knew” the man would “try to go for (the other girl) again”.

She also alleged Belov had kept saying to her: “Come here sexy. I will show you how to have a good time,” and that his words made her feel “angry”.

Belov has denied all the charges against him.

The trial continues.

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