Author: James Grant

Smuggling operations based along Libya’s coast are profiting from dangerous sea crossings whilst exposing migrants to “severe abuse and protection risks,” the International Organization for Migration has warned following a capsizing that left 53 people dead or missing. A rubber boat carrying 55 African migrants and refugees overturned north of Zuwara, Libya on 6 February, with Libyan authorities rescuing just two Nigerian women during search operations. The IOM confirmed the incident on Monday, adding to an estimated 484 deaths in the first six weeks of 2026 along the central Mediterranean migration route. Both survivors received emergency medical care upon disembarkation,…

A man caught driving whilst already disqualified has been handed a further 63-month ban from the roads after officers discovered an open bottle of port in his vehicle. Trevor Nex, 43, of Baytree Farm, Watchfield, Highbridge, was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 28 January after pleading guilty to driving whilst above the alcohol limit, driving whilst disqualified, and using a vehicle without third party insurance. The court ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement, alongside paying £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Police arrested Nex at Hellings Cross, Bathelton,…

British Transport Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to question after a railway worker was squirted in the face with a chemical substance hidden inside a sports drink bottle at a London station. The victim suffered chemical burns and temporary loss of vision following the attack at Blackfriars Station on 17 May last year. He was rushed to hospital after the assault, which police described as “horrific.” The incident began at approximately 6pm when four men jumped off a train from Sevenoaks and barged straight through the ticket barriers without paying. The railway worker, who was…

Six people including a five-year-old boy sustained minor injuries after a grenade was thrown into a beauty salon in Grenoble, France, in an attack prosecutors believe was designed to intimidate rather than kill. Video footage circulating on social media captured the incident, showing one man throwing the explosive device whilst another individual filmed the scene. The deliberate recording of the attack has raised questions about whether the perpetrators intended to broadcast their actions as a warning. Prosecutor Etienne Manteux stated the grenade was “not intended to kill” but served as an intimidation tactic. All six victims suffered slight injuries in…

A teenager has been charged with murdering a 20-year-old cyber security student who died in hospital after being stabbed in Leicester. Harper Dennis, 18, from West Drayton, London, will appear in court tomorrow accused of killing Khaleed Oladipo, Leicestershire Police confirmed. The De Montfort University student died on Tuesday night following the fatal chest wound. Dennis faces murder charges alongside three additional counts relating to offensive weapons. He has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in connection with Mr Oladipo’s death. Two further charges of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place…

A teenager who disguised himself as a food delivery driver to carry out a broad daylight murder in south London has been convicted after prosecutors proved the shooting bore the hallmarks of serious organised crime. Neo Duodu-Watson, 18, from Peckham, wore a distinctive Just Eat jacket and rode a stolen moped to avoid arousing suspicion when he shot 16-year-old Lathaniel Burrell outside a block of flats in Paradise Road, Stockwell on the afternoon of 4 March last year. The Old Bailey heard the killing was a planned, organised and premeditated attack linked to the illegal drugs trade. Omar Prempeh, 33,…

The Home Secretary has announced what the government describes as the most comprehensive reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, with new legislation planned for later this year to prevent migrants exploiting human rights laws to delay removal. The reforms include revoking the statutory legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, including housing and handouts, for those who have a right to work and can support themselves but choose not to, or for those who break UK law. Measures will also restrict illegal migrants to a single route of appeal and fast-track cases with little chance of success. A Home…

A repeat offender who showed no remorse after attempting to smother his elderly cellmate with a pillow has been handed an 18-year sentence including an extended licence period for dangerousness. Christopher Sweeney, 44, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday following his guilty plea to attempted murder on 25 April 2025. The court imposed a 13-year custodial term with an additional five-year extended licence reflecting his classification as a dangerous offender. Detective Constable Natalie Gooderham of Nottinghamshire Police stated: “Sweeney is a persistent and dangerous offender, and from his own admissions he clearly planned the attack. From his initial…

President Donald Trump has sparked widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum after sharing a video on Truth Social that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed onto apes’ bodies. The controversial AI-generated clip, which Trump reposted to his social media platform late last night, shows the former president and first lady imposed on primate bodies accompanied by The Tokens’ song ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ The video originally belonged to a pro-Trump account on X before being shared by the President to his Truth Social followers. Accusations of racism have dominated responses to the post, with political figures…

Two pupils received medical treatment for minor injuries following an axe attack carried out by a 15-year-old classmate at a school in Kulsary, Kazakhstan on 5 February. The 10th-grade student has been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility after the violent assault, which occurred following a conflict between classmates. A criminal case has been opened against the teenage attacker, who has been registered with internal affairs bodies. Police confirmed both injured pupils sustained minor wounds during the incident and received medical assistance. The Caspian Post reported the attack via Kazakh media, with footage of the aftermath circulating following…