Month: January 2025

Andrew Dawkins BBC News, West Midlands West Midlands Police His head teacher paid tribute to the “lovely and bright” youngster A 12-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Birmingham was “adored” by his friends and was “funny and sweet”, his head teacher said. Leo Ross was stabbed in the stomach and found near Scribers Lane in Hall Green at about 15:40 GMT on Tuesday and later died in hospital, West Midlands Police said. He was a pupil at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy and was a “lively and happy young man” with “many very good friends”, executive head teacher Diane Henson added. A 14-year-old boy was earlier arrested on suspicion of murder. Police said the teenager had also been arrested in connection with an unrelated assault on a woman in her 80s on 19 January. Ms Henson said Leo was “just a lovely and bright member of the school community”. “We’re supporting the children at school and are opening a book of condolence with the family’s permission,” she added. The executive head teacher stated Leo had many good friends “who he absolutely adored and they adored him”. The family said he had been walking a 10-minute route home when the attack happened and described him as “funny, sweet and had not one aggressive bone in his body”. Messages left along with flowers at the scene of the stabbing said Leo was “loved by many people” and “our lives won’t be the same without you” Ch Supt Richard North described the stabbing as “an appalling and senseless attack”. “We are doing everything we can to support the loved ones of the young boy who lost his life in such an appalling way, but we know that nothing we say or do will diminish their agony,” he added. Drone footage shows the scene of the stabbing Scribers Lane is a long and busy road, surrounded by houses, shops and local schools, in the suburb of Hall Green. The attack is believed to have taken place near the railway bridge, which is next to Trittiford Mill Park. Flowers were left at the scene along with written messages which included saying Leo was “loved by many people” and “our lives won’t be the same without you”. Ch Supt North said: “Parents around the country will hear this news and be unable to comprehend the pain they must be feeling. “Our hearts go out to the young boy’s family today.” He urged people and the media not to speculate on the motive for the attack. Ch Supt North added he would urge anyone who saw what happened or who had CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area at the time to get in touch as soon as possible. The West Midlands force said their officers would be carrying out patrols locally to try to reassure residents. Knife crime figures released in July showed the West Midlands Police area had the highest rate of offences in England and Wales. West Midlands Police has appealed for information as well as photo and video evidence Source link

Becky Morton Political reporter Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent Ministry of Defence HMS Somerset monitored Yantar near UK waters earlier this week The Royal Navy has been monitoring a Russian spy ship after it entered British waters earlier this week, the defence secretary has told MPs. John Healey said the vessel, Yantar, was used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure. He said the incident was “another example of growing Russian aggression”. Healey added: “I also wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.” Russia describes Yantar as an oceanic research vessel and it is operated by the country’s Ministry of Defence. Western nations have often tracked the ship operating in European waters and they suspect part of its mission has been to map undersea cables. They also believe Russia has been stepping up this activity since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As well as surveillance equipment the ship can operate submersible drones capable of reaching the ocean floor. Undersea infrastructure is crucial for energy supply through power cables and pipelines, while more than 95% of internet traffic is also secured via undersea cables. Healey said Yantar was currently in the North Sea, after passing through UK waters and being detected 45 miles off the British coast in the English Channel on Monday. “For the last two days the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to monitor the vessel every minute through our waters,” he said. “I changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that our warships can get closer and better track the Yantar. So far, the ship has complied with international rules of navigation.” The defence secretary said it was the second time the vessel had entered British waters in recent months, with Yantar also detected “loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure” in November. He said a Royal Navy submarine had been authorised to surface close to Yantar “strictly as a deterrent measure” and “to make clear that we have been covertly monitoring its every move”. “The ship then left UK waters without further loitering and sailed down to the Mediterranean,” he added. Healey said the government was strengthening its response to Russian naval activity with its Nato allies. He said the Royal Air Force would provide surveillance aircraft to join a Nato deployment to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. It comes after an undersea cable between Estonia and Finland was damaged in December, with Finnish police investigating whether a Russian ship was involved. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservative Party stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the government’s approach and its “transparency” over the Russian naval threat. He also welcomed the change to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement, adding: “This sends a powerful signal to Putin that we will not be intimidated and that if his aim is to keep pushing the boundaries of malign activity in our waters, and those proximate to us, we will respond.” Cartlidge said the Russian activity showed why defence spending needed to be increased as soon as possible. Source link