Author: Darren Smith

A Brazilian asylum seeker who triggered a terrorism alert by placing a hoax explosive device outside MI5 headquarters on New Year’s Day will be sentenced at the Old Bailey after magistrates ruled the case too serious for their jurisdiction. Julian Valente Pereira, 32, forced emergency services to divert resources from policing London’s New Year celebrations when he propped a fake bomb against Thames House doors alongside a cigarette lighter and stuffed 30 pages of documents detailing “psychological torture” through the entrance. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring transferred the case to Crown Court on Wednesday, indicating an 18-month prison sentence would be…

Counter-terrorism officers have detained three additional suspects over the firebombing of Jewish community ambulances in north London, including a dual British-Pakistani teenager, as investigators pursue links to a suspected Iran-backed extremist group. Men aged 17, 19 and 20 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life following the 23 March attack that destroyed four Hatzola volunteer ambulances outside a synagogue in Golders Green. The two older suspects hold British nationality whilst the youngest possesses dual British and Pakistani citizenship. All three remained in custody at a London police station on Tuesday, joining two previously…

A 36-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing before magistrates charged with deliberately driving into pedestrians in Derby city centre, leaving seven people requiring hospital treatment. Sandhu Ponnachan, of Chariot Close in Alvaston, faces six counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted GBH with intent, dangerous driving and possession of a bladed article following the 28 March incident outside the Bishop Blaise pub on Friar Gate. The defendant, who relocated to Derby from India several years ago, showed no emotion during his brief appearance at Southern Derby Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Wearing glasses, a…

A wave of coordinated youth disorder is sweeping English towns and cities following viral social media “linkups” that have seen hundreds of teenagers descend on high streets during Easter holidays, forcing shop closures, mass arrests and emergency police deployments. The disorder—which erupted in Birmingham on Friday before spreading to Clapham over the weekend and Solihull on Monday—has prompted warnings from Metropolitan Police that viral footage is inspiring copycat incidents across the country as bored schoolchildren on half-term transform retail areas into lawless battlegrounds. More than 100 teenagers swarmed Clapham Common basketball courts on both Saturday and Tuesday before ransacking shops…

Lawyers representing the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk have made explosive claims that forensic analysis failed to link the fatal bullet to their client’s weapon. Tyler Robinson, 22, faces potential execution if convicted of murdering the Turning Point USA co-founder during a September speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. However, defence attorneys filed court documents on Friday alleging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was “unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr Robinson.” The revelation emerged in a motion seeking to postpone Robinson’s preliminary hearing—currently scheduled for…

The bereaved family of a teenager who died following a collision whilst riding a scooter in Lincolnshire have described his “infectious smile” and “naturally funny, cheeky charm” as police continue investigating the fatal incident. Lachlan, 13, succumbed to his injuries on Friday, 27 March, three days after being struck by a white Seat Ibiza in Grimsby. Emergency services had transported him to hospital with life-threatening injuries following the Tuesday afternoon collision. His sister and guardian paid emotional tribute, stating: “Lachlan’s smile was truly infectious, lighting up any room he entered. It wasn’t just his mouth that smiled – his eyes…

Tottenham Hotspur have secured Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager in a bid to avert relegation catastrophe, GB News understands, though the appointment has triggered immediate backlash from supporter groups over controversial remarks the Italian made regarding Mason Greenwood. The north London club, languishing just one point above the drop zone with seven fixtures remaining, turned to the 44-year-old former Brighton boss following Igor Tudor’s disastrous 44-day tenure that yielded minimal results. An official announcement is expected imminently once final contractual details are resolved, with De Zerbi inheriting a side winless in 13 consecutive Premier League matches—a nightmarish sequence…

President Donald Trump faces a fresh European rebuke after Italian defence officials barred American warplanes from landing at a strategic Sicilian installation last week, citing failure to seek proper authorisation under bilateral treaty obligations. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto ordered the access denial when he discovered US bombers intended to use the Sigonella air base without consulting Italian authorities, according to reports emerging on Tuesday despite the incident occurring “a few nights” earlier. Mr Crosetto stated that treaty provisions governing American military installations on Italian soil require explicit permission from Rome’s defence leadership before operations can proceed. Washington would be permitted…

Britain is deploying sophisticated air defence capabilities across multiple Gulf nations to bolster regional protection against Iranian aerial attacks, Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed during a visit to the Middle East. Advanced Sky Sabre missile systems alongside Royal Artillery personnel will arrive in Saudi Arabia this week for integration into the kingdom’s defensive network, the Ministry of Defence announced, forming part of an enhanced British military presence across the region. Mr Healey outlined the scope of reinforcements during his Gulf tour, detailing how four partner nations will receive upgraded defensive capabilities. The deployments include extending UK Typhoon fighter jet…

A delivery driver who exploited a food order to target a vulnerable woman before returning to her home and raping her has been imprisoned and served with a deportation order following his conviction. Lincoln Crown Court sentenced Jitendrakumar Prajapati, 47, to three years and eight months imprisonment on 27 March after he pleaded guilty to rape, with an additional concurrent 18-month term for sexual assault. The Boston resident had initially received a five-year custodial sentence, reduced following his guilty plea. Authorities also issued a deportation order against the convicted offender. Detective Constable Jessica McKiernan, who investigated the case, praised the…