News: Europe

Reading terror attack: ‘Time has stood still since stabbing,’ family of man killed tell inquest Khairi Saadallah was sentenced to a whole life order after he stabbed three men to death at Forbury Gardens, Reading, in June 2020.

(Sky News) The family of a man stabbed to death in a park in Reading during a terrorist attack have told the opening of an inquest that “time has stood still” since the attacks. Khairi Saadallah, a Libyan refugee, stabbed three men […]

Cemeteries & Funerals

NSW Police monitoring a Sydney mosque which announced commemorative service for Hezbollah militant killed in Lebanon Sydney mosque Al Rahman has been revealed to be hosting a memorial service this week for a Hezbollah terrorist killed in Lebanon while fighting with Israel.

(Sky News) NSW Police say they are monitoring Al Rahman Mosque as it holds a commemorative service for Hezbollah fighter Hussein Ibrahim Salameh, known as Nasser, killed in Lebanon this month. On Christmas Eve, Hezbollah announced six militants were killed between December […]

Legal

Man jailed for spying on Iran International TV channel in London to help terror plotters Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev told the jury at his Old Bailey trial he 'quite simply liked' the buildings and architecture surrounding the west London headquarters of the Iranian television channel.

(Sky News) A Chechen-born man has been jailed after being found guilty of spying on a London-based dissident Iranian TV station to help terror plotters. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, was accused of conducting surveillance on the west London headquarters of Iran International as […]

Legal

Man guilty of spying on London-based TV channel Iran International to help terror plotters Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev was accused of conducting surveillance on a media company that was critical of Iran. Asked why he had taken an interest in the building he told the court he was 'in wonder at the architecture.'

(Sky News) A Chechen-born man has been found guilty of spying on a London-based dissident Iranian TV station to help terror plotters. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, was accused of conducting surveillance on the west London headquarters of Iran International as part of a […]

Legal

Man accused of terror spying trip to London claims he took video of TV station in ‘wonder’ of architecture Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, is on trial at the Old Bailey charged with attempting to collect information useful for terrorism. He claims he was 'in wonder' at the architecture in West London and was 'set up.'

(Sky News) A Chechen-born man accused of being an “international terrorist” conducting hostile reconnaissance against a dissident Iranian TV station in West London has claimed he was “set up.” Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, is accused of conducting surveillance on Iran International at the […]

Legal

Russian-speaking man accused of ‘hostile reconnaissance’ for TV station terror attack told police he was sightseeing in London Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev told security guards outside Iran International's former headquarters in Chiswick that he was in the area to visit a friend and to go sightseeing in London.

(Sky News) A Russian-speaking man accused of conducting hostile reconnaissance for a terrorist attack on a dissident Iranian TV station in West London told police he was on a weekend sightseeing visit in the capital, a court has heard. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, […]

Legal

Man ‘spied on HQ of London-based TV channel Iran International to help terror plotters’ Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, told security guards outside the channel's headquarters that he was in the area to visit a friend. But he was later arrested by police after he was seen filming the building on his mobile phone, a court was told.

(Sky News) An Austrian man is on trial accused of carrying out “hostile reconnaissance” of a TV station in London that was potentially being targeted for a terrorist attack. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev is said to have tried to covertly film security arrangements outside […]

Government & Politics

Arrest made after Tory MP Justin Tomlinson was sent threatening messages about Israel-Gaza conflict Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, has been charged with stalking Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for North Swindon, by allegedly sending him multiple abusive and threatening emails about the Israel-Gaza conflict.

(Sky News) A man has been remanded in custody accused of stalking a Conservative MP by sending him threatening messages about the Israel-Gaza conflict. Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, was arrested by counter-terrorism police on Thursday and was later charged with stalking Justin Tomlinson, […]

Children & Teens
Demonstrations

Police ‘actively looking’ for individuals over antisemitic signs at pro-Palestinian march While a march in the capital calling for a ceasefire in Gaza remained largely peaceful, images are circulating on social media showing some protesters having carried antisemitic signs. Sky News has also seen antisemitic graffiti close to the route.

(Sky News) The Metropolitan Police has said it is “actively looking” for individuals pictured carrying antisemitic placards at the pro-Palestinian march in London. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a march in the capital on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire […]

Demonstrations

Met Police cuts ties with adviser who led controversial chant at pro-Palestinian rally Scotland Yard said the language and views expressed by Mr Malik 'appear antisemitic and contrary with our values' and it would be 'immediately ceasing our relationship' with him while it investigates.

(Sky News) The Metropolitan Police has ceased working with an adviser who was filmed leading a chant of the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Solicitor Attiq Malik is chair of the London Muslim Communities Forum, […]

Demonstrations

‘These are hate marches’: Home secretary hits out at pro-Palestinian protests as UK terror threat level remains ‘substantial’ When questioned about demonstrations in London, Suella Braverman said police were dealing with a 'large number of bad actors' and urged forces to take a 'zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism.'

(Sky News) Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described street demonstrations in support of Palestinians as “hate marches.” It comes as five people have been charged after a pro-Palestinian protest took place in London on Saturday — the second weekend in a row […]

Crime

Israel-Hamas war: Met Police chief calls for ‘sharper’ laws in dealing with extremism Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he would support a review into the legal definition of extremism and how it should be policed — amid criticism of their handling of pro-Palestine protests.

(Sky News) The Met Police chief has said there is scope for “sharper” laws in dealing with extremism as he faces criticism over the handling of pro-Palestinian protests in London. It comes as two women have been held on suspicion of inciting […]

Citizenship

Shamima Begum’s British citizenship removal was ‘unlawful,’ Court of Appeal hears Shamima Begum, then aged 15, travelled to Syria in 2015. She was later found to be living in a refugee camp and shortly after, the Home Office revoked her citizenship and barred her from returning to the UK.

(Sky News) The decision to remove Shamima Begum’s British citizenship was “unlawful,” a court has heard, as her latest appeal against the decision begins. Ms Begum travelled to Syria in 2015 to join Islamic State, when she was aged 15, and her […]

Health & Medicine
Legal

Hartlepool stabbings: Man in court charged with ‘terror-motivated’ murder and attempted murder Ahmed Alid, who was following the hearing with the help of an Arabic interpreter, did not respond when repeatedly asked to confirm his name. Instead, he said: 'I'm very ill, I cannot talk, I cannot speak.'

(Sky News) A Moroccan national has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of stabbing a 70-year-old man to death in Hartlepool, in a knife attack alleged to have been motivated by terrorism. Ahmed Alid is charged with the attempted murder of his […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Spy chief says MI5 ‘absolutely alert’ to risk of UK terror attack amid Israel-Hamas war Ken McCallum also tells Sky News there is a 'sharpened concern' about multiple threats, from far-right antisemitism, Islamophobia, Islamist extremism, and rising state-level aggression — predominantly from China, Russia and Iran.

(Sky News) The director general of MI5 has told Sky News his intelligence officers are “focused with particular intensity” on a growing risk of attacks within the UK following events in the Middle East. In a rare interview, Ken McCallum said: “Sadly, […]

Health & Medicine
Demonstrations

Israel-Hamas war: Police seek two women who wore images of paragliders at London protest The images may be a reference to Hamas storming into Israel on motorised paragliders during a surprise attack last weekend that included the murder of 260 people at a music festival.

(Sky News) Two women who wore images of paragliders on their backs during yesterday’s protest for Palestinians are now being sought by London police. The women, who wore red and black jackets, are being asked to come forward as part of an […]

Academics & Education

Several UK Jewish schools close ‘in interests of the safety of our precious children’ It comes as Jewish students were being warned by schools to disguise their uniform because of a fear of retaliatory attacks caused by the ongoing war in Israel.

(Sky News) Four Jewish schools in north London are closing their doors “in the interests of the safety of our precious children.” Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware, Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, and Menorah High School in Neasden informed […]

Demonstrations

Man arrested for bringing Israeli flag to Sydney pro-Palestinian protest says ‘police should feel ashamed of themselves’ A Sydney man has slammed police for arresting him after he brought an Israeli flag to a pro-Palestinian rally on Monday night, claiming the actions of the officers were 'excessive.'

(Sky News) A Sydney man arrested for turning up to a pro-Palestinian rally with an Israeli flag has told Sky News Australia that police “should feel ashamed of themselves.” Mark Spiro said he was hauled away by three police officers after being […]

Government & Politics

Suella Braverman urged to ‘stand up’ to France and demand repayment after reports Channel interceptions are falling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed a three-year £480m Anglo-French deal in March as a key element of his pledge to 'stop the boats.' Despite this, the Telegraph reports French interceptions in the Channel are falling.

(Sky News) Suella Braverman has been urged to “stand up” to France as reports emerged the country is intercepting fewer migrants in the Channel despite a £480m funding deal. The call from Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis came as the Telegraph claimed just […]

Government & Politics

Over 100,000 people now likely to have crossed Channel in small boats since records began New arrivals crossing the English Channel this week have now likely taken the overall number of people who have made the journey in small boats to more than 100,000 since records started in 2018.

(Sky News) The number of people who have crossed the English Channel in small boats in the past five years is now likely to have passed 100,000. Government figures show that since 2018, when records began, 99,960 people have made the perilous […]

Banks & Banking

Banks accused of closing accounts belonging to British Muslims The Muslim Council of Britain has written to political leaders, saying members of the community are 'disproportionately affected' and need to have their rights protected.

(Sky News) British Muslims are having their bank accounts closed “without adequate transparency and recourse,” representatives have claimed. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said individuals and organisations in the community were being “disproportionately affected by this issue” — leaving the group […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Tory ‘turmoil’ stopped party tackling Islamophobia in its ranks Two years after a report into discrimination within the party concluded, its author says progress has been 'slow' due to multiple changes at the top.

(Sky News) The “turmoil” at the top of the Tories has led to “slow” progress in tackling Islamophobia within the party, an independent reviewer has said. Boris Johnson launched an inquiry into discrimination within its ranks after the last election in 2019. […]

Government & Politics

Suella Braverman says risk of terrorism ‘rising’ as review says Islamist terror is primary threat The Home Secretary Suella Braverman was speaking following [an] update to the government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. Islamist and right-wing extremism were highlighted as the two main threats in the UK.

(Sky News) The risk from terrorism is “rising,” Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said. The cabinet minister was speaking as the government published a review of its counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, which has been updated for the first time in five years. Ms […]

Government & Politics

Rishi Sunak says small boats plan is ‘working’ — despite record number of crossings at weekend The prime minister spoke as his flagship Illegal Migration Bill heads back to the Commons after suffering a number of defeats in the House of Lords.

(Sky News) Rishi Sunak has insisted his plan to stop small boat crossings in the Channel is “working” — despite more than 1,000 people making the journey over the weekend. The prime minister said he has always acknowledged that crossings “will increase […]

Government & Politics

Manchester Arena bombing inquiry: Chairman raises concerns about slow uptake of recommendations to monitor security services Chairman Sir John Saunders has suggested ways to track the progress of MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing including an unpaid check-up meeting by his inquiry team.

(Sky News) There is no mechanism to make sure improvements have been made by MI5 after they made “mistakes” over the Manchester Arena bombing, the chairman of the inquiry has said. Sir John Saunders said there is no agreement on how to […]

Government & Politics
Legal
Children & Teens

Lee Rigby’s son speaks out for first time since his dad was murdered 10 years ago Jack Rigby was a toddler when his dad was murdered. Now aged 12, he is fundraising for charity to mark the 10th anniversary of his father's death.

(Sky News) Lee Rigby’s 12-year-old son has spoken out for the first time since his dad was murdered in 2013. Jack Rigby was just two-years-old when Fusilier Lee Rigby was killed by Islamic extremists outside his barracks in Woolwich, south London, in […]

Internet

Twitter user who published image of severed head sentenced to five and a half years in prison As well as tweeting out a picture of French teacher Samuel Paty's severed head, he also sought to encourage attacks on the governments of countries he believed to be 'acting against Islam,' the prosecutor said.

(Sky News) A Twitter user has been jailed for more than five years after using the platform to publish images encouraging the beheading of teachers for blasphemy against Islam. Ajmal Shahpal, 41, from Nottingham, made the comments shortly after a teacher was […]

Crime
Children & Teens

Suella Braverman describes grooming gang comments as ‘unfashionable facts’ after backlash The home secretary claimed it was not racist to speak 'plain truths' after she was accused of amplifying far-right narratives with claims most grooming gang members are British-Pakistani.

(Sky News) Suella Braverman has defended her use of language after claiming grooming gang members are “almost all British-Pakistani,” describing them as “unfashionable facts” in the face of a backlash. In a column for the Spectator, the home secretary said it was […]

Legal

Shabazz Suleman: British IS recruit who claimed he spent time in Syria ‘on Playstation’ pleads guilty to terror offence Shabazz Suleman, who was arrested after returning to Heathrow in 2021, previously insisted he spent most of his three years in terrorist territory playing PlayStation and riding his bike.

(Sky News) A former grammar school pupil has pleaded guilty to travelling to Syria to join Islamic State, despite previously claiming he had spent his time there playing computer games. Shabazz Suleman had just completed his AS-levels at a grammar school in […]

Children & Teens

Muslim groups urge Suella Braverman to withdraw ‘irresponsible and divisive’ grooming gang comments A Home Office-commissioned study in 2020 found that group-based child sexual exploitation offenders are most commonly white.

(Sky News) Suella Braverman has been urged to withdraw “divisive” comments around child sexual exploitation (CSE) by dozens of medical bodies, businesses and Muslim community organisations, Sky News can reveal. A number of Muslim organisations across the country have written to Rishi […]

Government & Politics

Home Office confirms plan to house asylum seekers in giant barge in Dorset The plan has proved controversial after the local MP and council raised concerns the area is inappropriate for hundreds of asylum seekers to be placed. But the government has said it needs to move them out of expensive hotels.

(Sky News) A giant vessel docked off the Dorset coast will be used to hold hundreds of asylum seekers, the Home Office has confirmed, despite legal threats from local Tories. The barge, called the Bibby Stockholm, will be berthed in Portland Port […]

Government & Politics

Manchester Arena attack victim’s father intends to sue MI5 for failing to stop bombing Andrew Roussos, father to victim Saffie Roussos, said that the apology from MI5 came too late, and he wishes he could have his daughter back.

(Sky News) The father of the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing intends to sue MI5. Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos was one of the 22 people killed in the attack by suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, in May 2017. Now her father, […]

Academics & Education

Suella Braverman alarmed by ‘death threats’ against pupils who allegedly damaged Koran The home secretary made the remark after four students were suspended over an incident at a school in West Yorkshire. A copy of the Islamic text was reportedly brought into school before its cover was slightly torn and smears of dirt were found on some pages.

(Sky News) Reports of death threats against West Yorkshire school pupils who allegedly damaged a copy of the Koran are alarming, the home secretary has said. Suella Braverman has spoken of her “deep concern” over the case and said it raises broader […]

Government & Politics

Clare O’Neil says protecting Australians is ‘driving force’ for decisions in the case of domestic terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has faced questions around the release of one of Australia’s most infamous domestic terrorists, as his detention order is set to expire.

(Sky News) Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has reassured Australians that national security is of utmost importance while being quizzed about the potential release of Abdul Nacer Benbrika. The infamous domestic terrorist’s future is up in the air, with a detention order […]

Government & Politics
Crime

Six men jailed for people-smuggling after joint operation by British and French police The French authorities were alerted about an illicit shipment which saw the launch of surveillance leading to 'one of many significant operational results over the last two to three years' and disruption to a number of organised gangs.

(Sky News) Six men have been convicted of people-smuggling and sent to prison following a joint operation between British and French police. The men were given sentences ranging from two to five years after a trial in the French city of Douai. […]

Health & Medicine

Man charged with terrorism offences after incident at Leeds St James’s Hospital maternity unit Mohammad Farooq has been charged with engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism and with explosives and firearms offences following the incident at St James's Hospital.

(Sky News) A man has been charged under the Terrorism Act following an incident at a hospital’s maternity wing in Leeds. Mohammad Farooq, 27, of Roundhay, Leeds, was charged with engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism and with explosives […]

Health & Medicine

Barber shop owner who sent COVID grants money to Islamic State fighters jailed Police identified transfers of money with a total of about £11,280 — while the court heard Tarek Namouz was recorded telling a visitor in prison he had sent around £25,000.

(Sky News) A barber shop owner who sent thousands of pounds to Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria after claiming COVID grant payments has been jailed for 12 years. Tarek Namouz, 43, from Hammersmith in west London, had received the bounce-back loans […]

Government & Politics

Rishi Sunak’s Albania immigration strategy unlikely to reduce Channel crossings, claims source The prime minister's flagship policy is unlikely to reduce overall illegal immigration, a senior source at the Home Office has warned.

(Sky News) Rishi Sunak’s flagship policy to stop Albanian migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats is unlikely to reduce overall illegal immigration because of “infinite” demand, Home Office sources have warned. The prime minister’s five-point plan, launched last month, specifically […]

Immigration

Record number of people cross Channel to UK in small boats in 2022 — as arrivals soar by 60% in a year The figures, compiled and analysed by Sky News, show a sharp rise in the number of arrivals last year — a continuation of a years-long trend that shows no signs of stopping.

(Sky News) A record 45,728 people crossed the English Channel to the UK on small boats in 2022, up more than 60% on the previous year as migrants continue to risk their lives making the dangerous journey. The perils of the deep […]

Government & Politics

Disused cruise ships could house asylum seekers — as government due to spend £2.3bn a year on hotels The home secretary told peers at a committee there are 117,000 people in the UK's asylum system, with 40,000 in hotels, which is costing more than £5m a day.

(Sky News) Disused cruise ships could be used to house asylum seekers — while the government expects to spend £3.5bn on people who have come to the UK to find sanctuary from persecution this fiscal year, the home secretary has said. Suella […]