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Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prayers offered at temples for air crash victims
Prayers have been held at Hindu temples across north-west London following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The London Gatwick bound flight crashed soon after take-off from the city's airport in the western state of Gujarat, killing 241 people. One person - a British man - survived. Sjro Rajrajeshwar, the spiritual leader of the Palmerston Road Temple in Harrow, said some of the victims had attended his temple for prayer. "Today we are praying for them because it is the only thing we can give to the departed soul," he said. What we know so far after Air India flight to London crashes in Ahmedabad London-bound Air India flight crash - follow live British man is only passenger to survive India plane crash Tarun Patel, a spokesperson for the Neasden Temple, said the tragedy would have a particular impact on the Gujarati communities London, many of whom were concentrated in Harrow, Brent and Hounslow. "When we heard it this morning, it was one of disbelief," he said. "It took time to really understand what's happening, and when it sunk in, it was very sad, devastating. Innocent lives affected." While those who attend his temple does include a high proportion of Gujarati people, he said he was not aware of any in his congregation who were on the flight but that "the situation is very fluid". "That's not to say that members are not affected. I think it's a bit more than just people within this congregation... people at large have lost family and friends, and for that we feel their sorrow." He said his temple, and likely others across London and the UK, would continue holding opportunities to come together and pray for the "innocent lives lost". Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teens found guilty of killing man as he sat in car
Two teenage drug dealers have been found guilty of fatally attacking a man "in cold blood" while he was sitting in a car in east London. Abdul Jalloh, 23, was stabbed in the neck in a car park on the Isle of Dogs on 5 August last year. At the Old Bailey, Shamiah McKenzie, 18, was found guilty of murder while Codee Godfrey, 19, was convicted of the manslaughter having been acquitted of murder. The court heard that after the attack, the pair changed their clothes and then mingled with the police officers who were searching for the killers. McKenzie and Godfrey had been circling the area on their bicycles for more than an hour and were both armed, the trial heard. They were disguised in dark clothing and their faces were covered by balaclavas, said prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC. Within seconds of approaching Mr Jalloh, he was attacked. "Abdul Jalloh did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was outnumbered, unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car," said Ms Carberry. The defendants rapidly cycled away, throwing a knife and its sheath along with McKenzie's bicycle into the River Thames at Caledonia Wharf and made their way to Godfrey's home. There, the pair packed their clothing - some of it bloodstained - into bags and changed into shorts and t-shirts, before disposing of the bags in nearby bushes. "Such was their confidence in their changed appearance that they mingled along the Thames Path with police officers who were searching for Abdul's killers," said Ms Carberry. The killers finally handed themselves into police three days later, the court heard. The defendants were two young men who had "no qualms about settling a score with the blade of a knife", said Ms Carberry. McKenzie and Godfrey were a drug-dealing team who used Godfrey's home on the Isle of Dogs as a base, the trial heard. Inside the bags found discarded in bushes, police found £3,000 worth of cannabis bagged up and ready for sale and £2,000 in cash. Also found in the bushes was McKenzie's phone which showed in the two-month period leading up to Mr Jalloh's death, 570 images of knives were saved on the phone, mostly taken during internet browsing. Four days before the killing, a photograph of a row of four Rambo knives and machetes in sheaths was on his phone. A picture of a knife in a sheath with the text "someone's going to get battered today" was uploaded on to the phone two days before the killing. Before the start of the trial, McKenzie pleaded guilty to possessing a knife and both defendants admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Giving evidence in his defence, McKenzie admitted stabbing Mr Jalloh, but claimed he had been acting in self-defence. Godfrey did not give evidence. The jury deliberated its verdicts for more than 44 hours. Both men will be sentenced on 20 June. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Isle of Dogs fatal stabbing sees two men charged Man fatally stabbed in Tower Hamlets is named HM Courts Service
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crisis-hit Croydon Council needs reset, MP says
A "short and sharp reset" is required for Croydon Council to recover from poor performance and high debt levels, the minister for housing, communities and local government has announced. Jim McMahon has told the House of Commons the council's financial position is "deteriorating rapidly" after a report highlighted concerns about its ability to improve. McMahon said that failing to change course "would condemn Croydon's residents to a worsening position without an exit strategy" and he was "minded to" send in commissioners to run the council. Executive mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said he and the council "had done everything possible" to fix the finances "whilst protecting vital services". Perry added: "We have generated over £230m in capital receipts, including £130m of asset sales and have plans to sell a further £68m assets this year. "The council also raised council tax by 10% over the cap in 2023, to help meet the panel's demand that we close the gap in the council's finances." The council had been under review by the government's improvement and assurance panel, set up to provide external advice, challenge and expertise. McMahon said the council's general fund debt sits at around £1.4bn and it relies on the allocation of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) through in-principle capitalisation directions to balance its budget. The panel's report has said there has been a lack of pace throughout the intervention, but the deteriorating financial position, which is not being gripped and tackled adequately by the council, is reaching a "financial crisis". McMahon added: "I am satisfied that the London Borough of Croydon is failing to comply with its Best Value Duty. I am therefore minded to exercise powers of direction under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the Local Government Act 1999 to implement an intervention package." Perry said, via a statement: "If at any time the panel or government felt that there was any action the council should be taking and was not, they had the power to instruct us. They never did. "Surely that means we are doing everything possible, and they agree with our actions? We have already made very difficult decisions and in my view the residents of Croydon have felt enough pain. "Despite all the improvements that have been delivered by the council and its staff, it appears the government wants to centralise control into the hands of commissioners." He said the council would consider all options before submitting its formal response to the government, the deadline for which is 25 June. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Croydon Council asks for £136m government bailout Council to make cuts to services to save £30m Croydon approves council tax rise of 15%
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man killed ex's dad in frenzied attack, court told
A man murdered the father of his former partner in a "frenzied" knife attack after an argument with his ex, a court has heard. Kamar Williams, 34, stabbed bus driver Derek Thomas, 55, from Stoke Newington, north-west London, who was on his way home from work, his Old Bailey trial was told. He denies murder. Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC said that on 30 July Mr Williams had been out looking for Mr Thomas's daughter Carron, who was his former girlfriend, but had failed to find her. A WhatsApp discussion to sort out domestic arrangements after their break-up had become abusive and "tempers appeared to become frayed," Mr Orchard said. The same night as the messages were sent, Mr Williams was allegedly driving his van near the Thomas family home when he saw Carron's father carrying a bag of shopping, on his way home from work. Witnesses described seeing a man stop his van in the middle of the road, get out, and attack Mr Thomas before returning to his vehicle and driving away. The bus driver, who worked for Go-Ahead London, had been stabbed five times with a large knife. He was pronounced dead at the scene, in Northwold Road, Stoke Newington, less than half an hour later. Mr Orchard said: "The breakdown of the defendant's relationship with Carron Thomas appears to have been the trigger for [the defendant's] actions." "He went out looking for Ms Thomas but was unsuccessful. He decided on an easier target, her father. "There can be no doubt the attacker was the defendant. Mr Thomas was struck by the knife on five occasions in what was a frenzied attack. "Mr Thomas must have been terrified." The defendant made a "determined attempt to avoid arrest" in the weeks after the attack before being arrested on 26 August at the Notting Hill Carnival, the court heard. Mr Williams, of Cuba Street, Tower Hamlets, east London, also denies a charge of having an article with a blade or point. The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Murder suspect held at carnival appears in court HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Child Q strip-search officer admits failings
A police officer accused of carrying out an unjustified strip-search on a 15-year-old black girl at an east London school has said she accepts she failed in her duties and the search should never have happened. The girl, known as Child Q, was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis and forced to expose her intimate parts at her school in Hackney in December 2020. No drugs were found and a further search of her hair was also carried out by officers which led to the same outcome. Trainee Det Con Kristina Linge, one of the female officers who carried out the strip-search, told a gross misconduct hearing she had "absolutely" acted in good faith but accepted causing upset, for which she apologised. When asked if she would have done anything differently had Child Q been white, 46-year-old Det Con Linge answered "no". Two other officers, PC Victoria Wray and PC Rafal Szmydynski, are also accused of breaching professional police standards after allegedly being involved in an "unjustified", "disproportionate" and "demeaning" strip-search. All three officers deny gross misconduct. Despite admitting a number failures that day, Det Con Linge told the panel she had tried to make Child Q "as comfortable as possible". "I understood that she is a juvenile, I took all the precautions to avoid embarrassment." Det Con Linge joined the Met Police in 2018 and was still in her probationary period when the search took place. She told the panel in south-east London that Child Q "did want her mum to be called or informed about the search" and that the school's deputy safeguarding manager acted as the appropriate adult, standing outside in the corridor while the search took place. Det Con Linge also said she thought police training on all levels of searches was not adequate. When asked about conversations with staff at the school, after they failed to find drugs on the teenager, Det Con Linge said the head teacher "was adamant that the school girl had drugs and [was] compliant with the girl to be searched". The hearing continues. Child Q: Strip-search training 'insufficient' Child Q violated in strip-search, hearing told Met officers could be sacked over Child Q strip-search Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
