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Daily Record
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Pro-Palestine activists break into RAF base and damage military aircraft
Palestine Action activists broke into the RAF Brize Norton base and damaged two military aircrafts, according to the group. Pro-Palestine activists infiltrated an RAF air base and inflicted damage on two military aircraft, according to reports from the group. The activists allege planes depart daily from Brize Norton to Cyprus, which is "used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". The campaigners, utilising electric scooters, approached the aircraft and with "repurposed fire extinguishers sprayed red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers". They also claim to have used crowbars to cause further damage, reports the Mirror. The selection of red paint was intentional to represent "Palestinian bloodshed", which they not only sprayed on the aircraft but also across the runway. Palestine Action, a collective condemning the UK's involvement in what it views as Israel's targeting of Gaza civilians, argues their daring protest "interrupted Britain's direct participation in the commission of genocide and war crimes across the Middle East". The RAF operates flights from the Oxfordshire facility to Akotiri in Cyprus, where UK troops are stationed. A Palestine Action spokesperson condemned British actions saying: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. "By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Record
24 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Schoolboy murderer unmasked as Christmas lights killer who stabbed girl turns 18
As Harry Gilbertson turns 18 today, he can now be named as the vicious killer of Ava White, who was stabbed outside Primark moments after a Christmas lights switch-on. A schoolboy murderer who stabbed a girl in the neck at a Christmas light switch on has been pictured for the first time after turning 18. Harry Gilbertson has been named and pictured for the first time after he turned 18 today on Friday June 20 - more than three-and-a-half years after he killed Ava White in Liverpool. He stabbed the girl in the neck following an altercation moments after a Christmas lights switch-on in Liverpool city centre. Gilbertson denied the murder charge but was convicted by a jury in May 2022. He was just 14 at the time of the offence, and 15 when he was jailed for a minimum of 13 years - and so therefore reporting restrictions meant the press was unable to identity the youngster. These cease today, though, because Gilbertson has reached adulthood, reports the Mirror. Reacting to this, Ava's mother, Leeann White, 42, told Mail Online: "It is important the public know who he is. The public know everything about Ava – her name was splashed everywhere when she died. Why shouldn't everyone know what he did? Why should he be protected? "He was the one in the wrong, he was the one who went out that night with a knife... I know he was only a child himself when it happened but children know right from wrong and my child knew not to pick up a knife and stab someone." The stabbing in November 2021 happened after Ava and her friends were approached by a group of boys. A verbal argument followed after one of the boys filmed them, which he later shared on social media site Snapchat. Ava told the boy to stop filming and delete the video and, after the argument continued, Ava was stabbed in the neck with a flick knife. She was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later despite the best efforts of medical staff. Since he was sentenced, Gilbertson has been brazenly flaunting rules while inside his secure unit. The picture above shows the now 18-year-old posing for photos published on Snapchat. Leeann added: "The picture was taken on Snapchat. The same social media that he posted the video of Ava on before he murdered her. He has never shown any remorse... I don't call him by his name. I call him the monster." The Mirror has approached the Ministry of Justice for comment regarding Gilbertson's appearance on social media while in detention. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In the picture shared on Snapchat, Gilbertson, with cropped brown hair and a blue Montirex tracksuit top, stands with his muscular arms crossed, while an unknown associate wearing a grey Nike tracksuit puts up his middle finger to the camera. Merseyside Police and other forces have - and continue to - conduct open land searches, stop searches and carry out targeted operations to attempt to take knives off the streets. However, data from NHS Digital shows there were 3,900 "hospital episodes" recorded in English hospitals in 2023/24 due to assault by a sharp object. This was a 3.3% increase compared to 2022/23, and a 7% increase compared to 2014/15.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Ferne McCann's acid-attacker ex Arthur Collins in jail drugs plot probe using drones
The thug has been transferred to another prison amid fears he was plotting to smuggle drugs. The twisted acid attacker attacker ex of former TOWIE star Ferne McCann has been transferred to another jail over fears he was building a drugs empire behind bars. Arthur Collins, 32, was investigated over fears he was plotting to smuggle drugs into Cat C HMP The Mount using drones. The thug was handed a 20-year jail sentence in 2017 for hurling acid inside a nightclub - leaving 16 people with chemical burns and three people temporarily blinded, reports the Mirror. Prison chiefs launched the probe over suspicions dealers were flooding the jail with drugs using drones. Concerns were raised that Collins - who shares daughter Sunday, six, with ex-partner Ferne, 34 - was the mastermind behind the plot in the Herts prison. No police investigation was carried out, but it has been revealed that Collins has been moved to a tougher jail. A source said: "Collins has been at the centre of a major internal prison investigation. There were fears drug dealers had been using drones to flood HMP The Mount with drugs. It's a huge worry that tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs were going to make their way into the jail. "Prison bosses identified Collins as being at the heart of the operation and was the suspect they identified. They launched an investigation into that and clearly have identified concerns. The police have not been called in as it has been dealt with internally. Collins has now been moved to another prison, which is a lot stricter." Evil Collins launched his acid attack on a packed dance floor at Mangle nightclub in Dalston, East London, during an Easter weekend night out in April 2017. He had claimed he threw the substance by mistake after hearing a group of men plotting to spike a woman's drink. The court heard that he picked up a container that he thought was a date rape drug and tossed it away. However, a jury found him guilty of carrying out the acid attack that left clubbers in agony and sparked a panicked evacuation and a massive emergency response. He was convicted in court of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and nine of actual bodily harm. In 2018 the Court of Appeal threw out a bid to cut his jail time. Lord Justice Simon said: 'These were exceptionally serious offences, and the severe sentence was fully justified.' As Collins was jailed Ferne released a statement in which she said: "Ferne's thoughts are of course with the innocent people caught up in the events at Mangle last April. No-one should ever be faced with violence on a night out." And speaking after the sentencing, Ferne told how she visited Collins in prison and told him: "This is the last time you will see either of us. You have ruined our lives. This is what you have done. And this is what you are missing out on. You will never see us again." Ferne said: "I went to see Arthur and I took Sunday with me. This was because I am very angry about what has happened and I needed to communicate that and wanted to hear what Arthur had to say. I thought it was important that Arthur see Sunday and see exactly what his actions have led to him missing out on. "I strongly feel for the innocent people hurt that night and I in no way condone violence as I have already made clear. It was a difficult decision to take Sunday into that environment but I felt I needed to confront him about a number of things, which I have now done." After being jailed Collins has been in trouble in jail and had extra time added in 2018 for smuggling a phone into prison which he used to call his Towie ex. Inspectors in 2024 found HMP The Mount had a major issue with drugs and drones. A report said: "The prison was not able to stop the entry of drugs and weapons into the prison by drones. "Traditional security measures were no longer proving effective. The biggest concern for both inspectors and leaders at The Mount was the ingress of contraband into the jail on drones, the scale of which could not be known for certain. As well as some large packages of drugs – two kilograms of cannabis in one case – weapons had also been recently found. "I was struck by conversations I had with two experienced prisoners who told me they were frightened by the risks posed by weapons coming into the prison. Without more support from the prison service there is a danger that many of the positives we found on this inspection could be undone. "As well as reducing the supply of drugs, it is also incumbent on the leaders at The Mount to make sure that a much higher proportion of prisoners are involved in genuinely purposeful activity."
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Quiet Spanish town 'like an underrated Barcelona' but without the crowds
Intrepid Travel's West Europe general manager Florencia Allo Moreno has recommended that anyone looking for a slightly quieter but no less pleasant trip to Spain visit Girona Colourful houses line the banks of the central river in a town typically overlooked by Brits. Over the weekend, protesters hit the streets in several Spanish cities and resort islands, squirting holidaymakers with water pistols and making their dissatisfaction with overtourism known. For those who want to avoid any tension with locals while they are away on holiday, or just fancy being somewhere a little quieter, then there are quieter, less overloaded destinations in Spin that have a huge amount going for them. Intrepid Travel's West Europe general manager Florencia Allo Moreno, who lives in Spain, told the Mirror: "We understand the frustration from protestors – tourism should not be at the expense of the local communities that live there. The industry needs to come together to better educate, advocate and regulate for a solution. "There are also ways that tourists themselves can travel responsibly. That includes considering travelling in shoulder season, visiting alternative destinations that offer a similar experience, supporting local businesses and also being a respectful traveller – remember you are visiting someone else's home.' One of those alternative destinations, according to Florencia, is Girona. "This jewel of Catalonia is a short train ride away from Barcelona, and renowned for its medieval architecture. The medieval walls of the city have stood since the 14 th century and several scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed there," she explained. It is the age of the city, and its impressive architecture, that draws most people to Girona. Also called the Passeig de la Muralla, a walk on the medieval walls is a must-do activity while there. The city walls span the eastern border of the old town, delivering views over the city from the top that are spectacular. The Jewish Quarter in Girona is one of the best preserved in the world, acting as it did as home for a large Jewish population from 982 to 1492. Today it is a warren of narrow cobbled lanes that provide a baffling maze to visitors. Hanging over it all is Girona Cathedral, a towering structure that dominates the skyline from its position on top of the hill. The only way into the cathedral is to climb the long staircase to the entrance. It competes with Pont de les Peixateries Velles as the most famous single structure in the city. Gustav Eiffel constructed the bridge in Girona over the Onyar River, just before he turned his attention to building the Eiffel Tower. Landscaped gardens line the Passeig Arqueològic, a walkway following the Old Quarter's medieval walls, which include watchtowers with sweeping views. Much like Dubrovnik in Croatia, Girona has become a major destination for Game of Thrones fans in recent years. The Cathedral was used in Season 6 of Game of Thrones, when the city as a whole acted as a backdrop for Braavos. What's particularly pleasant about Girona is its climate. While it delivers sunshine and blue skies on most days in the summer and spring, its location in the far northeast of Spain, not far from the Mediterranean coast, means you're unlikely to get roasted during a visit there. The hottest days tend to sit in the low 30s, when a cooling breeze from the sea arrives to take the edge off. During those hotter days, a trip to Plaça Independencia is in order. The lovely square is located just west of the Onyar River and is a good spot to relax with a coffee or wine in between the sightseeing.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Charming' UK seaside town ignored by posh resort just six miles away
This charming UK seaside town, with a population of just 7,000, is a true melting pot of lush countryside, rugged mountains, and turquoise waters - but most tourists don't even know it exists One of the UK's most beautiful seaside towns remains a true 'hidden gem' - despite being a stone's throw away from two popular resorts. Tucked away on Devon's stunning Jurassic coastline and surrounded by rolling countryside lies the quaint town of Budleigh Salterton. Enveloped in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this overlooked resort is perfect for those who are after a weekend of peace and quiet. With two miles of picturesque beaches, crystal-clear waters that have become a hotspot for kayaking and paddle-boarding, and a distinct lack of crowds - this charming resort needs to be on your bucket list. Described as 'wonderfully unspoilt' and the UK's 'best kept secret' by travellers, you'd think Budleigh Salterton would have become riddled with UK holidaymakers by now. But, in a statement sent to the Mirror, Alex Gwillim, a local expert from Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays, warned that people often 'miss out' on a visit to Budleigh Salterton due to it being sandwiched in between Sidmouth and Exmouth - both of which draw in 'big crowds' of tourists. "Budleigh Salterton is a real hidden gem, boasting a beautiful pebble beach that stretches over two miles, the iconic red sandstone cliffs of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic coast, and a small town filled with unique local businesses to explore," she added. "The town is also the perfect spot for nature lovers. Head along the beach towards the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve, a popular spot for bird watching. There are also easy walking trails with fantastic views of the Triassic sandstone cliffs and their fascinating geology." Located just over 200 miles from London, driving to Budleigh Salterton takes around four hours in the car. Alternatively, Brits living in the Big Smoke can get the train over to Exmouth, and then take a 21-minute bus from the Savoy Cinema stop over to the seaside town. This route, which usually includes a change at Exeter St David's, takes two hours and 44 minutes. If you're flexible with dates, single adult fares can be bought for £50 - or even cheaper if you have a rail card. There is a range of accommodation types in Budleigh Salterton depending on your budget. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, July 11-13) at Heathgate will only set you back £220. This is based on two adults sharing a Deluxe One-Bedroom Apartment with a Garden View. However, for those looking for something a little more extra - check out Mackerel Cottage. This spacious holiday home, which has its own kitchen and three bedrooms, costs a whopping £2,172 on the exact same nights. But if you're splitting the cost with a large group, the price doesn't seem so bad. *Prices based on Trainline and listings at the time of writing.
