The carers of a man suspected of throwing a child inside a crocodile enclosure were ‘on their phone’ earlier in the day, according to a report.

The three-year-old was injured at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdon, a family-run zoo outside Cambridge, on Thursday afternoon.

His family watched as the boy was thrown 15 feet into the croc enclosure, breaking his arm and pelvis when he hit the concrete.

He was rescued from the animals after the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, 55, jumped into the pit. He remained in critical but stable condition as of yesterday, the force said.

A source told The Sun that the suspect has hearing difficulties and has two carers, while a witness told the tabloid they were ‘on their phones’.

A mum, in her 20s, said: ‘I don’t know if it was definitely him but I saw one bloke of a bigger build, he had two carers with him and they weren’t paying him much attention.

‘If it was him, his carers were maybe ten metres behind him and not paying much attention.

‘They were English and chatting among themselves and on their phones.’

How many crocodiles were involved is unclear.

A man, 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was not known to the boy and police said he was ‘not fit for interview’.

The unnamed suspect has since been released on bail until September.

The zoo’s Tropical House exhibit – a converted cattle shed which houses ancient reptiles, including alligators – will remain closed this week.

Among the crocs are Nile crocodiles Cuddles and Romeo, who weigh 127kg.

Photographs posted by the zoo on its Instagram page show signs warning that children must be supervised at all times.

‘These animals are real and dangerous,’ it says, adding: ‘Children must not be carried on the shoulders.’

For £80, over-16s or 14- and 15-year-olds with an accompanying adult can do a 30-minute ‘meet and feed our snappy crocodile’ session.

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At least one holidaymaker has died in a fire which engulfed a popular hotel in the Dominican Republic.

Some 1,700 guests were evacuated from the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel in the southeastern resort of Bayahibe.

Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian, was killed in the blaze.

Three people were taken to medical centres, while another six were treated on site.

Helicopters brought in by the country’s air force also helped tackle the fire.

The inferno has been brought under control.

The cause of the blaze is unknown, but preliminary findings from emergency officials pointed to the flammable nature of the hotel’s palm roof and windy conditions as catalysts for the rapid spread of the fire.

Guests have since been relocated to nearby hotels, including sister hotel Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, which did not suffer any damage.

The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) said: ”Tourist activities in Bayahibe and the surrounding area remain unaffected and continue to take place safely and as normal.’

Director Juan Manuel Mendez added: ‘The causes that caused the fire remain under investigation, and it will be the relevant technical commission in charge of establishing them once the emergency and evaluation work on site are completed.’

The most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic received some 5.6 million visitors in the first five months of this year alone.

Wyndham Beach, which charges £350-a-night has recently undergone renovation and boasts a large pool near the sand.

In a letter to partners, the hotel said it had cancelled all bookings up to and including Sunday.

‘We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information or relevant updates regarding the situation and the hotel’s operations’, the note added.

‘Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.’

Metro has contacted Wyndham Hotels and Resorts for comment.

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Thousands of passengers have been caught in disruption after a potentially suspicious item forced planes to divert at Edinburgh Airport.

Holidaymakers face disruption at the Scottish airport today after the suspect item sparked an evacuation.

Some flights are said to have been diverted to land at other nearby airports like Glasgow, while planes are also taking off from different locations.

The airport remains cordoned off as of 11pm, with the bomb disposal crews at the scene.

Scores of people are said to be stranded on planes on the tarmac after having landed, but are unable to disembark due to the ongoing incident.

Passenger Alan Jenkins said on X: ‘New update from our pilot: We are “all in the dark I’m afraid” as to when we can get off the plane. We’re told all ground staff have been told to return to offices.’

He joked that some of his fellow passengers had ‘a few questions’ regarding getting off in time before the Scotland World Cup game against Morocco is due to kick off tonight.

Police Scotland said: ‘Edinburgh airport has been evacuated as a precaution following a report of a potentially suspicious package, reported around 6.50pm on Friday, 19 June, 2026.

‘Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) are in attendance and a cordon is in place around the airport with roads closed.

‘Enquiries are ongoing and members of the public are advised to check ahead and contact their airline for updates.’

Edinburgh Airport said: ‘Due to reports of a potentially suspicious item, the airport has been evacuated while specialist teams investigate.

‘Updates will be issued when available.

‘Passengers should check with their airline for the latest information on their flight.’

Transport to and from the airport has also been impacted.

Edinburgh trams are also affected, with services currently running between Gyle Centre and St Andrew Square only.

Scottish Citylink buses said all services will be terminating at the Moxi hotel bus stop and picking up from Hilton bus stop until further notice.

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A train driver has died and 89 people were injured after two passenger trains collided between Bedford and Luton yesterday.

The 4.40pm train from Corby to London St Pancras crashed into the 3.50pm Nottingham to London St Pancras service at 5.15pm yesterday.

A train driver with East Midlands Railway died in the collision.

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At least 89 people were hurt in the smash, including 11 with life-threatening injuries; 22 people, less gravely hurt; and 56 others had minor injuries.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, which operated the trains, said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with their family, friends and colleagues, as well as everyone else affected by this incident.

‘We are continuing to work closely with Network Rail and the emergency services.’

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT, which represents train drivers, added on X: ‘We are devastated to learn that a train driver and former RMT rep has tragically died as a result of today’s crash between Luton and Bedford.

‘The thoughts of RMT are with their family, friends, colleagues and the ASLEF trade union at this awful time.’

The cause of the crash is unknown. Train describer data from Open Train Times shows that the trains were on different tracks until after Bedford.

Transport UK, which operates EMR, said it is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to identify the cause.

Pre-planned engineering work means all lines are closed between Bedford and London St Pancras.

The crash happened just south of the Elstow road interchange for the A421 and the A6, where Universal plans to build a new amusement park.

Roads around the crash site are still closed.

‘People were crying and screaming’

Graphic footage taken inside one of the carriages shows bloodied passengers lying on the floor and barely holding themselves up.

Some people were seen with bandages around their heads, sitting on the edge of the railway after evacuation.

Riders described the smash as akin to a ‘bomb’ going off, waking up to mangled metal, train seats everywhere, and dust.

Passenger Dr Pete Knapp said people’s faces were covered in blood and he was bleeding from the shins.

He said: ‘There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.

‘I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.’

He said on social media in the immediate aftermath of the crash: ‘Train heading south from Bedford crashed at 5.12pm.

‘Front of train okay, third carriage off rails. I’m okay with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good.

‘Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning.’

An air ambulance has been dispatched, and the East of England Ambulance service has sent ‘a number of resources.’

Police urged relatives and loved ones of people who may have been travelling on the train ‘not to travel to the scene and await further updates from emergency services’ after reports that commuters were being picked up from nearby roads.

Buses had been arranged for passengers affected by the crash, with footage showing people queuing up for them.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that reports of the collision were ‘hugely concerning’

The police declared a crash a ‘major incident’, meaning a significant emergency response was scrambled.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy said: ‘We’re working at pace to establish exactly what’s happened and will provide further information as soon as we are able to.’

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Motorists faced long delays on the M25 after a coach was engulfed in flames on the UK’s busiest motorway.

Traffic was held on the M25 in Surrey anticlockwise between junctions J9 and J8 after a coach caught on fire with passengers on board today.

All passengers managed to get out of the coach safely.

Footage shows thick black smoke billowing from the vehicle, with traffic passing just some feet from it.

At its peak, there were 12 miles of congestion, causing 90-minute delays before the scene was cleared and all lanes opened.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We are dealing with a coach fire on the M25, junction 9 to 8, Leatherhead.

‘We currently have four fire engines and a water carrier at the scene, and there’s lots of smoke in the area.

‘Highways, police and ambulance services are also in attendance.

‘Everyone is accounted for. The stretch of road from junctions 9 to 8, anticlockwise, is currently closed while we deal with the incident. Please avoid the area where possible.’

The latest National Highways alert said there are two-hour delays on approach to the scene.

The incident happened during peak rush hour, while temperatures in the area reached almost 30C, with long traffic delays now building in both directions.

Surrey, Greater London and the South East of England are also under an amber heat health alert as another scorching heatwave has arrived.

The dry, hot conditions can also increase the wildfire risk.

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An Armed Forces event was almost ruined after vandals damaged a pole flying a LGBTQ+ flag to mark Pride Month.

The damage to the flag pole and its mechanism, which are located in Italian Gardens in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, was noticed this morning, councillor Ciarán Cronnelly said.

He revealed another flag pole flying an LGBTQ+ flag located in a park a short distance away was damaged earlier in the month.

They were both flying the rainbow flag for Pride Month, which runs throughout June and is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world.

Speaking to Metro, Ciarán, who leads the Weston-super-Mare Town Council and sits on North Somerset Council, said he believed the attacks weren’t a ‘coincidence’.

He added: ‘This targeted intolerance is a stark reminder of why we continue to celebrate Pride.

‘Tolerance remains and it’s not going away any time soon.’

He explained that a team at the council are working alongside a contractor to fix the flag in the Italian Gardens, which was damaged most recently, to get these fixed ahead of Armed Forces and Emergency Services Day tomorrow.

The cost of fixing the mechanism is expected to be around £200 and represents an ‘unnecessary’ expense to the taxpayer, he said.

‘A temporary fix is possible for the Italian Gardens flag pole which means the Armed Forces ceremonial flag raising event at the Italian Gardens this evening at 6.30pm will go ahead,’ he said.

‘But due to the nature of the damage the flag can only stay up temporarily until a permanent repair to the flag pole has taken place.

‘Unfortunately the damage to the flag pole at Grove Park is significant and a temporary repair is not possible and therefore no flag will fly from this for the foreseeable.

‘To the individual(s) who cut these down and damaged the mechanisms – you may have hoped to have caused division, but I can guarantee you’ve achieved the opposite.’

This will mean that the flag will not fly for the day, which celebrates the work and sacrifice of the UK’s armed forces and emergency services.

Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for comment.

The toddler who was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure was mauled by at least one of the animals, it is understood.

The three-year-old suffered serious injuries after ending up in the crocodile pit at the popular Johnsons of Old Hurst family zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, yesterday afternoon.

He was rescued from the animals after the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, 55, is said to have jumped down the 15 ft pit, and taken to the hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

The child was attacked at least by one of the animals while inside the enclosure before being pulled to safety, Metro understands.

He is believed to have suffered a broken arm and pelvis, but it remains unclear which injuries were the result of the fall.

A 30-year-old man, who police believe was not known to the child, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident.

He was subsequently released on bail after being described as ‘not being fit for interview.’

The suspect was described as a ‘mentally disabled’ man who is said to have broken away from his carers during an organised outing to the zoo, which houses over 100 animals, including crocodilians, big cats and bears.

The emergency services were scrambled to the farm attraction near St Ives at about 1.24pm yesterday, with an air ambulance land team dispatched.

Johnsons of Old Hurst said in a statement: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.

‘Out of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice.

‘If you have any questions about the incident, please direct enquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.

‘The rest of the site will remain open as normal.’

The family-owned farm is led by Andy Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer and a crocodile enthusiast. It has ballooned into an attraction with a farm shop, a tea room, a steakhouse, a butcher’s and the zoo.

Mrs Johnson’s friend praised her for her ‘extraordinary bravery’ after the news emerged that she had jumped in.

A mum, who was sitting with her child on a bench outside, said she heard a loud scream before the entire zoo went quiet.

Shortly after, she and other visitors were asked to leave due to ‘an incident’ before the emergency services arrived in about 10 minutes.

A white sheet was erected between the zoo cafe and the farm shop while the crews worked on the boy.

The woman said: ‘My daughter was oblivious to everything because she is so little but it is scary because, what went through my head was, if I hadn’t of stopped to make that call it could have been her.

‘The little boy was only three and my daughter is two, it could have been her.’

The crocodilians at the zoo, which include Nile crocodiles, alligators and caymans, are fed poultry and meat cuts from the on-site butcher’s, Chris Newman, director at the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, who has visited the zoo several times, said.

He told Metro: ‘They are very well fed at the zoo, but if something like a body was thrown from above and it entered the water, it would be a natural reaction for the crocodile to bite down on it.

‘But of course, even an investigatory bite like that would be serious on a young child.’

When asked how likely a large crocodile would be to let go, he said: ‘The crocodile almost certainly let go itself, because they are so well fed, it would be something that is out of the ordinary, I would expect it to bite it and let go of it.

‘And someone jumped in as well.

‘It is a big tropical and they have multiple big ponds, so I don’t know which animal was involved.’

‘Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: ‘Officers were called to the zoo at 1.24pm by the ambulance service to reports that a three-year-old boy had suffered serious injuries.

‘The boy, who sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure, was pulled out by staff from the zoo and received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital.’

Det Insp Verity McCann said: ‘Our enquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.

‘Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.’

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This is the moment three inmates rushed into a cell to murder child killer Kyle Bevan.

Mark Fellows, 45, Lee Newell, 57, and David Taylor, 64, stabbed Kyle Bevan to death at high-security HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire last November before tucking him up in bed and leaving him to bleed out.

Bevan, 33, was serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 28 years for murdering his partner’s two-year-old daughter, Lola James, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in 2020.

The trio attacked Bevan with makeshift weapons including a piece of metal taken from the back of a television and fashioned into a blade.

Over a four minutes and 39 second period, Bevan was stabbed more than 25 times to the neck and body.

After they killed him the men positioned his body to make it look like he was asleep.

In today’s sentencing, all three were given whole life orders, with Taylor’s being his first while Fellows and Newell were given new and separate ones on top of the ones they were already serving.

Jurors heard that unlike other jails, vulnerable prisoners were not separated from other inmates at Wakefield.

The regime at the time meant ‘main prisoners’ such as Fellows, Newell and Taylor ‘had to mix with, in a distorted moral hierarchy, other criminals that were beneath them’ such as child killers, prosecutors said.

The court heard the three defendants had a hostility to people who had committed offences against children and Fellows and Newell had expressed a desire to be transferred away from Wakefield.

Bevan ‘kept himself to himself’ and would mainly stay in his cell, often asking to be locked inside, jurors were told.

On the day of his death, he was seen on CCTV walking to his cell, followed by the three defendants, who were just seconds behind.

Taylor could be seen taking something from his waistband as he went in.

The court heard Taylor boasted about his ability to make makeshift weapons ‘out of all sorts’, and after Bevan’s death some were found in a bottle of chilli sauce in his cell, although they could not be matched to the fatal attack.

Bevan was not discovered until the following morning when prison staff were tipped off by an inmate.

Further injuries were caused with another weapon while evidence showed that his heart and blood vessels were damaged and that he died from blood loss.

Senior investigating officer, Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: ‘This was a premeditated brutal attack carried out inside a prison by three long-term inmates.

‘Fellows, Taylor and Newell’s actions showed a complete disregard for life and for the rules designed to keep people safe in custody.

‘By their very nature, prisons are designed to deny offenders of their liberty, but they also need to be environments that are kept safe from unlawful violence.

‘Today’s verdicts ensure the continued safety of others by holding these dangerous individuals to account and ensuring they face the full weight of the law.

‘It also underlines that serious offences committed in West Yorkshire’s prisons will be thoroughly investigated and robustly prosecuted.’

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A Florida couple who spent six months raising a baby girl after a huge IVF mix-up have reached an agreement with the child’s biological parents, bringing a remarkable custody dispute to an end.

Tiffany Score and Steven Mills became parents to baby Shea after an embryo was implanted during IVF treatment in 2025.

It wasn’t until after Shea was born that they realised something had gone quite badly wrong.

The couple are white and had – understandably – expected a child who was biologically theirs.

When Shea arrived in December 2025, they immediately realised something wasn’t right.

Further testing confirmed that Shea was not biologically related to either parent.

DNA results later showed that Shea’s genetic parents were a South Asian couple whose embryo had been mistakenly implanted during IVF treatment.

What followed was an agonising situation for both families.

One couple had raised Shea from birth while the other had unknowingly lost the chance to carry and bring up their biological daughter.

Last week, the two families reached a custody agreement that will see Score and Mills remain Shea’s long-term parents. The outcome may strike some readers as surprising. Shea is genetically related to one couple but has spent her short life so far with another.

That question sat at the heart of the case. Should custody be decided by biology alone, or by the bond formed between a child and the parents who have cared for them since birth?

Ultimately, Shea’s biological parents chose not to pursue a custody fight, saying they didn’t believe it would be in the child’s best interests.

Their lawyer, Rob Marcereau, told NBC News that his clients were ‘heartbroken’ by what had happened. He said they would have preferred to keep Shea but believed a custody battle would have been an uphill legal fight and unfair on Shea.

Marcereau also said the biological parents understood that Score and Mills were suffering too. Both couples found themselves caught up in a mistake that neither had any role in creating.

According to Marcereau, discussions between the two families involved ‘a lot of tears and hugs’ as they worked towards an agreement. The meetings eventually produced a solution that both sides felt they could live with.

Meanwhile, Score and Mills have said they intend to remain Shea’s ‘permanent’ parents.

Their lawyer, Jack Scarola, said both families hope to become friends and help each other out on their different journeys.

‘They have begun and intend to continue to foster a relationship of friendship and trust,’ Scarola said.

The case first became public in January when Score and Mills sued the Fertility Center of Orlando and its medical director, Dr Milton McNichol. The lawsuit alleges that the wrong embryo was implanted during treatment in April 2025.

The biological parents also plan to sue the clinic and doctor, saying the error forced them into an impossible decision.

Legal action surrounding the mix-up may continue even though the custody dispute itself has now been settled.

The Fertility Center of Orlando previously announced that it would close after what it described as ‘thoughtful consideration’. The clinic said it intended to cease operations by May 20.

Court documents filed last week also revealed that Score and Mills have transferred their remaining embryo to a different fertility clinic. According to the filing, that embryo will be tested to confirm its parentage before the couple decide what to do next.

For the two very understanding and laudable families at the centre of the heartbreaking mix-up, however, the focus now appears to be on little Shea’s future and what’s best for her..

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni furiously accused Donald Trump of telling a ‘completely made up’ story about her – before hitting out at the US president for pandering to enemies of the West.

Trump told an Italian TV channel that Meloni had ‘begged’ him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit, a claim angrily denied by the Italian leader.

Video from the event in France showed Meloni and Trump deep in conversation, but the US leader suggested he had merely indulged her by chatting with her.

‘She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,’ Trump was quoted as saying by La7 TV channel.

‘She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.’

Meloni said she was ‘astonished’ by his comments and accused Trump of paying greater respect to enemies of the West than established allies.

She said: ‘Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves like this towards his allies: it is not the first time, moreover.

‘I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence. There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.’

Meloni was once a close ally of Trump and the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025.

However, they fell out after she backed the Pope Leo when Trump lashed out at the Pontiff over his condemnation of the Iran war.

Trump was also angered by Meloni’s unwillingness to back the Middle East conflict, accusing her of ‘lacking courage’.

A British tourist is appealing for the return of a teddy bear she has owned for more than 40 years after her rucksack was stolen on a Spanish beach.

Sarah Candy was on La Concha beach in San Sebastian when her belongings were snatched.

The former soldier took to social media to report the theft and appeal for the bear’s safe return alongside a photo of it in a pocket of her rucksack.
Spanish media have now joined the appeal to return the bear.

Sarah, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said in her first Facebook post: ‘What a day yesterday turned out to be.

‘As I was enjoying my final few hours of sunshine on the beach in San Sebastian, my backpack was stolen. Inside were my clothes, jewellery, passport and, most upsettingly of all, Care Bear.

‘For years it’s been an ongoing joke that no matter where I was heading – whether it was a holiday or a conflict zone – the first things I packed were always my bikini and flip-flops.

‘Well, it turns out that’s not a bad survival strategy. Right now, my worldly possessions consist of a bikini, flip-flops, a pair of trainers, a sunbathing sheet and towel, a pair of shorts, a T-shirt and, thankfully, my phone.’

The keep-fit fanatic, who in April ran the London Marathon, added: ‘So while I wait in Spain for emergency travel documents to get me home, at least I’ve got all the essentials covered.

‘I’m still holding out hope that Care Bear might somehow find his way back to me. After nearly 42 years together, I’d hate for our adventures to end like this.’

After local media in San Sebastian highlighted her appeal, which she posted on Spanish-language sites with the help of an AI translation, Sarah updated followers from her hotel in San Sebastian near Spain’s border with France with the message: ‘The emergency passport has arrived and my flight home is booked for this evening, so thankfully I only have a few more hours of enduring this terrible hardship.

‘It’s been a rather unexpected extension to my Spanish holiday, but there are definitely worse places to be stranded while waiting for paperwork.

‘As for Care Bear, I’m still holding out hope that he eventually gets tired of the cocktails, sunshine and attention he’s been getting in San Sebastian and decides it’s time to make his way home.’

Sarah, who now lives in Castleford, West Yorks, added: ‘I’m planning on returning to San Sebastian next Wednesday to see if the police have found anything.’

One San Sebastian resident replied: ‘I hope you strike lucky and get your belongings back. How sad.’

Another, in a direct message to the culprit, wrote: ‘Give the rucksack back you b*****s.

‘Work instead of stealing.’

Two ‘useful idiots’ have been jailed for a series of arson attacks targeting Sir Keir Starmer at the behest of a shadowy Russian-speaking figure.

Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were jailed for conspiring to carry out arson attacks.

A third man, Petro Pochynok, 35, who is a Ukrainian citizen, was cleared of the same charge.

Lavrynovych was also convicted of damaging two properties by fire, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, in May last year.

Lavrynovych was jailed for seven years and Carpiuc will spend two years behind bars.

A car and two houses linked to the Prime Minister were set on fire in north London by Lavrynovych.

Justice Garnham called Lavrynovych an ‘idiot’ and a ‘fool’ used by ‘El Money’, or ‘Hroshi’ in Ukrainian, who directed the attacks.

He said: ‘You agreed to carry out this mindless piece of arson for money.

‘You were not a man of great principle and you were easily bought.’

The judge added: ‘You were essentially acting as a pawn for some unknown cause and putting the lives of people asleep in their beds at risk as a result.

‘In my view, each of the arsons of property was more serious than the burning of a car.

‘In each case, you were exposing the people likely to be [in bed] in those properties to a risk of serious physical or psychological harm.’

The court heard how El Money recruited Lavrynovych on the privacy-first communication app, Telegram, offering £3,000 in cryptocurrency to set fire to a car and two houses and get the incident on the news

The account sent instructions that included the locations of the targets and how to mix flammable liquids bought from a hardware store.

Carpiuc encouraged his friend Lavrynovych and was going to help him convert the crypto, a near-untraceable virtual currency, into cash.

Then, early on May 12, a townhouse where the prime minister had lived before moving to Downing Street had its door set alight.

Sir Keir still owns the house in Kentish Town, now occupied by his sister-in-law.

While no one was hurt, the court heard that the fires posed a ‘serious risk to life’.

Hours after the fire, El Money messaged Lavrynovych: ‘Look, you attacked the home of a very high-ranking person in Britain. I’ll send you money; you need to leave the city.

‘If the police detain you, secretly write the word “geranium” and I’ll send a lawyer to you, I’ll give you money for a week and a new phone. We won’t be in touch for a week

Lavrynovych was arrested early the next morning. He was never paid.

El Money expressed frustration, the court heard, that the arson attacks didn’t initially receive that much attention from the press.

‘It’s all dead quiet so far – not a single article or announcement about the incident on this street,’ a Telegram message sent to Lavrynovych said.

El Money had previously hired Lavrynovych to spray paint anti-Muslim graffiti at mosques in London and to put up posters in England advertising a far-right group, Direct Action UK.

Who El Money is remains uncertain, though their account has been linked to a Russian online sabotage network.

Lavrynovych believes El Money is operated by multiple people who knew ‘so much’ about him, including where his grandmother lives.

His lawyer, James Scobie, told the court over the weeks-long trial that Sir Keir was targeted for his support for Ukraine amid the Russian war.

Counter-terrorism police said today after the sentencing that they do not consider El Money a ‘state threat’.

Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of London’s Counterterrorism Police, added: ‘Crimes, such as arson, being directed by anonymous online accounts promising payment, is a recurring trend in our casework.

‘Our message to anyone who might be approached in this way, or thinking about doing similar, is to think again.’

Russian sabotage networks often recruit young Ukrainians to carry out espionage, arson and other attacks – and threaten them if they refuse.

One recruitment strategy involves network members posing as women on dating websites to extract personal information from men.

Russian handlers posing as Ukrainian police officers then reach out to the men, accusing them of Russian cooperation, according to the Security Service of Ukraine.

Carrying out an illegal act is then offered to ‘avoid liability’, which can include delivering packages, spying on someone or setting a fire.

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A woman has been jailed for 12 years after killing her five-year-old step-daughter by placing her in a scalding hot bath.

Janice Nix, 67, forced Andrea Bernard into the bath as punishment in Thornton Heath, south London, in 1978.

Andrea later died from sepsis with officials considering her death as accidental until her brother Desmond came forward to police in 2022.

The now 56-year-old said on June 6, 1978, Andrea had left the house rather than helping Nix clean. When she returned, Nix beat her.

Desmond then heard the bath running, adding: ‘I could hear Janice shouting, “Get in the bath” and I could hear Andrea saying, “The bath is too hot, mummy”.

‘I could hear Janice shouting, “Get in the bath, get in the bath,” and then I heard screaming and splashing.

‘Then I heard the screaming stopped and I could hear Janice calling Andrea to “wake up, wake up”.’

Desmond said he walked into the bathroom and saw Nix cradling Andrea, who was ‘limp’ and wrapped in a towel.

‘I could see skin falling off her,’ he told jurors.

Asked whether Nix said anything, Mr Bernard said: ‘She asked me to say it was an accident… and to say that we were in the garden when it happened and that she would never beat me again.’

He described him and his siblings living in fear of Nix’s punishments, and sobbed in the witness box at Isleworth Crown Court as he recalled the abuse he endured at the hands of Nix.

This included being beaten with a belt, bitten, burnt with a cigarette, and made to eat cat food.

Nix, of Clapham, south London, was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 12 years.

She was also convicted of cruelty to Mr Bernard between October 1975 and June 1978, when he was between the ages of seven and nine.

Andrea died nearly six weeks after arriving in hospital with burns to 50% of her body, the court heard.

A burns expert told the trial that a child exposed to water hot enough to cause Andrea’s injuries would instinctively try to get out by standing up, not remain seated.

Prosecutors argued this meant Nix must have forcibly held parts of Andrea’s body underwater.

Nix, then called Janice Thomas and in her late teens, had been in a relationship with the children’s father, also named Desmond Bernard, and was in effect their stepmother.

Nix was arrested at Heathrow Airport on February 18, 2025, after arriving on a flight from Antigua, and was charged later that day.

She had denied both the charges of manslaughter and cruelty to a child.

Detective Sergeant Danny Chatfield said in a statement outside court that Nix’s actions were ‘selfish and cowardly’ and that she had maintained a ‘web of lies’ for decades.

Detective Inspector Louise Caveen, from the Met’s cold case homicide team, said: ‘This is a particularly tragic case and my thoughts ultimately remain with Andrea’s family, whose lives were changed irrevocably back in 1978.

‘In particular, I want to pay tribute to Desmond, who bravely made the decision to come forward and speak to us, as well as giving evidence at trial.

‘It is thanks to his courage that Nix has now been found guilty and will finally be held responsible for her actions.’

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From the moment I stepped out of Wigan North Western railway station, it was clear something unusual was taking place.

The first person I saw on the street outside was Darren Jones MP, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. And on top of that, people were asking him for a selfie.

It should go without saying that this is not the sort of thing that would normally happen in the centre of Wigan. But it was not a normal day.

This was June 18 2026 – the date of a vote so crucial, political reporters had quickly run out of superlatives to describe it. ‘The most consequential by-election in modern British history’ seemed to be the consensus.

I had come to visit Makerfield.

Follow Metro’s live coverage of the Makerfield by-election results here

My hotel sat just outside the constituency in Wigan itself, the seat of Culture Secretary and top Andy Burnham backer Lisa Nandy, so I needed to start by catching some public transport south.

Immediately, I was struck by the number of bright yellow Bee Network buses passing through the town centre. I hopped on the 610, heading for Ashton-in-Makerfield.

This integrated transport system was one of Burnham’s top initiatives during his spell as Mayor of Greater Manchester, and it was hard to shake the idea that each vehicle was the equivalent of a big ‘Vote Andy’ sign.

(Compare that to the turquoise Reform-branded double-decker that was blocking off a bus stop on the Wigan Road, much to the chagrin of the schoolchildren behind me.)

The bus passed plenty of garden signs for Reform and Labour, only a few of which had been defaced. We also saw a group of supporters for Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party parked in the central reservation and waving flags.

There were also a few enthusiastic Burnham backers holding up signs at the side of the road, and I got off to chat with a few of them. They had travelled up from London – not unusual for a by-election campaign, it’s important to say – and were infused with a positive spirit.

The group received many supportive honks from passing cars and, more surprisingly, a few from passing yellow buses. Bee drivers clearly aren’t shy about their affinity for Andy.

While I stood there chatting, there was just one instance of a car passenger yelling a nasty word that begins with ‘w’ and ends in ‘kers’ from the window. I reckon the ratio would be rather different in any other Labour campaign.

Arriving in the centre of Ashton, a crowd of Reform campaigners had taken over all sides of the road in a busy junction. The women I spoke to there had also travelled up from London.

They, too, were upbeat about the campaign though deeply negative about the state of the country. The plight of the yachting couple who faced warning shots from a Russian vessel in the Channel recently was raised.

When I asked about the idea that voting Burnham was the quickest way to oust Sir Keir Starmer as PM, they weren’t having it: ‘Burnham would be out too in a few months anyway.’

One older local lady set out one of the biggest problems Reform were facing, though. She described the party’s candidate Robert Kenyon as a ‘sexist’, reflecting controversy over past social media posts. (Both Kenyon and Reform UK have repeatedly rejected this characterisation.)

Though she was not enamoured with many politicians these days, she said she had voted Burnham – despite resolutely refusing to tell a door-knocker who she would be backing earlier in the day.

This woman may have been an example of what another Reform activist described to me as the ‘shy Labour vote’ – people who didn’t want to admit they were supporting a party that’s had a bit of a brand crisis lately.

Less than 12 hours later, in a venue called The Edge beside the famous Wigan Pier, the extent of that phenomenon was made astoundingly clear.

Polls in the lead-up to the by-election had suggested Burnham would end up with 45% of the vote, a small margin ahead of Kenyon. In the actual event, Labour ended up with just under 55% – a full 20% above Reform.

In the time it took for me to edit a TikTok video of the vote count announcement, almost everyone had shuffled out from the hall. This northern constituency’s time at the centre of the nation’s attention had come to an end.

But despite the lofty ambitions of the winning candidate, he vowed to make sure we all stay familiar with its name.

‘Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point,’ Burnham said in his victory speech.

‘From here on I will give everything I have got to make it so. To ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs, bringing back something we’ve lost – hope – hope for the future.’

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Prince William turns 44 this weekend, and as we did in January with his wife, Kate Middleton, we’ve taken a trip down memory lane.

So, for those nosy about what William was like in his younger years, you’ve come to the right place.

Jack Stooks, a former royal gardener who worked for the royal family for over two decades, has shared some insight about the future King.

Speaking to Smooth Spins, he unpacked plenty of the prince’s life, from how he has changed since he married Kate Middleton, why he is so family-oriented, and the key differences between him and his father, King Charles.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Prince William’s relationship with Prince Harry

First up, Stooks spoke about how Prince William and Prince Harry were super close growing up.

‘Prince William has always been very family-oriented,’ says Stooks. ‘When he was younger, both he and Harry would be together everywhere.’

The former gardener revealed that even when the brothers began dating — they are now estranged following Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life in 2020 — they’d still move in the same circles.

‘Then they started dating people, and William was with Kate Middleton and Harry was with Chelsea [Davy]. You’d see them all in the kitchen together chatting to the chef, and it was just a very normal, happy way of life.

‘They would have barbeques at the weekend and have friends over to visit.’ 

William’s 21st birthday versus his 44th

When you get older, birthdays tend to become more low-key. This is even true for royals, according to Stooks.

Despite describing William as a ‘private person,’ he recalls how he had a huge bash at Windsor Castle for his 21st birthday.

However, these days, celebrations are slightly more muted. Stooks explains: ‘We don’t normally see him do a lot of big events for his birthday now. He’s naturally grown up.

‘I think it just got to a point when, especially when Kate and William got engaged, there was a big shift and they decided not to share a lot of their personal lives.

‘It’s quite nice to see the couple keeping some things to themselves.’

How William has changed since marrying Kate

Stooks also claims that, since marrying Kate in 2011, William has become a ‘lot more serious.’

But not necessarily in a bad way — as future king, he’s just inherited a lot more responsibilities. Coupled with the world watching him 24/7, it’s natural he’s going to be a bit more reserved.

‘He’s trying to be seen as somebody that can be taken seriously,’ Stooks says, adding that William’s actions are ‘very much in line with what the king has taken on, especially with his roles in the environment and with wildlife.

‘Following on from his father, he’s going to do a great job going forward.’

How William navigates fame

That said, being a prince in the 21st century means you have social media and the ‘celebrity’ concept to contend with.

Long are the days of the royals being a mysterious entity, with the public having no clue what goes on behind closed doors.

Rather, William is a prince just as much as he is a public figure, and it’s a job he needs to balance.

In this respect, Stooks believes William is being a ‘little bit more cautious when it comes to the celebrity side of things.’

Stooks calls this a ‘good thing,’ as he thinks the Prince of Wales wants to stand out a little bit more than simply being known as a celeb.

He gives an example: ‘For instance, I saw him going on a radio station the other week and he was talking about the Duchy of Cornwall. It’s something that he’s trying to change and achieve in his own way, and he’s trying to take the Duchy of Cornwall in his own direction.

‘He’s not as seen as some of the other royal members and he has more of a home mindset.’

Stooks also says that the way William navigates fame has changed over the years.

The former butler remembers when he first started working for the royals, William was ‘slightly more reserved’ during interviews.

‘He’s a lot more natural when you see him being interviewed now,’ he says. But it makes sense, Stooks adds, as he’s ‘so much more used to it than he was.

‘He is definitely doing them a lot more and they come more naturally. He’s definitely a lot more confident than he was.’

The differences between Prince William and King Charles

Finally, Stooks weighs in on Prince William and King Charles’ relationship.

While he says William is ‘cut from the same cloth as the king,’ the difference between father and son is the ‘king works day and night.’

Stooks claims that ‘Charles is such a workaholic, whereas William appears slightly more family-oriented and takes time out of his work life to concentrate on his personal life.’

He makes sure to add that there is ‘definitely no right or wrong way,’ it’s just a different way of doing things.

He continues: ‘I think William is trying to streamline the role rather than do what his father does.’

This comes after Will and Kate have made it clear they want to modernise the monarchy, which includes a ‘slimmed-down’ version of the ‘firm.’

‘[William] is definitely more shy, and some may feel he does not work as intensively as the king did when he was Prince of Wales.’

He adds that King Charles ‘effectively turned the position into a full-time public mission,’ with a ‘relentless schedule and appearing at a huge number of engagements.’

Whereas William has ‘chosen to focus on a smaller number of priorities.’

‘He remains active in the areas that he cares more about, such as environmental conservation and his support for wildlife protection in Africa.’

Rather than accepting every opportunity, Stooks concludes that ‘William is more selective, concentrating his efforts on a more focused set of causes and engagements.’

Days after an algae bloom turned Donald Trump’s newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool green, the ‘American flag blue’ paint has begun to peel away.

The US president announced the completion of a $14.7million (£11.1m) project to improve the pool last week but workers were soon deployed to pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to combat an algae bloom that had turned it green.

The US Department of the Interior had insisted the water was ‘crystal clear’, blaming the ‘fake news media’ for reports of algae taking over.

‘The Reflecting Pool water is crystal clear, and our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up the dead algae resting on the bottom of some parts of the Reflecting Pool – just like the destroyed Iranian Navy resting on the bottom of the Persian Gulf,’ it said in a statement.

However, visitors have now noticed the new paint job is starting to come off.

‘I want my money back after seeing this. I think our resources could be used a lot better elsewhere,’ Robert Dale of Edwards, Colorado, told Reuters.

‘I think this reflecting pool was beautiful before, before all this attention.’

The no-bid contract to drain and refinished pool has caused controversy.

The renovation is part of Trump’s sweeping plans for the capital, including tearing down the ​East Wing of the White House to make space for a new ballroom ⁠and building a massive arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

World Cup summers are the peak of the football calendar for fans, but it seems some are struggling to get in the party mood. 

New research has revealed 70% of England supporters believe international tournaments have become too serious, while three in ten feel the beautiful game is now too commercial.

Many also said they miss the fan culture, personalities, and memorable chants that once defined major tournaments.

To help give fans a boost, BuzzBallz, which carried out the campaign, has launched ‘Show Us Your (Buzz)Ballz’, celebrating supporters who bring humour, spontaneity and optimism to tournament football.

As part of the campaign, the brand is giving away 21,866 drinks to adult fans, which is the exact number of days since England last won the World Cup.

The findings reveal pre-tournament negativity seeps away the moment England start winning, as nearly half (45%) have admitted to declaring ‘It’s Coming Home’ during a major tournament, while 35% said they started believing England could win after just one victory.

The findings come as Harry Kane and his teammates enter the tournament, the biggest World Cup in history, as one of the favourites, raising hopes of ending what is now 60 years of hurt.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp is backing the campaign to get us all cheering on England with our pals.

Harry said: ‘Tournament football should be about mates, memories and having a laugh. Everyone gets so wrapped up in the pressure and expectation now, but some of the best football moments come when fans are just enjoying themselves.

‘That’s what I like about this project with the fans – it’s a bit outrageous, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and hopefully we’ll see some properly creative entries from fans over the summer.’

To take part, fans are asked to share photos and videos of the creative, funny, and unexpected ways they are enjoying the tournament with BuzzBallz, from matchday traditions to outrageous celebrations with friends.

The 21,866 drinks will be awarded to supporters who best capture the fun and unpredictability that make tournament football special.

Full details regarding how to participate can be found by visiting Harry Redknapp’s Instagram account.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham?

These words may have sounded impossible only months ago, but the mayor of Greater Manchester will now represent Makerfield in Parliament.

Burnham easily defeated a field of more than a dozen candidates – including Reform – after securing 24,937 votes in yesterday’s by-election.

Becoming an MP is a pivotal step in his plans to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party – and the country.

Follow Metro’s live coverage of the Makerfield by-election results here

Sir Keir has clung to power since his party lost more than 1,400 councillors in May, a damning indictment of its drooping popularity among voters.

Close to 100 Labour MPs have called on the PM to hand back the keys to Number 10, with his refusal pushing some cabinet ministers to quit.

So what would happen if the Prime Minister were to step down?

What happens if Starmer resigns as Prime Minister?

From the get-go, it’s good to know two things.

The UK also must have a Prime Minister at all times. So if Starmer was to offer his resignation, he would need to lead until a replacement is found.

Secondly, anyone can technically be a PM – yes, even a giant fox or some guy with a bin over his head.

But in practice they’re the leader of the party with the most MPs.

This is why a leadership election – automatically triggered when a leader quits – is usually how the UK winds up with a new prime minister

This can take several weeks, meaning the sitting PM may remain in office for a while.

Let’s say Starmer steps down right this second, what then? First, Labour MPs will put themselves forward as Starmer’s potential replacements.

All Labour MPs will then vote to whittle down the options until two candidates remain.

At this point, Labour Party members will vote to choose their new leader, who will automatically become Prime Minister.

There is one other way – Starmer steps down without a leadership content.

Burnham has reportedly secured support from at least 81 Labour MPs – or 20% – to formally trigger a leadership content.

Once a Labour leadership election is triggered, other candidates could join the contest if they also had 81 backers.

Starmer would automatically be on the ballot as he doesn’t need to shore up support. but could choose not to try to stick it out.

Burnham will present the list of nominations to Starmer in the hopes he stands down without a contest.

The new MP has no plans to do so this week, with one insider saying Burnham’s team just hopes Starmer ‘comes to his senses’.

Starmer, however, told reporters this morning he plans to stand in any leadership contest that comes his way.

‘I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away from that,’ he added.

Would there be a general election?

You might have noticed that unless you’re an MP or a card-carrying member of Labour, you don’t have much of a day in this leadership process.

This is because there is no rule saying the Prime Minister has to call a general election, which would put every MP’s seat up for grabs.

It’s unlikely Starmer or, if he does go, his successor would do so anyway, if Labour’s disastrous results in the local elections are any indicator.

Several PMs have come into office this way and have chosen not to hold an election.

These include Gordon Brown, who ran uncontested as Tony Blair’s replacement in 2007 but was ousted from power in the subsequent general election three years later and replaced by David Cameron.

Theresa May similarly came to power via a Conservative leadership election in 2016 after Cameron stepped down. However, she called a general election the following year to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations.

When is the next general election?

The next general election must be called by August 2029.

However, the Prime Minister can choose to hold it sooner than this. This is called a snap election.

The UK has seen its fair share of snap elections over the years. May’s 2017 snap election came just two years after the previous general election.

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Not many people can say they were in the room when Andy Burnham became the next MP of Makerfield – but a giant furry fox can.

The mayor of Greater Manchester easily defeated more than a dozen other candidates after securing 24,937 votes – a majority of about 55%.

But among his foes was animal rights campaigner Robert Pownall, otherwise known as the tall fox standing next to Burnham this morning.

Pownall, the founder of Protect the Wild, scored just 18 votes in the by-election.

Follow Metro’s live coverage of the Makerfield by-election results here

He wrote on the newsletter service Substack in May that he would wear a fox suit while out campaigning – and still wear it to Parliament if he won.

As much as the costume is ‘terrifying looking’, he wore it for one reason: ‘Because I simply do not trust this government to deliver for animals.’

‘They’ve already U-turned on banning animal trophy imports, abandoned plans to ban foie gras imports and allowed two more years of badger culling despite manifesto promises suggesting the exact opposite.’

After Pownall’s defeat, Protect the Wild shared a photograph of the candidate holding a sign reading: ‘Protect British Wildlife’.

On Facebook this morning, the group said: ‘We need a Govt that actually takes action for British wildlife, not letting developers do as they please. We need the Hunting Act properly strengthened and enforced.

‘We need a commitment that badger culling will never return. We need to see an end to bird shooting in this country.

‘We need so much better.’

Hunting is not illegal in England – shooting deer, rabbits and some other animals is allowed during hunting seasons – but fox hunting is banned.

But campaigners have long criticised the law for allowing trail hunting, where dogs follow a laid scent trail, usually of fox urine, instead of a fox.

Protect the Wild says hunters claim they have left ‘scent trails’ and are merely following them through the woods with hounds.

Pownall is no stranger to politics – or sweaty animal suits. He stood in the May Scottish parliament elections dressed as a giant gannet. 

He threw on the seabird suit to bring attention to the guga hunt, a centuries-old tradition in northern Scotland that sees thousands of gannets being killed for their meat.

Burnham, widely seen as a possible contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer, certainly had some strange company next to him this morning.

To his right (so, the non-fox one) was a towering bin. Count Binface, a joke candidate who has lost against many a prominent politician, hoped to beat Burnham with his pledge to slash taxes.

‘And raise everyone else’s,’ his policy manifesto said.

Count Binface, of the Count Binface Party, also pledged to cap the price of 99 Flake ice-creams to 99p and ensure train wifi actually works.

On his official X account, Count Binface shared a photo of himself on the stage of Edge Wigan with Burnham and Pownall.

‘Wherever there’s a bin in Britain,’ he wrote, ‘a fox is sure to follow.’

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