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July 7 attacks were watershed moment for head of Met's counter-terrorism squad

July 7 attacks were watershed moment for head of Met's counter-terrorism squad

Leader Live13 hours ago
In 2005 Commander Dominic Murphy had been an officer in Hertfordshire for 12 years and had trained as a bomb scene examiner before the attacks on the transport system that killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.
When he saw the horror unfolding on the television, he 'did that thing that police officers shouldn't really do' and headed to London before he had been officially deployed.
Mr Murphy told the PA news agency: 'I was an officer who could be called into London or some other part of the country to help SO13 (former Met anti-terrorist branch) if they were responding to a terrorist attack, or conduct searches or support them in some way.
'And I remember sitting in the special branch office, which is our intelligence unit in Hertfordshire, and I was watching this unfold on TV, and I did that thing that police officers shouldn't really do.
'I didn't wait to be deployed. I spoke to my line manager and grabbed a car and all my kit and equipment and drove straight down to London to be here as quickly as I could.'
The compassion shown by the officers investigating the bombings and the speed at which they worked inspired him to spend the rest of his career in counter-terrorism.
Mr Murphy said: 'I arrived in our forensic management team.
'These were the officers and staff that were leading the response at the scenes to gather the evidence and recover those that had been unfortunately killed in the incident.
'I arrived to something I would describe as a really high pace of activity, the sort of activity you would expect policing to be doing at a terrible incident like this, but of course, this was on a scale and a type of incident we had never seen.
'I was struck by all of those counter-terrorism officers from SO13 that I met, their professionalism, their commitment to finding who was responsible for this attack, their overwhelming compassion for victims… that compassion extended to how they recovered those that were deceased from the attacks.
'I was struck by the end of that first day to see the professionalism and the pace they were working at.
'I never wanted to work anywhere else.
'I really only ever wanted to work with this group of people who I thought were some of the most impressive people I'd ever seen, and just the way that commitment portrayed itself to their service to the public and the victims was overwhelming for me.
'So I had been a Hertfordshire officer for nearly 12 years at that point, but I never really went back to Hertfordshire.
'I stayed here then, and have been here in counter-terrorism for the rest of my career.'
He specialised in body recovery, and has been deployed abroad to help investigate several atrocities involving British victims or interests, including the 2015 Tunisian beach attacks as well as tragedies in Algeria, Yemen and Sudan.
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Jury shown CCTV footage of alleged assault on police at Manchester Airport
Jury shown CCTV footage of alleged assault on police at Manchester Airport

The Herald Scotland

timean hour ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Jury shown CCTV footage of alleged assault on police at Manchester Airport

Minutes later, three officers – Pc Zachary Marsden and Pc Ellie Cook, who were both armed, and unarmed Pc Lydia Ward – approached the defendants at the paystation in T2's car park. On Monday, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court watched airport camera footage from opposite angles which captured what the Crown say was a 'high level of violence' used by the defendants towards the officers. The prosecution say Amaaz resisted as police tried to move him away from a payment machine to arrest him, and then Amaad intervened. Junior counsel Adam Birkby suggested that Amaaz threw 10 punches, which included one to the face of Pc Ward that knocked her to the floor, and that Amaad aimed six punches at firearms officer Pc Marsden. Amaaz is also said to have kicked Pc Marsden and twice struck firearms officer Pc Cook with his elbow. He is said to have punched Pc Marsden from behind and then had hold of him before Pc Cook discharged her Taser device. The CCTV footage was played to jurors at Liverpool Crown Court (Crown Prosecution Service/PA) Amaaz had his arm around Pc Marsden's neck as both fell to the floor, Mr Birkby said, before the officer got to his feet. Mr Birkby went on: 'Mr Amaaz, while prone, lifts his head towards the officers. Pc Marsden kicks Mr Amaaz around the head area. 'Pc Marsden stamps his foot towards the crown of Mr Amaaz's head area but doesn't appear to connect with Mr Amaaz.' Footage from the body-worn cameras of the three officers was also played to the jury. Still frame of CCTV footage of the incident (Crown Prosecution Service/PA) Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Cook and the earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at Starbucks. Amaad, 26, is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations. Giving evidence, Pc Marsden told the court he approached the paystation area with the intention of taking 'immediate control' and escorting the suspect from the crowd and to arrest him outside where he would have radio signal. He said: 'I wanted to prevent his escape or any opportunity to escape, but also to give me control of someone who had allegedly been violent towards a member of the public.' He said he placed his hands on Amaaz's left arm, but said he was 'met with immediate resistance' and that he felt the suspect 'clench his fists'. Pc Marsden said: 'I recall leaning in and saying to him words along the lines of, 'come on mate, we are not doing that here'.' He said he did not feel it was necessary to tell the suspect he was a police officer because he was wearing full uniform with a cap. Pc Marsden said he realised a change in plan was needed so decided to attempt to handcuff Amaaz, the man wearing the light blue tracksuit. Footage from the body-worn cameras of the three officers was also played to the court (Crown Prosecution Service/PA) He said he struggled to get Amaaz's hands behind his back, so tried to get control of his head by pushing his body forwards. He told the court: 'The information I had was that he used his head as a weapon. I was in close proximity and I didn't want to be headbutted.' The officer said he then felt an 'immense weight of pressure' to his right side and felt his Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol move across his leg and around his body. Pc Marsden said: 'My initial fear is that someone is trying to get my gun. If someone gained my firearm it would pose an immediate lethal threat to anyone in the vicinity. 'The risk of my firearm being taken from me did not stop until we gained control. 'There was more than one person involved here – the aggressor I was trying to arrest and possibly an accomplice who was a much bigger physical build than me and much taller.' He told prosecutor Paul Greaney KC he started to receive 'blows from all directions' from the second man. Mr Greaney asked: 'What level of force was being used?' Pc Marsden replied: 'I can confidently say they were the hardest I have ever felt in my life.' He said his glasses were knocked off his face and without them he could only see at arm's length. The prosecution say Amaaz resisted as police tried to move him away from a payment machine to arrest him (Crown Prosecution Service/PA) He said he was unaware where his two colleagues were during the alleged assaults. Pc Marsden said: 'I felt they were not in a position to help or they were preoccupied.' Mr Greaney said: 'Had any other person, a member of the public, intervened in any way to help you?' The officer replied: 'No members of the public in that room tried to help. 'In the aftermath when I managed to get back on my feet and shout for help, I scanned the room and saw people watching and recording on phones.' He added: 'I felt that crowd had been hostile. No-one wanted to help us.' Pc Marsden said he managed to break free from Amaad and deploy his Taser against him before he felt a blow to the head from behind and someone on his back. He said: 'They were sharper blows that kept connecting to my head. It felt like some sort of implement. My fear was that it could have been some kind of knuckleduster. 'This level of violence was now escalating even further.' When he felt an arm 'wrap round my throat' he said he believed there could be a third attacker, he told the court. Muhammed Amaad and his brother are said to have struck out after police were called to respond to an incident (Peter Powell/PA) He said: 'I thought they were trying to strangle me. I could feel the tightness of the arm around my throat and I stumbled backwards.' He said, at the time, he had not realised his colleague Pc Cook had discharged her Taser at Amaaz as he held on to him. Pc Marsden said he freed himself and then went down to arrest the male on the floor. He told the court: 'I firmly believe had he got up he would have overpowered me. I was starting to feel the strain of those hits, I was unbalanced, I was exhausted. I didn't have the energy to keep in that fight. 'I had never seen anyone react to the police before in such a violent attack. They were so intent on causing us harm. 'He (Amaaz) ignored my commands to put his arms around his back. His chest lifted off the floor and his head towards me. 'He was attempting to get off the floor. I needed to deliver one strike to the facial region to stun the subject. 'Using the soft-laced part of my boot I delivered a kick to the facial region which would buy me valuable seconds in order to take control and hopefully dissuade the subject from trying to get up again. 'The male on the floor rescinded almost immediately, bringing his hands to his face.' Mohammed Fahir Amaaz is alleged to have headbutted a customer (Peter Powell/PA) Pc Marsden told the court that he then noticed his police radio had come free from his clothing, attached by a wire, and was swinging in front of him. He said: 'I needed to get control of the radio to stop it being used as a weapon against me. I brought my foot up and stamped it down in an attempt to clamp the wire and stop it being pulled away. 'I don't believe I managed to connect with the wire and I missed it.' Mr Greaney asked: 'Did it connect with anything?' 'No,' said the witness. Mr Greaney said: 'The suggestion being made is that you stamped on the head of Mr Amaaz. Do you believe you made contact with his head?' 'No,' repeated Pc Marsden. The trial continues on Tuesday when Pc Marsden will be cross-examined by the defence.

Freed Dubai teen Marcus Fakana's jail hell as he was 'forced to watch rapes'
Freed Dubai teen Marcus Fakana's jail hell as he was 'forced to watch rapes'

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Freed Dubai teen Marcus Fakana's jail hell as he was 'forced to watch rapes'

Nineteen-year-old Marcus Fakana has now been released from a hellish Dubai prison after he was jailed for having sex with another teen. British teen Marcus Fakana has at last been freed from a Dubai prison following 12 months of "hell". Nineteen-year-old Marcus, from Tottenham, north London, had been staying with family in the United Arab Emirates city when he struck up a holiday romance with another teenager, who was also from London, at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, reports the Mirror. The pair had consensual sex, but as the girl was still a few weeks off her 18th birthday, the then 18-year-old Marcus faced severe consequences under the harsh legal system of the UAE, where sex between under-18s is illegal. Local police officers were tipped off by the girl's mother, and Marcus was put behind the bars of the notorious al-Awir prison, where he spent his birthday and New Year's far from home, in squalid and dangerous conditions. Holiday romance gone wrong Marcus and the girl had intended to continue their relationship once they returned to the UK. However, everything changed on August 31, 2024, when, while still on holiday, Marcus was taken into police custody. Speaking previously about the summer fling, Marcus told the Mirror: "We had a wonderful time. I couldn't wait to see her again. Then police knocked on our hotel door." For three long days, Marcus was held at the "notorious" Al Barsha Police Station, where, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, he was unable to make a phone call or even speak with his worried parents. A judge ordered that the construction apprentice be locked up for one year in the infamous al-Awir prison. In December 2024, Marcus stated that he had been "shocked beyond belief" by the sentence and begged "Let me go home. Please give me my life back." Cruel conditions and harrowing rapes According to a report earlier this year, rape is an "every day occurrence" at Al-Awir Central Prison, with both inmates and guards subjected to frequent violent assaults. Male prisoners must have shaved heads at all times, while female inmates, who are kept in separate buildings, reportedly have to wear head coverings. They are packed into overcrowded cells, with as many as 20 inmates battling for three beds. In an interview with The Independent in 2017, ex-managing director of Leeds United, David Haigh, who was held for nearly two years on trumped-up fraud charges, described the conditions he faced while locked up in Dubai. According to David: 'The only way to describe being in prison in Dubai is hell. I was held for 22 months and I'll never forget it – the stench, the dirt, the smell, the heat, and the lack of any information whatsoever." Remembering how he was punched, Tasered, beaten and raped during his time in a cell, David reflected: 'The worst of this abuse was perpetrated by the prison guards and police. I lost a lot of weight through stress. 'Once, when I asked for some painkillers, a guard hit me over the head with a broom handle. When someone's beating you or hurting you in whatever form, in a weird way, you can deal with that. What I found more harrowing was seeing them do it to other prisoners in front of everyone.' Speaking with the Ilford Recorder, Marcus' sister Davena Kumar revealed that her brother had been separated from friends and forced to watch other prisoners being raped. Davena told the publication: 'He's sharing a cell with someone who's been sentenced for life. They've made him watch other men being raped like it's a lesson." Opening up about Marcus' condition one month into his sentence, Davena shared: "He was skinny and he wasn't himself. He was banging on the door, calling my name, and I just wanted to hug him.' ‌ Return home and lasting trauma Remarking upon Marcus' return home, Detained in Dubai CEO Radha described the teenager as an "extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system". Radha said: "Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family, but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination. We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him. "This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home." ‌ While celebrating that Marcus is now "back where he belongs", Radha went on to emphasise the " trauma" he's been left with, due to the "severe" impact of the decision. She added: 'Marcus is back where he belongs. But no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time, and the British woman involved is now 18 too, a fact she did not divulge to him at the time. We hope his story will prompt serious reconsideration of the UK's travel advice and its engagement with the UAE on human rights issues. "Dubai could have chosen to fine and to deport him. Instead, the 18-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison. The impact on his life has been severe and there was no need for him to endure such trauma." 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'.

Elon Musk blasts FBI after axing Epstein probe — raging ‘It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again'
Elon Musk blasts FBI after axing Epstein probe — raging ‘It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again'

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Elon Musk blasts FBI after axing Epstein probe — raging ‘It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again'

DONALD Trump's ex-pal Elon Musk lashed out yesterday after a leaked memo said the FBI was ready to end its Jeffrey Epstein probe — with the Tesla tycoon declaring: 'It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again.' The document showed federal investigators and the US ­Justice Department found no evidence the paedophile financier had a client list or blackmailed powerful figures. 6 Elon Musk made his claims about Donald Trump being in the Epstein files when they fell out after the Tesla boss left government Credit: Getty 6 Talking about the FBI preparing to axe its Epstein probe, Musk blasted 'It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again' Credit: AP 6 Mr Trump had said he was 'not a fan of Epstein' and had not spoken to him in years Credit: AP And CCTV footage taken outside his cell — finally released six years after his death — proved he was not murdered, officials claimed. Many within the US President's Make America Great Again movement — including FBI chief Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino — repeatedly called for all Epstein files to be publicly released and other abusers to be brought to justice. Critics accused the US government of a new cover-up, weeks after Musk claimed the President was 'in the Epstein files'. Billionaire Musk led the attacks yesterday, posting on X: 'What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again...', above a meme of 'The Official Jeffrey Epstein paedophile arrest counter' — which was at zero. He added: 'Man, this is heavy', and referring to Epstein's British socialite madam, serving 20 years for sex trafficking, said: 'What is Ghislaine Maxwell in prison for? Stuff like this does not improve people's faith in government.' Maxwell was pictured with Prince Andrew and his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. One of the main claims by conspiracy theorists was that Epstein was murdered in 2019 to hush him up and protect senior figures. In the run-up to yesterday's revelations, US government officials suggested shocking revelations. When asked if Epstein's client list would be released, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February: 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review.' She had also said the FBI was reviewing 'tens of thousands of videos' of Epstein 'with children or child porn'. I came face-to-face with Epstein - paedo would flip to dark side like a switch... I'm convinced he DIDN'T kill himself Trump supporter Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, had said: 'It is incredibly disturbing. We have flight logs, we have information, names that will come out. 'I don't see how it's not shocking there were so many individuals that were hidden and kept secret and not been held accountable.' Epstein watchers keenly anticipated a string of powerful people being outed as clients, with up to 1,000 FBI agents on the case. But there was anger when a two-page DoJ/FBI memo revealed investigators had found no evidence of a cover-up. 6 Prince Andrew with his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, centre, and Ghislaine Maxwell - who is currently in prison for her part in the Epstein scandal Credit: AFP 6 It's claimed new CCTV of Epstein in jail, circled, proves the convicted paedophile was not murdered in his cell It was published by US news website Axios and picked up by ABC News. The US government made no official comment. The memo said there was 'no incriminating 'client list'', 'no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals,' and 'no evidence could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The memo said Epstein harmed 'over one thousand victims' and 'each suffered unique trauma'. It said 'sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout materials' it reviewed, but warned: 'Much of the material is subject to court-ordered sealing. 'Only a fraction would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial, as the seal served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of wrongdoing.' Investigators checked the original film from cameras near Epstein's cell, as well as an enhanced version from 10.40pm the night before he died to around 6.30am, when he was found. No one else enters that area of the prison, officials said. The memo states: 'After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell.' Protest group Republicans Against Trump said: 'Hey Donald, if you've got nothing to hide, release all the Epstein files just like you promised. What are you afraid of?' Mr Musk made his claims about Trump being in the Epstein files when they fell out after the Tesla boss left government. The world's richest man later said he 'went too far' — but posted repeatedly about the case yesterday. The President earlier hit back at the claims saying: 'That's called 'old news.' Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.' Trump and Epstein attended the same parties in the 1990s and in 2017 Epstein claimed he was 'Donald Trump's closest friend'. Trump had said he was 'not a fan of Epstein' and had not spoken to him in years.

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