Belfast Islamic Centre: Man arrested after alert
The Belfast Islamic Centre has said it was at the centre of a security alert in south Belfast.It happened at the building on University Road on Friday night.A 34-year-old man has been arrested.The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a number of cordons were in place over night during the alert.
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ITV News
37 minutes ago
- ITV News
Politicians condemn attack on Belfast Islamic Centre while people prayed
Politicians have condemned an attack on the Islamic Centre in Belfast while people were praying on Friday evening. A local MLA said a device was thrown inside the building during evening prayer and forced it to be evacuated. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he was 'deeply concerned by the shameful attack'. 'Hatred of this sort has no place in Northern Ireland. If anyone has any information about this, please contact the PSNI,' he said. Police said they attended a security alert on University Road in south Belfast on Friday night. A number of cordons were put in place and members of the public were asked to avoid the area. A 34-year-old man was arrested and was taken into police custody. Alliance MLA for South Belfast Paula Bradshaw condemned the attack, which she said did 'not reflect the diversity of south Belfast in 2025'. 'This attack was again designed to cause fear among people inside the centre, who were at prayer at the time. 'Nevertheless, I am thankful for the intervention of a nearby passer-by and for the work of the police. Those were much more reflective of the true spirit of Belfast, where most people rejoice in diversity. 'I would like to express my solidarity with all those who were evacuated and my thanks to all those who worked to ensure their safety.' Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey said 'no-one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship'. 'Acts like these, fuelled by hate, spread fear and division, and target people who have come to our communities to build a life and call this place home. 'It's vital that all political leaders speak out and stand united against this disgusting behaviour.' Green Party Councillor Aine Groogan condemned the attack as a 'cowardly and vicious act'. 'I am horrified to hear about the attack on the Islamic Centre during evening prayers,' she said. 'I want to pay tribute to the courageous passer-by who intervened and prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome. 'It is terrifying to consider what might have happened and I sincerely hope that all those present are recovering from this traumatic ordeal.' She added: 'This attack is yet another reminder of the very real danger faced by our Islamic community. The recent rise in racist hate and violence on our streets is a shameful stain on our society. 'We must all take responsibility for actively challenging racism, misinformation and bigotry wherever it appears before someone is seriously hurt. 'I urge those politicians who continue to hide behind the notion of so-called 'legitimate concerns' around migration to reflect on the consequences of their words. 'Such narratives are as disingenuous as they are dangerous. They help foster a culture in which hate can thrive. Frankly, they should know better.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Green grocer and ex-SAS commander hoping to kick Sadiq Khan out of office
After nearly a decade in power, Sir Sadiq Khan's rule as Mayor of London is coming under increasing scrutiny. With YouGov polling showing that crime, housing and health are seen to be getting worse in the capital, inventive politicians are now taking the fight to Sir Sadiq with viral video campaigns. The most high-profile example of this was Robert Jenrick's video of fare-dodging on the Tube, which showed the shadow justice secretary confronting rule-breakers. But while Mr Jenrick's team have ruled him out of any Tory mayoral race, other 'law and order' challengers to Sir Sadiq are also emerging on social media. They include a viral greengrocer, a former Royal Marines commando and a heavyweight boxing champion. Born in Romford, a traditional Tory voting part of outer London, Thomas Skinner began working as a market trader in East London at the age of 16 and later appeared as a candidate on The Apprentice, Sir Alan Sugar's business-based reality TV show. In his early career he was found guilty of handling £40,000 worth of stolen goods while working as a market trader. He has said of the spent conviction: 'I've made mistakes, in fact more than most, who hasn't made one?' Mr Skinner has since gathered a large following on social media for his jolly videos in which he discusses, in his thick Essex accent, the joys of having a 'cheeky pint' following a day of 'hard graft'. Yet in recent months, he has increasingly focussed on political issues, declaring 'I love Trump' and claiming 'London has fallen' under Sir Sadiq's mayoralty. He has also been involved in knife crime campaigning. 'London has fallen' Last week in a post that prompted speculation about his ambitions for public office, Mr Skinner railed against the decline of law and order in the capital and a loss of 'community'. 'London has fallen. But I'm not giving up on it,' he wrote, claiming that 'people are scared', 'it ain't safe out there anymore' and ' London don't feel like London no more '. 'We need leadership that understands the streets, the markets, the working class. People like me,' he wrote, opening the door to a potential mayoral run. It is understood Mr Skinner currently has no firm plans to run for office and is not affiliated with any political party. But Mr Skinner, who maintains 'I'm not a politician', nevertheless says he has been approached by three political parties in recent weeks. The Telegraph also understands that since he made the post, Mr Skinner has been contacted by members of the Prime Minister 's team. The call was intended to discuss the Government's plans for more skilled apprenticeships for those who, like Mr Skinner, left school at 16. But the attempt to reach out to a popular and rising voice of opposition could be taken as another Labour attempt to head off the threat from Reform. Reform sources say the party will likely fight the next London mayoral election with a focus on law and order, taking inspiration from the political battles over spiralling crime in 1980s New York City. Another figure spoken of as a Reform London mayor is Ant Middleton, the former Royal Marines Commando who made his name on military-based reality TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins. Mr Middleton has said 'it's inevitable that I'm going to be the next Mayor of London' and has already set out a raft of possible policies for the capital. These include introducing a 'Military Guard Unit' on the streets of London to 'be a reactive and deterrent force on the ground'. He suggested such a unit would only accept 'British applicants' and its task would be 'to uphold the values, principles and standards of what our great nation represents'. Mr Middleton endorsed Reform at its conference in September following the general election. He has since grown close to the party's leadership and even visited Washington DC with Nigel Farage for the second inauguration of Donald Trump. In March the UK Insolvency Service banned Mr Middleton from being a company director over unpaid taxes. Derek Chisora, the Zimbabwe-born heavyweight boxer, is spoken of as another possible mayoral candidate for the party. It is understood that Mr Chisora, a longstanding supporter of Reform UK and its predecessor the Brexit party, has been inspired by the success of fellow boxer Luke Campbell who won the Hull mayoral election for Reform in May. In January Mr Middleton and Mr Chisora both attended a slick fundraiser for the party at the Mayfair private members' club Oswalds. In previous elections Sir Sadiq benefitted from a ranked-preference voting system in which ballots cast for other Left-wing candidates would eventually end up in his pile. However mayoral elections are now largely fought according to first-past-the-post. It was the first-past-the-post system that nearly crowned Arron Banks, the billionaire Reform supporter, as mayor of the West of England in May. Despite the Left-wing bent of Bristol, the biggest city in the area, votes were scattered between Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats with Mr Banks achieving an impressive second place and being just 6,000 votes away from taking power. In the capital, Reform is now projected to replace the Tories as the major political force in outer London if current polling numbers are reflected in the next parliamentary and Assembly elections in Greater London.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Albanian wanted for ‘ordering hit in blood feud' lived in Britain undetected for years
An Albanian fugitive wanted for allegedly ordering a murder in a blood feud in his home country has lived in Britain undetected for four years. Lorenc Lala, 47, was arrested by police this week after Albanian law enforcement tracked him down to the UK and issued a warrant seeking his arrest and extradition for trial in his home country. He is alleged to have organised the payment of 50,000 euros (£42,000) for the murder of Albi Bashaliu in 2021 in revenge for the previous killing of another man in the village of Gjocaj in Peqin. Lala is understood to have fled Albania to Britain in the belief that it provided a safer location outside the reach of the European arrest warrant. Since Britain left the EU, it is no longer part of the warrant system. 'A new generation of Albanians involved in organised crime and wanted in Albania, Italy, Greece or Germany are entering the UK illegally mostly in the back of lorries,' said an expert on Albanian organised crime. 'They are using the UK as a secure place to avoid as much as they can any European Warrant Arrest issued for them.' Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: 'The UK cannot become some sort of safe haven for dangerous criminals. We need a crackdown on border security to ensure illegal immigrants and dangerous criminals cannot enter the UK. 'I am concerned that this Albanian suspect might try to exploit our weak human rights laws to stay here. That's why the human rights act needs to be repealed for immigration matters.' Lala was arrested by the Metropolitan Police extradition unit and appeared before Westminster magistrates on charges of conspiracy to murder in Albania. He is currently being held in custody before a further hearing in July as Albania seeks to extradite him. In a statement, the Albanian State Police said he had been charged in absentia for his alleged 'involvement in a blood feud murder, creating the conditions to kill, and for being a member of an organised crime group.' 'The killing of Albi Bashaliu took place in 2021. Lorenc Lala was the organiser of that murder, financing others to carry it out and creating the conditions for the crime to happen. He then helped the killer flee the crime scene,' said the statement. After the murder, Lala - who was also known by the alias Kristian Lala - fled Albania. He went into hiding in the UK. His whereabouts in the UK was eventually established through information shared by Albanian police with the UK authorities. Kreshnik Ajazi, the head of the prosecutor's office in Elbasan, a city in central Albania, who investigated this murder said they had solved the case after a member of the criminal group decided to cooperate with the police. 'His arrest in the UK and potential extradition by British courts is a major success and continues the excellent relationship between our authorities in terms of mutual cooperation in the criminal justice field,' he said. A Home Office spokesman said: 'The UK has extensive arrangements in place to work with law enforcement partners across the world, including Albania, to ensure that the UK can never be a safe haven for those seeking to evade justice.' A Home office source said it had formal extradition arrangements with Albania. Prior to leaving the EU, the UK only operated the European Arrest Warrant with EU Member States, which does not include Albania. The Telegraph revealed in 2023 how the record illegal Channel crossings of more than 12,000 Albanians in 2022 led to a crime surge, with 80 Albanian migrants being sentenced to 130 years in jail in the first four months of that year alone. A series of agreements between the UK and Albania to crackdown on crime and fast track deportations has led to the number of Albanians crossing the channel to drop to just 630 last year.
