March held against knife crime after Ibrahima Seck death
About 1,000 people took part in a march against knife crime following the fatal stabbing of a teenager who was on his way to play football.Ibrahima Seck,14, had been walking with his brothers and friends to a park in New Moston, Manchester, when he was attacked on 8 June.His parents, who previously said he was "funny, caring, and hardworking", led the march near where he was stabbed on Broadway to mark a week since his death.Karen Birch, who worked with Ibrahima at his school and helped organise the event, told BBC North West Tonight the community was "devastated and in tears".
Ms Birch said: "We are holding this in memory of him and of all the other youths in the area who have died through knife crime."We can't keep putting a plaster over this and thinking that it's not happening. We have to stop it and that starts at home, it starts with parenting, it starts in schools."We need basic skills bringing back into our classroom – what is right, what is wrong."
Marchers gathered at the nearby home of a couple who had tried to save the injured Ibrahima after he asked them for help.The teenager's father led the crowd in chants of "I don't want to die" after it was reported that his son made the remark to the couple.Ibrahima had a 100% school attendance rate and had been doing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, according to his head teacher at Greater Manchester Independent School, who described him as a "lively, intelligent and engaging young man whose presence lit up every room".Two 14-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to their ages, have been charged with his murder and possession of a bladed article. They will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Woman and instructor die in tandem skydiving accident in Devon
A mother-of-four and her sky diving instructor have died in a tandem parachute jump as the woman's partner looked on. Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, died in the incident at an aerodrome in Devon on Friday, her family said. Emergency services were called to the scene in the vicinity of Dunkeswell airfield near Honiton 'following concerns for the welfare of two people', Devon and Cornwall Police said. The instructor who died alongside Taylor is Adam Harrison, it was reported. Harrison had worked as a skydiving instructor since September 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was also training as a chiropractic student. The two skydivers were confirmed dead at the scene, and the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry has begun an investigation. Taylor's partner, Scott Armstrong said that he saw Taylor and Harrison's bodies on the landing strip, which were 'still together'. According to him, they were both 'clearly dead'. Armstrong later revealed that he bought the tandem jump as a gift to his 'adrenaline junkie' girlfriend. He told The Mirror: 'Belinda was my absolute world. She was so kind and giving and would do anything for anyone. 'My nine-year-old son recently came to live with us, and she welcomed him with open arms and was brilliant. As a thank you present, I decided to buy her the tandem skydive. She was absolutely buzzing about it.' Police attended the scene SWNS Armstrong also wrote on social media on Sunday: 'I want answers. Today, they took my world away.' He added: 'I miss you so much, you were my best friend, thank you for everything you done for me. From making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess. 'I'm so lost without you. There's just so much that I don't have the words to express it. I feel so lost I don't know where home is without you.' Her eldest son, Connor Bowles, told Devon Live that Taylor was a mother of four children, three adult boys and one teenage girl, and a grandmother to two young children. 'She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones', Bowles said. 'She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.' Witnesses who were at the site on Friday have described the scene, with one saying: 'My husband and I were there when this awful tragedy happened. 'He was all harnessed up ready to do the next jump when they cancelled it and evacuated the area.' Police are appealing for information about the incident, but said in a statement that emergency services were called at 1pm on Friday and 'it was reported that they were skydivers'. 'They were sadly both confirmed deceased at the scene and their families have been informed,' the force said. 'Scene guards remain in place and inquiries are ongoing by the relevant agencies.' Another skydiver at the airfield jumped moments after Taylor and watched helplessly from above as the tragedy unfolded. They told The Sun: 'Belinda jumped out, all the safety checks were done, all the parachute checks, the handles and goggles were pulled.' The seasoned jumper revealed that her instructor finished the dive 'quicker than usual' after noticing the 'commotion' on the ground. The diver was then told to get away from the airfield as quickly as possible, but saw Armstrong attempting to find Taylor. They said: 'Her partner jumped in his car to get to the other airfield to see what was going on. They weren't providing updates to the partner. He found out for himself when he saw the bodies. He could do nothing to save her. 'Everyone was visibly upset and distressed.' Devon in Sight, a local charity, said that it had suspended its upcoming skydiving events while the investigation was ongoing. Grahame Flynn, the charity's chief executive, said: 'Having undertaken two skydive challenges in 2018 and 2022 I know how meticulous the team at Skydive Buzz are in their training. 'In view of this tragic news our events planned for Saturday June 21, Wednesday June 25 and Saturday July 5 are suspended pending investigation. 'Our Jump for Sight challenges have raised significant funds for our work over the years. 'At this time, our thoughts are with the instructor and student who lost their lives and their families, friends and colleagues.' Robert Gibson, British Skydiving's chief executive, confirmed that an investigation had been launched and his organisation was assisting authorities. In a statement, he said: 'Today British Skydiving has been notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives. 'Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community. A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident. Once complete, a report will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the British Skydiving Safety & Training Committee and any other relevant authorities. 'No further details will be provided at this time. We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected.' A spokesman for the CAA said: 'We are aware of the incident and of our thoughts are of course with the friends and family at this difficult time. 'We will work closely with the relevant authorities to understand what happened and are awaiting the report into the incident.' The incident comes weeks after a highly experienced skydiver, who had completed more than 400 previous jumps, died after her parachute did not open during a jump near the village of Shotton Colliery, Co Durham, on April 27. Jade Damarell, 32, a marketing manager, who was believed to have taken her own life, had recently split up from her husband and was living with a new boyfriend, her friends said.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Chilling joke made by 'selfless' mother, 48, before she plunged 15,000ft to her death during tandem sky dive - as heartbroken family demand 'justice'
A mother-of-four who plunged to her death during a tandem sky dive chillingly made a joke that she was daring to jump on 'Friday the 13th', her heartbroken family have revealed. Belinda Taylor, from Totnes in Devon, fell 15,000ft dive to her death alongside an instructor in a 'tragic accident' at Dunkeswell Airfield, in Devon, on Friday. The 48-year-old's son, Elias, 20, said she had become more 'adventurous' after meeting her new boyfriend Scott Armstrong, who brought the jump for her as a present. Elias, a university student who lives in west London, described his mother, 48, as 'selfless', telling MailOnline: 'She really just put everyone above herself. It's really difficult for (younger sister) Emily as she was the one living there with mum. 'I spoke to her a week before it happened. 'It's kind of weird thinking about it now, but at the time obviously she was saying how the jump would take place on Friday 13th and all those things ... you don't really expect what happened to happened. 'She was mentioning it in a jokey way. 'It's all still a bit of a shock. Recently she had (boyfriend) Scott and two of his kids, and looked after them. She was getting more adventurous with him, kayaking and stuff, looking to have that excitement and have more fun. 'She talked for ages and ages, and always wanted to have a chat. She was such a positive person.' He added: 'We just want answers about what happened and how it could have happened. 'We want as much information as possible, we feel like it would help us be at peace.' Grieving partner Mr Armstrong has demanded information about what caused the tragedy, which saw Ms Taylor and her instructor die on Friday afternoon and is now being probed by the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry. The instructor, named by The Telegraph as Adam Harrison had worked as a skydiving instructor since September 2020. The 30-year-old, who has been described by his sister as 'wonderful', was also training as a chiropractor. In a tribute, Mr Harrison's sister, Amy Harrison extended her condolences to Ms Taylors family. She said: 'Adam had built a sterling reputation as a professional instructor, and we take comfort in knowing that he would undoubtedly have done everything in his power to avert any crisis.' Ms Taylor's ex-husband Bachir Baaklini was in tears as he described wanting 'justice' for Ms Taylor, with whom he shares two biological children, Elias and Emily, 13. Speaking at his family home in west London, Mr Baaklini told MailOnline: 'We want her to rest in peace but we need justice. 'This should not have happened. We have got to know why the kids lost their mum.' Mr Baaklini, a restauranteur of Lebanese origin, described how the pair had a 'really good, positive' relationship in the last five years, and that Ms Taylor particularly got on with his wife. He laughed as he recalled: 'I used to see her every two or three weeks, she used to speak to my wife more than me. 'Every time I send her a message of two words or something, she will send a five-or ten-minute voice note. 'The minute I answer back she sends another ten-minute message, so I left it to my wife. 'My wife and her got on really well. 'But I feel really guilty because I am not going to hear her voice again. 'She came and stayed with us two or three weeks ago because she came to pick Emily up.' He added: 'She had two step sons and they call me 'dad', today is Father's Day and they messaged me. We all got on so well.' Mr Armstrong revealed how he watched in horror as it happened - after buying her the jump as a present. He wrote on social media: 'I want answers. Today, they took my world away.' He added: 'I miss you so much, you were my best friend, thank you for everything you done for me. From making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess. 'I'm so lost without you. There's just so much that I don't have the words to express it. I feel so lost i dont know where home is without you.' He has also described buying the sky dive jump experience for Ms Taylor, also a grandmother-of-two, as a 'thank you' gesture - and witnessed what happened it alongside his nine-year-old son. Belinda Taylor's grieving partner Scott Armstrong has paid tribute to her on Facebook He told the Mirror: 'The plan was to do a 7,000ft jump, but at the last minute she said she wanted to do a 15,000ft one, so I paid the extra money. They were the last group to go up. 'I found Belinda and the instructor lying there, still together, both clearly dead. It was a horrific sight. 'I miss her so much. I'm so lost without her. She meant the world to all of us and we'll never forget her. 'She was an adrenaline junkie and an adventurer. She'd done kayaking and all sorts.' A friend told MailOnline that Mr Armstrong was 'not in a good place'. They said: 'He's absolutely devastated. He knows something's not right. 'He's not a silly boy, he knows when something's wrong. 'She had never done it before. It was something she always wanted to do so Scott paid for it for her. 'He's absolutely traumatised and that she's gone.' Meanwhile, other tributes to Ms Taylor have been given - with her eldest son Connor Bowles telling DevonLive: 'On Friday, June 13, our family lost our mum Belinda Taylor. 'She was a mother of four children, three adult boys and one teenage girl, and a grandmother to two young children. 'She was a selfless woman who wanted only the best for others and especially her loved ones. 'She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life. 'We as a family would like to ask for peace and privacy during this time whilst we grieve our loss and remember our mum as we should do.' Ms Taylor had three adult sons and a teenage daughter, as well as welcoming Mr Armstrong's nine-year-old son. Other witnesses who were at the site on Friday have described the scene, with one saying: 'My husband and I were there when this awful tragedy happened. 'He was all harnessed up ready to do the next jump when they cancelled it and evacuated the area. 'The emergency services arrived incredibly quickly. Such devastating news and heartfelt condolences to the families of both victims.' 'He was all harnessed up ready to do the next jump when they cancelled it and evacuated the area. Another witness added: 'My husband and I were at the cafe waiting to be served when the cafe was told to close with no reason given. 'We left, rather disgruntled at missing out on our coffee. Surprising how things are put in to perspective when you know the facts. 'Our thoughts and condolences are with all those affected by this very sad tragedy.' British Skydiving chief executive Robert Gibson earlier posted online: 'Today, Friday 13 June 2025, British Skydiving has been notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives. 'Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community. 'A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident. 'Once complete, a report - setting out the Board's conclusions and any recommendations - will be submitted to the coroner, the police, the CAA, the British Skydiving Safety & Training Committee (STC) and any other relevant authorities. 'No further details will be provided at this time. We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected at this difficult time.' Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Emergency services were called to the area of Dunkeswell Aerodrome at around 1pm on Friday 13 June following concerns for the welfare of two people. 'It was reported that they were skydivers. They were sadly both confirmed deceased at the scene and their families have been informed. 'Scene guards remain in place and enquiries are ongoing by the relevant agencies. If anyone has information which may assist us, please call 101 or report via our website quoting 50250150193.' A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority said: 'We are aware of the incident and of our thoughts are of course with the friends and family at this difficult time.' The CAA added they could not comment any further due to the ongoing investigation. They said: 'We will work closely with the relevant authorities to understand what happened and are awaiting the report into the incident.' It comes after a separate skydiver was feared to have taken her own life in a 10,000ft fall from the sky in Shotton Colliery, Co Durham. Jade Damarell, 32, an experienced parachutist who had accomplished more than 400 jumps, died instantly after hitting the ground during a jump at the base. Police quickly ruled out any suspicious circumstances and were understood to have discovered notes disclosing her intentions. MailOnline understands that Ms Damarell, from Caerphilly, south Wales, had broken up with her boyfriend the day prior to taking to the skies.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: The drumbeat of doubts over Lucy Letby's conviction has grown so loud that justice now demands an urgent resolution - one way or the other
There can be no more despicable a crime than to murder a baby. To deliberately, systematically and with malice aforethought kill seven newborn infants in their hospital cots and attempt to kill seven more is an evil almost beyond belief. That horror is compounded when the serial murderer proves to be a young, seemingly dedicated neo-natal nurse, in whose care those babies had been placed by trusting parents. It rocks the nation's confidence not just in the NHS but in humanity itself.
