Tributes paid after death of former NI Civil Service chief Kenneth Bloomfield
'In the decades since his formal retirement, he continued that commitment, offering his skills and experience in the service of the community, most particularly in his work as victims'commissioner in the early days of the Assembly, a role which he notably described as being a 'painful privilege'.'
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North Wales Live
34 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Two arrested after fatal quadbike crash on major Welsh road
Two men have been arrested following a man's death after a collision on a major Welsh road. The crash happened on the A465 westbound, between Rhymney and Dowlais on Saturday morning, May 31, in South Wales and a 20-year-old man from Brynmawr was pronounced dead. Emergency services were called, after reports of a crash where a a quadbike was found overturned at around 4.50am on Saturday, May 31. Gwent Police have confirmed that two men have been arrested in connection with the early morning crash, reports WalesOnline. Paramedics pronounced the 20-year-old man dead at the scene after he was found next to the overturned quadbike. Stay informed on everything Merthyr Tydfil by signing up to our newsletter here A white BMW was also found burnt out in the Dowlais area which investigating officers believe may be involved in the collision. A 40-year-old man from Merthyr is currently in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and driving whilst unfit through drink and driving whilst unfit through drugs. A 37-year-old from Merthyr has also been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender and remains in police custody at this time. A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "Two men in custody following a road traffic collision on the A465 westbound, between Rhymney and Dowlais. "Anyone with any information can call 101 or send us a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2500171434. You can also call contact Crimestoppers anonymously with information by calling 0800 555 111."
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
FBI storm Colorado terror suspect's home as Trump admin reveals how Biden allowed 'illegal alien' to stay in the US
The home of an illegal alien suspected of committing an atrocious firebomb terror attack at a Colorado pro-Israel demonstration was surrounded by police last night. Mohamed Soliman, 45, unleashed terror on a group of about 30 peaceful protestors in Boulder, using a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set eight victims alight. The casualties, which included an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, were rushed to hospital on Sunday afternoon with varying injuries but at least one was considered critical. Soliman arrived in the United States from Egypt in August 2022, but overstayed his initial tourist visa and was ultimately handed a two-year work permit by the Biden administration, which he also overstayed, DHS sources told Fox News. Now an illegal alien, the Trump administration turned up the heat on Biden overnight, demanding answers as to why Soliman was allowed to remain in the country despite twice breaching the conditions of his visa. 'Suicidal migration must be fully reversed,' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said. 'The Biden Admin granted the alien a visa and then, when he illegally overstayed, they gave him a work permit. 'Immigration security is national security. No more hostile migration. Keep them out and send them back.' Soliman's latest work permit lapsed in March 2025. The sources said he had filed a claim with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services on September 9, 2022, and the status of that claim remains unclear. Authorities revealed late on Sunday night that the casualty toll had risen from six to eight as the investigation into Soliman's alleged actions continues Authorities revealed late on Sunday night that the casualty toll had risen from six to eight as the investigation into Soliman's alleged actions continues. The victims are now aged between 52 and 88. Two of them had to be airlifted to a burn unit with serious injuries, while the remainder suffered minor injuries. In addition to the Holocaust refugee, who has been described as a 'very loving person', a second victim is a professor at Colorado University. The FBI was quick to describe Soliman's actions as hate motivated and an act of terror. Officers within the FBI's Denver unit arrived at a home linked to the suspect to conduct 'court-authorized law enforcement activity' as part of the investigation. The unassuming El Paso County home was surrounded by officers as confused neighbors noted they didn't know the residents of the address well. 'As this is an ongoing investigation, no additional information is available at this time,' the FBI said. According to the New York Times, a woman was allowed to enter the home which had been identified as belonging to Soliman. And according to CNN, senior officials are closely examining the 45-year-old's mental health history. 'He's shirtless, screaming, used rudimentary (explosive) devices, and stuck around to be arrested,' one source said. The source said Soliman's method of attack did not align with a thought-out plan to cause large scale casualties. But chilling footage clearly demonstrated that Soliman was able to exact terror upon his targets at Pearl Street Mall on Sunday. Witnesses recalled the horror of seeing victims writhe around on the floor in pain as their skin melted off their bodies as Soliman paced up and down shouting vile accusations at the traumatized group. One witness, identified only as Brian, said he watched Good Samaritans rush toward the carnage to offer assistance to the victims. One woman was being wrapped up and attended to on the ground. Another, he said, 'looked like their skin had just melted off their bodies. 'He was very erratic, shouting and spewing terrible things at different people.' During the attack, he was shouting 'Free Palestine' at the Jewish demonstrators. California tourist Alex Osante was eating at an Italian restaurant off Boulder's famed Pearl Street pedestrian mall when he heard a 'big boom' and saw a woman 'on fire from head to toe on fire.' Within minutes, a nearby man ran to his table to grab two bottles of water before rushing back to victims writhing in flames on the ground. 'People were screaming and yelling … tripping over each other,' he told Daily Mail. 'The terrorist had a Molotov cocktail in his hand. He had two other bottles, and he threw a bottle at the group, and a lady caught on fire from head to toe – fully immersed in fire. 'And then the other few people, maybe four others, were also on fire – but not as bad,' he said. He said he saw victims lying on the grass and writhing around while it felt 'way too long' until first responders arrived. Meanwhile, Soliman appeared to taunt the victims while brandishing bottles of alcohol for the Molotov cocktails in each hand as smoke rose from the scene. Wearing only jeans and sunglasses, he yelled: 'End Zionists... they are terrorists' and 'free Palestine'. He also said: 'How many children have you killed?' according to the ADL Center on Extremism. Ed Victor, who was participating in the walk, told CBS he and a group of about 30 people had gathered for their peaceful demonstration on Sunday afternoon as they had every week since the October 7 attacks. He said they would sing songs and share the names of the hostages in Gaza each week. Sometimes they were heckled, often they were praised and clapped by onlookers. Whatever reception they received, they never expected to be attacked. Sharing details of Sunday's chilling events, he said: 'So we stood up, lined up in front of the old Boulder courthouse, and I was actually on the far west side. 'And there was somebody there that I didn't even notice, although he was making a lot of noise, but I'm just focused on my job of being quiet and getting lined up. 'From my point of view, all of a sudden, I felt the heat. 'It was a Molotov cocktail equivalent, a gas bomb in a glass jar, thrown. Av [another marcher] saw it, a big flame as high as a tree, and all I saw was someone on fire.' While another participant who had medical experience rushed in to help the victim, Victor stayed back with her husband, providing him comfort. Street performer Peter Irish described witnessing the horrors of the attack as 'traumatic'. 'I saw the aftermath,' he told CBS Colorado. 'It was like minutes after. I came out, it was chaos, people were writhing on the ground. It was traumatic to watch, to be honest with you. It was chaos.' Jewish human rights organization the Simon Wiesenthal Center told the Boulder attack came on the first day of a religious holiday. 'On the eve of Shavuot, a sacred celebration of Jewish identity and tradition, we are forced yet again to confront a horrifying reality: Being Jewish, supporting Israel, or simply gathering as a community now makes American Jews a target,' the center's CEO Jim Berk said. The incident has attracted an outpouring of support for the community and outrage for the suspect's actions, particularly as the Jewish diaspora in America still reels from the shooting death of two young embassy employees just a fortnight ago. FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident a 'terror attack' while Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it 'appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted.' New York Congressman Ritchie Torres blamed a 'hate movement' for contributing to rising anti-Semitism in the community, while Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino issued a chilling warning that his department would not rest until justice was served.
STV News
42 minutes ago
- STV News
Family of boy killed by lorry consider civil case after police drop inquiry
The family of a seven-year-old boy who died in 1989 after being knocked down by a lorry in Dundee say they are considering launching a civil dispute. Police Scotland has ruled that no criminal action will be taken into the death of Danny Leech because of 'insufficient evidence'. Now his loved ones are planning a separate legal bid – the details of which they can't yet disclose – as they seek the justice they say Danny deserves. 'Frustration is key, without a doubt. It's aimed at no one in particular,' said Danny's brother John Leech, whose own investigations sparked a police review of the case. STV News John Leech received Police Scotland's findings last month. 'We still have a couple of avenues to look into and decide, once we've had a family discussion, the options that we will be looking into.' Danny's death has been the centre of a fresh investigation in recent months. After years of campaigning from the Leech family, officers returned to the scene of the busy junction on Arbroath Road, using the same model of lorry to take the same left-hand turn. Police Scotland recently presented their findings to Danny's loved ones. The report confirmed the family's suspicions that the lorry driver's windscreen view was compromised by items including hanging pendants and soft toys. However, it deemed this was 'likely not a factor' in the collision, arguing the driver's nearside view was of 'higher priority'. The report concluded Danny's death was the result of an 'injudicious decision' to cross the road. 'I think criminally the road is at an end, there will be no criminal proceedings and as a lawyer, I fully understand why and have explained that to the family,' said George Donnelly, who has supported the Leech family in discussions with police. STV News 'As far as the civil case is concerned, there is one avenue the family continue to investigate.' The Leech family has taken civil action before. In the 1990s, a case against the driver of the lorry was dropped, which the family claim was due to the appearance of a statement attributed to Danny's cousin Karen in the hours after his death. It stated the seven-year-old ran off the pavement into the side of the lorry. Karen has since denied making that statement, and in a revised account, said the impact was with the front of the vehicle. 'The family should be very proud that they have achieved much more than the original inquiry did in 1989,' added Donnelly. 'They have traced witnesses and dug much deeper than anyone else did. 'I think the real problem is, a proper job may not have been done in 1989 and I think that's what's really bothering the family.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
