The surprising history of using vehicles as weapons for mass attacks
Charles Lane, a former columnist and deputy opinion editor at The Post, writes an occasional column for the Free Press.
Another day, another apparent mass murder attempt by someone ramming a car into a crowded public space. This time it happened on Monday in Liverpool, where some 65 people sustained injuries, four life-threatening, when a driver plowed his dark gray Ford Galaxy minivan through a throng of celebrating soccer fans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana receiving minimum legal entitlements while in prison
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is currently receiving the legal minimum while serving 52 years at HMP Belmarsh, the ECHO has learned. The teenage killer horrifically killed three children in Southport on July 29 last year when he walked into a Taylor Swift-themed workshop shortly before midday. The then-17-year-old stabbed 11 children, killing three girls and injuring the rest, as well as attacking two adults in the rampage. Following his arrest at the scene, ricin was found in his bedroom at his family home in Banks, Lancashire, as well as a plethora of weapons and a second identical knife to that he used in the attack wrapped in his duvet. It further transpired how the murderer had previously been reported to Prevent on three occasions as well as being stopped by his own dad from getting in a taxi destined for Range High School just seven days prior to the attack on Hart Street, Southport. READ MORE: Mum in tears as 'TikTok addiction' means she's going to prison READ MORE: Dad took a knife to a 'straightener' in row over kids' football He was sentenced to life imprisonment in January this year, with him being kept in HMP Belmarsh, a high-security category A facility. But since being locked up, the killer has allegedly attacked a prison officer, hospitalising him and forcing him to take time off work. Rudakabana was in his prison cell at the time of the attack, and allegedly used boiling water from a kettle in the room, as reported by Sky News. He then allegedly threw the boiling water over the officer through a hatch in his cell door. The prison officer was taken to hospital as a precaution but only suffered minor injuries. Since then, Rudakubana has been given the legal minimum entitlements a prisoner can have, which restricts the amount of time he spends outside his cell and what he has access to. It is understood the legal minimum means he can still purchase items from the canteen using money either earnt at the prison or sent to him by family members but spends limited time outside of his cell and is brought items to where he is staying. National chair of the Prison Officers Association, Mark Fairhurst, told the ECHO: "It is normal for every prisoner to have access to prison canteen items that they may purchase from private cash or prison earnings. "Restricting this would probably lead to a legal challenge under the human rights act so the service would not be able to remove these privileges from prisoners." A Met Police spokesperson told the ECHO: "The Met is investigating after a prison officer was subject to a serious assault at HMP Belmarsh on the afternoon of Thursday, 8 May. "The prison officer was taken to hospital where he was assessed before being discharged later the same day. "The investigation is being led by officers from the Prison Investigation Team on the Met's South East Command Unit."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Richard Hughes delivers GENIUS masterstroke
It's a decision that has proven to be a masterstroke. Especially, in the aftermath of the Europa League final. Amorim has since ended up at Old Trafford, where admittedly he's inherited an even more difficult job. Yet no matter how difficult his job has been, the negative records he has set over the course of the last few months speak for themselves. Advertisement Manchester United could finish as low as 17th in the Premier League table. If it was any other season they would be in a relegation battle heading into the final day, having not even clinched the magical 40 points. Amorim's only redemption was supposed to be the Europa League final. But on Wednesday night, Manchester United faltered at the final hurdle. To make matters worse, it was to Tottenham that they faltered - a side who have perennially been known not to win trophies. The embarrassment is night for Amorim. He's been exposed and he's looked out of sorts as United. The Telegraph has even suggested, he would be open to leaving the club already and jumping ship. Advertisement Liverpool fans will be grateful that in the end Hughes opted to pursue Slot and not Amorim. Given everything we have seen it was a genius masterstroke from the Liverpool sporting director. The whole recruitment team had done their due diligence on both managers. And it paid off, Slot not only has the tactical know-how to become a Premier League champion, he's shown this season he's got the demeanour to deal with the media and with big characters in the dressing room. He was simply the best man for the job and credit to Hughes who spotted this early on and who was not afraid to go against the grain, when everyone was screaming Amorim.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Caoimhin Kelleher ‘buzzing' as he completes £18m move to Brentford from Liverpool
Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has left Liverpool to join Brentford in a £18m deal. It brings to an end a nine-year stay at the club, with Liverpool receiving an initial £12.5m for Kelleher and add-ons taking the overall fee to £18m. Advertisement The 26-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Bees, with the club holding an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months. Kelleher is expected to take over as Brentford's first choice goalkeeper following the departure of Dutch international Mark Flekken, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen for around £11m. 'I'm buzzing, I'm really happy to be here,' said the 26-year-old. 'I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a number one and to play every week. 'I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible.' Advertisement The Irishman joined Liverpool from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015, leaves the Merseyside club having made 67 senior appearances, including 25 in the Premier League. A dependable deputy to Alisson Becker, he earned a reputation as a composed shot-stopper and was particularly instrumental in Liverpool's domestic cup runs where he memorably scored a penalty in the shootout that decided the 2022 Carabao Cup final. Over the course of his Liverpool career, Kelleher won an impressive array of silverware including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, and the UEFA Super Cup. He kept 24 clean sheets during his time with the Reds and featured in more than 40 cup matches. Despite his success, Kelleher has been open about his ambition to play regular first-team football. Speaking last month, he said: 'I think I've said it before as well that I feel like I'm a number one and I feel like I'm good enough to play week in, week out. That's what I'm looking to do.' Advertisement Kelleher's arrival signals a fresh start and a chance for the Irishman to establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League. This season, Kelleher featured in 20 matches for Liverpool, ten of which came in the Premier League. However, his path to more minutes became even more complicated with Liverpool set to welcome Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in July. The Georgian international is expected to compete with Alisson for the No. 1 spot following a £29m transfer agreed last summer. His former club Ringmahon Rangers are also set to benefit from the transfer thanks to a 20% sell-on clause included in his original move to Liverpool, netting them a substantial seven figure sum. Kelleher becomes the second major departure from Liverpool this summer, following former vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold's £10m move to Real Madrid.
