UK police say more than 500 people arrested in pro-Palestinian events over weekend
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US accuses UK of 'significant human rights issues' and restricting free speech
The US State Department has accused the UK of having "significant human rights issues", including restrictions on free speech. The unflattering assessment comes via a new version of an annual Human Rights Practices report, with its publication coinciding with Vice President JD Vance's holiday in the Cotswolds. Politics Hub: Follow latest updates and analysis It says human rights in the UK "worsened" in 2024, with "credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression", as well as "crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism" since the 7 October Hamas attack against Israel. On free speech, while "generally provided" for, the report cites "specific areas of concern" around limits on "political speech deemed 'hateful' or 'offensive'". Sir Keir Starmer has previously defended the UK's record on free speech after concerns were raised by Mr Vance. In response to the report, a UK government spokesperson said: "Free speech is vital for democracy around the world including here in the UK, and we are proud to uphold freedoms whilst keeping our citizens safe." The US report highlights Britain's public space protection orders, which allow councils to restrict certain activities in some public places to prevent antisocial behaviour. It also references "safe access zones" around abortion clinics, which the Home Office says are designed to protect women from harassment or distress. They have been criticised by Mr Vance before, notably back in February during a headline-grabbing speech at the Munich Security Conference. The report also criticises the Online Safety Act and accuses ministers of intervening to "chill speech" about last summer's murders in Southport, highlighting arrests made in the wake of the subsequent riots. Ministers have said the Online Safety Act is about protecting children, and repeatedly gone so far as to suggest people who are opposed to it are on the side of predators. Read more politics news: The report comes months after during a summit at the White House, cutting in when Donald Trump's VP claimed there are "infringements on free speech" in the UK. "We've had free speech for a very long time, it will last a long time, and we are very proud of that," the PM said. But Mr Vance again raised concerns during a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at his country estate in Kent last week, saying he didn't want the UK to go down a "very dark path" of losing free speech. The US State Department's report echoes similar accusations made by the likes of Nigel Farage and Elon Musk. The Trump administration itself has been accused of trying to curtail free speech and stifle criticism, most notably by targeting universities - Harvard chief among them.
CBS News
17 minutes ago
- CBS News
Philadelphia police arrest 2nd suspect for deadly Grays Ferry mass shooting, officials say
Philadelphia police have arrested a second suspect in connection with a July mass shooting in the city's Grays Ferry section, a spokesperson said. Daquan Brown. 21, was arrested on Tuesday without incident at a home in Grays Ferry, police said. Brown faces charges including murder, attempted murder and gun offenses for the shooting that killed three people and injured nine on the 1500 block of South Etting Street on July 7 around 1 a.m., according to police. Brown is the second person arrested for the shooting. Terrell Frazier, 22, was arrested last week and is charged with three counts of murder, nine counts of attempted murder and several other offenses, police said. Police said previously they have traced the bullets found at the scene to 13 different guns and are looking for 11 other suspects. "I was on that block within an hour or so of this incident, and I think every parked car had a bullet in it," Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said in a news conference last week. The shooting likely stemmed from one person firing a gun at a gathering of 100 to 200 people on the block, Vanore said. There was no fight or obvious target, police said. Police have released photos they say show some of the suspects in the shooting and are asking for the public's help. "We have some good leads, but we still need help with this case," Vanore said during last week's briefing. "We need people, if you know who they are, to call us." Police are offering a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction.
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Trump Deploys National Guard for D.C. Crime but Called Jan. 6 Rioters ‘Very Special'
The heart of D.C. was in a state of lawlessness. Roving mobs of wild men smashed windows, threatened murder and attacked the police. One rioter struck an officer in the face with a baton. Another threw a chair at police officers and pepper-sprayed them. Others beat and used a stun gun on an officer, nearly killing him. On Jan. 6, 2021, a pro-Trump mob committed a month's worth of crime in the span of about three hours. The F.B.I. has estimated that around 2,000 people took part in criminal acts that day, and more than 600 people were charged with assaulting, resisting or interfering with the police. (Citywide, Washington currently averages about 70 crimes a day.) But President Trump's handling of the most lawless day in recent Washington history stands in sharp contrast to his announcement on Monday that he needed to use the full force of the federal government to crack down on 'violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals' in the nation's capital. After a prominent member of the Department of Government Efficiency, known by his online pseudonym, 'Big Balls,' was assaulted this month, the president took federal control of Washington's police force and mobilized National Guard troops. His team passed out a packet of mug shots, and Mr. Trump described 'roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
