Teen accused of threatening Halifax high school pleads guilty to gun-related offence
The 16-year-old was arrested at his home on the morning of April 23 after police received a tip from a suicide hotline operator alleging the teen said he was going to shoot up Citadel High and then take his own life.
The teen appeared in youth justice court in Halifax on Monday and entered a guilty plea to a charge of unlawfully handling ammunition. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
The boy, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is facing 32 other charges, including other gun-related offences and threats against other students and racialized communities.
Many of the charges relate to rifles, shotguns and different airguns found at the teen's home. He is also charged with wilfully promoting hatred against Black and Jewish communities over the last year by creating online hate groups, according to court documents.
He is expected to be back in court to enter a plea for those remaining charges next month.
The teenager, who was denied bail at a hearing in May, has remained in custody since he was arrested more than seven weeks ago.
On Monday, Judge Bronwyn Duffy ordered the teen to undergo a psychological assessment at the request of his lawyer.
The assessment is expected to take several weeks but be complete before the teen is sentenced in September.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
BBC pressured to cut ties with author Sally Rooney over support for terrorist group Palestine Action
The BBC faces mounting pressure to sever ties with bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney, who recently said she would donate money to a pro-Palestinian organization that British authorities have categorized as terrorists. Rooney, the controversial author of a book that was adapted into a popular movie streamed on the British public broadcaster, stunned critics last weekend by announcing she would give a percentage of proceeds from book sales to Palestine Action. 'I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can,' the 34-year-old Rooney told the Irish Times. The defiant novelist, who lives in Ireland and has declared a boycott of Israel, said if that branded her a 'supporter of terrorism' under British law, 'so be it.' Her bombshell declaration triggered fierce backlash from Jewish groups and legal experts who warned the BBC could face criminal liability for continuing to profit from her work. Palestine Action, which was founded in 2020, has generated headlines for targeting British arms companies that conduct business with Israel. The group's members have engaged in blockades, occupied facilities and inflicted property damage at weapons factories and military installations. On July 5, the UK government officially banned Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison and criminalizing any form of support including fundraising, statements or displaying associated materials. Since the ban took effect, over 744 individuals have been arrested for showing support for the group, including a record-breaking single-day arrest of 522 people at a London Parliament Square protest on Aug. 9 The Campaign Against Antisemitism, a UK-based nonprofit, torched Rooney's stance as 'utterly indefensible' and demanded platforms cut ties immediately. 'This goes far beyond political activism — it is a deliberate statement of intent to channel money towards a group that vandalized RAF jets and terrorized the Jewish community,' the organization said. 'Platforms and publishers profiting from her work must urgently review their relationship with her, as they now risk enabling the flow of funds to a terrorist organization.' The BBC has hosted 'Normal People' on iPlayer since its 2020 launch and aired another Rooney adaptation, 'Conversations with Friends,' in 2022. The corporation scrambled to distance itself from the controversy. 'Matters relating to proscribed organizations are for the relevant authorities,' the BBC stated tersely, noting Rooney was never a staff member and what authors do with previously received money is 'a matter for them.' But several BBC insiders expressed dismay privately, with some remarking that Rooney has a reputation for courting controversy, according to the UK-based Times. The timing couldn't be worse for the broadcaster. Netflix began streaming 'Normal People' just two weeks ago, with the 12-part drama immediately cracking the platform's top-10 UK Street fired back Monday, warning donors to Palestine Action they were committing terror offenses under the Terrorism Act. 'There's a difference between showing support for a proscribed organization, which depends on the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest,' a government spokesman said. 'Where activity breaks the law, then obviously the police will take action.' Rooney has been reported to counterterrorism police, though no action is expected since Palestine Action isn't banned in Ireland, where she made her comments. A law enforcement official told the Times that arresting Rooney would be complicated given jurisdictional considerations. 'Ordinarily, offenses occur based on where the person is at the time,' the official told the newspaper. 'If you're in the UK and you're sending money to a proscribed terrorist organization, then yes, it would likely be an offense.' But legal experts told the Times that they believe Rooney could still face prosecution under UK terror finance laws that cover overseas actions. Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, argued the author along with the BBC and booksellers could have broken the law. 'By providing financial assistance to an organization which clearly intends to commit criminal damage in the UK, she is likely to be guilty under UK law for knowingly assisting the commission of criminal offenses,' Turner said. 'I think the BBC and other sellers of her books could also be liable for assisting criminal offenses by Palestine Action as well as offenses under the Terrorism Act 2000 for transferring funds that may be used for the purposes of terrorism.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded Palestine Action more than 'a regular protest group' this past weekend, citing its 'escalating campaign' of activities. The Post has sought comment from the BBC and Rooney.
Time Magazine
6 hours ago
- Time Magazine
D.C. Families Brace For Start of School Under Trump Takeover
On a recent summer night, a 9-year-old girl in Northwest Washington, D.C. was having trouble sleeping. She heard on the news that speaking Spanish could draw the attention of federal agents, and she worried aloud to her Hispanic father that immigration officers might come for her classmates' parents. 'She kept asking, 'Can they come to people's homes? Can they come to our home?'' her father said. 'She was terrified.' Their family, longtime residents of the city and American citizens, are not at risk of deportation. But the girl's anxiety reflects a broader unease rippling through D.C. families as the city's public schools prepare to start a new school year on Monday, Aug. 25, under the shadow of President Donald Trump's takeover of the city's police force and a ramp up in federal immigration enforcement. Across the nation's capital, parents are setting up group chats on WhatsApp and Signal to coordinate carpools and walking groups. Some are pressing the city to relax attendance requirements, out of concern that some families might feel they have to keep their kids at home. 'We've got people volunteering to carpool other people's kids to school because the parents are afraid to try to get their kid to school on their own,' says Catherine Morgan, a D.C. resident whose child starts third grade on Monday. Since announcing in August that he would place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploy National Guard troops to patrol the streets, Trump has insisted his measures are necessary to curb what he has described as 'roving mobs of wild youth' and 'bloodthirsty criminals,' despite statistics showing violent crime in the city had hit a 30-year low earlier this year. His administration has also rolled back protections that once limited immigration enforcement around schools, allowing agents to conduct raids in neighborhoods and workplaces. The result, according to parents, educators and community leaders, is a climate of fear and confusion at the very moment when families are usually focused on first-day jitters, backpacks, and back-to-school clothes. Parents across the city interviewed for this story described adjusting their routines to shield their children from encounters with federal law enforcement whose mandate remains unclear. Marta Urquilla, a D.C. resident and mother of two teenagers, says she will not let her kids ride public buses to school. 'At this point, that's off the table,' she says. 'My kids present as Black, and that's just not something I am inclined to expose them to.' She says families in her neighborhood near Howard University have organized walking groups to the grocery store and that similar plans would be in place for school commutes. The federal occupation, Urquilla adds, has not been evenly felt across the city. 'The closer you get to where immigrants live, to where Black folks live and work, the more you see it,' she says. Rumors of ICE enforcement actions have swirled since Trump's inauguration in January, but have intensified over the past two weeks as ICE, FBI, Border Patrol, National Guard troops, and more have descended on D.C. streets. Videos have circulated of federal agents and local police arresting individuals in handcuffs and stopping others at various checkpoints. Across the country, school districts have been taking precautions to shield children from immigration enforcement. In New York, officials unanimously passed a resolution this year that prohibits ICE agents from entering schools or accessing student records without a judicial warrant. In Los Angeles, school leaders announced new 'safe zones' in areas targeted by ICE to protect students before and after school. D.C. parents, however, remain uncertain how much protection their schools can offer, given the city's lack of statehood and Trump's direct authority over its institutions. At a virtual information session for parents on Wednesday night, D.C. Public Schools officials attempted to address concerns about the increased law enforcement presence in the city, noting that they expect very little impact to schools. "Any law enforcement action on school grounds can only take place with a valid warrant or court order,' said Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, the chancellor for District of Columbia Public Schools. He stressed that school resource officers are not performing any duties related to immigration or custom enforcement. DCPS also shared a few 'best practices' for parents to share with students, including to always travel in a group or with trusted adults, and to avoid distractions while traveling, such as being on a phone or using headphones. 'Please advise our young people to stay aware of their surroundings,' Ferebee said at the information session. D.C. police are currently enforcing a citywide juvenile curfew that begins at 11 p.m. for people under 17. In some targeted neighborhoods, juvenile curfews begin as early as 8 p.m. But some parents remain frustrated by the lack of communication from their schools about what many view as an unprecedented moment. 'We haven't been told a goddamn thing,' says Morgan when asked what her daughter's school in D.C. had communicated about the coming week. 'It makes us feel like, what are you going to do? Are you just going to let them come in and take these kids?' Jenn Kauffman is a mother of two who sits on the city's advisory neighborhood commission representing her neighborhood in Brightwood Park. She says parents are demanding stronger assurances from school leaders. 'I want bare minimum for the schools to kind of stand up and say what they will do to protect students,' she said. 'But in this climate, and you know, D.C. being a federal jurisdiction, I'm also afraid that still won't be enough.' Her 7-year-old, who attends a bilingual school, has already been discussing the situation with classmates. 'The kids have been talking about this and aware about this,' she says. 'But I think it's risen to a new level.' Parents say their children are absorbing the stress—and so are they. Lara Fife, whose 4-year-old started pre-K this month, says he has asked her why police are detaining people. 'I've been extremely stressed and not sleeping well at all,' she says. The White House insists the deployments are making Washington, D.C. safer, but most residents don't see it that way. A Washington Post-Schar School poll published Wednesday found roughly 80% of D.C. residents opposed Trump's executive order to federalize the city's police department, and 65% do not think Trump's actions will make the city safer. Residents warn that the show of force may deepen mistrust and drive children away from school. In Los Angeles, officials recently reported a 7% rise in online academy enrollment, attributing the spike in part to immigration fears. D.C. parents worry they may soon face the same difficult choice. 'Are we at a point where we need a virtual schooling option?' Kauffman asks. 'Because what's going to happen then is families are going to have to choose between risking their child, or being referred to Child Protective Services for truancy. And that's just immoral.' For now, families are bracing for Monday. Some will walk in groups. Others will drive in carpools. Still others may keep their children home. But the sense of unease remains. The Hispanic father with the worried 9-year-old daughter says his family plans to arrive at school extra early on Monday so he can warn other families if they notice ICE or other federal law enforcement in the area. 'I'm not hearing from any person of color or minorities that they feel safer or that they think that the police presence is here to quote, unquote, restore safety or security, right? It's quite the opposite,' he says.
NBC News
6 hours ago
- NBC News
Jussie Smollett revisits attack allegations in new Netflix documentary
Six years after claiming that he was the victim of a hate crime, actor Jussie Smollett is continuing to push back against the narrative put forth by Chicago officials that it was all a "hoax." In "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?", a new Netflix documentary that debuts Thursday, the former "Empire" star revisits the legal battle surrounding the alleged attack, which police and city officials said he orchestrated against himself. While the documentary's release comes just over three months after Smollett and the city of Chicago reached a civil settlement, the actor spends much of his interview segments defending himself and maintaining his innocence. "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether someone likes me or doesn't like me," Smollett said in the documentary, adding that "the fact is: I didn't do that. And that's all that matters." Smollett, who is Black and gay, first reported a hate crime committed against him in January 2019, alleging that two men confronted him with racial and homophobic slurs, wrapped a rope around his neck, and poured bleach on him. However, city officials sued Smollett and accused him of submitting a false police report on Jan. 29, 2019, saying he knew his attackers and planned the attack. The city's lawsuit sought $130,000 in expenses spent on the police investigation. Smollett countersued, denying that he orchestrated the attack. Brothers Olabingo and Abimbola Osundairo, who worked on the "Empire" set and authored a book titled "Bigger Than Jussie: The Disturbing Need for a Modern-Day Lynching," said they were paid by Smollett to stage the hate crime and testified against the actor during his trial. In addition to Smollett, the documentary features interviews with: Smollett's attorney; former Chicago police officials; the Osundairobrothers; their attorney; and journalists who covered the case. "I believe he wanted to be the poster boy of activism for Black people, for gay people, for marginalized people," "Bola" Osundairo said of Smollett in the documentary. "Ola" Osundairo said when Smollett asked them to "beat him up," he "thought it was crazy." "But at the same time, I'm like, 'It's Hollywood.' This is how it goes," he said in the documentary. Smollett was found guilty on five criminal counts of felony disorderly conduct in December 2021 and sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months' probation in March 2022. But the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction in November 2024. The state high court ruled that Smollett should have never been charged in the first place after entering a nonprosecution agreement with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. The years-long case captivated the country, with many speculating about what actually happened as Smollett continued to make headlines. In the documentary, Smollett said he was "playing whack-a-mole with rumors, with lies" throughout the investigation. But, "at a certain point, it's too many, and you can't catch them all," he added. The documentary, which is from the producers of 'The Tinder Swindler,' says in its promotional materials that it wants the 'audience to decide for themselves who is telling' the truth. Smollett has not commented on the documentary on his social media. He gave a lengthy interview to Variety ahead of its release, in which he touched on the overall impact the case had on him. "Every single other person's story has changed multiple times. Mine has never," Smollett told the publication. "I saw firsthand how narratives are built. I saw firsthand the way that someone can take the exact opposite of who you are and literally sell it." The actor is currently promoting his new R&B album and was recently announced as a contestant on the reality show, ' Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.' The show airs on Fox, the same network that canceled 'Empire' in the aftermath of the Smollett saga.
