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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Bomb squad officers evacuate street after man pulls pin on hand grenade in Worcester
BOMB squad officers evacuated a street after a man pulled the pin of a hand grenade. He was showing his friends the Soviet device when it started making noises. Advertisement So he tossed it in the back of his garden and raised the alarm. Army officers sealed off the road for three hours in Northwick, The grenade's owner said: "I pulled the pin and it started making noises. "I noticed something was wrong as soon as I released the safety pin and the spoon sprung off it immediately. Advertisement READ MORE UK NEWS "It made some sort of reaction similar to when a fire work fuse is ignited. It was a spilt second, I immediately threw this at the rear of the garden and evacuated the property and called the police. "I was told to be minimum 100 meters away and try to alert neighbours. Police arrived within several minutes. "Around five police cars turned up and about 30 minutes after the RLC bomb squad arrived to investigate. "He firstly x-rayed the grenade to see if it still had its explosive content left. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive "He's sure it was decommissioned but not certain, so he put it inside what looked to be a heavy-duty explosives box and told me he is going to dispose of it back at base. "This was brought last year August at Malvern antiques fair. Bomb Disposal Team Responds to Manchester Supermarket Incident "A few people were worried in the street. The area was locked for about three to four hours." The RG-42 World War Two device, which he got for £30 at an antiques fair in Malvern last year, was found to be safe. Advertisement West Mercia Police said: 'The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team X-rayed the grenade and found it was empty so there was no need for a controlled explosion.' 1 A hand grenade caused police and a bomb squad to evacuate a street in Worcester Credit: SWNS
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Hideous ‘eyesore' is meeting place for 300 feral school kids fuelled by cheap booze who beat daylights out of each other
FAMED for its skyline and world class university Oxford is perceived to be a popular and successful city. That reputation is now being threatened by a spate of mass public brawls, rocketing drug use and a Advertisement 12 The Templars Square shopping centre is described as "dilapidated" and "overrun with drunks" Credit: N.C 12 School kids regularly gather at the shopping centre for mass brawls Credit: N.C 12 Police have reportedly left shop security to deal with the violence Credit: N.C Nowhere is this explosion of anti-social behaviour more evident than at the The dilapidated shopping centre has become overrun by drug users, drunks and, most recently, huge gangs of children from three rival schools gathering for brawls. Recently, more than 300 teenagers, fuelled by cheap alcohol bought illegally nearby, brought terror to the shopping centre over three days. Shoppers and business owners say cops left security officers from nearby stores to deal with the Advertisement Read more in News Charity shop worker Claire Johnson, 57, told how she bravely stepped in to try and break up the fighting. 12 The run down shopping centre has been promised a revamp Credit: N.C 12 Claire Johnson says the violence is fuelled by cheap booze Credit: N.C Claire, who spent many years working with children from challenging backgrounds, said: 'In the main, it is boredom that drives these conflicts. Advertisement 'They've got nothing better to do so they come down here to the shopping centre in groups from their schools and they start picking on kids from rival schools. 'Something will get said on social media and an argument will erupt, then before you know it you've got 300 kids down here from three rival schools wanting to beat the living daylights out of each other. Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive 'This aggression and bravado is fuelled by cheap booze they're picking up at numerous off licenses in the area. Whether or not they are using fake ID or just stealing it, I don't know. 'The result is these mass punch ups we've been seeing in the shopping centre all too often. Advertisement 'The most recent eruption went on for four days and involved more than 300 school children. It was awful to watch. 'I had to step in several times and try and break up fights all around me. I wasn't scared – I think I was just running on adrenaline and experience of knowing how to handle disruptive children. 'These kids were probably aged around 13 or 14 up to maybe 16. 'I just stepped in between various fighting youths and told them not to be so bloody stupid. Mostly, they listened to me and walked away, but I got a bit of abuse from some of them and I just had to leave them to sort out their grievances.' Advertisement Claire, who has grandchildren and three grown-up children, blames an education system that is too quick to exclude children who She said: 'Often, once they have been excluded and moved away from their friends and a familiar environment, they become even more disruptive and get into more fights and trouble wherever they can. 'I'd like to see the teachers, the parents and the pupils themselves sitting down in a room and talking through their challenges, not turning their backs on them and moving the problem elsewhere. 'If we don't do that, we're just going to see more and more trouble in this Advertisement 12 The planned redevelopment of the shopping centre is yet to materialise Credit: N.C 12 Templars Square Shopping Centre is plagued by youth mischief Credit: N.C One of the tenants living there, Jason, 37, said: 'It is a nightmare living here. 'I was woken at 3 o'clock this morning by the sound of cops smashing my neighbour's door down to arrest him and if I come home in the evening I have to fight my way through junkies and alcoholics sitting on the stairs. Advertisement 'It's noisy and frightening living here. It's so bad I can't bring my 15-year-old daughter back to my flat because I don't want any harm to come to her. As a result, we are pretty much estranged now. It is heart-breaking.' Amidst all the turmoil Templars Square recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with an Elton John tribute act appearing to entertain 1,000 shoppers. The very next day a Locals and employees say they have no reason to celebrate and are eagerly awaiting a planned redevelopment of the now 60 year old centre. Advertisement Both the local MP and a city councillor have expressed concern over the state of the shopping centre with the the cabinet member for housing at Oxford City Council, Linda Smith, calling it "nothing less than an eyesore in places." Deborah, 52, left Oxford when she was 16 for London, but has recently returned to the city following the collapse of her marriage. She said she barely recognises the 12 Locals say they barely recognise the shopping centre anymore Credit: N.C Advertisement 12 Sharron works in a charity shop in the shopping centre and has seen the downhill spiral first hand Credit: N.C 12 Templars Square was once home to several bustling shops Credit: N.C 'When I was a kid, this was a lovely building with really good shops and a great place to meet up with friends for a milkshake. 'I hardly recognise it today. There are gangs of youths wandering around looking for trouble and lots of Advertisement 'Yesterday, I saw a woman lying on her back, absolutely off her head with drugs and today a man came up to me and made crude comments. It was humiliating And all I want to do now is go back to London. I can't believe what has been allowed to happen to this place.' Claire's colleague, Sharon Walton, said she feels so intimidated by groups of men heckling her when she leaves after a day's work that she heads straight to the shopping centre's security office and books a taxi home. Businesses and shoppers are desperately waiting for developers' plans to upgrade the shopping centre to materialise. Plans have been submitted for a luxury hotel, upscale apartment blocks and new retail units, but building work has yet to commence. Advertisement Shoppers and business owners complain that the shopping centre's scruffy appearance and neglect are a magnet for down-and-outs, alcoholics and drug users who gather there in large numbers on a regular basis. Many complain that they have been harassed by drunks and are often asked for money by 12 The local council has taken steps to address the anti social behaviour Credit: N.C 12 A major revamp is reportedly on the way Credit: N.C Advertisement A concrete stairwell built in the shopping centre to provide access to flats above sees heroin addicts using drugs every night and it stank of urine and Claire said: 'There is no way I'll walk to my bus stop anymore because that route takes me straight past all the drunks and drug addicts leering at women and saying all sorts of disgusting things to them. 'It's just not acceptable but no one seems to be doing anything about it. 'I love working here in the store but as soon as you walk outside, it becomes a horror story. Advertisement 'The developers need to begin the revamp they promised us as soon as possible because things here are getting worse and worse. 'They recently closed two 'The whole shopping centre seems to have become a haven for down and outs, drunks drug addicts and bored kids who want to engage in a massive punch up after school. 'Things cannot go on like this or one is ever going to want to come here to do their shopping again." Advertisement Kerry, 50, said that she has been visiting the shopping centre several times a week since she was in She said 'They still have some good shops here where you don't have to pay a fortune for stuff, so I do still need to come here every so often, but I only do my shopping here now if I can't buy what I need elsewhere. It is a dump.' In March police implemented a section 60 order in the area after receiving intelligence of impending violence with weapons, this gave them greater stop and search powers. Public Space Protection Orders were approved by the Advertisement Despite this move from the local authority, which came into effect on April 17 and will remain in place for one year, locals are still reporting anti social behaviour and violence in the area. Breaking the prohibitions in the order, which include gathering in communal, residential areas and obstructing an authorised person, can result in fines or prosecution. Data from
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
Shoppers run to Primark for the ‘comfiest jeans you've ever worn' as they're slashed to £5 in sale
THERE'S no denying it - when it comes to trousers, no wardrobe is complete without a trusted pair of jeans. But if we're being honest, for something so universally loved, the sizing and fit can be a nightmare depending on where you shop. Advertisement 3 Shoppers are running to Primark to bag the 'comfiest' jeans in the sale Credit: Alamy 3 The £18 jeans are now on sale for just a fiver Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook 3 Shoppers can't get enough of the bargain buy Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook From waist size and length to how baggy they are around the thighs, no high street shop seems to follow the same rule book. And this can make it difficult for fashion fans to find a pair of jeans they love. However, shoppers have recently been raving about the "comfiest pair they've ever worn" - and they're only a fiver from Primark. So if you've been struggling to find jeans and don't want to break the bank with a new pair, then you've come to the right place. Advertisement The Primark mom jeans are usually priced at £18 and come in sizes six to 20. Describing them on the website, the retail giant says: "Bring some edge to your denim game with these ripped mom jeans! "They boast the classic features such as belt loops, a concealed fastening and a five-pocket design but, thanks to their mom fit, they offer a relaxed silhouette to make them a comfy alternative to other styles. "Cut to a flattering high waist, they also have distressed detailing for added stylish touches that'll make these the standout piece of your denim collection. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive Breaking Exclusive "Easily adapted to suit your aesthetic, we'd team them with an oversized graphic tee and chunky boots for a grunge look or keep it low-key with a crop top and trainers. Now that's versatility!" And as well as being comfy and versatile, the jeans are currently a bargain as they're on sale for £5 in stores across the country. Primark releases £14 'IT dress' of the summer 'that has it all' including built-in bra One satisfied shopper took to the Accompanying a picture of her wearing the jeans, Rose said: "Don't think I've bought a pair of zip up jeans for the last 10 years, jeggings all the way. Advertisement "Found these for a fiver down from £18 in Primark and bloody hell they're the comfiest pair I've worn in a long time." Other fashionistas have since taken to the comments section to share their love for the dreamy denim buy. "These are my go-to jean", one gushed. A second wrote: "I got same pair for £5 bargain." Advertisement A third echoed: "I got those too, they are so comfy." A fourth added: "Bought these the other week for a fiver and I've been living in them ever since ." A fifth chimed in: "I got the same pair for a fiver and best pair I've ever bought so comfortable and lovely." Advertisement Meanwhile, a sixth revealed: "I bought these when they were £18 and now I'm annoyed lmao BUT they are actually worth it as they are so comfy." The jeans aren't the only £5 bargain that shoppers are racing to snap up in store either. Fashion fans have been left in a frenzy over a £34 Sharing the bargain buy with shoppers on TikTok, staff at Primark's Braehead store, near Glasgow, said: "Sale jacket was £34 now £5." Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun In their short clip, four rails can be seen packed full of the cream boucle tweed jacket. The jacket features two pockets across the front and a zip fastening for easy wear - and has the look of Chanel for a fraction of the designer price.
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Jesy Nelson shares happy pregnancy pictures after being bed bound as she awaits arrival of twins
JESY Nelson has shared some happy pregnancy pictures after being bed bound as she awaits the arrival of her twins. Former Little Mix singer Jesy, 33, proudly held up her ultrasound scans while posing on her bed with her burgeoning bump on show. Advertisement 6 Jesy Nelson has shared some happy pregnancy pictures after being bed bound Credit: Noah Sapon The X Factor winner wore her locks in gorgeous curls and grinned towards the prinouts. Sporting a crop top and and shirt jacket, Jesy played around with her boyfriend The Wings hitmaker cradled her stomach and gazed into the camera's lens for further stunning shots. In her caption, she wrote: " Muma Nelson [white heart] Papa Foster ," tagging photographer Noah Sapon. Advertisement read more on Jesy Nelson Her uplifting post comes after a difficult few weeks. Jesy was recently rushed to hospital following the announcement of her high-risk pregnancy and was told she could go into labour at any moment. Doctors advised it was too early to let her return home. The singer was diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare but serious condition in which blood flows unevenly between identical twins sharing a placenta - putting both babies at risk. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Exclusive Breaking Exclusive The diagnosis took Jesy and Zion by surprise and they revealed they had no idea what TTTS was before the diagnosis. The expecting mum previously had a successful operation - though didn't specify the type of procedure - after revealing Pregnant Jesy Nelson begs fans for help after 'all we've been through' But the singer is keeping her spirits high with a little beauty therapy. And despite her serious condition, Jesy appeared upbeat and grateful for the pampering session. Advertisement Today she showed off her freshly done eyelash extensions courtesy of a visiting beautician. 'So the lovely @glashesbyhols came and did my lashes yesterday and I can honestly say I'm obsessed,' Jesy told fans over a close-up clip of her face. 'She put brown lashes on me, which I've never had before, and switched up my shape a little — and I absolutely love them. Don't think I'll be going back to black now!' Jesy revealed her pregnancy earlier this year in emotional footage of her ultrasound scan and baby bump. Advertisement She later revealed the pregnancy is considered high risk, leading to increased medical monitoring. The singer has yet to confirm a due date but has continued to keep fans updated on her journey in honest social media posts. On Sunday she took to Instagram to money for the charity What is premature birth and what are its risks? Premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. About eight out of 100 babies will be born prematurely. It's possible for a baby to survive if born around 24 weeks of pregnancy onwards - 24 weeks is the legal limit for abortion. Babies born this early need care in a hospital with specialist facilities for premature babies, called a neonatal unit. The risks of having a premature baby include: Small size Low body temperature Breathing problems Feeding difficulties Cerebral palsy Developmental delay Vision problems Hearing problems They may have health and development problems because they have not fully developed in the womb. In some cases, pre-term labour is planned and induced because it's safer for the baby to be born sooner rather than later. Risk factors that have been identified for preterm birth include pregnancy with multiple babies, six months or less between pregnancies, a previous premature birth and problems with the placenta. 6 Jesy played around with her boyfriend Zion Foster in bed Credit: Noah Sapon Advertisement 6 The couple are awaiting the arrival of their twins Credit: Noah Sapon 6 The Wings hitmaker cradled her stomach and gazed into the camera's lens Credit: Noah Sapon 6 Jesy put her burgeoning bump on show for the shots Credit: Noah Sapon 6 Jesy and Zion previously told fans her pregnancy is very high risk Credit: Instagram Advertisement
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
I was kidnapped at 14 & auctioned off to ISIS brute whose WIFE prepped me for rape…I had to give up my kids to escape
Cooking in her simple, rural kitchen, 14-year-old Kovan froze as she heard panic breaking out all around her. The peaceful life of the schoolgirl, who had grown up in a loving family as part of the Yazidi community in Sinjar, northern Iraq, was to brutally change on that day in 2014 - as they learned ISIS terrorists were heading towards them. Advertisement 15 Kovan was just a teenager when she was sold into sex slavery for an ISIS warrior Credit: Supplied 15 She was forced to leave behind her children that were the product of rape Credit: Supplied 15 ISIS treated the Yazidi community in a cruel way and forced them into being slaves Credit: Alamy 15 The Yazidis have lived in Western Asia for years and have often been persecuted Credit: Reuters With little time to act, the family and their neighbours grabbed whatever they could and headed for the barren Sinjar mountains. Her family split up with the older and the younger ones going in a car and the fitter members, like her, walking. 'Suddenly they appeared and seized us in the middle of the road,' she says. 'They took us to the Syrian border where they kept us in a school for nine days. 'We were terrified. Then they separated us from our relatives, forcing the girls onto a bus that took us to a house guarded by ISIS militants where men would arrive, choose girls and rape them.' Advertisement It was the start of years of horrific abuse that saw her bought as a slave, repeatedly raped and beaten - even after ISIS had been defeated. Kovan and other young girls were put up for auction and she was 'bought' by a senior figure within ISIS and made to be the family slave. 'I served and did everything for them. They told me you are a 'sabaya' (slave). He kept me and raped and beat me. When ISIS gathered in the guestroom, he wanted me to serve them, to bring food and drinks and to appear in revealing clothes. This went on for two years.' Kovan's story and others who were enslaved and abused by ISIS is told in the harrowing documentary, 10 Years of Darkness: ISIS & The Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Exclusive In an exclusive interview, journalist and filmmaker, Alex Crawford who has reported on the horrors faced by the Yazidis for over a decade, tells us: 'Seven years after the world saw that the Islamic State had been crushed and the last bit of territory had been taken from them, there are still women being rescued from captivity. And there are thousands more still in captivity, who continue to be abused. That is shocking.' In a further torturous twist, even the lucky ones rescued who, like Kovan, are now mothers, are told they will have to give up their children in return for safety. I fought ISIS in Syria & I know bloodthirsty thugs are plotting comeback after fall of Assad - Europe must be ready, says Brit fighter The story of ISIS and the Yazidis begins in 2011 when many countries in the Middle East were experiencing uprisings against usually dictatorial regimes that had been in power for years. Syria was one of them. 'At the beginning it was a rebellious civilian uprising,' says Alex. 'That went on for at least a couple of years. The first time I saw a lot of men clad in black was at the end of 2013, flying the flag of Jihad or Holy War. Advertisement "Groups like that were the beginning of a new form of extremism. And as they grew and merged with other groups, they got stronger and very little stood in their way.' Sharia law 15 Journalist Alex has spoken to many victims of the ISIS regime Credit: Sky 15 ISIS handed out cruel punishments to people who didn't follow their rules Credit: Alamy By 2014 the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had been firmly established. There were an estimated 30,000 fighters dedicated to their strict interpretation of Islamic law which they ruthlessly imposed on society. Advertisement Public amputation of legs and arms for stealing and other crimes took place and persecution of homosexuals saw them being thrown off buildings and stoned. ISIS expanded to the area of Sinjar where more than 400,000 Yazidis lived. Confronted with the threat – convert or die – they fled into the desert. Executions and shootings of the men and the enslaving of Yazidi women and children followed. In the years following their rise, ISIS expanded its operations beyond the Middle East, carrying out a series of devastating attacks in Europe which created a huge political momentum in the West to go in and topple ISIS. Advertisement Abused in detention camp 15 Many Yazidi women are still being tortured by ISIS brutes 10 years on Credit: Sky 15 Nalin Rasko runs a safe house for survivors like Kovan Credit: Supplied When it was defeated in 2019, most of the men were imprisoned while their families were sent to a detention facility in Northern Syria. But they took thousands of their Yazidi 'slaves' with them. 'The camp is full of ISIS sympathisers and people who are connected to them,' says Alex. Advertisement 'The troops trying to keep control regularly carry out raids to stop the build-up of arms and weapons. Here, Yazidi women are still being held captive but identifying them has been a mammoth task. 'The Kurdish-led Syrian democratic forces control the sprawling Al-Hawl camp and the other camps in that area, supported by the coalition, but they are basically left to their own devices to run the show. The women would prepare us, put makeup on us, for the men to violate. They all knew that their men were raping us. "Al-Hawl is bigger than some British cities and at one stage it had 70,000 people in it. It's a huge place where you can secrete contraband and even bombs and hide captives. "The camp leaders know there are Yazidis hidden in the camp but they don't know exactly who they are and how to get them out. Advertisement 'Kovan was found there with her young son and daughter during a night raid searching for guns last year. 15 Al-Hawl detention camp houses thousands of ISIS terrorists but also Yazidi victims Credit: Getty 15 A boy plays in the ISIS detention area of the camp Credit: Getty 15 Those who escape the clutches of their ISIS abusers are moved to Yazidi refugee camps Credit: Supplied Advertisement "Her abuse had been continuing here because the children of ISIS men are growing up and male teenagers are encouraged and coerced by the extremist factions in there to rape and have sexual relations with the women, to impregnate them. "It's a continuation of the abuse. Kovan was forced to link up with a guy there just to fend off all the others. 'The first thing that struck me when I first met Kovan, given that she was ten years on from being a teenager when she was first captured, was just how much of a child she still looked. 'She was very matter of fact, in many ways with a disturbing lack of emotion over the most horrendous things that the men were doing to her. But she got really angry when I asked her about the women – the wives of the ISIS fighters.' Advertisement Cruel wives 15 Farida Khalaf is another Yazidi woman who survived being abused by ISIS Credit: Supplied 15 Kovan claimed the wives of the men were just as abusive Credit: AFP 'Their wives behaved just like their ISIS husbands,' says Kovan. 'They always hit and insulted us. They would prepare us, put makeup on us, for the men to violate. They all knew that their men were raping us. I hated my life for the way they treated me. Advertisement "They were so cruel. They wore us down mentally and emotionally until we hated and were disgusted with ourselves.' Since being rescued, Kovan has been living in a safe house but, just when she thought she was free from suffering, she has faced the most appalling of choices. 'Every Yazidi woman who is rescued, faces this most extraordinarily difficult Hobson's Choice – to ensure your own survival, you are probably going to have to give up your children,' says Alex. 'The Yazidi community doesn't admit Muslims,' explains Kovan, whose son and daughter were fathered by two ISIS men as a result of rape. Advertisement 'They are my children, but no one will welcome them, because they are ISIS children and Muslim. This is the reality. What can I do? I go back to my family and they go back to theirs. "This is very difficult, but I don't have any other option. This is the reality we are forced to accept.' No end in sight 15 Yazidi women who became pregnant have been separated from their Muslim children Credit: Times Media Ltd 15 Many Yazidis are stuck living in sprawling camps, sometimes with their ISIS abusers Credit: Supplied Advertisement Kovan made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to her two young children and return home by herself while they went back to the families of her two ISIS rapists. But 'home' is another huge camp settlement for the Yazidis. 'There's no end game in sight,' says Alex. 'They've exchanged internment camps for refugee camps and are still living in tents. There's no sort of village being created. There's nothing. 'No one knows what happened to Kovan's parents but we can probably presume they were killed. One of her brothers and sisters is still missing, and others are back in the community or have found asylum in another country. EXCLUSIVE: ISIS plotting wave of terror from camps, warns general who defeated cult By ISIS could unleash a new wave of terror by springing fighters from camps like the one holding Shamima Begum, a top general who helped defeat the death cult has revealed. General Mazloum Abdi, who leads the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - a Kurdish-led US-backed militia, sounded the alarm over the resurgent terror group. Speaking to The Sun in an interview with documentarian and ex-soldier Alan Duncan, Abdi said there are currently 10,000 male fighters in prisons ready to bring devastation back to the Middle East. General Abdi revealed SDF believe that ISIS forces - which were bravely driven back by his troops - are currently organising a prisonbreak of fighters still held in Syria. He also warned the threat of ISIS continues in the West. General Abdi said: "The threat of jihadist groups - not just ISIS - will exist until the fundamentals they were founded on are destroyed. "We must continue our struggle." He also called on the West to do more to bring these fighters to justice - and to support trials and convictions for the atrocities they committed in the Middle East. General Abdi told The Sun: "The threat of ISIS in detention centres and camps is increasing and there is an increase in the movement of ISIS in general. "There is a need to intensify efforts to continue to fight against ISIS if we don't want to see a resurgence." READ MORE 'The suffering of the Yazidis is far from over. They still don't feel safe. Their homeland remains in ruins, there are no reparations and there is very little, if any, justice. Advertisement "And for those lucky enough to be freed, ISIS has somehow perpetuated the pain of their genocide by leaving mothers with a decision that no woman would ever want to be faced with. Read more on the Irish Sun "But despite all of this, some Yazidi survivors have really led from the front, refused to be beaten by ISIS, spoken at international arenas, demanded justice, refused to be forgotten by the world. And they are some of the most resilient, determined, courageous women that I've ever met.' 10 Years of Darkness: ISIS and the Yazidis. goes out on May 2 at 8pm on Sky Documentaries and at 9pm on Sky News
