Latest news with #KevinScott
Sunday World
22-07-2025
- Sunday World
Rampage continues as another 5G mast is torched overnight
The overnight incident brings the total number of masts destroyed since January 2023 to 18 Stock Image: Firefighters deal with an arson at a 5G mast on the Monagh Bypass earlier in the year(Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services were called to reports of a 5G mast alight on Upper Dunmurry Lane shortly after 11:45pm on Monday. Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to access the site due to a locked gate. The Sunday World understands the mast failed to ignite fully. Police officers at the scene removed material from the interior of the mast that was used, in an attempt to start the blaze. The 17 previous attacks A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Firefighters used a CO2 extinguisher to extinguish the fire and the scene was handed over to the PSNI. 'The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition and the incident was dealt with by 1.07am.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Some damage was caused to electronics in a nearby building and we're treating the fire as deliberate, with our enquiries into the matter ongoing. 'We understand the concerns regarding the recent series of attacks on 5G masts in the west Belfast area and the significant disruption these incidents are causing across the community, impacting both businesses and local residents. Stock Image: Firefighters deal with an arson at a 5G mast on the Monagh Bypass earlier in the year(Photo by Kevin Scott) Firefighters battle 5G mast fire in Poleglass 'We believe there are individuals with knowledge that could assist us in identifying those responsible for these attacks and, once again, are appealing to the public to share any information with us. "We're also keen to speak with anyone who might have CCTV or other footage that could assist with our enquiries. The overnight incident brings the total number of masts destroyed since January 2023 to 18. Earlier this week the Sunday World reported that a group calling itself 'Anarchy 61' have claimed responsibility for the most recent attacks. The value of each mast ranges between £100k and £200k meaning the cost of the damage to date could be as high as £3.4m. In a statement Mobile UK, the umbrella organisation of the UK's main network providers, said the time for condemnation of such incidents has long passed, with providers now seeking what they say will be 'a crucial intervention' from Stormont to help stop the attacks and ensure seamless network coverage for all, across Northern Ireland.
Sunday World
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Kneecap to face no further action over Glastonbury performance as cops drop probe
The Irish rappers had been under investigation with officiers reviewing video footage and audio recordings. Feile unveil a new mural in the Hawthorn Street area of west Belfast on August 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Police have confirmed that no further action will be taken following a review of Kneecap's performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Avon and Somerset Police said it will be taking 'no further action' on the grounds that there is 'insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence'. The investigation was announced in June after officers reviewed video footage and audio recordings from the sets of Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan at the festival. On Friday, the Belfast group posted an screenshot of a redacted email from a senior investigating officer on social media, confirming that 'no further action' would be taken. Feile unveil a new mural in the Hawthorn Street area of west Belfast on August 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th In the caption of their post, Kneecap said: 'One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over. 'We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world's most famous festival.' Avon and Somerset Police said: 'An investigation has been carried out into comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 28 June. 'Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during their enquiries and after that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.' During Bob Vylan's performance, rapper Bobby Vylan chanted 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)', while a member of Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance. Band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May with a terrorism offence relating to displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, during a gig in November 2024. The group recently performed at Glasgow's O2 Academy, in a gig which sold out in 80 seconds. They were due to perform at TRNSMT festival in Glasgow, but their set was axed after concerns raised by police. Earlier this week they announced new tour dates to play their 'biggest run of shows ever' across Scotland, Wales and England. Their tour will start in Bournemouth on November 14 before moving on to Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow. Kneecap will also perform in London at the previously announced show at OVO Arena Wembley on September 18.
Sunday World
16-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man arrested after major six-hour stand off with armed counter terrorism police in Belfast
Police received reports of an assault in the Canterbury Street area of the city shortly after midnight CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Armed response and Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers have dealt with a major overnight incident in south Belfast. Police received reports of an assault in the Canterbury Street area of the city shortly after midnight. While the incident(s) are not believed to be terror-related, the specialist counter-terror firearms officers were brought in for their ability to work at height. CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) CTSFO involved in major Belfast stand-off On arrival, ARV officers recovered a knife on the street with a suspect fleeing to a nearby property. Armed Response teams gained entry to a property in the area before a male made his way onto the roof. As officers tried to negotiate with the male, he threw several roof tiles and parts of chimney pots at them, resulting in a number of cars being damaged. One officer was struck in the foot. CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) At around 3am; specialist police negotiators arrived at the scene and began further attempts to talk the male down as a police drone hovered overhead. As the clock struck 4am; the CTSFO officers from the PSNI's HMSU (Headquarters Mobile Support Unit) arrived at the scene in a Lenco BearCat. After long negotiations with the male he jumped through a skylight before officers swooped. One man was arrested at the scene and taken to Musgrave Street station. Police have been contacted for comment. CTSFO and ARV deal with a major incident in the Canterbury Street area of south Belfast on July 16th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th
Sunday World
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Families fleeing ‘ghetto' in fear of loyalist mobs running riot over Twelfth of July
The Sunday World this week spent a day in Harryville talking to residents caught in the crosshairs of last month's anti-immigration riots Firefighters battle a house set on fire during disorder in the Clonoven area of Ballymena on June 9th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) FAMILIES are fleeing a Ballymena 'ghetto' in fear that racist mobs will attack again as loyalists gear up for the Twelfth of July. Sunday World spent the morning in Harryville talking to residents caught in the crosshairs of recent anti-immigration riots that came in the wake of the alleged attempted rape of a teenage girl on June 7. Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hopes it will keep those inside safe. running repairs remain the order of the day for the house that were attacked. Young Alfie's family is moving out of the area as the Sunday World called. Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hopes it will keep those inside safe. Arman Rai from Nepal said he 'doesn't have any problem with living' in Ballymena which he described as 'nice' but the recent onslaught also left him and his friends fearful. Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hopes it will keep those inside safe Families are fleeing a Ballymena 'ghetto' in fear that racist mobs will attack again as loyalists gear up for the Twelfth of July. The Sunday World this week spent a day in Harryville talking to residents caught in the crosshairs of last month's anti-immigration riots that saw rampaging gangs burn out homes – and it's clear that the terror has not abated. Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hope it will keep those inside safe. But on the now deathly quiet streets, lined with many boarded-up windows, empty and in some cases burned-out homes – fear still hangs in the air. One man, who requested anonymity in dread of reprisals, told us: 'We are just waiting for July Twelfth. Arman Rai from Nepal said he 'doesn't have any problem with living' in Ballymena which he described as 'nice' but the recent onslaught also left him and his friends fearful. 'I understand where I'm living, in what area. I have lived here for nine years. 'When I came [to] this country, I heard about Harryville, but that was 20 years ago. 'It changed and I came to live in this house.' The 45-year-old, a factory worker like many foreign nationals living in Ballymena, has called Northern Ireland home for two decades. But following recent attacks on the homes of Romanian, Filipino, Czech and Bulgarian families, he wants out. 'This year I am leaving,' he said. 'My brother left a few years ago and when I see this, what's happening here... I am alone here. It's like a ghetto. They burned houses – somebody burned a car. 'I couldn't sleep three nights, I slept in another house. Four, five o'clock in the morning, I couldn't sleep. 'Those houses with smashed windows were [Romanians] but over there, two houses with smashed windows are [people from] Czech Republic. Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hopes it will keep those inside safe. 'On the second night they were Bulgarian [victims], Romanians and a family from the Czech Republic.' Police have made multiple arrests following the violence, which erupted after a peaceful protest against an alleged sex crime that saw two 14-year-olds appear in court. The boys, who used a Romanian interpreter, face charges of attempted rape following an incident in the Cloneen Terrace on June 7. What began as a peaceful protest in the Co Antrim town on June 9 soon took on an anti-immigration pogrom, with hate-filled violence also flaring in Larne, Portadown and Derry. Young Alfie's family is moving out of the area as the Sunday World called. Many in the area were too nervous to speak this week for fear of repercussions. On one street a landlord was replacing a window in one home, while his tenants stayed inside the darkened living room. A young family whose home suffered fire damage also declined to be interviewed, saying they are 'still scared'. Arman Rai from Nepal said he 'doesn't have any problem with living' in Ballymena, which he described as 'nice' but added that the recent onslaught also left him and his friends fearful. The 23-year-old, who also works locally, said: 'One of my friends used to live over where the protests started. He was a little bit scared.' Firefighters battle a house set on fire during disorder in the Clonoven area of Ballymena on June 9th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) He added that while the Nepalese community in the town 'don't face many problems' – an attack on Filipino people sparked concerns. 'We look like Filipinos but we are not, we are from Nepal,' he added. 'We were scared because we look like them.' A young mum who moved to Harryville last July with her disabled child was packing up a moving van to leave when we spoke to her. She told us: 'I'm glad I'm moving. 'This street was a sh*thole and it wasn't the foreigners, let me tell you. 'I moved here in July and I had already put in for a transfer. 'It's not great for children down here. My son is disabled and he has nowhere to play apart from a car park. The houses all need knocked down because they are not fit for purpose.' The 27-year-old, who asked not to be named, said she could understand why the riots erupted but added: 'I would not agree with the way it went – it went too far.' But she added: 'They did help me get out of here. 'It sounds really silly, but I'm quite grateful. If it wasn't for those riots, I would still be here.' Ballymena Sinn Féin councillor Bréanainn Lyness says he's aware of fears that any 'big gathering of people [around the Twelfth] will escalate in race riots'. He added: 'It's a terrible situation. At the start it was all targeted against the Roma community and spread out quite quickly. 'There are worries about where these people will draw the line. 'It's like something out of Nazi Germany. There's a website page saying 'we are targeting this street next, put in the addresses of who's not local'. PSNI riot squad officers respond to protesters throwing projectiles 'Then somebody came into that saying 'are we getting the Fenians out next?' There's a thin line between racism and sectarianism.' While he says many are leaving the area, he has also received reports of landlords refusing applications to rent from people with foreign names. He added: 'I have had a number of families call me looking for help with housing. They are being turned away.' In one case, he said, 'a landlord down there wanted them out of the house because the house was being attacked'. 'As soon as a private landlord hears the name, they put two and two together and then don't give them the house. Ballymena would be quite an industrial town – lot's of people come here to live and work. 'Racists would just feed into this stereotype that people who come here don't work.' Police have been more visible since last month's race riots, but residents say more needs done. 'The only thing that stands between us and a hate mob burning us out are the police,' said one foreign national, 'but they weren't there to save us last time and many of us don't believe they'll be there the next time. 'Putting out pictures of riot suspects after the event doesn't reassure us. By then our homes are burnt out and we were lucky no family was burned alive.' Many homes are now emblazoned with Union flags and 'locals live here' signs in the hopes it will keep those inside safe News in 90 Seconds - July 10th
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Incredible storm footage shows lightning bolts split skies over town in the Borders
Flashes of light can be seen going off from above homes before a huge bolt of lightning shoots through the sky. Incredible storm footage has shown the moment lightning bolts split the skies over a town in the Borders. Scotland's mini-heatwave at the beginning of the weekend was replaced with heavy downpours. A thunderstorm warning was slapped across the north the England of by the Met Office. While much of Scotland avoided the worst of the storms, the skies over Galashiels were lit up with strong bolts of lightning appearing. A stunning clip was shared by by Severe Weather Updates a page on Facebook run by very showed the force of mother nature. The page had predicted the "supercell thunderstorm" hours before it struck. Flashes of light can be seen going off from above homes before a huge bolt of lightning shoots through the sky. The powerful electrical current can be seen as thunder roars in the background. Stunned residents can also be heard in awe at the lightning strike. The impressive video has gone viral with more than two million views since being posted late on Saturday evening around midnight. Some keen local weather watchers were left delighted by the show. Andy McBeverley commented: "Just outside Melrose in the Scottish Borders and it was epic! Over an hour of constant thunder and lightning." Kevin Scott, shared he video describing the lightning as "amazing". He said: "Amazing lightning strikes over Gala last night." Shelley Thomson added: "We were watching safely from Innerleithen... Sky was lightning up but knew it must have been over Gala." Other weather watchers in Scotland and the UK were envious of the display. Louise Stewart in Edinburgh said: "Been sitting out with fire pit on, gutted it never came this way love a good thunder storm." Kirsty Johnson in Fife commented: "Gutted it misses Fife as usual. Love a thunder and lightning storm." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A "supercell thunderstorm" can bring 'severe flooding, flash flooding, damage from large hail, and tornado/strong wind activity,' according to Severe Weather Updates. The storms can last for several hours and are thought to be rare in the UK. Scots baked in 28 degree heat over Friday and Saturday before heavy downpours started to hammer the country on Sunday. Meteorologist Aidan McGivern predicted that the weather could take a turn for the worst as he said Scotland's southern regions could face "large thunderstorms, frequent lightning, large hail, heavy rain, and gusty winds" today. In a video posted on social media, Aidan spoke about the heatwave and the potential for some extreme weather. He said: "This Saturday is the Summer Solstice; peak sun strength. But also, in eastern parts of the UK, peak heatwave, with fresher air arriving through the day from the west. "But as that fresher air collides with the plume of heat coming up from the south, we're likely to see some very severe thunderstorms in places."
