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Metro
27-05-2025
- Metro
Why it was important police pointed out the Liverpool suspect is white
Moments after a car tore into fans celebratingLiverpool's 20th Premier League title, social media flooded with false claims that the driver was a Muslim man. Almost 50 people, including four children, were wounded, with some even trapped under the vehicle as the horror unfolded. As emergency services responded on the ground, a different narrative was taking hold online. Anonymous accounts quickly fuelled speculation, deploying fake images, misleading captions and claims backed by no evidence to push an Islamophobic narrative. But Merseyside Police were quick to put an end to online misinformation spreading in a move described as 'unprecedented'. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Learning from past mistakes, Merseyside Police moved to shut down the rumours. Within two hours, they confirmed that a white male, aged 53, was arrested and that the incident was not being treated as terrorism. In July last year, Merseyside Police faced criticism for the lack of information released in the wake of the murders of three girls in Southport. Peter Williams, lecturer in policing at Liverpool John Moores University, described it as a 'complete step change' in how the force is managing the public discourse. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the quicker response was very different to what happened after the Southport terror attack in July 2024. He said: It has been a shift, because, particularly in relation to the aftermath of Southport… 'There was a lot of criticism focused at Merseyside Police and of course the CPS, in relation to how the management of information was sort of dealt with. 'But also, if listeners cast their mind back further, is the investigation into Nicola Bulley as how the management of the information was responded to on that occasion. That led to a College of Policing inquiry.' He said one of the recommendations made after the Southport attack was to prevent any 'vacuums' of information in future incidents, particularly ifthere is harmful online content. Mr Williams continued: 'It was no surprise to me last night that within an hour or so, we got a statement to say what had happened and that somebody, a male, had been detained. Later on, there was a press conference led by the Assistant Chief Constable, where she shared a lot more information.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent, Dal Babu, said it was 'unprecedented' that the police 'very quickly' gave the ethnicity and race of the suspect. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'What we do have, which is unprecedented, is the police very quickly giving the ethnicity and the race of the person who was driving the vehicle… and it was Merseyside Police who didn't give that information with the Southport horrific murders of those three girls, and the rumours were that it was an asylum seeker who arrived on a boat and it was a Muslim extremist and that wasn't the case. 'So I think what the police have done very, very quickly, and I've never known a case like this before where they've given the ethnicity and the race of the individual who was involved in it, so I think that was to dampen down some of the speculation from the far-right that sort of continues on X even as we speak that this was a Muslim extremist and there's a conspiracy theory.' Merseyside Police assistant chief constable Jenny Sims stressed that it is 'vital' that people do not speculate or spread misinformation online. During last night's press conference, she said: 'I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight. 'What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.' Alison McGovern, MP for Birkenhead, also called on members of public not to speculate following the 'really awful' incident. She felt 'so devastated' after spending four hours at the Liverpool's Premier League victory parade. Asked about how important the police announcement of an arrest was, the Labour MP said: 'The police gave out some very clear messages yesterday, not least that if people have got footage or anything that might be useful to them, then please, please give it to Merseyside Police and do not speculate on the internet or share things like that. 'In Merseyside, the police have been through quite a lot in recent times and they' are very, very capable, and I would ask people to listen to them and to do as they've asked.' It did not take long after the attack for disinformation to spread on social media, suggesting that the suspect is a Muslim man. Pictures of a man present at the parade were circulated online, identifying him by name, and claiming that he was behind the wheel of the car. More Trending But the man was later seen in the crowd, celebrating with other Liverpool fans. One account on X, authenticated by the app as a 'parody account', asked if the driver was 'a Ukrainian or a Muslim', claiming it is 'always one or the other'. 'Either a 'refugee' from a Nato-fuelled war zone or another radical jihadist let in under Britain's open border suicide pact,' the post added. Others even suggested that Merseyside Police is purposely misleading the public that the suspect is a white man. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Four people still 'very ill in hospital' after car crashed into Liverpool fans MORE: Crowds held back from lunging into police van after Liverpool victory parade crash MORE: Liverpool open to surprise summer exit in huge shake-up of forward line
North Wales Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Bala man shares how foster carers gave him 'secure home'
Jake, now 26, was just eight years old when he began short stays at foster carer Sian's house. The visits, which lasted a few days at a time, were filled with football games in the garden and competitive Wii Sports sessions. Jake said these visits felt like holidays, and he always felt part of the family. He said: "In the past, if I said I was in care, people's instant reaction would be to say 'I'm sorry to hear.' "But they shouldn't be sorry. "I see it as a really good thing to be in care because it gives young people a better life, a better opportunity at doing something they probably would never have done otherwise." Jake continued to visit Sian's house throughout his childhood in care. While studying sport nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University, Jake's circumstances changed and he contacted Sian and her husband Owain, who welcomed him into their home on a permanent basis. With their support, Jake has gone on to establish his own business as a personal trainer and now lives independently in Liverpool. Jake said: "If I have any problems or issues, they are my first point of contact. "I see the whole family just as sort of my family now. "I see them as my siblings as well." Sian said: "I'm so proud of him. "He's driven. "Obviously I'm proud of what he's achieved, but I'm proud of so much more than that. "He's got clients, he's successful in his business but for me I take more pride in the young man he has become and that he has allowed all his experiences to shape him. "I'm so pleased to see that he's able to maintain relationships and that he sees us as his family." Jake's story comes as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place between May 12 and May 25, 2025. The fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships. Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need. Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: "Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales. "Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve. "Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives."
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Leader Live
Family of Irish backpacker killed in India welcome decision to hold inquest
Danielle McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017. Local man Vikat Bhagat, 31, was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in India earlier this year. Ms McLaughlin, 28, had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu spring festival, at a nearby village. Her body was found the next day by a farmer in a field in a remote location. A post-mortem examination showed the former Liverpool John Moores University student suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck, causing her death. Weeks after the verdict in India, Ms McLaughlin's family solicitor Des Doherty applied to Attorney General Rossa Fanning to direct an inquest into her murder and rape, under Section 24(1) of the Coroners Act 1962. That has been granted. In a statement, Ms McLaughlin's mother Andrea welcomed the move. 'I am grateful to the Attorney General, who engaged with my solicitor as soon as an application was made that an inquest should be convened on the grounds that it would be advisable, and in the interests of justice,' she said. 'I also extend my thanks to the coroner for Donegal, for meeting with me and providing the confirmation that an inquest would now be opened. 'I understand and appreciate that the circumstances of Danielle's case, and the fact that she was killed when abroad make her case exceptional. 'It is very heartening that the relevant authorities, here in Ireland, showed their compassion and care in agreeing to and supporting the requirement for an inquest to be held in Donegal, Danielle's home, after the horrific events that ended her beautiful life thousands of miles away. 'My solicitor has begun the process of providing all the legal documentation and contacts that he holds in Danielle's case to the coroner so that this mayassist the coroner as he conducts his investigations, which will hopefully lead to a hearing in the months ahead.'
The Journal
15-05-2025
- The Journal
Family of murdered backpacker Danielle McLaughlin welcome Irish inquest into her death
THE FAMILY OF Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin, who was murdered in India, have welcomed a decision to hold an inquest into her death in Ireland. Danielle, who was from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017. Local man Vikat Bhagat, 31, was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in India earlier this year. Danielle, 28, had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu spring festival, at a nearby village. Her body was found the next day by a farmer in a field in a remote location. A post-mortem examination showed the former Liverpool John Moores University student suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck, causing her death. Advertisement Weeks after the verdict in India, Danielle's family solicitor Des Doherty applied to Attorney General Rossa Fanning to direct an inquest into her murder and rape, under Section 24(1) of the Coroners Act 1962. That has been granted. In a statement, Danielle's mother Andrea welcomed the move. 'I am grateful to the Attorney General, who engaged with my solicitor as soon as an application was made that an inquest should be convened on the grounds that it would be advisable, and in the interests of justice,' she said. 'I also extend my thanks to the coroner for Donegal, for meeting with me and providing the confirmation that an inquest would now be opened. 'I understand and appreciate that the circumstances of Danielle's case, and the fact that she was killed when abroad make her case exceptional. 'It is very heartening that the relevant authorities, here in Ireland, showed their compassion and care in agreeing to and supporting the requirement for an inquest to be held in Donegal, Danielle's home, after the horrific events that ended her beautiful life thousands of miles away. 'My solicitor has begun the process of providing all the legal documentation and contacts that he holds in Danielle's case to the coroner so that this may assist the coroner as he conducts his investigations, which will hopefully lead to a hearing in the months ahead.'
Extra.ie
15-05-2025
- Extra.ie
Danielle McLaughlin's family welcome decision to hold inquest
The family of an Irish backpacker who was murdered in India have welcomed a decision to hold an inquest into her death in Ireland. Danielle McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017. Local man Vikat Bhagat, 31, was found guilty at the District and Sessions Court in India earlier this year. Danielle McLaughlin. Ms McLaughlin, 28, had been celebrating Holi, a Hindu spring festival, at a nearby village. Her body was found the next day by a farmer in a field in a remote location. A post-mortem examination showed the former Liverpool John Moores University student suffered cerebral damage and constriction of the neck, causing her death. Danielle McLaughlin. Weeks after the verdict in India, Ms McLaughlin's family solicitor Des Doherty applied to Attorney General Rossa Fanning to direct an inquest into her murder and rape, under Section 24(1) of the Coroners Act 1962. That has been granted. In a statement, Ms McLaughlin's mother Andrea welcomed the move. 'I am grateful to the Attorney General, who engaged with my solicitor as soon as an application was made that an inquest should be convened on the grounds that it would be advisable, and in the interests of justice,' she said. Danielle McLaughlin. 'I also extend my thanks to the coroner for Donegal, for meeting with me and providing the confirmation that an inquest would now be opened. 'I understand and appreciate that the circumstances of Danielle's case, and the fact that she was killed when abroad make her case exceptional. 'It is very heartening that the relevant authorities, here in Ireland, showed their compassion and care in agreeing to and supporting the requirement for an inquest to be held in Donegal, Danielle's home, after the horrific events that ended her beautiful life thousands of miles away. 'My solicitor has begun the process of providing all the legal documentation and contacts that he holds in Danielle's case to the coroner so that this may assist the coroner as he conducts his investigations, which will hopefully lead to a hearing in the months ahead.'
