Latest news with #arsonattack
Telegraph
07-08-2025
- Telegraph
Britain's wonkiest pub site is ‘decaying dumping ground' two years after demolition
The site of Britain's wonkiest pub has been 'left to rot' and become a 'decaying dumping ground' two years after being destroyed in a suspected arson attack. The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands, was set on fire and then bulldozed two days later in August 2023. Last year, South Staffordshire council ordered the pub's current owners to rebuild it after its unlawful demolition. But campaigners have said that the former location of the historical building has become a hotspot for fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, and has gone to 'absolute ruin'. Piles of fridges, mattresses, bin liners, children's toys and tyres have been dumped along the lane leading to the site, and drug paraphernalia can be seen littering the area. Residents have criticised the 'scandalous lack of action' two years on from the fire, which destroyed the famous tilted pub. Martin Eley, 49, previously a pub regular, said: 'To see the site now is heartbreaking, it is just in a state of ruin and nobody has done anything about it. 'The place was once home to one of the UK's most unique pubs – now it is a decaying dumping ground.' Paul Baker, 61, who was a local at the pub, said: 'I've lived in the area all my life and I came here with my should have been here for ever, it was a national treasure. The Facebook group Save the Crooked House has more than 37,500 members and its plight and that of other heritage pubs has being brought up in Parliament several times. Paul Turner, from the Save the Crooked House group, said the group 'want answers as to who will pick up the responsibility for the site'. He said: 'The aim has always been and continues to be to get the Crooked House re-built brick by brick but at the moment, two years on, we are worried about the safety of the area immediately in front of it. The Crooked House pub was gutted by a fire on August 5 2023 and destroyed by a bulldozer two days later. The future of the site has been thrown into doubt after the company linked to the site went bust with debts of more than £1.2 million. Himley Environmental operated a landfill site, controlled by Adam Taylor, who is sole director of the firm which bought the Crooked House. It was put into voluntary liquidation following court action over environmental breaches. Kingswinford and South Staffordshire Tory MP Mike Wood spoke in Parliament during the government support for the Hospitality Sector debate on July 1. He said: 'Two years on we continue to fight for the Crooked House to be re-built and are trying to put pressure on the authorities over the legal process, which seems to be dragging along but in the meantime it is important that the site remains fit for purpose when it potentially is re-built.' In May, campaigners wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urging them to make a decision on whether those under investigation for the fire will be charged . A spokesman for the CPS said they hadn't been given a file by police. But a spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: 'The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. 'Our investigation is ongoing and a file has been submitted to the CPS.'
BBC News
27-07-2025
- BBC News
Limavady: House and van 'completely destroyed' in arson attack
A house and van have been "completely destroyed" after an arson attack in County Londonderry in the early hours of Sunday. Police received a report of a fire on the Seacoast Road in Limavady shorty after 02:00 is believed that a van, which was parked at the house, was set alight with the fire spreading to the said there were no reports of any injuries and no one was in the house at the time.
SBS Australia
07-07-2025
- Sport
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Monday 7 July 2025
The Australian government is calling for mandatory training across the education and corporate sectors, as police continue to investigate an arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue. A doctor and an AFL legend are among Indigenous trailblazers honoured at the NAIDOC Awards. Filipinas qualifies for 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 07/07/2025 08:24 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Amazon, Telekom vehicles set ablaze in suspected political attack in Berlin, media report
June 17 (Reuters) - Dozens of commercial vehicles from Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab and Deutsche Telekom ( opens new tab were put on fire in the early hours of Tuesday, German media reported, with police saying they are investigating politically motivated arson attacks. Berlin police said in a statement that 17 vehicles belonging to a telecommunications company were damaged by fire. The fire brigade, which was called in after loud bangs were heard, put out the fires. The statement also said a delivery company's 18 vehicles burnt out at a separate site, with a further five vehicles getting damaged in the blaze. It said that no people were hurt. Newspaper B.Z. and broadcaster RBB reported separately that the companies affected were Amazon and Deutsche Telekom. The police declined to disclose the company names and also would not say whether anyone had claimed responsibility for the attacks. Amazon condemned the act, a spokesperson told Reuters, while Deutsche Telekom said it could not comment on pending investigations. Later on Tuesday, a far-left anti-war group published a statement on a media blog, claiming responsibility for the attacks. It linked the attacks to the opening of Amazon's new offices in Berlin, which took place on Monday, and the military use of technologies developed by both companies. Reuters could not independently verify the statement. Last year, a far-left militant group calling itself "Volcano group shutting down Tesla" claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a power pylon that halted production for days at Tesla's car factory outside Berlin. The authorities in the German capital had previously blamed a number of arson attacks in Berlin since 2011 on similar left-wing "volcano groups". It was not immediately clear whether the latest fires were related to those earlier attacks.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Greenisland Church: Parish community shop reopens for business
The reopening of a parish community shop in County Antrim after the church was set on fire in an arson attack last September represents the "first shoots of revival", the director of the shop has Church of the Holy Name and its parish hall in Greenisland, were severely damaged in the fire in parish community shop has temporarily relocated to a portable cabin next to the church, while the original shop and parish centre is set to be demolished and Martin, director of the parish community shop, said: "We see this as the first part of a journey with the regeneration of the church and the church hall." 'Feeling elated' Mr Martin said he is "feeling elated" with the reopening and that it is "great to have movement after nine months"."This is the first shoots of revival, I would put it as, for the church," he said."We've had great support online from the community, you know a lot of people asking: 'When are you opening again?', because they really value the shop." He said the shop can buy "over stock" from large supermarkets at a reduced price as well as proceeds from the shop sales go towards the church, its outreach support services and other various charitable cabin next to the church was transported from Glenavy to Greenisland during Storm Darragh in December 2024."It arrived amongst torrential rain and high winds, but the guys did a fantastic job, we were all like drowned rats by the end of the day when we saw it put into position," Mr Martin said. Lorna Brown, a volunteer in the parish community shop and a children and family outreach worker for the Greenisland parish, said "it's absolutely brilliant" to have the shop reopened."It's our first big milestone that we're hitting, we've a lot of hurdles to go but this is our first one and I think it's a boost for everybody," Ms Brown said. "There are people who come to this shop - that's their only outlet for the day, they don't actually go anywhere else". Elsie Ferris was one of the first customers to step foot into the new parish community said she is "really pleased" the shop has reopened adding that she got brought in first because "I'm always there and I used to bake for them". "All delighted to get it opened, its been closed for ages now you know, and they are all awful nice in it," Ms Ferris added. 'Delighted' Among the customers was Jean and Tom Hill, who said they were "delighted" with the shop to BBC News NI, Mrs Hill said she is "so excited about it, we've really missed it"."Everybody has been asking about when it is opening around the Greenisland area," Mr Hill said. The fire was started after the church celebrated its 70th anniversary and it destroyed the church roof, interior and parish boys - two aged 11 and one aged 10 - were charged with arson over the criminal proceedings were ended before they were due to make their first court appearances.
