Latest news with #heroic
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
New York officer killed in shooting was Bangladeshi immigrant whose wife was pregnant
The New York police officer killed in a mass shooting in a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday was described by the city's mayor and police commissioner as a heroic Bangladeshi immigrant who saved lives while 'putting his life on the line.' A gunman opened fire on Monday inside a midtown office tower, killing four people, including Officer Didarul Islam, 36, before fatally shooting himself, officials said. 'We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the New York City Police Department, Officer Islam,' New York Mayor Eric Adams told reporters in a press conference late on Monday. Adams said the officer was a three and a half year veteran of the police department. 'He was saving lives, he was protecting New Yorkers,' Adams said. 'He loved this city, and everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God.' Adams said he met the officer's family on Monday night. 'I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line,' the mayor added. Islam was married, had two young sons, and his wife is pregnant with a third child, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in the press conference. 'He put himself in harm's way. He made the ultimate sacrifice — shot in cold blood,' she said. Islam was working on a paid security detail in the building when the shooting occurred, the commissioner added. Such details allow 'companies to hire officers in uniform to provide extra uniform security,' she said. Excluding Islam, 42 federal, state, county, municipal, military, and US territories officers have died in the line of duty in the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York officer killed in shooting was Bangladeshi immigrant whose wife was pregnant
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The New York police officer killed in a mass shooting in a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday was described by the city's mayor and police commissioner as a heroic Bangladeshi immigrant who saved lives while "putting his life on the line." A gunman opened fire on Monday inside a midtown office tower, killing four people, including Officer Didarul Islam, 36, before fatally shooting himself, officials said. "We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the New York City Police Department, Officer Islam," New York Mayor Eric Adams told reporters in a press conference late on Monday. Adams said the officer was a three and a half year veteran of the police department. "He was saving lives, he was protecting New Yorkers," Adams said. "He loved this city, and everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God." Adams said he met the officer's family on Monday night. "I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line," the mayor added. Islam was married, had two young sons, and his wife is pregnant with a third child, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in the press conference. "He put himself in harm's way. He made the ultimate sacrifice — shot in cold blood," she said. Islam was working on a paid security detail in the building when the shooting occurred, the commissioner added. Such details allow "companies to hire officers in uniform to provide extra uniform security," she said. Excluding Islam, 42 federal, state, county, municipal, military, and U.S. territories officers have died in the line of duty in the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Moment hero Marine subdues knifeman after 11 shoppers stabbed in 'terror' rampage at Walmart
A heroic shopper stepped in to save the lives of terrified locals at a Walmart after a deranged knifeman stabbed 11 people in a 'terror' rampage. The man, identified as ex-Marine Derrick Perry, pulled out a concealed firearm and held knifeman Bradford James Gille at gunpoint until officers arrived at the scene. The 42-year-old Gille had already stabbed 11 people inside the Michigan Walmart and is facing charges of terrorism and assault with intent to murder, according to Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg. But bystanders credited Perry for potentially saving the lives of many more shoppers. His intervention stopped Gille in his tracks and gave frightened onlookers a chance to flee. It is understood he had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. 'This is what the Second Amendment is all about,' one supporter said, praising Perry for his heroic actions. 'You are a true hero and this town is blessed for people like you,' another wrote. Perry's daughter described her father's instinct to help as a 'proud daughter moment', while his daughter-in-law added that he is a 'true hero.' 'So proud of him for protecting so many,' she added. Others are calling for him to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Video circulating on social media showed the terrifying moment Gille confronted the knife-wielding madman in the parking lot of the Walmart. Perry, along with several other men, cornered Gille in the car park and forced him to drop his weapon. The suspect looked stunned as the tables quickly turned on him. Another man was armed with a shopping cart as he helped to corner Gille. In the chaos, one of the brave men lost his shoes as he shouted: 'Throw the knife away! Throw it away! Another shouted: 'Get on the ground!' 'Drop the knife! Drop it!' another bellowed. Gille backed away slowly until one of the men tackled and subdued him. Police later said he kept repeating: 'I don't care. I don't care.' Moeggenberg, the county prosecutor, told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact that investigators believe Gille intended to 'affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community, and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis.' The horrific attack unfolded at the Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday afternoon. Gille allegedly entered the store during a calm shopping afternoon and randomly stabbed the victims with a folding pocket knife, authorities say. Moeggenberg called the attack 'a very random act of violence.' Gille, who police said is a Michigan resident, remains in custody at the Grand Traverse County Jail and is expected to be arraigned Monday or Tuesday. Sheriff Mike Shea praised the quick response from law enforcement officers who arrived within three minutes after receiving the call about the stabbing but also a group of bystanders who intervened and detained Gille in the parking lot. Calls began coming in to authorities at 4:43pm on Saturday and a sheriff's deputy arrived at 4:46pm. 'I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute,' Shea said at Sunday's press conference. 'That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.' Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 21 to 84. One victim was a Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said at a press conference Sunday that one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. Walmart said in a statement Saturday that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. On Sunday, a spokesman said he didn't have any details about the store reopening and had no updates beyond the statement released late Saturday. 'Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders,' the statement read. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to 'provide any necessary support'. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: 'Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.' Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Hero off-duty firefighter rushed to save kids when school trip bus overturned leaving 1 dead & 21 injured
A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus that tragically crashed yesterday immediately rushed to help. One child sadly died and two others were rushed to hospital after the coach veered off the road and slid down a 20ft bank. 6 6 Some 21 casualties were taken to hospital by land and air after the accident. The bus came off the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset shortly before 3pm yesterday. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers. It later emerged that a heroic off-duty firefighter was travelling behind the coach and was able to start freeing passengers straight away. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were mobilised to a major incident to a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slip approximately 20ft (6.1m) down an embankment. "I'm grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the collision who was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus." He added: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and he also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. "This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with, and I'm grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped as quickly as safely as possible." Two people were left seriously injured following the crash, which saw the coach filled with pupils from Minehead Middle School leave the road. It is thought that the year five pupils were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo in nearby Devon. Minehead Middle School's website states that pupils in that year group (aged nine to 10) were due to visit the zoo as part of the school's "Enrichment Week" activities. Three helicopters, deployed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, joined police air crews. Some casualties were then taken by air ambulance to hospital in Bristol. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". In a press conference outside Minehead Middle School, cops confirmed that they were called at 2.58pm to the "very complex and technically difficult scene". Parents - who had been summoned to the school by police - were seen visibly upset as they waited outside the building. Police confirmed that 21 casualties had been rushed to hospital, although the "large majority of passengers" were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Eight fire engines, two specialist rescue appliances and around 60 firefighters were deployed to the scene. South Western Ambulance Service deployed 20 double crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. Cops estimate around 60 to 70 people were onboard the coach when it left the road. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute after the tragic death of the child, saying: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. "There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. "All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected. "Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I'm being kept up to date on this situation." 6 6 6
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
We finally know how a 5-year-old girl fell from a Disney cruise ship
After weeks of speculation, Florida officials have confirmed exactly how a 5-year-old girl fell overboard from the Disney Dream cruise ship last month — and the story is as dramatic as it is heroic. According to a newly released report from the Broward Sheriff's Office, the child had been climbing on a railing on the ship's fourth deck on June 29 when she lost her balance and fell backward through a porthole into the ocean. Her father, who hadn't seen the fall, jumped into the water moments later after her mother sounded the alarm. The case drew intense public interest — and harsh online criticism — after rumors circulated that the father had placed the girl on the railing to take photos. But investigators now say those rumors were entirely false. The child climbed up on her own while her parents were nearby playing shuffleboard, and a strong gust of wind may have contributed to the fall, according to a witness on board. 'The girl's mother alerted her husband, who didn't see the incident, and he jumped into the ocean to save his daughter,' the sheriff's office confirmed, as reported by the Daily Mail. Read more: Disney cruise dad jumps overboard after 5-year-old daughter falls into the ocean Onlookers described a harrowing scene, with the mother screaming that her daughter was just five years old and couldn't swim. Her father, 37, leapt overboard and treaded water with his daughter for about 20 minutes before they were both rescued by the Disney Dream's onboard team. Cruise officials say the crew responded within minutes and praised the team's quick thinking. 'We commend our crew members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship,' Disney Cruise Lines said in a statement. The incident occurred while the ship was sailing between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale. The Disney Dream, one of the line's most luxurious vessels, can carry up to 4,000 passengers. The girl and her father were both safely brought back on board, and the captain later addressed the passengers with an update. Solve the daily Crossword
