logo
Cumbria fire service chiefs release statements following devastating Oxfordshire fire

Cumbria fire service chiefs release statements following devastating Oxfordshire fire

Yahoo17-05-2025
CUMBRIA Fire and Rescue Service officials have paid tribute to their colleagues in Oxfordshire- following a devastating blaze which has taken the lives of two fire fighters.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service release a statement this afternoon saying that the 'thoughts and prayers of everyone at Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are with the families of the two firefighters and a member of the public who sadly lost their lives in Oxfordshire last night'.
It said: "We are thinking of their colleagues and friends, the crews who responded, and the two firefighters who were seriously injured in the incident."
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service announced one of its crew died while tackling the fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday, May 15 whilst London Fire Brigade confirmed the second fatality was one of its firefighters on retained duty in Oxfordshire.
Two more firefighters are in hospital after suffering serious injuries.
Paul Hancock, Chief Fire Officer for Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic news that two firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and a member of the public have lost their lives at an incident.
'Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected and our colleagues in Oxfordshire at this difficult time, and we send our deepest condolences.
'We also send our thoughts to the two firefighters who have sustained serious injuries in the incident and are currently in hospital.'
Cumbria's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner also sent his 'deepest condolences' to the families of those affected.
David Allen, Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: 'My deepest condolences go to the families who are today coming to terms with the loss of three lives following a tragic incident in Oxfordshire.
'Desperately sad events like this show the dangers our brave firefighters face to keep us safe, and the debt of gratitude we owe them for their courageous service.
'My thoughts and prayers are also with the two firefighters who have sustained serious injuries.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Husband prepares bow and arrow in kitchen before attacking wife
Husband prepares bow and arrow in kitchen before attacking wife

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Husband prepares bow and arrow in kitchen before attacking wife

A husband who attacked his wife with a bow and arrow can be seen brandishing the weapon on CCTV. Footage released by North Yorkshire Police shows Stephen Carr, 57, walking through his kitchen with the weapon, with a later clip showing him taking a knife out from a drawer, which he then proceeded to stab his wife Lorna in the back with. Another clip shows police officers arriving at the property in Strensall, near York, as Carr sat in his garden shed as they arrested him. Carr, who was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial, was jailed for 17 years on Wednesday (2 July) and told he would serve an additional three years on licence following his release.

Thomas Partey rape charges explained: Why did it take so long and why are Arsenal under scrutiny?
Thomas Partey rape charges explained: Why did it take so long and why are Arsenal under scrutiny?

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Thomas Partey rape charges explained: Why did it take so long and why are Arsenal under scrutiny?

Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder, has been charged with multiple counts of rape following a police investigation spanning three years. Partey is accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault against three victims between 2021 and 2022. A first court appearance will come next month. The Athletic looks at the key questions surrounding the case as he prepares for trial. Partey is a Ghana international who has won 53 caps for his country, who has spent the last decade playing in the top divisions of Spain and England. The 32-year-old midfielder spent seven years with Atletico Madrid, where he won the La Liga title and the UEFA Europa League as well as earning a runner's-up medal in the Champions League in 2016. Advertisement He joined Premier League club Arsenal for £45million ($61.4m) in 2020 and has been a key player under manager Mikel Arteta for the majority of his five seasons at the Emirates Stadium, playing 167 games in all competitions. There had been discussions held over extending Partey's contract at the end of last season but he was eventually allowed to leave as a free agent when his deal expired on June 30. Partey has under investigation over rape allegations since February 2022, and was first arrested in July of that year. He has now been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The United Kingdom's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), an independent body that prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by police and other investigative bodies in England and Wales, outlined those charges on Friday afternoon. It said the allegations related to 'three separate women who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022.' That included two counts of rape against one complainant, three counts of rape against a second complainant and one count of sexual assault against a third. 'The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence,' said Jaswant Narwal, the chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North. 'Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.' A statement from Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, outlined his desire to prove his innocence. 'Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him,' it read. 'He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name. Advertisement 'Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further.' It is over four years since the first of the alleged incidents took place but rape charges are among the most challenging to bring a conviction. In its guidelines on how it charges and prosecutes rape cases, the CPS says it has to be satisfied that there is enough evidence for there to be a 'realistic prospect of conviction' before the investigating police force is authorised to charge the defendant. That will ultimately be based upon the evidence available and it will be up to prosecutors to try to convince at jury at any trial that the defendant did not have 'reasonable belief' that the victim was consenting to the sexual activity. Partey has been questioned by the Met Police on multiple occasions after an initial arrest in July 2022, with bail routinely extended, allowing him to continue his career with Arsenal. This is a legal obligation. In the United Kingdom, arrested suspects have the right to privacy until the police charge them. The courts generally consider there is no public interest in knowing what someone is being investigated for or has been arrested for. The point of charge is when that position changes and that is why Partey's name has now been published in relation to the case. That is not to say supporters were unaware, with social media posts regularly linking Partey to the allegations. That is why Partey's solicitor suggested this was a chance for her client to 'finally clear his name.' Arsenal have been aware of the police investigation into Partey throughout and protests, not specifically referencing the player, have been regularly staged by the campaign group Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence, who consider that once such serious allegations have been made against someone, they should be suspended. Advertisement Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence last posted on X on July 1, the day after Partey's release from the club. 'All too often another club is willing to overlook these concerns in favour of on-pitch success. This cycle, where safeguarding is secondary to silverware, is one we are determined to break throughout football.' There has been criticism from other sectors, too. Dino Nocivelli, a partner at legal firm Leigh Day, told The Telegraph: 'I think the fact that the defendant in these cases has been able to continue his working life is wrong and clearly sends the wrong message for such serious allegations as rape and sexual assault. 'The player should have been suspended while his football club and the (English) Football Association investigated the allegations, with no prospect of resuming his work until the investigations were concluded.' Arsenal and the FA have been approached for comment by The Athletic. English football has known a number of high-profile players answer sexual assault charges in recent years, with Partey the latest name to leave his (now former) employer facing criticisms. Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City full-back, was another to face multiple counts of rape when charged by Chesire Police in August 2021. City responded by suspending Mendy, who denied all charges, at that point but the France international had remained available for selection during the initial investigation. Mendy was eventually found not guilty of all charges but had left Manchester City at the time of his full acquittal. He later won the main part of an employment tribunal against the club that saw him claim £11million ($14.2m) in unpaid wages. Sunderland were willing to continue playing the former England winger Adam Johnson after he was charged for having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. Johnson remained a regular starter up until the weekend before the beginning of his trial, where he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 and grooming. Sunderland only terminated Johnson's contract at that point. He was later sentenced to six years in prison. Advertisement Another case, maintaining the anonymity of the professional footballer arrested throughout, took a very different approach. That player was suspended by his club shortly after his arrest in July 2021 on suspicion of multiple child sex offences and remained unavailable throughout his time on bail. He was later told he would face no action 21 months later, after his case failed to 'reach the threshold set out on the Code for Crown Prosecutors.' Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 5 to answer the charges but it is highly likely his case will not go to trial until next year. The 32-year-old, a free agent for the last four days, is still able to pursue the next step in his career but any club wishing to offer a fresh challenge will do so knowing Partey has serious charges to answer in the UK.

Man broke police officer's nose in airport attack, court hears
Man broke police officer's nose in airport attack, court hears

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Man broke police officer's nose in airport attack, court hears

Two brothers used a 'high level of violence' in assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport, a court has heard. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to respond to an earlier incident at the Starbucks cafe in the Terminal 2 building on 23 July 2024. Mr Amaaz delivered a headbutt to the face of a man wh ohad been on the same flight as his mother and punched him during the altercation in Starbucks, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Opening the prosecution case on Friday, Paul Greaney KC said officers who were already in the airport later traced the brothers to the terminal's car park payment area. Three officers, PC Zachary Marsden and PC Ellie Cook – both armed – and PC Lydia Ward, approached the defendants, he said. Mr Greaney went on: 'The officers attempted to move Mohammed Fahir Amaaz away from a payment machine in order to arrest him, but he resisted, and his brother Muhammad Amaad intervened. 'Both defendants assaulted PC Marsden. In the moments that followed, the first defendant also assaulted PC Cook and then PC Ward too, breaking her nose. The defendants used a high level of violence.' Mr Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden and PC Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of PC Cook and the earlier assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil at Starbucks. Mr Amaad, 26, is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations. Mr Greaney said the defendants had travelled to the airport with their young nephew to collect their mother who was due to arrive back on a flight from Qatar. The prosecutor said: 'A man named Abdulkareem Ismaeil was on the same flight as the defendants' mother. He was travelling with his wife and three young children. 'It is clear that on the flight and/or shortly after it landed, something happened between the defendants' mother and Abdulkareem Ismaeil that made the defendants' mother unhappy. 'The defendants met their mother in the arrivals area of Terminal 2 and began to walk to the car park with her and the child that was with them. As they did so, they passed a Starbucks coffee house. 'Abdulkareem Ismaeil was in there with his wife and children. The defendants' mother spotted Abdulkareem Ismaeil and pointed him out to her sons. 'At just after 8.20pm, the defendants entered Starbucks and confronted Abdulkareem Ismaeil. During that confrontation, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz delivered a headbutt to the face of Abdulkareem Ismaeil and punched him, then attempted to deliver other blows, all in front of a number of children. 'The prosecution case is that this was obviously unlawful conduct.' Mr Greaney told jurors the prosecution's position was this was 'not a complicated case'. He said: 'The events you are concerned with were captured by CCTV cameras and, in relation to the events in the payment area on the body-worn cameras of police officers as well. 'So you will not have to depend only on the recollections of witnesses. You will also be able to see with your own eyes what happened. 'The two defendants assert, as we understand it, that at all stages they were acting in lawful self-defence or in defence of the other. 'Our prediction is that you will readily conclude that the defendants were not acting in lawful self-defence and that their conduct was unlawful.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store