Latest news with #JohnSaunders
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Sean Fitzgerald death: Coroner raises firearms training concerns
A coroner has raised concerns about the training of firearms officers, following the shooting of an unarmed man by police in Coventry in soldier Sean Fitzgerald, 31, died during a raid carried out by West Midlands Police and an inquest in May concluded he had been killed the inquest jury found a number of issues with the planning and execution of the operation and the coroner, Sir John Saunders, published a report on Wednesday aimed at preventing similar deaths in recommended both the College of Policing and West Midlands Police look again at their training in light of his findings. West Midlands Police said it would "respond to any concerns identified within the timeline provided".The raid on the property had followed an investigation into an organised crime gang in the Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry investigation had been handed over to the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit which received intelligence claiming lead gang members were expected to be at a property in Burnaby Road and got a warrant to search the the inquest, the officer who shot Mr Fitzgerald said he had seen him emerge from the property carrying what he thought was a gun, but it later turned out to be a mobile phone. Areas of concern In his report, the coroner said he had taken into account evidence from the officers involved, senior firearms training officers and other experts on police tactics and on human said he had two main areas of concern - the warnings given and the positioning of armed coroner said that in the operation which led to the death of Mr Fitzgerald, there appeared to be a difference of opinion about when officers should shout "armed police" as a believed it should be shouted before entry was made, others believed it should be shouted after entry was the event, the report states: "The officers at the front of the property did not shout 'armed police' before breaking down the two doors at the front of the property. "Before any announcement was made, Mr Fitzgerald left through the rear door of the premises and was shot by Officer K, who was providing rear containment."Sir John said he was concerned the guidance and training given to officers "does not ensure a clear and consistent understanding of when they should announce their presence".He said the training also did not give a clear enough understanding of the factors to consider in deciding when to make the announcement. The coroner's other main concern was over the guidance officers were given on where they should stand in relation to the case of Mr Fitzgerald, the inquest heard the officer who shot him was standing about 7.5ft (2.3m) from the rear door of the property, and fired within just over half a second of the door beginning to inquest jury found he used "force commensurate with the threat he perceived and acted reasonably in taking up the position which he took, given the briefing he had received". But the coroner said the experts who gave evidence on human reaction had raised concerns about being in close proximity to a potential source of said being too close could significantly elevate an officer's perception of threat, and potentially increased the likelihood that they would respond with force. The coroner said there was little guidance given to firearms officers on the dangers of being close to said he expected a response from the College of Policing and West Midlands Police by 2 September, setting out the action they intended to a statement following the publication of the report, West Midlands Police said: "Armed policing is complex and challenging and our firearms officers put themselves in harm's way to protect the public on a daily basis,"It said those officers "undergo continuous rigorous training to ensure they are suitably equipped for such a vital and demanding role".The BBC has also approached the College of Policing for a comment. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Irish Independent
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Tarbert owner Patrick Fennell wins Novice 3 final at Tralee track with Sallowglen Gold
Saturday's programme at Tralee track featured two semi-finals of a novice 2 525yds sweepstake and the star performer was Bower Handyman for joint-owners John Saunders and Patrick Skehan Saturday's programme at Tralee track featured the final of a 525yds sweepstake for novice 3 class (winner, €850) and two semi-finals of a novice 2 525yds sweepstake (winner, €1,000), and the star performer was most definitely Bower Handyman, which won the second semi-final of the novice 2 sweepstake in 28.79 (.10 fast) for joint-owners John Saunders and Patrick Skehan. Bower Handyman had shown huge potential in the opening round when coming through to score in an estimated 29.08 and, at the ridiculous odds of 1/5 this time, he came from off the pace to score by seven lengths from the Jack Kennelly-trained Confident Not in 28.79 (.10 fast).
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Link Real Estate Partners Eyes $100 Million Sydney Warehouse
Link Real Estate Partners, an investment platform run by BlackRock Inc. 's former head of Asia Pacific real estate John Saunders, is in talks to buy a warehouse in Sydney owned by Dexus, according to people familiar with the matter. A transaction could value the property at about $100 million, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Link, based in Hong Kong, and Sydney-based Dexus are finalizing details of an agreement that could be reached as soon as this month, the people said.
Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Link Reit is said to weigh Singapore IPO of non-HK, China assets
Linked Reit, which owns Jurong Point shopping mall, is considering a potential IPO in Singapore. PHOTO: MERCATUS CO-OPERATIVE Link Reit is said to weigh Singapore IPO of non-HK, China assets HONG KONG – Link Reit is considering listing a real estate investment trust in Singapore that would include some of its properties outside of China and Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter. Hong Kong-based Link has held early discussions with advisers on the potential initial public offering, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Deliberations are preliminary and the company may decide to not proceed with a listing, the people said. A representative for Link Asset Management, the manager of Link Reit, declined to comment. A listing would come at a time when Link seeks to diversify from property management. The company announced in recent months that it would expand its business into fund management by working with capital partners. It has tapped John Saunders, former head of Asia Pacific real estate at BlackRock to lead the fund operation called Link Real Estate Partners. Link Reit has risen 27 per cent this year in Hong Kong, giving the firm a market value of around US$13.7 billion (S$17.6 billion). Singapore's market has been struggling to reverse a trend of delistings. Since the start of 2024, just five companies have gone public in the city, raising only US$39 million combined, data compiled by Bloomberg show. There are some green shoots. Japan's Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp is working on a Reit IPO in Singapore that could take place this year, while US data security firm AvePoint filed for a second listing in the city-state in January, Bloomberg News has reported. BLOOMBERG Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Link Reit is said to weigh Singapore IPO of non-HK, China assets
[HON KONG] Link Reit is considering listing a real estate investment trust in Singapore that would include some of its properties outside of China and Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter. Hong Kong-based Link has held early discussions with advisers on the potential initial public offering, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Deliberations are preliminary and the company may decide to not proceed with a listing, the people said. A representative for Link Asset Management, the manager of Link Reit, declined to comment. A listing would come at a time when Link seeks to diversify from property management. The company announced in recent months that it would expand its business into fund management by working with capital partners. It has tapped John Saunders, former head of Asia-Pacific real estate at BlackRock to lead the fund operation called Link Real Estate Partners. Link Reit has risen 27 per cent this year in Hong Kong, giving the firm a market value of around US$13.7 billion. Singapore's market has been struggling to reverse a trend of delistings. Since the start of 2024, just five companies have gone public on the Singapore Exchange, raising only US$39 million combined, data compiled by Bloomberg show. There are some green shoots. Japan's Nippon Telegraph & Telephone is working on a Reit IPO in Singapore that could take place this year, while US data security firm AvePoint filed for a second listing in the city-state in January, Bloomberg News has reported. BLOOMBERG
