Latest news with #policehero
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
Man who murdered Hainault schoolboy with sword to be sentenced
Update: Date: 10:14 BST Title: 'I'm no hero,' says officer slashed in Hainault sword attack Content: Lucy ManningSpecial correspondent This video can not be played 'He was slashing at me' - police officer who confronted Hainault sword attacker We have interviewed Inspector Moloy Campbell, who engaged in face-to-face fighting with Marco Monzo, receiving a slash wound to his hand as he tried to disarm him. He told us that he does not see himself as a hero, but he said his team of officers are "undoubtedly heroic" for their actions in stopping the attack. Recalling the confrontation in April 2024, Insp Campbell told the BBC: "It's a natural instinct: fight or flight, and in that moment it was fight. There was emotion after the event and after it all died down, but there was no fear." He added: "And I don't think there was much fear from anyone actually, because they're police officers and are expected to take action and that's hard drilled into them and they did it well." Update: Date: 10:11 BST Title: Reporters and camera crews set up outside Old Bailey Content: Cachella SmithReporting from the Old Bailey I'm here at the Old Bailey in central London where we are expecting the sentencing hearing of Marcus Monzo to begin within the next hour. The court will first hear submissions from the prosecution and defence teams before the judge actually passes down the sentence - which you'll be able to watch this afternoon from 14:00 BST. On Wednesday, Monzo was found guilty of a number of offences - including the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and the attempted murder of three others - all of which took place in a series of attacks that lasted just over 20 minutes. Since the attacks last year, the case has attracted a large amount of media attention. I spotted two camera crews outside as I came in this morning, but there are already a number of journalists waiting outside the courtroom itself. Update: Date: 10:04 BST Title: How a deadly attack unfolded in just 20 minutes Content: Update: Date: 09:58 BST Title: From conspiracy theorist to violent assailant – who is Marcus Monzo? Content: After his arrest on 24 April 2024, Marcus Monzo sat for a series of police interviews. Throughout, police learned that the 37-year-old believed his personality had switched before the attack and he compared the events to the movie The Hunger Games. He also told police that he had "many personalities" and that one of them was a "professional assassin". Before coming to the UK in 2013, Monzo grew up in Brazil. While giving evidence in court, he admitted to being possession of two samurai swords, but insisted he could not remember attacking multiple people in a rampage across the streets of Hainault. The court heard that the former Amazon driver was a martial arts enthusiast who believed in conspiracy theories - including ones about the Earth being flat and that the 9/11 attacks were fake. His brother said he had changed after attending retreats in India and the Amazon where he drank ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea. Both the prosecution and defence agreed Monzo had a psychotic disorder. But prosecutors said his behaviour was triggered "by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs" through his use of cannabis, which led to the psychosis. Monzo's defence claimed he was "most likely suffering from a pre-existing condition". On the day of the attack, he strangled his cat and tried to eat it. That morning, Monzo said he had felt the onset of "something like Armageddon" and he believed "the world was collapsing". Update: Date: 09:51 BST Title: 'We have lost the most loved and amazing son' Content: Daniel Anjorin's father, who sat in court throughout the trial, spent several days listening to disturbing evidence about how his son was killed and watching the police videos of Monzo with his sword attacking others that day. When Monzo received his guilty verdict this week, the father of Daniel Anjorin sat just feet away – occasionally wiping away tears. The family of the 14-year-old boy released a statement after his death, saying that it was hard for them to fathom that Daniel had left the house for school on that spring morning 'and then he was gone'. "Our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most loved and amazing son," they said. Update: Date: 09:44 BST Title: 'He's just killed that boy': How the Hainault attack unfolded Content: Kirsty O'Connor, from CPS, said this week that their "hearts go out" to Daniel's family and friends who have suffered "his unimaginable loss in horrific circumstances" As we've been reporting, Marcus Monzo is set to be sentenced today over the deadly attack he carried out in Hainault last year, during which he murdered 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and injured several others. The 37-year-old's rampage began on the morning of 30 April 2024 in the north-east London suburb. He first drove a van into a pedestrian and then slashed him in the neck, before turning his attention to Daniel, who he fatally wounded with a 60cm (24in) samurai sword. Monzo then entered a nearby home where a couple and their four-year-old daughter were asleep, slashing a man on the arm before leaving the property. He was cleared of one count of attempted murder in relation to this attack, but was found guilty of the lesser offence of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The court was told Monzo had gone into a cannabis-induced psychosis before the attack. Giving evidence at his trial, he said he had no memory of what happened and claimed his mental state had diminished his responsibility for the crimes. The prosecution argued that psychosis brought on by self-induced intoxication was no defence for murder. Monzo was found guilty this week of murdering the schoolboy, along with several other offences - which we'll detail in full in our next few posts. Update: Date: 09:34 BST Title: Man who murdered Hainault schoolboy with sword to be sentenced Content: Lucy ManningReporting from the Old Bailey I'm here outside the Old Bailey, where we'll soon hear the sentencing of Marcus Monzo. The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, has already told the Spanish-Brazilian national when he was found guilty of the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin that he will face a life sentence today. He now needs to set the minimum number of years that Monzo will serve. Before that happens this afternoon, there will be emotional victim impact statements read to the court. The Anjorin family have lost their son Daniel, described as loving, hard working with a gentle character. Others that day in Hainault nearly lost their lives. Both police officers and local residents have struggled to recover from physical injuries and mental trauma and we will hear more about that this morning. During the three weeks of this trial, Daniel Anjorin's father sat and listened to the traumatic details of what unfolded in Hainault that morning. The Anjorin family will see justice being done today, but Monzo took their son and brother from them just moments after he waved goodbye as he went to school. I'll be inside the court from 10:30 BST alongside my colleagues to file updates, and then at 14:00 BST I'll be poised to bring you the first lines on Monzo's sentencing. Stick with us.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Brothers jailed after Luton machete attack on policeman
Two robbers have been jailed after an "heroic" off-duty police officer was attacked with a machete after he confronted them while he was Hannan Mahmood, 20, and Humar Mahmood, 19, carried out the attack in Luton town centre on Saturday, 2 November after PC Darren Attwood confronted them as they rode through a pedestrianised pair, both of Belmont Road in the town, admitted assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and dangerous Allison Hunter hailed the policeman's actions and jailed the "dangerous" brothers, who had previous convictions, for seven years each at Luton Crown Court. The judge said PC Attwood, who works for the Metropolitan Police, needed to be "commended" - and gave him a High Sheriff's Award and the sum of £ Hunter said the brothers' offending was "brazen", "highly dangerous" and carried out in a "very public place" with children present. Barrister Jonathan Mole, prosecuting, told the judge the two brothers were armed with machetes and had robbed a man of his dirt bike, which was worth about £1, had then ridden off through Luton town centre - one on a moped and the other on the dirt bike they had taken from Nouman Mole said PC Attwood had approached the pair and identified himself as a police officer. CCTV footage from the town centre was shown in court as well as footage of the victim talking in Mahmood could be seen to produce a machete and swing it at PC he backed away, the brothers then rode towards him before riding off, having left the officer with a stab wound to the chest. PC Attwood said he had not realised the pair had committed a robbery when he approached said he was concerned about their behaviour, aimed to "reason" with them, and "didn't expect what happened to happen".The Met officer said he had photographed the brothers and pulled down some plastic barriers in front of their bikes in an attempt to stop them escaping and he felt "lucky to be alive".The hospital footage showed PC Attwood, a former soldier who has returned to work, explaining how he had been attacked."He has pulled out a machete... and then he just started swinging," said the victim."I felt one [blow] on my arm."The second one [said] 'just... kill him' and I thought 'this is not ideal' [but] I cannot let [them] get away." 'Risked his life' The judge heard the brothers had previous convictions - Humar for wounding and knife offences; Hannan for robbery and assault. Hannan had been given a nine-month custody sentence in 2024 and had been released on licence when he attacked PC Kevin Molloy, for Humar, said his client's behaviour could be a reaction to bullying suffered at told the judge: "The violence was in an attempt to get away rather that just attacking someone for the sake of it."Mr Molloy said Humar had taken "responsibility" by pleading Rickard, for Hannan, said PC Attwood had been "heroic" and there was no doubt the brothers behaviour was "appalling".He said Hannan had also suffered "horrific" bullying at school and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Mr Rickard said Hannan was a "very conflicted young man" but added: "There is a good person in there."After the hearing, Det Insp Caeva Taylor, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "PC Attwood risked his life to protect the public." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Remembering Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell one year after his death in the line of duty
It's been one year since Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell was killed in the line of duty. Mitchell raced to help a man in the Whittier neighborhood, not knowing the armed man he approached had just killed two people. Mitchell was a son, brother, father, fiancé and friend. The 36-year-old had only been with MPD for a year and a half but the impact he made will last a lifetime. At an annual service of remembrance last week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, "Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell dedicated his life to service. He was truly the definition of a hero." "In a pure act of selfless service, was taken from us by a violent act by the very person he was trying to help," Minneapolis police Chief Brian O'Hara said. The loss of officer Mitchell is still being felt in Minneapolis. "The weight of that loss is immense; the grief is deep," O'Hara said. With his fiancé and kids in attendance, Mitchell's sacrifice was honored in a special ceremony. "Today a banner bearing his name added to the Minneapolis Police Department flag joining the names of all the men and women who have died in the line of duty," O'Hara said. A similar scene to honor the fallen in took place in Washington, D.C. during National Police Week. His mom Janet Edwards was there, along with other family. "Very emotional to know that, you know, he was placed on the wall. I told everybody it was like a bittersweet moment for me," Edwards said. Edwards said Mitchell loved people. "And he loved his job. He loved what he was doing," Edwards said. At home they have their own memorial. "I felt like it was something that she can go to every morning. We know he's not here, but we can go to it to see him, and he's still shining in our heart," stepfather Dennis Edwards said. "He is missed, and he's missed throughout the whole family," Dennis Edwards said. They're proud of his courage and bravery. Only days on the job, Mitchell rescued an elderly couple from a house fire. Last year Mitchell was posthumously given the medal of honor and the purple heart. He was named 5th Precinct officer of the year. Last month, Minneapolis police honored those on scene for their courage and actions in the moments after Mitchell was shot, while remembering the fallen hero. "His actions as a man and how he lived his life, they're heroic. He was a role model. He's everything that we could ask for in a police officer," O'Hara said. O'Hara wears a metal band with his name on it. And carries Mitchell's duty weapon in honor of him. Others carry on his memory in their own ways. "There's other members of department here who were helping with youth activities with Jamal. That played basketball with him, off duty. Business owners and people from town who remember Jamal, you know, just coming in and just being a very positive, engaged role model for youth, and just honestly, you know, we could not have asked for better. And in life, he was a father," O'Hara said. A community, and department, indebted to their dad's service. "They they all have moments, you know, of difficulty and anguish. The main thing we want to make sure is that the family knows they will not be forgotten. He did what we asked him to do. And you know, the city owes, owes our gratitude to his family for their sacrifice," O'Hara said. Mitchell's mom plans to be in Connecticut Friday with some of his siblings. O'Hara will join Mitchell's family living in town for a private memorial, followed by time with officers who worked with him.
CTV News
19-05-2025
- CTV News
Sudbury police awards officer who helped catch criminal while off duty
Temiskaming OPP Constable Jennifer Landry was awarded a police services hero of the year award from the Police Association of Ontario.
