Three people have died following a two-vehicle crash on the Dungannon Road near Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Police confirmed that the drivers of the vehicles - a woman in her 80s and a man in his 20s - and a woman in her 50s, who was a passenger in one of the cars, were killed.
It happened shortly after 15:30 GMT on Monday.
Four children and a woman in her 20s were also taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where they remain.
The road between Killycolp Road and Annagh Road was closed for several hours but has since reopened.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it dispatched two rapid response paramedics, four emergency crews, one non-emergency crew, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance officer to the scene.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Air Ambulance was tasked to the scene and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) also attended.
Ch Supt Gerard Pollock appealed for information.
'The worst possible news'
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said it is "deeply tragic news".
"I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families of those tragically killed and every best wish to those injured for a full and speedy recovery," she added.
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MLA Patsy McGlone said it is "the worst possible news any family could receive but particularly at this time of year".
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected at this incredibly difficult time."
In a tweet, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said: "I just can't imagine the horror those who survived have endured and the scene faced by the emergency services.
"Life is so precious and so fragile."
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this tragic incident and the families and communities impacted by such a devastating loss.
"We also think of the emergency services who attended the scene and the health service staff caring for those injured."
Elsewhere, the M1 motorway has reopened in both directions between junction 15 at Dungannon and junction 14 at Tamnamore following an earlier crash.
A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 26-year-old who was shot at a Merseyside pub on Christmas Eve.
Beautician Elle Edwards died in hospital after being shot in the head at the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village.
Police said a 30-year-old man has been arrested in Tranmere on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
A 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, they added.
Both suspects have been taken into custody and will be questioned by detectives.
Four other people who were at the pub were also injured - one of those, a 28-year-old man from Beechwood in Wirral, is still receiving medical treatment, police said.
Flowers and other tributes have been laid at the scene, including a note signed "mum and dad" which read: "To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone."
A heart-shaped plaque bearing a pink and green floral design read: "Special Daughter, the happiness you brought in your own special way, will be remembered with love each and every day."
Merseyside Police believe Ms Edwards, who was also known as Ellie, was not the target of the attack.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs described her death as a "cold-blooded shooting".
"Elle's family are still having to come to terms with her tragic loss, and our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them," she said on Monday evening.
"We will not rest until we bring those responsible to justice."
"Heaven gained the most beautiful angel, we are all heartbroken, thinking of your family right now Elle," they wrote on Instagram.
Several shots were fired at the entrance to the Lighthouse at about 23:50 GMT on Christmas Eve. The pub was packed with mainly young people.
Ms Edwards was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
One of Ms Edwards' friends, called Jess, said people initially thought they had heard fireworks when the shooting started.
"But automatically everything just stopped and we had a feeling that something wasn't right," she told Sky News on Monday.
She said she felt "numb" when she saw her friend on the floor, with people trying to help her.
Police are appealing for more information, especially from those who were in the pub at the time of the shooting.
"We are also appealing to motorists and residents in the area, who may have captured anything on Dashcam or CCTV to contact us and every bit of evidence is crucial to the investigation," Det Supt Coombs said.
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Merseyside Police earlier said it had stepped up its presence in the area after the shooting.
It follows other high-profile shootings on Merseyside in the past year including the deaths of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Knowsley Council worker Ashley Dale.
A convicted murderer who has been warned by police of "imminent" plots to kill him says he refuses to take more precautions to protect himself.
It comes as new figures show hundreds of people, including children, received official warnings about threats against their lives last year.
Kevin Lane said he has been given multiple "threat to life" notices - also known as Osman warnings - since he was found guilty of shooting dead Robert Magill in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, in 1994.
Police issue the letters when they have intelligence of a real and immediate threat to someone's life but not enough evidence to justify arresting the possible offender.
A Sky News investigation has found more than 2,900 threat-to-life warnings have been issued by police since 2018 - including at least 222 given to people under the age of 18.
The total number is likely to be much higher as most forces failed to provide details following freedom of information requests - including the Metropolitan Police, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the West Midlands and Merseyside forces.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has suggested scrapping threat-to-life notices, with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) telling Sky News they are disproportionately more likely to be given to criminals and are "using precious resources to protect murderous gangs from death threats against each other".
Image:Lane says he has received multiple 'threat to life' warnings
Lane - who was released from his murder sentence in 2015 and continues to protest his innocence - said he received his latest Osman warning from police after returning from a trip in Turkey about four months ago, and was told: "There's an imminent threat against your life."
"I was fuming," he told Sky News.
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"I'd just had one a month before that. And some before that as well. I said 'what are you doing?'
"You know where these are coming from… they have to have a source for them to receive the information.
"What are they doing about the source? Do they pull these culprits in to let them know they're aware someone has mentioned them?"
Image:Police issue threat-to-life warning notices when there is intelligence of a threat to someone's life. File pic
'An inevitable threat'
Lane said police did not divulge if they knew who was behind the threats, but he believes he knows who was responsible.
"I know who they're coming from," he said.
"These people are telling people they're going to shoot me and have me killed. It's common knowledge.
"It's gone up to £200,000 now to weigh me in.
"It's an inevitable threat I take seriously but I won't change my lifestyle."
Asked if he was worried about threats being made to kill him, he replied: "Look, I wish there weren't.
"I'm not worried about it. I lived in prison for 20 years with people walking around wanting to kill me, slash me."
Image:An example of a 'threat to life' warning letter issued by police
What are threat-to-life warning notices?
Threat-to-life warning notices were started after businessman Ali Osman was shot dead in east London in 1988 by a teacher who had previously said he was thinking of committing a massacre.
Paul Paget-Lewis also shot and wounded Mr Osman's son, Ahmet, after becoming obsessed with him while working at his school. He was later convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
In 1998, the Osman family successfully argued in the European Court of Human Rights that the Met Police had breached Mr Osman's right to life because it had all the information it needed to deal with the threat.
It was a significant ruling which led to the formal 'Osman warning' letters being introduced.
When issuing the warnings, officers will often visit the home of the threatened person and advise they change their schedule, be on the lookout for suspicious activity and potentially move home temporarily, according to the charity Pace (Parents Against Child Exploitation).
What does the data show?
A total of 2,941 threat-to-life warning notices were issued by police between 2018 and November 2022, according to data provided by 12 UK forces.
They included 765 warnings handed out in 2021, the figures showed.
Most forces failed to respond to Sky News' freedom of information requests or refused to provide the information, saying it was not easily retrievable.
Among the forces to respond:
• Greater Manchester Police said 445 threat-to-life warnings were issued in 2021, up from 411 in 2020, 319 in 2019, and 251 in 2018. They included 193 warnings given to under-18s.
• North Yorkshire Police said55 threat-to-life warning notices were handed out in 2022 - a big rise on previous years when one was issued in 2021, six in 2020, two in 2019 and seven in 2018.
Asked why there had been a marked increase in threat-to-life notices this year, a force spokeswoman said it was possibly due to "increasing levels of policing regarding county lines and drug trafficking".
• Humberside Police said 144 threat-to-life warning notices were issued in 2021, up from 134 the previous year. A further 155 of the warnings were handed out in 2019 and 179 in 2018.
•Police Scotland said 20 threat-to-life warnings were issued in 2021, up from 18 in 2020, 17 in 2019 and 13 in 2018.
•South Wales Police said 70 threat-to-life notices were handed out in 2021, compared to 97 in 2020, 90 in 2019 and 78 in 2018. They included 15 notices given to under-18s.
At least 177 threat-to-life warning notices have been issued to women across the UK since 2018, although only seven forces broke down their data on the number given to men and women.
Image:Dominic Raab has voiced his opposition to threat-to-life notices
What has the government said?
Mr Raab has suggested scrapping threat-to-life notices required by the Osman ruling in his proposed Bill of Rights, although there are reports it could be shelved by the government.
The justice secretary has said the warnings have "added considerable complexity and expense to ongoing policing operations" and people involved in serious crime are disproportionately more likely to receive them.
One force reported that up to 75% of all threat-to-life notices may be issued to serious criminals or gangs, he added.
An MoJ spokesperson told Sky News: "The 'Osman ruling' has led to police using precious resources to protect murderous gangs from death threats against each other, at the expense of priorities like catching burglars and sending more rapists to prison.
"The Bill of Rights will give experienced police officers greater flexibility to allocate resources based on their professional judgement, rather than because of the threat of legal action."
It is understood the MoJ has concerns that "threat to life" operations take up a substantial amount of police time and deprive forces of the ability to take their own decisions about where to allocate resources.
The National Police Chiefs' Council did not respond when contacted by Sky News but has previously said threat-to-life warnings have proven "highly effective in the overwhelming majority of cases".
A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 26-year-old who was shot at a Merseyside pub on Christmas Eve.
Beautician Elle Edwards died in hospital after being shot in the head at The Lighthouse in Wallasey Village.
Police said a 30-year-old man has been arrested in Tranmere on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
A 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, they added.
Both suspects have been taken into custody and will be questioned by detectives.
Four other people who were at the pub were also injured - one of those, a 28-year-old man from Beechwood in Wirral, is still receiving medical treatment, according to police.
Merseyside Police believe Ms Edwards, who was also known as Ellie, was not the target of the attack.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs described her death as a "cold-blooded shooting".
"Elle's family are still having to come to terms with her tragic loss, and our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them," she said on Monday evening.
"We will not rest until we bring those responsible to justice."
"Heaven gained the most beautiful angel, we are all heartbroken, thinking of your family right now Elle," they wrote on Instagram.
Several shots were fired at the entrance to The Lighthouse at about 23:50 GMT on Christmas Eve. The pub was packed with mainly young people.
Ms Edwards was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
One of Ms Edwards' friends, called Jess, said people initially thought they had heard fireworks when the shooting started.
"But automatically everything just stopped and we had a feeling that something wasn't right," she told Sky News on Monday.
She said she felt "numb" when she saw her friend on the floor, with people trying to help her.
Police are appealing for more information, especially from those who were in the pub at the time of the shooting.
"We are also appealing to motorists and residents in the area, who may have captured anything on Dashcam or CCTV to contact us and every bit of evidence is crucial to the investigation," Det Supt Coombs said.
PA Media
Merseyside Police earlier said it had stepped up its presence in the area after the shooting.
It follows other high-profile shootings on Merseyside in the past year including the deaths of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Knowsley Council worker Ashley Dale.
"But automatically everything just stopped and we had a feeling that something wasn't right," she said.
She said she felt "numb" when she saw her friend on the floor, with people trying to help her, and paid tribute to the "funny" beautician.
"There was never a time when we've been out that we've not had a ball," Jess added.
In an Instagram post, Ms Edwards' colleagues at Nova Hair and Beauty Studio in Moreton, Wirral, said they were "absolutely lost for words".
They wrote: "Heaven gained the most beautiful angel, we are all heartbroken, thinking of your family right now Elle.
"Thank you for all the laughs and happiness you brought into our lives, rest in paradise angel, love from all your team."
family handout
Several shots were fired at the entrance to the pub, which was packed with mainly young people, at about 23:50 GMT on Saturday.
Ms Edwards was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital where she was pronounced dead, Merseyside Police said.
A 28-year-old man, from Beechwood, Wirral, was also injured and remains in hospital in a critical condition.
Three other men, aged 22, 24 and 33, were shot but their wounds are not thought to be life-threatening.
Police patrols increased
Merseyside Police tweeted that it had stepped up its presence in the area "in a direct response" to the shooting.
Peter Rexwinkel, Community Policing Inspector for Wirral, said: "This police operation is an on-going disruption to target criminals involved in serious and organised crime in Wirral.
"We received positive feedback from residents in these communities about the proactive police work being carried out to tackle crime, and our officers have been chatting to residents about community issues which they might not have told us about."
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Det Supt Sue Coombs, of Merseyside Police, said: "No family should have to be faced with this ordeal at any time but at Christmas, which should be a time of peace and celebration, it makes it so much harder to bear."
She described the shooting as "callous and cold blooded" and vowed: "We will not rest until we find the people responsible.
"Our investigation will rely heavily on information we receive from the public and I urge members of the local community, who have any information which could help us, to get in touch."
The attack follows other high-profile shootings on Merseyside in the past year including the death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was killed when a gunman chased a man into her home in Liverpool in August.
She died a day after council worker Ashley Dale who was fatally shot in her back garden. The 28-year-old was not believed to have been the intended target of the attack.
Their deaths followed a few days after 22-year-old Sam Rimmer died when shots were fired at him and his friends by people on electric bikes.
'Senseless and pointless'
Dame Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, told BBC Radio 4's PM: "Everybody is really shocked and devastated that somebody should have lost their life in this violent way, literally minutes before the start of Christmas when they were out with their friends and family, enjoying a pre-Christmas social occasion.
"It seems so senseless and pointless, and deeply, deeply shocking.
"I think that's what most people feel - they can't believe it's happened in an area like Wallasey village, a quiet, residential kind of area."
She said: "We know that for many years there's been a serious and organised crime issue with firearms involved over the river (in Liverpool).
"It hasn't really impinged on the Wirral side of the River Mersey - and there's no proof or evidence at the moment that what happened in Wallasey Village is actually related to any of the gangs in Liverpool."
She added: "It's really, really important, if you have any information that might lead to the conviction of someone who has been so reckless, please come forward and tell the police what you know."
The recent shootings led to the government allocating £350,000 for the roll-out of a pilot scheme across Merseyside to cut gun and knife crime.
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A woman who died after being hit by a police car in Liverpool on Christmas Eve has been named as 22-year-old Rachael Louise Moore.
Merseyside Police said they were called to reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a marked police car on Sheil Road in the city at about 8.10pm. Ms Moore was confirmed dead at the scene.
Paying tribute, her family released a statement saying: "Rachael Louise Moore aged 22, cherished daughter of Alison and Ian, sister to Ben and much loved granddaughter of Nana Sue. Partner to Jack and caring friend to many.
"She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched. The family requests their privacy be respected at this devastating time."
Police are urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also investigating.
Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, from the force's MATRIX serious collision investigation unit, said: "Following the death of Rachael we are providing assistance to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
"Our sincere and thoughts and condolences are with Rachael's family who have been left devastated by this tragic incident. Specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them at this time.
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"I would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to please make contact with us as we try to piece together the circumstances. I would also like to ask anyone who has CCTV, dashcam or smart doorbell footage that may help us to please get in touch.
"As is standard procedure, the incident was referred to the IOPC. The family requests their privacy be respected at this time."
The crowds have been arriving from early this morning at Sandringham, says Laura Bundock, royal correspondent.
They're hoping for a glimpse of the royal family as they make their way to church.
One fan, Jenny Oldfield, told me she'd left home at 4am for a good spot.
Why? Well, Jenny said: "Because this is a bit of history, we have a new King and a new chapter for the family".
Royal mega-fan John Loughrey is also waiting - and there's unlikely anyone who follows the family as closely as he does.
But, surprisingly, this is his first Christmas at Sandringham. He was at the front of the lying-in-State queue, and has camped overnight to be at the front today.
His flowers are for Kate and he's hoping to get close enough to hand them over personally.
"I just absolutely love them, they do so much, I had to be here today," he said.
