A teenage boy has been stabbed to death in Manchester after a large altercation between two groups of people.
The victim, 17, died after the incident broke out in Henbury Street, Manchester, at around 7.30pm on Sunday, Greater Manchester Police said.
Emergency services were called, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other males were stabbed during the altercation and were taken to hospital, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, the force added.
A murder investigation has been launched and another 17-year-old boy was arrested at the scene. He is currently being questioned in custody.
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Superintendent Leon Jacobs of the force's city of Manchester division said: "This is a dreadful incident and we are working hard to establish how this boy came to lose his life.
"Our specialist officers are supporting the boy's family and our thoughts are with them as they struggle to come to terms with their loss.
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"We also wish those in hospital a speedy recovery. While our investigations are in their infancy, we have already made one arrest.
"This is a fast-paced inquiry and it is vital we secure any information that the public possess in relation to this.
"Were you in the area at the time? Did you see the altercation occur within the Henbury Street area or see what led to it? If you can assist or have dash cam or CCTV footage, then please contact police immediately."
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
Crowds gathered in a Grangetown street this afternoon to watch the situation unfold (Picture: Katie Lunn/Teesside Live)
A man is in police custody after armed officers swooped on an apparent ‘hostage’ situation in Middlesbrough earlier today.
Cleveland Police have confirmed that the force responded to reports of an individual in possession of a firearm, before the dramatic incident was brought to a ‘peaceful’ end this afternoon. A 27-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody.
Officers carrying guns and around six or seven police cars were seen around Grangetown’s Bangor Close, off Tawney Road. A number of residents watched from the street as the drama unfolded over just under three hours.
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Police were called before noon, and surrounded the Leicester House flats with guns drawn, witnesses said. They told TeesideLive that two people were being held hostage.
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The road was blocked off by police vehicles, as scores of officers swarmed the area.
A number of eyewitnesses reported seeing movement on a balcony on the top floor at around 2pm.
One resident of the six-storey block of flats reported seeing armed officers outside of his door.
He explained: ‘I thought somebody was knocking on my door but when I got to the door it was armed police shouting “get back, get back”.
Police swooped on Tawney Road today (Picture: Evening Gazette)
Officers were seen with guns in the area (Picture: Evening Gazette)
The incident played out from between around 11am and 2pm (Picture: Katie Lunn/Teesside Live)
‘They were right outside my door and I could hear them negotiating with him.
‘They had their guns up and I could see the laser on his front door ready to shoot.’
Officers were seen wearing gloves as they entered the building following the arrest shortly after 2pm.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson explained: ‘Police were called at 11.07am today to Bangor Close, Grangetown, to a report of an individual in possession of a firearm and others present at the address.
It is an irony Boris Johnson might appreciate that the debate over Scottish independence has become a mirror image of the pre-2016 arguments over Brexit. The prime minister and his Conservatives say Scots are better off “remaining” in a strong union with their largest trading partner. Independence supporters appeal to national pride and identity — to taking back control, to coin a phrase. And their argument is gaining ground. Mr Johnson’s misfiring visit to Scotland last week will do little to reverse polls that for the first time show more Scots favour ending the union with England than keeping it.
This is disturbing, if not unexpected. Scots voted 62-38 in 2016 to remain in the EU. Having Brexit imposed on them has prompted a chunk of the 55 per cent who voted to keep Scotland in the UK in 2014 to switch sides. Covid-19 has compounded matters. Neither the death rates — Scotland’s is only slightly below England’s — nor policies have been wildly different. But the clear communication of Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister and Scottish National Party leader, has turbocharged her approval ratings compared with the bumbling Mr Johnson.
Ms Sturgeon has been helped by the failure of ineffectual Conservative and Labour leaders in Scotland to hold the SNP to account over its poor domestic record in, say, health and education. It is another irony that Mr Johnson’s desire to preserve the union would benefit from the resurgence of Labour in Scotland as another credible alternative to the SNP.
Yet Scottish parliamentary elections next May now look likely to deliver an increased pro-independence majority. That might make it hard for Mr Johnson to refuse demands for a second referendum. His government needs a strategy to preserve the UK.
It should start by respecting the extent of devolution that has already taken place. Mr Johnson has irritated Scots in the pandemic by assuming he is making Covid-19 policy for all of the UK, and failing to consult capitals of the other nations. The government should understand many Scots want both to remain in the union, and have a greater voice in their own affairs and at Westminster. UK cabinet ministers should visit far more often. Ministerial trips should be frequent enough to appear routine, not look like slightly panicky campaign visits. The government too often seems not to notice Scotland unless it’s about saving the union.
Meanwhile, the government must hone more positive and emotive arguments in favour of the UK; a “Project Fear” highlighting the supposed perils of independence will backfire. His “levelling up” agenda in theory provides an opportunity to vaunt the union’s benefits — but Holyrood handles most spending inside Scotland. Downing Street needs to find ways to highlight the sizeable net budgetary transfer Scotland still receives from the UK.
There is scope to point out the uncertainties surrounding the Scottish independence project — which assumes it could swiftly rejoin the EU. This is not guaranteed, and indeed taking Scotland back into the single market and customs union would result in a “hard” border with what remains by far its biggest economic partner — England.
Above all, Mr Johnson needs to avoid inflaming sentiment in pro-EU Scotland by ensuring he reaches an EU trade deal by the year-end. Many in his party want him to take a hard line. But the prime minister must be aware that instead of going down in history as the man who successfully took the UK into a post-EU future, he risks being remembered as the one who destroyed the 300-year-old union.
A furious row broke out on an Arriva bus over the use of face masks, resulting in the driver having to step in.
Shocking footage recorded on a bus in Liverpool showed two passengers involved in a loud confrontation about one woman not wearing a face covering.
According to witnesses, a number of passengers began criticising a younger passenger for not wearing a mask leading to others jumping in to defend her.
At one point the driver can be overheard telling a woman wearing a mask below her nose to 'not lecture people about masks when you can't wear one properly'.
He also tells her: 'It's not my job to ask everyone who comes on the bus about wearing a mask.'
One witness said: 'A man and an older woman started ganging up on her and a massive row erupted.
'The bus driver had to get out of his seat and came over to demand what was going on and he told one woman she wasn't even wearing her mask properly.
'That woman then stormed off the bus and said she was going to report the incident.'
Face masks have been compulsory on public transport in England since June 15, requiring all passengers to wear some form of face covering on buses and trains.
The driver can be heard telling a woman wearing a mask below her nose to 'not lecture people about masks when you can't wear one properly'
Those not wearing a face covering on public transport could be fined or refused entry to public transport if deemed necessary.
An Arriva spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers and employees continues to be our priority.
'The wearing of face coverings continues to be mandatory for customers whilst using public transport (exemptions apply).
'We have clear guidance and signage for customers in regards to this and all other social distancing measures in place on bus, via social media and our website.'
The Scottish First Minister is under pressure after she made the decision on Saturday night, amid rising numbers of cases in the popular holiday destination, meaning some travellers would have to quarantine for two weeks when they returned. She tweeted on Saturday: “Having reviewed the latest data earlier today, @scotgov is also reimposing 14-day quarantine for travellers returning from Spain.
“This reinforces the point that these matters are subject to change at short notice & so my advice is to be cautious about non-essential foreign travel.”
Her U-turn amid fears of a second wave comes just three 72 hours after Scotland lifted restrictions for people travelling to Scotland from Spain.
Ms Sturgeon had urged caution over booking holidays abroad on Wednesday, as the quarantine rules could be forced to change at short notice.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie called for Ms Sturgeon to publish the data that led to Saturday's decision.
The decision to remove Spain from the exemption list was taken all across the UK.
In his letter to the First Minister on Sunday, Mr Rennie said: "It is little surprise that you were obliged to reverse that decision on Saturday evening. This is now a shambolic situation and there is a big question as to how Scottish ministers have made such poor-quality decisions.
After the decision, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "The decision to exempt Spain earlier this week was taken when the data showed there was an improvement in the spread of the virus.
“But clearly the latest data has given us cause for concern to overturn that decision."
Mr Yousaf tweeted that data belonged to the UK Government and therefore cannot be released by Holyrood.
However, he said he had written to UK Government officials to release the data.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab this morning doubled down on the UK's sudden decision to reimpose strict quarantine rules at short notice on travellers returning from Spain, calling the measures "absolutely necessary".
But Spain said it was in conversation with the UK about exempting the Canary and Balearic islands, which includes Ibiza and Mallorca, from the requirement to self-isolate for two weeks.
Foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya argued Spain had coronavirus outbreaks "perfectly controlled" after the European country recorded more than 900 fresh daily COVID-19 cases for two days running.
It comes after ministers announced on Saturday holidaymakers who had not returned from Spain and its islands by midnight would be forced to quarantine for 14 days after COVID-19 second wave fears saw the popular holiday destination struck off the UK's safe list.
More than 900 sex offenders have disappeared off the police radar with many thought to have disguised their identities by changing their names and not telling officers, Sky News has discovered.
The simple deed poll process takes 15 minutes online and over 1,300 sex offenders have already done it since committing their offences and have informed authorities.
Campaigners are warning that while it is an offence for people on the sex offenders register to change their names without telling officials, that's not incentive enough for them not to do it - as it's easy to do and common practice.
Image:At least 1,349 sex offenders notified authorities they had changed their name by deed poll. File pic
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the 43 police forces in England and Wales found there were 1,349 sex offenders who had notified the authorities they had changed their name by deed poll, since committing their offences. (About half the forces couldn't provide data on this).
Changing their names makes it more difficult for members of the public to do an online check into a person's history.
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But more worrying, the Safeguarding Alliance also asked police forces, in addition to this figure, how many sex offenders have gone missing. Only 16 police forces provided data, but it amounted to 913 offenders.
It's thought many of these have changed their names and chosen not to tell the police.
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Emily Konstantas from the Safeguarding Alliance said: "When we first started looking into this, we couldn't quite believe it. That's why we started requesting FOIs. This is a flaw in the current legal system and it's a flaw that's going to be exploited."
Sky News found numerous cases in the British courts where names had changed, but the individual was the same and their offence repeated.
Image:Della Wright was raped by Terry Price from the age of six
Image: When Price changed his name again, Ms Wright said it made her feel like a child again
A sex offender called Terry Price conducted a string of sexual offences over three decades and has changed his name five times in an effort to cover up his recurring pattern of behaviour.
Della Wright, 47, was repeatedly raped by Price from the age of six, back in the early 1980s.
After having her own children, Ms Wright recently found the courage to report the crimes - but she discovered her attacker was called Robert McEwan (also a sex offender).
She waived her right to anonymity to highlight this issue in the hope that the laws will change to make it impossible for sex offenders to change their identities.
Ms Wright told Sky News: "I just thought how many relationships has he had? How many jobs has he had around children? We don't know but we know he's a prolific offender. It makes me really angry and it shouldn't be possible.
"This person has been through the system not once but countless times - and even as recently as 2016 he was allowed to change his name again whilst in prison."
Image:Terry Price changed his name to Robert McEwan and then Mr Mac
Emily Konstantas added: "When they change their name, they effectively go under the radar of all the authorities - they can obtain a new passport, they can obtain a new driving licence and essentially they can erase their past.
"The onus is on them to inform police, but they are often manipulative by nature. If a sexual offender is on the sex offender register, there must be a system where it's not just reliant on that offender to tell the truth."
The Safeguarding Alliance asked the Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) how they guard against this. They replied: "The DBS does not undertake any background checks regarding applicants changing their name by deed poll."
So, what then about the laws put in place to allow people to check on the history of people?
Image:Over 900 sex offenders have disappeared off the police radar. File pic
Sarah's Law followed the murder of Sarah Payne in 2000 and is a disclosure scheme so people can check if someone with access to children has a record of child sex offences.
Clare's Law was introduced in 2014 by then home secretary Theresa May to allow women to check to see whether partners have an abusive past.
Survivor Della Wright said: "Clare's law, Sarah's law - they are redundant now. They are only as good as the name given on that day. If you go and ask has Joe Bloggs got a history? Well no he doesn't because his name was Dave Jones yesterday."
The Safeguarding Alliance has now launched a parliamentary petition to "revoke the right of registered sex offenders to change their name by deed poll".
Image:Emily Konstantas from the Safeguarding Alliance
Ahead of his trial in 2016, Della Wright's attacker changed his name again to Mr Mac, so he was unable to enter a plea because the charges were against Robert McEwan. The process was disrupted for several weeks. Ms Wright believes he did it in the hope she would lose her nerve.
She said: "He was allowed again to have full control, and in that moment, I was a child again because he was full in control."
Mr Mac (Terry Price, Robert McEwan) was eventually convicted in November 2017 of raping Ms Wright and was sentenced to 22 years in custody with five years extended licence.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are determined to prevent serious criminals from hiding their pasts and will not tolerate sex offenders trying to evade the justice system.
"Sex offenders who fail to tell police of a name change already face tough prison sentences.
"We are working with the courts and DBS to ensure measures are strengthened and continuously reviewed in order to protect the public."
