Babak Belurs

Jumat, 24 Februari 2023

Omagh police shooting: Fifth arrest after John Caldwell attack - BBC

By Jayne McCormack & Ross McKee

BBC News NI

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has arrested a fifth man in connection with the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell.

The man, aged 43, was arrested in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, on Friday evening.

Two gunmen shot the 48-year-old several times in front of his young son at a sports complex in Omagh on Wednesday.

Investigators said their main line of enquiry into the attempted murder was dissident republican group the New IRA.

Dissident republicans oppose the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace deal and continue to use violence to attempt to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland.

Four men - aged 22, 38, 45, and 47 - arrested in the Omagh and Coalisland areas of Tyrone on Thursday and Friday - remain in custody.

Det Ch Insp Caldwell is critically ill after he was shot while putting footballs into his car after coaching young people at football.

He remains heavily sedated in hospital. His wife and son had been left seriously affected by his shooting, Chief Constable Simon Byrne said.

'Sense of outrage'

Mr Byrne provided an update alongside leaders from Northern Ireland's five main parties on Friday.

Political leaders presented a united front with the chief constable, which Mr Byrne said was a significant show of solidarity that showed the "sheer sense of outrage at this pointless and senseless attack".

Simon Byrne with Doug Beattie, Colum Eastwood, Stephen Farry, Michelle O'Neill and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

Det Ch Insp Caldwell suffered life-changing injuries in the attack, according to the chairman of Northern Ireland's Police Federation, Liam Kelly.

He is one of the best-known detectives in the PSNI, often fronting press conferences on major inquiries during his 26-year career.

He had coached a Beragh Swifts training session at Youth Sport Omagh when the gunmen approached and shot him at about 20:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Children ran in terror when the shots rang out in the car park of the sports complex.

Two gunmen, who were dressed in dark clothing, carried out the attack and fled the scene of the shooting on foot, police said.

At least two other vehicles were struck by their volley of shots.

Analysis box by Julian O'Neill, NI home affairs correspondent

The attack appears to underscore the re-emergence on the New IRA after nearly four years of surface-level inactivity.

In 2019 the dissident republican grouping shot dead journalist Lyra McKee as she watched rioting unfold in Londonderry.

Within a year, its suspected leadership was rounded-up by the PSNI following a surveillance operation run by MI5 using an alleged agent.

Ten individuals are currently awaiting trial on almost 50 terrorism charges as a result of Operation Arbacia.

In the aftermath, the New IRA was viewed as being in complete disarray and last year, for the first time in more than a decade, the government announced the threat level in Northern Ireland was being lowered from severe to substantial.

It might not have sounded much, but it was a hugely symbolic moment.

Attacks, or attempted attacks, dropped markedly: the years 2020-22 saw a virtual absence of activity.

But the New IRA was re-organising and in November it mounted a roadside bomb attack, using military grade explosives, on a police patrol car in Strabane.

The armour-plated vehicle did its job and two officers inside escaped injury.

The attack has now been followed up with the attempted murder, less than 20 miles away, of Det Ch Insp Caldwell.

Police believe the gunmen then made off in a small, dark car, which was found burnt out at Racolpa Road, outside Omagh.

The Racolpa Road was closed between the Rushill Road and Crocknacor Road.

a burnt-out car at Racolpa Road outside Omagh

Beragh Swifts chairman Ricky Lyons said the club was supporting the young players who witnessed the shooting.

"He was taking a kids' training session - it's hard to compute that someone would try to attempt to kill John at that moment," said Mr Lyons.

Irish Football Association (IFA) President Conrad Kirkwood said he had received a message from Det Ch Insp Caldwell earlier this week about hosting a football seminar at his club.

"This is a guy who, despite having a busy day job, is absolutely invested in trying to make things better - it makes it even more tragic," he added.

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A recovery vehicle carrying two cars left the Youth Sport Omagh complex under police escort on Thursday night.

On Friday evening a police cordon put in place at the scene was lifted.

Terrorism threat level scrutinised

A rally to condemn the attack will be held at Omagh's courthouse on Saturday morning.

It will take place close to where 29 people died after a bombing in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998 - the biggest single atrocity in the Troubles.

A walk of solidarity will also take place at Beragh Swifts Football Club on Saturday, with attendees encouraged to wear the club's colours.

An Garda Síochána (police in the Republic of Ireland) continue to work closely with the PSNI after the shooting, a spokesperson said.

Gardaí previously said it had intensified patrolling in border counties following the attack.

It added that it will provide the PSNI with assistance as required as the investigation continues.

Last March, the the threat level posed by dissident republican terrorism in Northern Ireland was lowered from severe to substantial for the first time in 12 years.

The decision to lower the threat level was taken by the Security Service (MI5) after assessing a wide range of information, independently of ministers.

Since 2010 it had been "severe", meaning attacks are highly likely. It is now "substantial", meaning attacks are likely.

The threat level is assessed over a period of time rather than in reaction to one event.

High-profile figure

Dt Ch Insp Caldwell has been the senior detective in high-profile inquiries including:

The murder of Shane Whitla in a Lurgan park in January
The stabbing of Natalie McNally in December
The shooting of Lyra McKee, a journalist killed while observing rioting in Derry in 2019 in an attack claimed by the New IRA
The 2011 murder of Ronan Kerr by dissident republicans, the most recent fatal attack on a police officer in Northern Ireland

He had received a number of threats in the past, BBC News NI understands, and was aware his investigations of dissident republican attacks made him a high-profile target.

He continued to carry out his activities as a football coach and whether that was a pattern that aided the targeting of him is of course a matter for the investigation.

The last gun attack on a PSNI officer was in January 2017.

The PSNI officer was hit by automatic gunfire at a petrol station in north Belfast.

Read more: Why police are still a target in Northern Ireland

The UK will hold a minute's silence to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The silence will be held at 11:00 GMT on Friday to commemorate the war, which has seen thousands of civilians and soldiers killed and injured.

It comes after crowds gathered in London's Trafalgar Square on Thursday to hold a vigil for Ukraine.

Later, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will urge allies to "move faster" in arming Ukraine at a meeting of the G7 later.

Mr Sunak will also host Ukrainian troops at a gathering at Downing Street.

Other British political leaders will also mark the war's anniversary, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling for the UK to "double down" on support for Ukraine.

At Thursday evening's vigil the crowd saw an emotional reading of the Ukrainian poem Take Only What Is Most Important by actress Dame Helen Mirren - who was visibly moved to tears.

The event also heard from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers as the "bravest of the brave".

The conflict, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February last year, has seen at least 100,000 of each side's soldiers killed or injured, according to the US military.

Thousands of civilians have also been killed, with more than 13 million people made refugees abroad or displaced within Ukraine.

Rita and her four children were among those who fled the country in the early stages of the conflict. They are now living in the UK with Rita's British partner, Andy.

She told BBC Two's Newsnight programme she would "never forget" the "horrible sound, that panic, that fear" when Russian troops invaded.

Rita said her heart was "aching" after witnessing how parts of Ukraine had changed after 12 months of conflict.

"The country is in pain," she said. "I know how my country is and how it can be, I know how beautiful it is. Now it's different [but] it can come back to that beautiful place.

"I can see summer time - it is going to be warm, it's going to be green. That's how I see Ukraine - with lots of green trees with lots of flowers... with lots of smiles on people's face and with tears from happiness."

Ukraine has been urging its Western backers to increase support, as Russia mobilises ahead of an expected spring offensive.

During a virtual meeting of leaders from the G7 group of advanced economies later, Mr Sunak is expected to say an acceleration in support is "what it will take to shift Putin's mindset".

"This must be our priority now," he will add. "Instead of an incremental approach, we need to move faster on artillery, armour, and air defence."

He is expected to make the argument for supplying Ukraine with "longer-range weapons" to disrupt Russia's ability to target Ukraine's infrastructure, something to which he committed the UK earlier this month.

Other senior UK politicians have sent messages to Ukraine on the anniversary of the war:

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in office when Russia invaded, repeated his call to give Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky weapons "to finish the job"
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey paid tribute to the "amazing acts of heroism in Ukraine" and said the UK would "stand in solidarity with Ukraine until they achieve victory"
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wished a "speedy victory for Ukraine" in a letter to Ukrainians in Scotland to mark the anniversary

During a recent tour of Europe, President Zelensky increased his calls for Western nations to supply his country with modern fighter jets.

The UK is to start training Ukrainian forces to fly Nato-standard aircraft. But like other Western nations, it has so far not supplied jets, saying it remains a long-term option.

Although support for Ukraine has united the UK's main political parties, Mr Sunak has faced pressure from some of his own Conservative MPs to supply fighter planes as soon as possible.

Shamima Begum loses legal fight to return to Britain

News broke out on Wednesday that Shamima Begum has lost the appeal she launched against a decision made three years ago by the Home Office to revoke her British nationality. The now 23-year-old argued that it was wrong to presume her a threat to the British public and claimed she was trafficked to Syria for sexual exploitation.

However, readers agreed with Allison Pearson, who argued that the judge’s verdict was simply common sense. Many of our readers also suggested Ms Begum should face the consequences of her actions, and were glad that the views of British people were listened to. However, other readers argued that she is British and therefore Britain's "problem".

Ukraine latest

Joe Biden visited Ukraine for the first time as US president on Monday, deciding to ignore objections from his security staff, and announced a package of extra military funding for Ukraine - making it clear that America was “here to stay”. Readers responded positively to the US president’s visit, arguing that it showed the West's "unwavering" support.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Rishi Sunak faced pressure from both Liz Truss and Boris Johnson to send fighter jets to Ukraine. Telegraph readers were conflicted by this, as they explained how sending fighter jets is more complicated than it seems, because of the need to train pilots.

SNP leadership bid

Following Nicola’s Sturgeon resignation, the SNP leadership campaign commenced this week, with three candidates having entered. Ms Sturgeon’s favoured choice, Humza Yousaf, is currently being described as the most likely to succeed, but the initial front runner was Kate Forbes, the current Finance Secretary.

'It's refreshing to see a politician who has beliefs and principles and is prepared to say so' Credit: ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA

The change in popularity came after Ms Forbes, a devout Christian, admitted she would have opposed gay marriage. Readers were quick to defend her, arguing that she should not be discriminated against for her religious beliefs.

What are your thoughts on the biggest talking points of the week? Join the conversation in the comments section below

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2023-02-24 07:00:00Z
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Kamis, 23 Februari 2023

Keir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checked - BBC

Keir Starmer delivering his speech in Manchester

By Reality Check team

BBC News

Labour leader Keir Starmer set out his five missions for government on Thursday.

We've been looking at some of the claims made in his speech.

Keir Starmer unveils Labour's five missions for the country

'If growth over the last 13 years had been as strong as under the last Labour government, we would have £40bn extra to spend'

Growth has certainly been slower in the last 13 years than it was in the previous 13 years, when the Labour Party was in power.

Between 1997 and 2010, the economy grew at an average of just under 2% a year.

Labour's argument is that, had growth kept going at that rate (instead of at just below 1.5% a year) the economy would be bigger and the government would take more in taxes.

Using that method you can come out with that overall figure of about an extra £40bn in the tax take.

So, it is correct to say that had the economy kept growing at the rate seen before 2010, the government could have tens of billions more to spend now.

However, whether all of the differences in growth rates seen over the last 26 years are down to the decision of the governments of the time is a more contentious question.

The sluggish growth seen during the 2010s was not a problem unique to the UK, for example, and all economies faced challenges due to Covid.

'The worst decade for growth in two centuries'

We have tried to check this claim before, from previous speeches by the Labour leader.

UK economic growth was indeed very poor between 2010 and 2019, with total growth of just over 20%.

But that wasn't as bad as the decade around World War One, for example. Between 1917 and 1926 the economy contracted by almost 10%.

We asked Labour how they reached their conclusion and they pointed us towards research from the TUC.

It wasn't looking at all decades, but at the 10 years after a recession.

It found that the period 2009-2019 had been similar to the decade after 1921, but worse than all other recovery periods since 1808.

However, that's not the same as it being the worst decade of growth in two centuries.

'Zero-carbon British electricity by 2030... will put us ahead of any major economy in the world'

Labour announced in September 2022 that it was committed to generating all of the UK's electricity without using fossil fuels by 2030.

It means Labour is taking a more challenging target than the Conservatives. Boris Johnson announced when he was prime minister in October 2021 that UK electricity would come from clean sources by 2035.

Sir Keir is right that no other major economy is matching the 2030 target. The G7 group of big economies, for example, has pledged to "predominantly" decarbonise electricity by 2035.

'These missions... will be measurable, so we can track progress and be held to account'

While the Labour leader repeatedly said that each of the five missions would have measurable targets, we have not yet been given any of those targets.

Even the missions that sound like they are easily measurable are more complicated than they look.

For example, the first mission is to have "the highest sustained growth in the G7".

We know how to measure which economy has the highest growth, but Labour has declined to tell us yet how they will assess which economy has the highest sustained growth.

And measuring whether a Labour government manages to "break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage" will also be tricky.

But Labour has said it will announce the metrics in the future, so we will have to wait and see.

What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch

Babak Belurs

Jumat, 24 Februari 2023

Omagh police shooting: Fifth arrest after John Caldwell attack - BBC

'Sense of outrage'

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Terrorism threat level scrutinised

High-profile figure

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What are your thoughts on the biggest talking points of the week? Join the conversation in the comments section below

Kamis, 23 Februari 2023

Keir Starmer's five missions speech fact-checked - BBC

'If growth over the last 13 years had been as strong as under the last Labour government, we would have £40bn extra to spend'

'The worst decade for growth in two centuries'

'Zero-carbon British electricity by 2030... will put us ahead of any major economy in the world'

'These missions... will be measurable, so we can track progress and be held to account'

Related Topics

Environment secretary urges Britons to ‘cherish’ turnips amid food shortages - The Guardian