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Babies among those evacuated as car explodes outside police station

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An attempted murder investigation is under way after a car exploded outside a police station.

Shortly after 22:50 BST on Saturday a delivery driver's car was hijacked, fitted with a gas cylinder device and he was forced to drive it to the station.

Several residents, including two babies, were being taken to safety by officers when it exploded.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said that thanks to the swift actions of officers no one was injured.

The device exploded in a car outside Dunmurry police station, on the outskirts of Belfast.

"Our thoughts today are with all those affected by this cowardly attack, the delivery driver for whom this will have been an extremely traumatic experience," Singleton said.

"Residents who are still unable to return to their homes, our courageous officers and of course their families, who will be grateful their loved ones are safe, but will undoubtedly have been left shaken by the ordeal."

Singleton said the investigation will by led by the PSNI Terrorism Investigation Unit and he appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said those behind the attack "have no vision, no support, and have nothing to offer our society".

Writing on social media, O'Neill added that "our communities deserve peace".

"No one is going to deny our young people and future generations that," she said.

"We will keep progressing and we will keep moving forward to a better future. I have been in contact with local representatives to extend my solidarity and support to all those impacted."

Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood said it was disturbing to wake up to news of a car bomb.

"It is deeply concerning that this comes just weeks after a similar attack just past the other end of Lagan Valley in Lurgan."

The burnt out remnants of the car remain at the scene.

This is a very residential area with many elderly people living here.

Some of them stayed in their homes overnight and family members have been arriving at the police cordons this morning to try and see them.

One carer whose client lives within the restricted area was unable to get through.

One woman said her mother had been left very upset after hearing the loud explosion.

Some residents were first evacuated from their homes into the police station, and then taken to Brook Leisure centre in Dunmurry for the night.

Policing Board Chair Brendan Mullan said the explosive device was "sent to kill officers and cause maximum harm in an attack which was in the heart of a residential area".

"It is a miracle no one was seriously injured and we thank the officers, ATO and emergency services who initially responded, and have been working to ensure everyone's safety since," he said.

Mullan added that this was the second incident at a police station in recent weeks "which is depressing".

"The people have spoken when they overwhelmingly endorsed the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

"Such acts of violence have no place in a society committed to peace. We stand united in condemnation of those responsible for this terror, and in voicing support for the work of the officers and staff of the PSNI."

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the full facts of what happened must be established urgently.

"Those responsible must be identified and brought before the courts," he said.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said those involved "represent no one, are void of support and have nothing to offer our society".

"They should get off the backs of our communities who want to live in peace and continue moving forward to a better future," he said.

"What is clear is that the overwhelming majority of the public rejects these ridiculous actions and understands they achieve nothing but disruption."

Secretary of State Hilary Benn said the attack was "a cowardly attempt to cause injury and destruction".

"By targeting a police station in the heart of a residential area, those responsible have shown a total disregard for the lives of local people and for the men and women who work to keep our communities safe," he said.

"We are resolute in our commitment to peace, and these actions will only strengthen our collective determination."

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp846668401o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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What we know about the incident

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US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, after gunshots were reported on the premises.

The US Secret Service confirmed that no one was injured in the "shooting incident", and one person has been taken into custody. The suspect was later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31.

In an address from the White House, Trump said it was "always shocking when this happens, that never changes".

Immediately after the incident, the president wrote on Truth Social: "The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we "LET THE SHOW GO ON" but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement."

He followed up with a second post, where he said law enforcement had requested that he and the first lady leave the premises.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an American press tradition that dates back to 1921, and is historically attended by the sitting president.

This was the first time Trump had attended the event as a sitting president; he was last in attendance in 2011.

CCTV footage posted by Trump from the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place, shows a person rushing past security officers, who then turn and chase him.

Police said that security officials and the suspect exchanged fire, without saying how many shots were fired. Citing police sources, CBS said at least five to eight shots were fired.

Inside the ballroom itself, where more than 2,000 people had gathered for the event, footage showed Trump and the first lady at their seats on a stage at the front of the room talking to other guests, when loud bangs were heard in the distance.

They appeared to notice commotion in the room and were then rushed from the stage by security, while some guests took cover.

Several Secret Service agents ran to the stage, holding weapons, as attendees were seen ducking under the circular tables.

Several BBC correspondents were in attendance at the dinner, and described scenes of widespread confusion following the sound of gunshots.

The room was briefly locked down, before an announcement that the event would be delayed and rescheduled. Attendees were ushered from the room, with many attempting to report on the unfolding events.

Trump later posted a close-up photo shows a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back with Secret Service standing around him.

Speaking from the White House an hour or so after the incident, the president said that a "very sick man" had been taken into custody after he charged security at the Washington Hilton hotel with a "powerful" weapon".

Trump said one Secret Service agent was shot at very close range in the incident, but saved by his bullet-proof vest.

"I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.

"He has very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him, and he's a very proud guy."

The president described a room that was "totally unified", with a "tremendous amount of love and coming together". He said he had wanted the event to resume but protocol prevented this.

The president also referred to two previous attempts on his life, including at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, and another time while Trump was golfing in Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.

He said it was "always shocking when this happens, that never changes", noting that the first lady was "rather traumatised" by the incident.

The president also thanked the media, who he says were "very responsible" in their coverage of the unfolding situation.

And he confirmed that he had directed that both the image of the detained suspect and the video of a man rushing past security officers to be circulated.

US media have quoted law enforcement sources as identifying the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.

He told law enforcement officials that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS, the BBC's North American news partners.

At a press conference, Washington DC's interim police chief Jeffery Carroll said the alleged gunman was a hotel guest where the event was taking place.

Carroll said he was "armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives".

Pictures later emerged showing FBI agents and police searching an area at a California address believed to be linked to the alleged gunman.

He worked for a tutoring firm in Torrance called C2 Education, two law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS. In December 2024, he received a "Teacher of the Month" award from the company, CBS reported.

It was unclear if he was still employed by the company. The Torrance Unified School District told CBS in a statement that Allen has never been an employee of their district.

The California Institute of Technology confirmed to CBS in an email that Allen graduated from Caltech in 2017, but provided no further details.

Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, said the suspect was facing two counts for using firearm during crime of violence and assault on federal officers using dangerous weapon.

She added that he would be formally charged on Monday in federal court.

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxd1x2qw2go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Dolphins pick British tight end Traore in NFL Draft

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GB's Traore selected by Miami Dolphins in NFL Draft

British tight end Seydou Traore was a late-round pick in the NFL Draft along with Uar Bernard, a Nigerian yet to play a game of American football.

Traore is the first graduate of the UK-based NFL Academy to be drafted, having been selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 180th overall pick.

The 23-year-old has French-Algerian and Ivorian heritage and was born and raised in London, where he played for the London Warriors as a teenager.

He was part of the NFL Academy's first intake in 2019 and spent five years in college football in the USA before showcasing his talent through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) programme this year.

Former Warriors player Efe Obada was the first IPP product to play in the NFL and he went on stage in Pittsburgh to announce the Dolphins' pick.

"This isn't just another name on a card, this is living proof that the dream is possible," said British defensive end Obada, who has witnessed Traore's development having helped the academy from its inception.

Traore became the third IPP product to be selected in an NFL Draft, after Australia's Jordan Mailata in 2018 and Britain's Travis Clayton in 2024.

Clayton was also part of the NFL Academy's first intake in London but only spent a brief period with the programme, now based in Loughborough, before coming through the IPP.

Traore completed the programme before moving to the US to play high school football in Florida.

He played college football for five years, earning a scholarship with Arkansas State in 2021 before transferring to Mississippi State in 2023.

Now 6ft 4in and weighing 244lb (111kg), he caught a total of 131 passes for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns from 48 college games, scoring five of those TDs last season.

"He's kind of a raw, athletic ball of clay, if you will," said Miami's general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. "He should only get better.

"He hasn't been playing football real long, so that was what was intriguing to us, especially at that value [fifth round].

"We felt he's a player who's ascending, whose best ball is in front of him, and who can be a problem for defences in time. We had our eyes on [him] for a while and he fell to us at the right value, so we took a shot."

'Is this real?' – UK teen takes next step on path to NFL dream

Obada, who was born in Nigeria, returned to the draft stage near the end of the seventh and final round to say: "Pittsburgh, you are now witnessing history being made."

He then announced that with the 251st overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles had selected Bernard, making him the second player from this year's IPP class to be drafted.

The 21-year-old, who has been working as a personal trainer, has not yet played organised football but his potential was identified during NFL training camps in Africa.

He earned a spot on the IPP programme, where his athleticism astounded NFL scouts and thrust him into contention for a late-round pick.

"It's a dream come true for me because I've worked hard for this," Bernard said. "I've not played football, but I've gone through some drills that made me believe that I'm going to get better every day."

Bernard is 6ft 4in and weighs 306lb (139kg), and has been earmarked as a defensive tackle.

He is said to have just 6% body fat and in pre-draft tests he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and had a 39-inch vertical jump – exceptional figures for a defensive player of his size.

Mailata had a similar impact on NFL scouts in 2018. The former rugby league player had also never played football, but the Eagles felt they could mould him into an NFL player.

Mailata spent two seasons developing on their practice squad before making his first start in 2020. He then helped them win the Super Bowl in 2025 and is now one of the best offensive tackles in the league.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was willing to take on the challenge of doing the same with Bernard.

"We wanted to take the chance on the kid," he said. "We've had great success with that programme. We spent a lot of time with him, worked him out.

"For us, it was a passion project. He's got a lot of tools in his body. [We] understand it's going to take time. It was pretty cool. [It's] certainly unusual with that guy."

Nigerian with 'natural explosiveness' aiming for NFL spot

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📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/articles/cvg4g3z26r0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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Starmer insists 'majority' of Labour MPs back his leadership

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Stamer has insisted the "vast majority" of Labour MPs support him and want him to continue doing his job as prime minister.

He was speaking to the Sunday Times at the end of a week in which speculation has grown that the possibility of him facing a challenge to his leadership from within his own party was rising.

Sir Keir told the paper "in politics, you get this sort of thing all of the time, there is always talk".

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the prime minister should resign over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US, adding that if he didn't step down Labour MPs should "develop a backbone and get rid of him".

Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Philp said some ministers were "equivocating" over Sir Keir's future and a couple of MPs were publicly calling on him to go.

He said it was in "the national interest" for MPs to remove the prime minister.

In his interview with the Sunday Times, Sir Keir said "what you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job. And that is the vast majority of people in the Parliamentary Labour Party."

"They're pleased to be in power," said Sir Keir, speaking about what he said was most Labour MPs.

"They've waited a long time to be in power. And they just want to get on with their job. They don't make a lot of noise about it. They don't talk to journalists about it. It's really important that is reflected in these debates."

The prime minister has faced calls from across opposition parties to resign, and criticism from within his own party, after it emerged that UK security officials had flagged concerns about giving vetting clearance to Lord Mandelson.

Sir Keir told MPs this week that the security officials had recommended against vetting approval being granted but that had not been passed on to him.

Speaking to the Sunday Times he said he did not regret his decision last week to sack the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, who had not informed him about the security vetting concerns.

"When there's a double red flag not to give clearance and [showing] high concern, then I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But I do not accept the argument that that is something which should not be told to the prime minister," Sir Keir said.

Sir Olly Robbins told MPs this week that he had not been told that there was a recommendation to deny Lord Mandelson security clearance, only that officials were "leaning against" it. Sir Olly decided to approve the vetting subject to mitigation being put in place.

Sir Keir dismissed the suggestion he should have done more to inquire about the outcome of Lord Mandelson's vetting process.

"When I'm told there's security clearance, should I go back and quiz officials and say, 'Are you telling me the truth?'"

"If I questioned every bit of information put in front of me I would never get anything done. The number of decisions that have to be made each day is huge."

The prime minister told the paper he wanted to focus on the wars in Ukraine and Iran rather than speculation about possible challenges to his leadership, as the implications for the UK of those conflicts was the most important issue facing the country.

"This is the urgent issue of our time," Sir Keir told the paper, "this is going to reshape our country."

"The conflict with Iran has not just been fought out in Iran. There are increasingly the use of proxies in this country. Of course there's lots of discussion in parliament about who's up, who's down and all the rest of it. But this is the serious work of being the prime minister."

Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told the BBC the government had "nothing to hide" over the appointment of Lord Mandelson and added it was "frustrating that so much time is being spent on this".

He said the upcoming elections in May were "going to be difficult" for Labour and that the "latest round of issues has made this slightly harder".

However, he said that, during his time campaigning, "not one person" had raised the subject of Lord Mandelson.

📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c705228kpx9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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