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Man Is Wounded in Knife Attack Outside British Museum in London

The stabbing outside the popular tourist attraction was not related to terrorism, the police said. A suspect has been arrested.

By Jenny Gross and Derrick Bryson Taylor

Reporting from London

A man was wounded in a stabbing outside the British Museum in central London on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said, adding that it was an isolated incident and was not being treated as related to terrorism.

A male suspect was under arrest.

The victim, who was stabbed in the arm, was taken to the hospital, the police said in a statement. The attack occurred at about 10 a.m. outside the gate at the front entrance of the museum, one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. The museum was evacuated and later closed for about two hours.

By midday, there was a heavy police presence outside the museum, and several nearby restaurants had closed.

The British Museum, which had more than four million visits last year, said in a statement that it had increased security. By early afternoon, the museum had reopened, and a line of several hundred people waited outside to enter.

Lindsay McCollum, who was visiting London from California, said she had been waiting to enter the museum for just a few minutes when she heard about the attack.

“We’re in a big city, and things happen,” said Ms. McCollum, 46.

Another tourist, Spencer Havener, 25, from Colorado, said he had been waiting in line when he saw droves of people rushing out of the building. He had planned to visit the museum because of London’s weather on Tuesday.

“I figured it was rainy today, good day to go to the museum, walk around inside,” he said.

Knife crime in Britain has been a persistent problem, although in the year ending in March 2023, the number of attacks was 7 percent lower than prepandemic levels, according to the latest government figures .

In 2016, one person was killed and five others were wounded in a late-night knife attack in Russell Square, a park close to the British Museum in the Bloomsbury district. A 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Jenny Gross is a general assignment reporter. Before joining The Times, she covered British politics for The Wall Street Journal. More about Jenny Gross

Derrick Bryson Taylor is a general assignment reporter. He previously worked at The New York Post’s PageSix.com and Essence magazine. More about Derrick Bryson Taylor

British tourist stabbed to death in Amsterdam seen walking with suspect

Security cameras caught images of British tourist Danny Castledine with the man accused of murdering him with extreme violence in the overnight period from 31 May to 1 June. The 22-year-old was walking with the suspect on the Koggestraat in the city center in the middle of the night.

Castledine was found seriously injured later that night on the Singel, a little further away. He died at the scene after unsuccessful attempts to revive him. An autopsy of the victim's body revealed that Castledine had been stabbed thirty times in the neck and head.

A first preliminary hearing into the case against the suspect, 22-year-old Nongo B. from Belgium, was held at the court in Amsterdam. He was arrested on 1 June around 10:30 am in Amsterdam-Buitenveldert. At that time, B. was in a disturbed state, according to the public prosecutor.

His clothes and shoes were covered in blood. The investigation showed that the blood was Castledine's. Cameras on the Singel recorded the attack on Castledine, although the images were not clear enough to recognize those on screen. It is clear that B. departed from the scene of the crime. Shoe prints were found there that match B.'s shoes.

No motive is known at this time. B.'s lawyer, Hilje Plantenga, did not want to say whether B. confessed, and would not say if B. denied being the perpetrator. The man said he was willing to cooperate with a personality test. He is on the waiting list for the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (NIFP), which is struggling with a lack of capacity.

For now, Castledine seems to have been a completely random victim. Relatives of the student tried to follow the hearing via a video link organized between a British police station and the Amsterdam court. Persistent technical problems at the court threw a spanner in the works.

The next court session will be held on 3 November.

Reporting by ANP

Man stabbed near British Museum was waiting in queue, witnesses say

• British Museum
• Tuesday 8 August 2023 at 6:11pm

Tap above to watch video report by Kaf Okpattah

A man stabbed in the arm near the British Museum was waiting in the queue to enter, witnesses have said. As he attempted to escape, the middle-aged man was “dripping blood everywhere” along the busy street which was packed with tourists. The male attacker fled the scene but was quickly captured by police a short distance away and was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, the Metropolitan Police said. The museum was evacuated and the busy surrounding streets were cleared. The incident happened at the junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street which is immediately outside the entrance of the famous museum in central London. Police said the incident was not terror related and there was “no outstanding risk to the public”. The man stabbed in the arm was taken to hospital.

The manager of a nearby souvenir shop, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw a middle-aged man stabbed while he waited in the queue for the museum on Great Russell Street not far from the Museum Tavern pub. He attempted to escape and was “dripping blood everywhere”, the witness claimed.

The male attacker was arrested by police a short distance away on Coptic Street, he said. A local businesswoman heard the victim “screaming” and saw a trail of blood along the street in the aftermath of the attack. A police tent was erected on the pavement on the museum side of Great Russell Street, just metres from the entrance. London Ambulance Service said its medics treated the man at the scene for his arm injury “before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority”. A 27-year-old American woman said she was about to enter the museum queue when she was told to leave by police because someone had been stabbed.

The visitor from New York was leaving a Starbucks across the road when police approached her. She told said: “I was standing across the street at the Starbucks walking out to get into the line. “We decided it was a good time to go, then we walked out and a cop directly in front of us told us we needed to leave and that the crime scene was large. “I heard that someone was stabbed and the ambulance was parked inside near the grass area and then rushed down the street, right by me, with police following behind.” The museum has since reopened to visitors albeit with raised security in place including a “heightened search operation”. Police cordons in the area have been lifted.

George Osborne, former chancellor and chairman of the British Museum, thanked the museum’s security team and other staff who reacted promptly to the incident and wished the victim the “best recovery”. The 52-year-old tweeted: “Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum this am. “Much thanks to our security team and other BM staff, who reacted quickly, with the police. “Museum has now reopened; everyone’s thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.”

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British tourist, 34, dies after being mugged and hit over head with a gun

The victim, 34, a Swedish-born man with a British passport who lived and worked in Kent, was on an extended holiday when he was hit over the head with the butt of a gun by a gang of muggers while he was on a hike in Medellin, Colombia

• 07:39, 3 Mar 2023
• Updated 17:12, 3 Mar 2023

A British tourist has reportedly died after being attacked by muggers at a mountain viewpoint overlooking the Colombian city of Medellin, according to local media.

The 34-year-old was reportedly found two days after disappearing and rushed to hospital in a critical condition before succumbing to his multiple injuries , which included head wounds.

Colombian media identified him as Kyle MacKenzie, a Swedish-born man with a British passport who lived and worked in Ashford, Kent.

Local reports say his body is now at Medellin’s Forensic Medicine Institute. The UK Foreign Office has been approached for comment.

The dead man is understood to have been on an extended holiday when he was killed . He is believed to have been hit over the head with the butt of a gun by muggers who stole his belongings after he hiked to the Hill of Three Crosses.

He was found at the bottom of a drop near the top of the hill, where he is thought to have been abandoned after being attacked.

He was taken to a nearby health centre before being rushed to Medellin’s General Hospital where he died despite life-saving surgery, just before midday local time on Wednesday.

He reportedly managed to tell medics he had been attacked and mugged by three men who stole all his belongings before he lost his fight for life.

The Hill of Three Crosses, Cerro De Las Tres Cruces in Spanish, is a short but intense hike that offers breathtaking views of the city of Medellin.

As well as three small crosses at the top, it has an outdoor gym.

Holidaymakers who have made the same hike and posted comments online said they felt very safe climbing the path, but warned against going late in the day when it starts getting dark. They also admitted to hearing of people being robbed at night.

The mugging victim has been described as the first foreign person to have been murdered in Medellin so far this year, following 10 murders of foreigners last year in the city.

No arrests are yet believed to have been made, although police chief Henry Yesid Bello was quoted as saying detectives had some information pointing to the criminals believed to be responsible.

Earlier this year, a British tourist was killed after being shot multiple times during his holiday at a luxury villa in Jamaica.

Personal trainer Sean Patterson, 33, from West London, was reportedly gunned down during a stay at the One Love Guest House in Bogue Hill, St James on Saturday.

Jamaica Constabulary Force told the PA news agency officers from Montego Bay Police had received reports the 33-year-old was standing by the accommodation's on-site pool when witnesses heard “loud explosions”.

Mr Patterson, a British national, was then shot multiple times after a short chase. He was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head, but was unable to be revived.

A 34-year-old man from Kingston, Jamaica was taken into custody in connection with the incident, according to local media, who additionally reported that he had been deported from the United Kingdom in 2013.

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‘British tourist’ stabbed in back after getting into argument with Australian teenager, police say

Victim suffers stab wounds to back and wrist in ‘horrible’ attack, article bookmarked.

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A 25-year-old British backpacker was stabbed in the back after getting into a late-night row with a teenager in Australia , according to police and local media reports.

The incident occurred at a bus stop on Hastings Street in Noosa, on the Queensland coast, just before 4am on Sunday.

The victim suffered stab wounds to his back and wrist, police said in a statement, alleging that the attacker was a 15-year-old boy who was restrained by locals and arrested soon after the assault.

“Police will allege a verbal argument between a 15-year-old male and a 25-year-old man escalated just before 4am, before the youth left and returned with a bottle and a knife and a physical altercation resulted in the 25-year-old being stabbed in the back and wrist,” the statement said.

The teenager has now been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

ABC News identified the teenager as a Sunshine Coast local and the tourist as a British backpacker. Neither the teen’s identity nor the identity or nationality of the tourist were confirmed by Queensland police.

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According to ABC News, the severely injured victim was transported to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

“Investigators urge anyone with information or relevant vision to contact police. Investigations are continuing,” the police statement said.

ABC News quoted a Noosa resident as describing the attack. She said it left her “quite shaken up” as the area it occurred in was “definitely safe”.

Mandy Lopez said the attack was “horrible... pretty scary news to hear”.

“This is a healthy space. It’s definitely a safe area,” Ms Lopez said. “But hearing this news, I feel quite shaken up.”

“The Sunshine Coast is a very safe location... These sorts of events are rare,” chief inspector Jason Overland told the media.

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Morocco knife attack: British couple injured in triple stabbing at tourist resort of Agadir

Two British tourists have been injured in a triple stabbing on a seafront promenade in the Moroccan tourist resort of Agadir.

The knifeman ran into the sea and attempted to thwart his arrest by swimming away from the scene before being caught and taken into custody.

Spanish newspaper La Razon is reporting police in Morocco are investigating whether the incident is terrorist-related.

The 33-year-old suspect is understood to have been jailed three years ago for drug trafficking offences.

The British holidaymakers have been described as a couple and the third victim a Moroccan woman who lives in Belgium.

The man and two women, said to have suffered wounds to their legs and back, were taken to Hassan II Hospital in Agadir.

The horror incident took place around midday on Thursday on the seafront promenade in Agadir, an international resort on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast known for its golf courses and wide crescent beach.

The promenade is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars.

Well-placed sources told Moroccan press overnight the motive behind the knife attack was still being probed and the suspect remained in police custody.

Two of the victims have been released following treatment but the third victim, whose nationality has not been disclosed, remains in hospital.

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Two Britons stabbed in horror seafront attack at popular tourist resort

Two British tourists have been stabbed

By Dan Falvey

Published: 29/12/2023

Updated: 29/12/2023

The attacker attempted to to swim away from the scene

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Two British tourists were stabbed during a horror attack on a seafront promenade in the Moroccan resort of Agadir.

All three victims were rushed to hospital to be treated for their injuries after they were said to have suffered wounds to their legs and back.

The third victim was a Moroccan-born woman who was visiting from Belgium.

Two have since been released while a third remains under medical supervision.

The attacker attempted to escape by jumping in the sea

After carrying out the stabbings the attacked is alleged to have attempted to swim away from the scene.

He was later caught by police and taken into custody.

It is alleged that the perpetrator has previously been jailed for drug trafficking offences.

Local media is reporting that police are investigating whether the incident is terrorist-related.

The attack took place at around midday yesterday.

The Agadir resort is well known for its golf courses and golden beaches and has become a popular holiday destination.

Over a million tourists visit the seaside city every year.

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British tourist, 26, dies after partner ‘stabbed her 41 times with screwdriver in hotel room’ while on Turkey holiday

15 November 2023, 18:01 | Updated: 15 November 2023, 18:03

By Jenny Medlicott

A British tourist has been arrested after he allegedly stabbed his partner 41 times with a screwdriver while on holiday in Turkey.

Listen to this article

The woman, 26, was found dead at about 12:30pm on Tuesday in a hotel room in Istanbul’s Fatih Mevlanakapı district, according to reports.

Staff at the Ulubat Castle Hotel reported hearing “sounds” coming from one of the rooms before they found the victim “lying in a pool of blood”.

Medical staff later arrived at the scene where the woman was pronounced dead.

Her body was discovered with lacerations across her throat and the rest of her body. Examiners concluded she was killed with a screwdriver.

Turkish police launched an investigation into her death shortly afterwards and soon located her partner, 28, who was reportedly wearing a bloodied t-shirt while trying to flee the scene in a taxi.

After his arrest, he allegedly confessed to his partner’s murder and said he threw the screwdriver used as a weapon into the hotel room toilet.

He was then “sent to prison by the court on charges of intentional murder against his wife”, local media reported.

After his arrest, the suspect was interrogated by the Homicide Bureau.

He claimed that his partner had given him drugs on the day of the attack, resulting in a row.

It was after this he repeatedly stabbed her with a screwdriver, which led to her death.

Read more: Two boys, 12, arrested after man, 19 stabbed to death in Wolverhampton

Read more: Pictured: 'Jealous thug' who beat friend to death after catching him having sex with ex-lover in playground

He told police he had been taking medication for “psychological disorders” and also allegedly admitted to fleeing the scene after he hid the screwdriver.

Police tracked down the suspect by contacting the driver of the taxi he fled in and asking them to drive to the nearest police station, reports claim.

He was later pictured being escorted in handcuffs away from the Istanbul Police Department.

The couple reportedly travelled from England to Istanbul on Sunday and settled into their hotel on Tuesday - the same day the woman was found dead.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

“We have not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British nationals abroad 24/7,” the Foreign Office told the MailOnline.

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Shocking moment Brit tourist is stabbed while fighting off mugger who snatched his bag in Barcelona

• Gerard Couzens
• Published : 17:39, 2 Sep 2022
• Updated : 18:11, 2 Sep 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

A BRITISH tourist was stabbed while trying to fight off thieves who snatched his bag in Barcelona, police said.

The mugging was caught on camera last night as the victim bravely attempted to recover his belongings.

The British man can be overheard shouting: “Where’s my s***, where’s my necklace, where the f***is it” as he wrestles with one of the bandits.

Another Brit filming the drama on his mobile phone yells to one of the assailants: “You’re on camera bro, you want to give it back mate.”

The thief managed to get away after appearing to put a blade to his victim’s face and making off with a stolen bum bag.

Three accomplices sprinted after him following the mugging in centre square called Plaza Sant Josep Oriol.

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The four suspects were all arrested shortly afterwards in the same area.

Today the Briton was recovering in hospital.

A spokesman for the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police said: “Four men have been arrested following a robbery in Plaza Sant Josep Oriol yesterday evening around 8pm.

“Our officers made two of the arrests and the other two arrests were carried out by the Guardia Urbana who are employed by City Hall.

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“I can confirm the victim was taken to hospital with stab wounds but his injuries were not serious.

“His stolen belongings were recovered when the men were arrested. They are in custody and will now go before a judge.”

The spokesman could offer no details about the suspects’ ages or nationalities.

Two other stabbings hit Barcelona last night, one in Raval and one near the Sagrada Familia.

In June a wealthy American tourist was mugged for his designer outside his hotel in the Catalan capital.

And last month a thief was filmed stealing on a Barcelona beach - as a holidaymaker interviewed on Spanish TV raved about the city’s great food and beautiful weather.

The crook appeared in the background as the tourist replied: “I love Barcelona” after the reporter asked him what he thought about the Catalan capital for a live broadcast.

The interview continued uninterrupted as the criminal bent down to pick up a rucksack left unattended under a pair of trousers and walked away while the passionate foreigner continued: “The beach is very beautiful, the water is clean and cold.”

Seconds later the bewildered owner of the rucksack that had been taken came into shot, shouting: “Someone’s stolen my stuff, did anyone see him?” and nearly bumped into the camera crew as he walked around yelling: “My bag” as a bikini-clad woman carrying a paddle board looked on.

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The theft victim’s show of distress coincided with the unabashed tourist, who was obviously oblivious to the drama playing itself out behind him, grinning as he said: “What I love as well is the food" before patting his stomach and continuing "My belly!!”

The footage, broadcast on Spanish state-owned channel TVE at popular Barcelona city beach Sant Miquel, went viral as police revealed they had tracked down and identified the suspect.

Two British tourists stabbed in attack at popular beach resort

Two British tourists have been injured in a triple stabbing at a beach resort in Morocco .

A man and woman, who are thought to be a couple, were attacked on a seafront promenade in the popular holiday hotspot of Agadir on Thursday afternoon.

They suffered wounds to their legs and back and were rushed to the nearby Hassan II Hospital.

Meanwhile a third victim, thought to be a Moroccan woman who lives in Belgium, was also injured in the horrific incident.

The suspect, a 33-year-old man, ran into the sea and tried to swim away in an attempt to escape arrest but was caught by police and arrested.

He is now being held in custody.

It’s understood the alleged knifeman was jailed three years ago for drug trafficking offences.

Spanish newspaper La Razon is reporting police are investigating whether the incident is terrorist-related.

The attack happened around noon in the city, which is an international resort on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast known for its golf courses and wide crescent beach.

The promenade is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars.

Two of the victims have now been released following treatment, but a third still remains in hospital.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Police appeal for footage after stabbing outside British Museum

Man, 37, was arrested after attacking chinese tourist outside famous london attraction last week.

Police outside the British Museum after a Chinese tourist was stabbed near the building in London. PA

Police in London have appealed for witnesses after a Chinese tourist was stabbed in the arm while reportedly queuing outside the British Museum in central London last week.

Metropolitan Police detectives say they hope those who were present during the incident may have some footage that could help the investigation.

Brady Wilson, 37, was arrested last Tuesday shortly after Zhung Tiang Wei, 36, was stabbed.

According to witnesses, Mr Zhung was waiting to enter the famous museum on Great Russell Street.

They described seeing a Chinese man “get blood everywhere” as he attempted to flee before police evacuated the area and closed the museum.

London Ambulance Service said medics treated the victim at the scene “before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority”.

Mr Wilson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Zhung and three charges of possessing a knife, blade or pointed article in a public place.

Detective Constable Jacob Morray-Jones, leading the investigation, said: “This incident understandably caused considerable concern to those at the scene and we are grateful to those witnesses who have already spoken to us and provided important information.

“We believe a number of people may have filmed the incident or the aftermath and we are keen to see any footage that could help progress our investigation."

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British Museum attack: Chinese tourist stabbed in the arm

A Chinese tourist was stabbed in the arm near the British Museum as he queued to enter, it has been claimed.

The victim, described as a “well-dressed young man”, was seen “panicking” as he clutched his arm. He is said to have stumbled away, leaving a trail of blood as horrified onlookers rushed to his aid.

The incident took place on the junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street in Bloomsbury, central London, shortly after 10am. Visitors fled the scene as security guards rushed to lock down the museum.

Maggie Yeo, 56, who lives close to the museum, said she heard a commotion and looked out of her window. “I’ve never seen a knife that big,” she told The Times.

She said two security

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British couple are stabbed in the back and legs along with a third victim in Morocco tourist spot knife attack: Police probe whether attack is terror related

• The incident happened around midday yesterday on the seafront in Agadir 
• Do YOU know the couple? Email [email protected]  

By Natalia Penza and Katherine Lawton

Published: 04:16 EDT, 29 December 2023 | Updated: 06:31 EDT, 29 December 2023

Two British tourists have been stabbed in the back and legs alongside a third victim in a tourist spot in Morocco.

The knifeman ran into the sea and attempted to thwart his arrest by swimming away from the scene in the resort of Agadir before being caught and taken into custody.

Spanish newspaper La Razon reported that police are now investigating whether the incident is terrorist-related.

The 33-year-old suspect is understood to have been jailed three years ago for drug trafficking offences.

The British holidaymakers have been described as a couple and the third victim a Moroccan woman who lives in Belgium.

Two British tourists have been injured in a triple stabbing on a seafront promenade in the Moroccan tourist resort of Agadir (Stock photo) 

The man and two women, said to have suffered wounds to their legs and back, were taken to Hassan II Hospital in Agadir.

The horror incident took place around midday yesterday on the seafront promenade in Agadir, an international resort on Morocco's southern Atlantic coast known for its golf courses and wide crescent beach.

The promenade is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars.

Well-placed sources told Moroccan press overnight the motive behind the knife attack was still being probed and the suspect remained in police custody.

Two of the victims have been released following treatment but the third victim, whose nationality has not been disclosed, remains in hospital.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

British tourist dies after getting into difficulty swimming in front of his wife on holiday

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A British tourist has drowned during a holiday with his wife in Menorca.

The 70-year-old man was taking a dip at Son Bou beach, the island’s longest, on its south coast when the drama happened.

Other beachgoers spotted him in difficulty and raced into the water to try to assist him while others rang emergency services.

Emergency medical responders spent more than half an hour trying to revive him when they reached the scene but were unable to save him.

Local reports said the unnamed tourist’s wife had been with him at the time but stayed on the shoreline while he went into the sea.

They are understood to have travelled to Menorca to celebrate his birthday. They were staying at a property on a residential estate in Sant Lluis a short drive from the beach where the tragedy occurred.

Local reports said a post-mortem had confirmed drowning as the cause of death.

The incident occurred around 5pm on Monday but the man’s nationality has only just been made public. Son Bou beach is around two miles long and is a reference on the island because of its clean and crystalline waters and white sand.

In October 2022 a British man drowned at a private swimming pool in Menorca.

A maintenance man reportedly discovered his body floating in the water.

The 64-year-old Brit is said to have owned the property where he was found dead.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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France, India, Russia, UK issue travel warnings over Israel-Iran tensions

Warnings come as Tehran promises reprisals against Israel for the deadly April 1 attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria.

Countries including France, India, Russia, Poland and the United Kingdom have warned their citizens against travelling to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and, in some cases, the wider region amid threats of an Iranian attack in response to a strike this month on its consulate in Damascus.

Iran has threatened reprisals against Israel over the strike in the Syrian capital on April 1, which killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, including two generals, leading to fears of an escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Keep reading

Iran’s khamenei promises ‘israel will be punished’ for syria strike, who was mohammad reza zahedi, an iranian general killed by israel in syria, irgc warns israel attacks ‘won’t go unanswered’ as iran marks al-quds day, tensions rise amid expectations of iran retaliation against israel.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Friday advised its citizens against travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In a statement on the social media platform X, the ministry added that relatives of Iran-based diplomats will return to France and French civil servants are now banned from conducting any missions in the countries and territories in question.

The UK told its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine over the “possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran”.

In an update, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned against “all travel” to northern Israel, the Gaza Strip, areas near Gaza and the occupied West Bank – excluding occupied East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Russia strongly recommended its citizens “refrain from travelling to the region”, emphasising security risks in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.

“The situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone as well as in the area of the ‘Blue Line’ between Lebanon and Israel remains unstable,” its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry also advised against travel to Israel, Palestine and Lebanon.

“It cannot be ruled out that there will be a sudden escalation of military operations, which would cause significant difficulties in leaving these three countries,” it said in a statement. “Any escalation may lead to significant restrictions in air traffic and the inability to cross land border crossings.”

India’s statement covered Iran and Israel, calling on Indians not to go to the two countries until further notice in view of the “prevailing situation in the region”.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said Indian citizens who are in the two countries should observe “utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum”.

Germany meanwhile warned its citizens to leave Iran specifically, saying escalating tensions could affect exit routes.

“In the current tensions, especially between Israel and Iran, there is a risk of a sudden escalation,” the Foreign Office said. “German citizens are at concrete risk of being arbitrarily arrested and interrogated and being given long prison sentences. Dual citizens with Iranian and German nationality are especially at risk,” it added.

Separately, German flagship airline Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to and from Tehran until Thursday and will not use Iranian airspace during that time.

Real and viable threat, US says

The United States has restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba areas.

An imminent attack by Iran on Israel is a “real” and “viable” threat, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists on Friday, adding that Washington would make sure the Israelis “have what they need and that they’re able to defend themselves”.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Joe Biden said: “We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”

The top US commander for the Middle East, General Erik Kurilla, is also in Israel for talks with its military officials on security threats. His trip was moved up from a previously scheduled date “due to recent developments”, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said on Thursday.

After Kurilla discussed the tensions with Iran with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday, Gallant said the US and Israel were “shoulder to shoulder” in facing possible threats.

“We are prepared to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners, and we will know how to respond,” the defence chief added.

The Wall Street Journal, quoting a person familiar with the matter, reported on Thursday that Israel was preparing for an attack by Iran as soon as Friday or Saturday.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from East Jerusalem, said the Israeli army announced that it was preparing on all fronts offensively and defensively.

“A couple of weeks ago, the Israelis increased their alertness level, calling up reservists and bolstering air defence systems,” she said, adding that Israeli officials said they were prepared for anything.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip since October 7 and sent in ground forces, killing at least 33,600 Palestinians and injuring more than 76,000. Hamas’s October 7 attacks on southern Israel killed more than 1,100 people there.

Israel has also stepped up strikes against Iranian personnel and allies in Syria and Lebanon and has traded near daily cross-border fire with the Lebanese group Hezbollah since the start of the war.

Sydney attack latest: King and Queen 'utterly shocked' as they thank first responders; 'hero' lone officer who shot attacker 'saved lives'

Six people have been killed and several are in a critical condition, including a baby, after stabbings at a shopping centre near Bondi Beach in Sydney. The King has issued a statement and the Australian prime minister says the officer who stopped the suspect is a hero.

Saturday 13 April 2024 20:31, UK

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• At least six killed and several in critical condition after Sydney shopping centre attack
• King and Queen 'utterly shocked' as they thank first responders
• Australian prime minister commends intervening officer as 'hero'
• Lone officer shot dead attacker after he raised knife
• Shopper said she 'thought she was going to die'
• Here's what we know so far

That's all for our live coverage at the moment, but we'll be back if there are any major updates. 

In the meantime, you can read about how the attack unfolded by scrolling through the blog, or reading our lead story here ...

A victim of the Sydney shopping centre attack has been named as Ash Good, Sky News Australia reports. 

The 38-year-old mother, whose baby was injured in the attack, died in hospital after being stabbed, according to reports. 

Her nine-month-old has since undergone surgery.  

The UK's prime minister has issued a statement after the "truly devastating" attack. 

Rishi Sunak said his heart goes out to those affected by the "abhorrent act of violence". 

A man has described the moment his wife realised she had been stabbed during the shopping centre attack. 

The man, who has not been named, told ABC News Australia that his partner was one of the people taken to hospital. 

"We didn't know what had happened," he said.

"She thought she had got punched then she touched herself and there was blood. 

"Apart from that she is OK, she is alive and that's over - the stress is over, the panic, no one could tell you anything, it was terrible." 

He said she was stabbed in the top right-hand corner of her back. 

Andrew Reid was inside the Westfield shopping centre when today's attack ensued and he was told to evacuate. 

The lifeguard said "shutters came down" as he was trying to leave as part of a safety mechanism, and he could hear gunshots not that far away, 

"I looked down towards level four, and you could see a woman down there bleeding quite badly," he said. 

He asked a man to lift the shutters so he could leave to help the woman, and as he left he saw "crazy scenes". 

"That poor woman had lost a lot of blood and me and a couple of other bystanders helped her as there were police scrambling everywhere," he added. 

"About 30 metres away, there was another woman on the ground, and she was in a bad way." 

It is nearing 1am in Sydney, and Australia is still reeling from today's deadly shopping centre attack. 

A knifeman killed six people and injured eight others in the stabbing spree at the Westfield shopping centre near Bondi Beach before being shot by police. 

If you are just joining our live coverage, here's what we know so far: 

The 40-year-old suspect entered the mall at around 3.10pm local time (6.10am UK time), left and then returned around 10 minutes later, police said. 

Emergency services were called at around 3.30pm, following reports of multiple stabbings. 

Four women and a man were killed in the shopping centre, and another woman later died in hospital. 

Eight people have been injured, including a nine-month-old baby who has undergone surgery. 

Reports in the Australian media have suggested that the woman who died in hospital was the baby's mother. 

A lone female police officer confronted the attacker, shooting him after he lunged at her with a knife. 

In an attempt to save him, she conducted CPR on the man until paramedics arrived, but he could not be saved. 

At a news conference, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the knifeman was known to law enforcement and his attack was not thought to be terror-related. 

Hundreds of people ran from Westfield shopping centre, near Sydney, when a knifeman attacked at least nine people.

After the man was shot dead, families were seen in tears as they exited the building.

A supervisor of a luggage store in the Sydney shopping centre has described the moment he saw the attacker stab a woman. 

Yohan Francois Philip said he also saw the bodies of four people on the ground, including two security guards.

The 29-year-old said he stayed inside the store with several colleagues and customers as "a growing movement of around 50-ish" ran past.

During the commotion, a woman approached the shop, "banged on the door and said, 'let me in'".

"As I was letting her in, the perpetrator fell behind her with a knife and I saw him and so did the other customers in the store locked in with us and so we quickly pulled her in, locked the door, he got up and we realised he just stabbed two security guards," he told PA. 

"Then he ran across, to the corner part of the luggage store, to the premium section, and he stabbed a woman which I saw happen right in front of me."

Mr Philips, who also works as a lawyer, said he heard gunshots and assumed it was actually "gun fights between a police officer and him". 

"We've got a view of the back of our store onto the public street and we saw people running out of the store and then later on we saw ambulances and cops and bodies, people being wheeled out," he added. 

As he was eventually escorted outside by police officers, he "counted four bodies" on the ground and witnessed the baby that was attacked during the stabbing spree being wheeled out of the building, he said.

The King has released a statement following the Sydney shopping centre attack... 

His Majesty said he and the Queen were "utterly shocked and horrified" by the "senseless attack". 

He added that their "hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed".

"While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services," he added. 

The prime minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, offered his condolences to all the victims of the attack.

Posting on X, he said: "Australia is family.  So, all New Zealanders are thinking of those affected by the tragic events in Bondi, especially the family and friends of those killed today.

"Exceptional courage from NSW Police, first responders and members of the public."

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• International

April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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