
No Writer
Mar 19
Nicholas Prosper: Teenager who murdered mother and siblings jailed for at least 49 years
Nicholas Prosper, from Luton, pleaded guilty to the murder of his mother, Juliana Falcon, 48, and his siblings, Kyle Prosper, 16, and 13-year-old Giselle Prosper at Luton Crown Court in February. In sentencing, the judge said the words "heartless and brutal" were insufficient to describe the horror of the last moments suffered by his victims. Their bodies were found at their flat in the town in September last year. Read more:How mother of triple killer foiled her son's school shooting plot The 19-year-old planned to carry out a mass shooting at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, where Prosper and his siblings had been pupils, he admitted to police. The court heard his aim was to be known as "the world's most famous school shooter of the 21st century". Police believe he killed his family when his mother found a shotgun he had bought using a fake certificate and confronted him. His scheme was eventually foiled by officers who spotted him in the street immediately after the murders and arrested him. The loaded shotgun was found hidden in bushes nearby, along with more than 30 cartridges. As his sentencing started on Tuesday, the court heard that "his planning was cold, deliberate and without sympathy or emotion towards the actual victims or potential victims". Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the details of Prosper's case were "chilling", and that he had wanted to emulate and outdo the US school massacres at Sandy Hook in 2012 and Virginia Tech in 2007. His "main wish", according to the prosecution, was notoriety, telling a prison nurse "I wish I had killed more". Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Prosper had not hated his mother or siblings and had "had a good life with them", but that his intention had been to kill them in their sleep and rape his sister. "Each victim suffered the anguish of anticipating or being aware of the deaths of others," she said. In explaining why she had opted not to impose a whole-life sentence, the judge said: "A minimum term does not in any way equate to the value of the life of a murder victim, still less three such victims." She acknowledged that Prosper had autism spectrum disorder, but said she was satisfied that it did not affect his decision-making enough to be the primary reason why he carried out the killings. "A murder spree with the sole aim of glorifying the name of the perpetrator in the history of mass killers is what you intended," she said. "You have also expressed no remorse and no sorrow. Indeed, when asked by the psychiatrist if you would try to commit another massacre, you replied: 'Well, that's their job to stop me getting the weapons if I get released'." Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb added: "Your plans were intelligent, calculated and unselfish. Your ambition was notoriety. You wanted to be known posthumously as the world's most famous school shooter of the 21st century. "Words such as heartless and brutal are insufficient to describe the horror of those last moments of the people who were closest to you." Read more from Sky News:Parents of man suspected of killing wife arrestedIstanbul mayor and main rival to Erdogan arrested A statement from the family of the victims was read outside the court. It said they now understood the deaths had "much more meaning and importance" because they "stopped any other family in the community going through the pain we have suffered". "For now, we would ask people to remember Juliana, Kyle and Giselle for the people they were. Julie was a strong, loving mother to her four children, who were her absolute world. "Kyle was a kind and funny young man who loved football and boxing. He was a big talent with massive potential. Giselle was a beautiful soul and caring young girl with an infectious smile. She was also an exceptional pupil at school and was loved dearly by her friends."

No Writer
Mar 19
Israel launches new 'limited ground invasion' of Gaza amid deadly bombardment
The move appeared to deepen a renewed Israeli offensive that shattered a ceasefire with Hamas that had begun in January. As part of the ceasefire, Israel had withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor, which bisected northern Gaza from the south and had been used by Israeli forces as a military zone. It came as an international United Nations worker from Bulgaria was killed and five others seriously wounded in a strike on a UN guesthouse in the Gaza Strip. Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services, declined to say who carried out the strike that killed the worker in the central city of Deir al Balah but said the explosive ordnance was "dropped or fired" and the blast was not accidental or related to demining activity. The UN body, known as UNOPS, carries out infrastructure and development projects around the world. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which has carried out a massive series of airstrikes throughout Gaza since early on Tuesday, denied earlier reports that it had targeted the UN compound. But Mr Moreira da Silva said strikes had hit near the compound on Monday and struck it directly on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, when the worker was killed. He said the agency had contacted the IDF after the first strike and confirmed that it was aware of the facility's location. The UN's secretary general Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply saddened" by the staff member's death and condemned attacks on UN personnel. The war in Gaza has been among the deadliest conflicts ever for humanitarian workers, according to the UN. At least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, have been killed since Israel launched the fresh wave of strikes, the Gaza health ministry said. The IDF claims it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas. Gaza's health ministry records do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it had overnight attacked a Hamas military site from which the militant group planned to launch strikes into Israel. The IDF targeted the site in northern Gaza as it was where "preparations were being made to fire projectiles at Israeli territory", the military said in a statement. Read more:Teen brother and sister among Palestinians killed by IsraelWhat happened to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire The Israeli navy also struck several vessels in the coastal area of Gaza as they were intended to be used for "terrorist activities", the IDF claimed. Israel issued fresh evacuation orders on Wednesday for different areas across the Gaza Strip and told people to move to known shelters in Khan Younis and western Gaza City. The latest strikes come weeks after the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, during which Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages for prisoners and were set to negotiate an extension to the truce that was meant to bring about an eventual end to the war. But those negotiations never got off the ground. Hamas has demanded that Israel stick to the terms of the initial ceasefire deal, including a full withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. During the ceasefire period, 33 hostages were released, along with nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. There are 59 hostages still in captivity, of whom Israel believes 35 are dead. Israel, which has vowed to defeat Hamas, has put forward a new proposal that would extend the truce and free more hostages held by Hamas, without a commitment to end the war. More than one million people risked being left without food parcels in March if aid was not allowed into Gaza, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported the Food Security Sector as saying. The war, sparked by Hamas' 7 October 2023 killing of 1,200 people and capture of 250 more in southern Israel, has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in the Strip, Gazan health officials say.

Rob Harris, sports correspondent
Mar 19
Jordan's Prince Feisal Al Hussein seeks to become the IOC's first leader from Middle East
So Jordan's Prince Feisal Al Hussein has spent the last six months campaigning, within tight constraints, to become president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And the brother of King Abdullah II touts the benefits of being from a royal household in his pitch for votes from the 111 IOC members, including Princess Anne and Monaco's Prince Albert. "I've been born into a family that's dedicated to service," he tells Sky News. There are six rivals, including World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, in the vote that takes place in Greece on Thursday. 'A fantastic tool for healing' Trying to become the first IOC leader from the Middle East means geopolitical dimensions to his candidacy and this interview - especially against the backdrop of war. "We've seen the power of sports in being able to heal particularly and to bring peace and unity to the world," Prince Feisal said. "It's not going to solve wars, but it is a fantastic tool for healing." With that the focus turns to 2036 and the Summer Games slot without a host yet. The Middle East staging the biggest multisport show on Earth could require shifting from a usual summer slot around July and August to much earlier or later in the year when the heat is not as fierce. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are both touted as potential bids having built infrastructure as past and future hosts of the men's World Cup. Read more from Sky News:Teen brother and sister among Palestinians killed by IsraelDocuments about Prince Harry's US visa application released "One of the challenges that we currently face with the existing calendar is that it's not an appropriate environment to have the Olympic Games," the prince said. "So one of the things that I'm suggesting as president of the IOC is to work with international federations to have a bit more flexibility. "This will allow not just countries within our region, but across the globe, give them the opportunity to potentially host a game. "And I think it's the imagination, the enthusiasm of being able to do that that is part of the Olympic legacy. We'd like to see." 'Not for exclusion' Unlike his brother Prince Ali - who runs Jordan's football federation - Prince Feisal is against banning Israel from sport. "I'm not for exclusion," he said. "I believe in inclusion. And right now, the only reason for anybody to be banned is in violation of the Olympic charter. "And although people have different opinions on it, as long as there is no violation of the Olympic charter, then I have no reason to ban anybody. We have to respect the Olympic charter as a precedent." We speak before the latest outbreak of war in Gaza, but with concerns already growing about Donald Trump's calls for Palestinians to leave the territory. The US president suggested Jordan take in Gazans to "clean out that whole thing" after the war turned the territory of 2.3m people into a "demolition site". "It should be what the Palestinian people want, not what the rest of us [want] - we should not be in a position to take decisions on behalf of other people," Prince Feisal said. "We are against forced movement or migration of any people from their territories and it's something that we firmly believe in." And Prince Feisal, who has held military roles in Jordan, insists Mr Trump is "somebody I can work with" as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Games. "I hope this is the start of a movement towards peace in and of itself," he said. "Peace is not created by stopping wars or having ceasefires. "It's created by building hope, a sense of justice, a sense of fairness. These are all critical elements that need to be there in order for peace to really exist." Prince Feisal is currently vice chair of the IOC's gender, diversity and inclusion commission. So how does he feel about women's sport in Afghanistan being banned by the Taliban? He said women being able to partake in sports in Afghanistan is "something I would very much like to see but at the end of the day, every country is its own, has its own sovereign rules and its own decisions. "I would encourage them to allow women to participate in life because I think that is in part embedded in the very principles of Olympism. "But I can't force people to change laws just because I believe it is wrong. It's up to them to understand that this is actually for their benefit." So Afghanistan's participation at the Olympics is not at risk over lack of gender equality - despite the IOC Charter being used to ban Russia over the war on Ukraine? "I think to ban them on that principle alone would require potential change to the Olympic Charter," he said. "It's not something I've personally looked into, but I believe it would require a change in the charter. And then it's up to the IOC members if they agree and the consensus is there and that's what they do." LA 2028 will see transgender women banned from women's sport if Mr Trump gets his way - even by denying athletes visas. "What we need to look at is a scientific-based approach on eligibility, to make sure that [it] is both fair and safe for all the competitors involved in that sport," he said. But unlike Lord Coe, the prince does not advocate a blanket IOC ban - leaving the issue of gender eligibility to each sport. "The international [sports] federation is in a far better position to make that determination than the IOC," he said. "Could you imagine if the IOC started taking decisions on these issues, for instance, over FIFA?"

Tamara Cohen, political correspondent
Mar 19
Teenagers exposed to 'horrific' content online - and this survey reveals the scale of the problem
More than 1,000 young people aged 14 to 17 in Darlington schools told us what they see and experience online when looking at apps commonly used by teenagers. Their answers raise troubling questions about whether government and tech companies are doing enough to protect children online amid a growing debate among parents and campaigners about how far to restrict children's access to smartphones and social media. Of those surveyed, 40% spent at least six hours a day online - the equivalent of a school day. One in five said they spent upwards of eight hours a day on their phones. Some of the findings in the under-16 group were striking, including that 75% had been contacted by strangers through social media and online gaming. Over half (55%) of the Year 10 students, aged 14 to 15, had seen sexually explicit or violent content that was inappropriate for their age. Concerningly, a large proportion of them (50%) said this always or usually came up on social media apps without them searching for it - suggesting it is driven by algorithms. Doom-scrolling is the act of spending an excessive amount of time online consuming negative news or social media content, often without stopping. The survey represents a snapshot of teenagers in one town in the UK, but resonates more widely. The teenagers said they wanted their voices to be heard in the debate about online safety. While they did not favour a social media or smartphone ban, many wanted tougher controls on the content they see. When asked if they were in favour of social media companies doing more to protect under 16s from seeing explicit or harmful content, 50% were in favour and 14% against. 'It's quite horrific' Sky News was invited to film a focus group of under-16s from different schools discussing the results at St Aidan's Academy in Darlington, hosted by Labour MP Lola McEvoy, whose office carried out the research. Jacob, who is 15, said among the things he had seen on social media were "gore, animal abuse, car crashes, everything related to death, torture". He said: "It's quite horrific. A lot of the things that I've seen that I shouldn't have, have not been searched by me directly and have been shown to me without me wanting to. "Most of this stuff pops up on social media, Instagram Reels, TikTok, sometimes on YouTube. "It's like a roulette, you can go online and see entertainment, because there's always a risk of seeing racism, sexism and 18+ explicit content." Matthew, also 15, said he spends six to seven hours a day online, before school and late into the evening - and up to nine hours on weekends, gaming and messaging with friends. "After school, the only time I take a break is when I'm eating or talking to someone. It can turn into addiction," he said. He also said inappropriate content was unprompted. "I've seen a varied spectrum of things - sexually explicit content, graphic videos, gory photos and just upsetting images," he added. "Mostly with the violence it's on Instagram Reels, with sexually explicit content it's more Snapchat and TikTok." Read more:Boy's mental health 'severely impacted' after pornography sharedInstagram unveils new feature to let users reset algorithms 'It can be sexual stuff' Summer, 14, said: "I see unwanted content about getting into a summer body and how you should starve yourself. "It just pops up randomly without searching anything. I reported it, but it keeps coming up." Many of the group had been contacted by strangers. Summer said: "I have, and a lot of my friends have as well. They can just randomly come up on Snapchat and TikTok and you don't know who they are, and it's quite worrying, they're probably like 40 years old." Olivia, 15, said: "I've been added to group chat with hundreds of people sending images like dead bodies, gore. "I try to leave but there's so many people, I don't know who has added me, and I keep getting re-added. It can be sexual stuff or violent stuff. It can be quite triggering for people to see stuff like that quite damaging to your mental health." Asked what she disliked online, Briony, 14, said: "Involvement with older people, people who aren't my friends and that I don't know. It's very humiliating when other people are commenting and being rude; and it's quite horrible." Fewer than a third of those surveyed (31%) said they were always asked their age before viewing inappropriate content. When asked about their age on social media, around a third said they usually pretended to be older. But in the focus group, teenagers were clear that they had seen upsetting and disturbing content when they used their real age. Parents 'can't tackle this alone' Ms McEvoy described the findings as "shocking" and said "the safety of our children online is one of the defining issues of our time". "Parents and teachers are doing their best, but they can't tackle this alone," she added. "We need enforceable age verification, better content controls, and more age-appropriate functions to ensure children can go online without fear." The Online Safety Act, which was passed by MPs in October 2023, is intended to protect users - particularly children - from illegal and harmful content. It is being implemented this year, with tough fines for platforms which do not prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content coming in this summer. A private members' bill debated by MPs earlier this month proposed that the internet "age of consent" for giving data to social media companies be raised from 13 to 16, but it was watered down after the government made clear it would not support the move. Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok were contacted for comment, but did not provide an on-the-record statement on the comments by the teenagers. The companies insist they take issues of safety and age-appropriate content seriously. Instagram is rolling out Teen Accounts, which it says will limit who can contact teenagers and the content they can see. Snapchat and TikTok say on their websites that accounts for under-16s are set to private. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: "As the testimonies from these young people show, for too long harmful content has been easily accessible online, often reaching children in places they should feel safe and even when they aren't seeking it out. "This week, key protections of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning platforms must take action to protect users from illegal material, and by the summer additional protections will stop children being exposed to harmful material like abusive misogyny and age-inappropriate content such as pornography. "We are committed to creating a safe online environment where children can explore without fear and parents have confidence their children can be safe online. "I expect these online safety laws will help achieve this, but they are the foundation, not the end of the conversation, and we are prepared to go further to keep our children safe."

Tim Baker, political reporter
Mar 19
Ex-minister Tulip Siddiq attacks 'targeted and baseless campaign' against her by Bangladesh authorities
It is Tulip Siddiq's first significant response to a series of corruption allegations in Bangladesh, which saw her resign from the government in January. Politics live: PM defends tax rises She quit after the prime minister's standards adviser found her family's links with the ousted Bangladeshi regime exposed the government to "reputational risks." A letter from Ms Siddiq's lawyers to Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said: "At no point have any allegations against Ms Siddiq been put to her fairly, properly and transparently, or indeed at all, by the ACC, or anyone else with proper authority on behalf of the Bangladesh government." Her lawyers said the media has been "repeatedly used" to publish allegations "that have no truth", setting out several examples that have led to an "ongoing targeted and baseless campaign". Ms Siddiq denies all wrongdoing, and says she has not been approached by the investigating authorities in Bangladesh. More politics news:Teens exposed to 'horrific' contentMinister shown awkward old tweet 'Allegations have no merit' Sky News previously reported that UK-based investigators were considering ways to help the Bangladeshi authorities. The agency concerned, the International Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre (IACCC), is currently hosted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and principally funded by the UK government. In the seven-page letter sent by Ms Siddiq's legal team, seen by Sky News, it is claimed the ACC "does not appear to be taking matters seriously". It goes on: "If it was, it would have been obvious to it that the allegations made against our client have no merit at all." What are some of the claims? Ms Siddiq is the niece of the ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina, and it's those familial links that were used as evidence in the claims against her. Among the allegations disputed by Ms Siddiq are claims she illegally benefitted from a deal between Bangladesh and Russia for a nuclear power station. Ms Siddiq's lawyers say this is "absurd and cannot be true", as the claims revolve around a property given to the Labour MP by a close family friend 10 years before the power station deal. The letter also rejects claims Ms Siddiq committed fraud in Bangladesh over where she owned a home. 👉Listen to Politics At Sam And Anne's on your podcast app👈 Ms Siddiq's team has told the ACC it must "immediately stop manufacturing false and vexatious allegations", adding the agency's methods "are an unacceptable attempt to interfere in UK politics". The letter goes on to request any further claims are put to them directly, instead of being publicised in the media. In response, a defiant ACC said Ms Siddiq "has benefitted from the systemic corruption" of her aunt's old party. It said the MP has "spent most of her adult life residing in homes owned by cronies" of the party, the Awami League, and been "benefitted by corrupt property deals that her mother undertook". It said it would be in touch with her office "in due course".

Tom Parmenter, national correspondent
Mar 19
Juliana Falcon's intervention was crucial in preventing her son carrying out a school massacre – she was murdered because of it
Realising the unthinkable about her child, her intervention was crucial in preventing him from carrying out what could have been one of the worst mass killings ever to happen in the UK. Triple killer who murdered family jailed for at least 49 years It was late at night when the 48-year-old interrupted her teenage son, Nicholas Prosper, in his bedroom with a gun. He was preparing to carry out a massacre at his old primary school the following day. Police believe Juliana spotted the shotgun and confronted her son about what he was up to, and there was a struggle as he began attacking his mother. Her intervention changed everything. Prosper, 18, shot his mother dead with the firearm he had bought illegally less than 24 hours earlier. Over the next few hours in the family's eighth-floor flat in Luton, he also shot dead his 13-year-old sister, Giselle, and shot and repeatedly stabbed his 16-year-old brother, Kyle. The noise of the killings alerted neighbours and meant police would be on their way, so Prosper's plan had to be brought forward. "My f****** mum messed it up," he wrote down while in custody. "My mother is a f****** stupid cow." A plan for 'notoriety' Prosper left the flat at 5.30am on 13 September last year, hours before the school would open. He had meticulously researched school massacres, was fascinated by violence and led a dysfunctional life online. He craved notoriety. He took with him more than 30 shotgun cartridges which, he had calculated, would enable him to kill more children than any other school attack. When he was arrested, he was on his way to his old primary school to target the youngest children there, aged just four and five. In a note he later wrote in prison, he confessed he "wanted to cause the biggest [school] massacre in the 21st century and be more famous than Sandy Hook". A total of 26 children were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, USA in 2012. The killer there had shot dead his own mother at home before going to the school. Prosper's mother's actions in Luton, disturbing his plan early, denied him that appalling place in history. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Sam Khanna, of Bedfordshire Police, told Sky News that Prosper's ambition "was most definitely notoriety... to be known as being responsible for the biggest school shooting on record." He had researched in detail every shooting school shooting across the world "within the last 15, 20 years," he said. "He'd done his sums, and he wanted to be responsible for the most amount [of deaths]. Killing his family was the first part of it. But then going to a school and killing numerous children, teachers, then finally himself." Concerns raised Prosper was raised in Luton and had attended St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, where he planned to carry out an attack three-quarters of a mile from his home. Growing up, teachers thought he was a quiet, introverted boy, with a small group of friends who were interested in computers. When he went to sixth form aged 16, staff noticed he had become more withdrawn. The school raised concerns that he could be on the autism spectrum, but he refused to see a GP or accept any help. DCI Khanna said "very little" was known of Prosper, and "there was certainly no Prevent referral". Prevent is the UK's counter-terrorism programme designed to identify and stop young people being radicalised. Both of Prosper's parents "had expressed concerns to the school", the detective said. The school had shared those concerns, he said, "but because of his unwillingness to engage with mental health professionals, it didn't go any further". A consultant forensic psychiatrist concluded the teenager shows "all the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)" but that it was undiagnosed at the time of the killings. He said Prosper has "an extreme lack of empathy with others and an extreme lack of remorse". Read more:What is Prevent? How did Prosper get a gun? So how was an 18-year-old able to source a shotgun? The answer is by deception. Prosper convinced a legitimate seller, who had only previously sold to registered firearms dealers, to deliver the weapon to him. The teenager produced a convincing but fake shotgun certificate and paid the seller £650 in cash and an extra £30 petrol money to bring the gun and 100 shotgun cartridges to Luton the day before the killings. Bedfordshire Police investigated and concluded the seller would not face criminal charges. He had been duped by Prosper. DCI Khanna said Prosper "went to great lengths, looking at templates, looking at prototypes, getting police force logos, signatures, and having copies of genuine certificates, so he could produce what he thought would be good enough to enable him to obtain that shotgun - even down to the printing of the paper with watermarks". Prosper spent a lot of time online alone in his bedroom posting troubling comments supporting sexual relationships between adults and children and expressing other extreme views. He had also become obsessed with the Walking Dead video game, and particularly a character called Clementine who is a vulnerable young girl. Detectives can't say if there is a direct link between his "avid use" of the game and the school shooting plan, but it is one aspect of a complex and unhealthy life he led online. DCI Khanna said Prosper "certainly believed that he had some form of relationship with Clementine, albeit she's a video game character". Police also found indecent images of children on Prosper's devices. The investigator said his online research of school massacres was persistent and extremely detailed. "There's a lot of talk about the dark web, but this was on the surface web and sites where... you can read manifestos of people that have done horrific acts. They shouldn't be available to be seen." After his arrest, Prosper told a nurse at Bedford prison about his school massacre intentions. He had also written two detailed plans of what he intended to do at the primary school he used to attend. "We didn't find any evidence that he had harboured any grudges towards that particular school... it was purely around his knowledge of it," DCI Khanna said. After killing his family, he left home "with the right amount of cartridges to complete his plan, right down to the final detail", he added. "Once in prison, he has openly talked about the fact that that was his plan - to go to the school and kill children and teachers before finally killing himself." Prosper had chosen black and yellow clothes for the attack and as he made his way towards the school in Luton he was spotted by police officers on patrol. They thought he was acting strangely and knew three members of the same family had been shot dead nearby. "It's not murder," he repeatedly told the officers as they handcuffed him by the roadside. Months later, he pleaded guilty shortly before he was due to stand trial. Remembering the victims The dilemma of whether to make his school shooting plan public has been difficult for police and prosecutors. It is clearly deeply upsetting for the school community and they are mindful that Prosper craved attention and publicity, but it is also about challenging this kind of extreme behaviour online. DCI Khanna's investigation team has examined this "deeply troubling" case with the victims at the forefront of their minds. "The family has really told us what wonderful people they were," he said. Juliana, he said, was "a doting mum who did a lot of work for charity and [was] a very keen runner". He described Giselle as "so popular amongst friends, a bright girl with an infectious smile", while Kyle was a "funny young man, really into his sports and again very popular at school with his friends". Now, DCI Khanna said, the focus should be on the victims - "and how much they'll be missed".

Alex Crawford, special correspondent in northeast Syria
Mar 19
'ISIS is coming back': The detention camps packed with children radicalised by terror group
The soldiers we're with face far worse. Knifings and bombings feature regularly from the ISIS families detained in sprawling detention camps in northeast Syria. The Kurdish troops have guarded these camps packed with ISIS wives and relatives for more than six years. But since the toppling of the Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad, attacks in and around the camps have more than doubled. Kane Ahmed, the commander of Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) troops for al Hol camp, told us: "The threat of ISIS has increased both inside and outside the camp... especially after the fall of the Syrian regime, it's gone up a lot and we see attempts by them to escape on almost a daily basis." He shows us the perimeter fence which has been reinforced several times in places. "It's not secure enough," he says. The troops watch these camps through three round-the-clock CCTV rooms and often mount raids after receiving intelligence about IS operations. "We know they are receiving help from outside IS cells who smuggle weapons inside and help smuggle people out," the commander says. Delivery trucks have been used to smuggle detainees out in hollowed out seats. Waterways have been turned into routes to sneak the children out. "They are recruited by ISIS as the next cubs of the caliphate," the commander warns. The camp managers have long warned about the lack of rehabilitation facilities and psychological help for these children to de-radicalise the young. More than 60% of those at al Hol are children - 22,000 of them. Many have been born here and know nothing beyond their caged existence. Read more:The ticking time bomb of Syria's forgotten ISIS prisonsInside Syria's cities where hundreds were killed They distrust outsiders and throw stones at the troops and us from afar, as well as try to kick our cameras. We're given armed soldiers who escort us round the camp, and we're told to don protective vests and helmets. "You will be attacked," the camp management tell us. Raids on the tents frequently turn up homemade bombs, guns, grenades and knives. The troops wave their guns at the hordes of children who immediately gather round us as they taunt their guards. "We will behead you," they say. "One day we will be in charge. ISIS is coming back." One burqa-clad woman at the camp tells us: "We love the Islamic State. We were free with them. Here we are captives." The dramatic agreement between the Kurdish-led SDF and Syria's interim president is being viewed as a breakthrough for relations between the Kurdish minority in the northeast and the new Islamist authorities. 👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 But the questions over what happens to the ISIS prisoners and their families remains. ISIS is exploiting the power vacuum to regroup and grow. The SDF commander warns: "We need help to control ISIS from the international coalition. We cannot do this on our own." Alex Crawford reports from northeast Syria with cameraman Jake Britton, senior specialist producer Chris Cunningham and producers Fahad Fattah and Fazel Hawramy.

No Writer
Mar 19
Man admits killing mother and daughter in motorway crash after his Tesla captures key evidence
Cheryl Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40, of Caerphilly, died in the multi-vehicle crash on the M4 between junction 17 for Chippenham and junction 18 for Bath. Firas Zeineddine pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by careless driving at Swindon Crown Court over his role in the accident on 20 October 2023. The 46-year-old, of Keynsham, near Bristol, had originally been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving but admitted the lesser charges. Judge Jason Taylor KC said: "The reality is that a lot of the evidence comes from the defendant's own car and the Tesla was recording from multiple cameras." The women killed were previously described as devoted mothers and grandmothers in a tribute issued by their family. It said: "Cheryl Woods, cherished by those in her life, fulfilled the roles of a loving mother, doting grandmother, cherished sister, and a dear friend. "Her selflessness was a defining trait, consistently prioritising her family's well-being over her own, and she took immense pride in her Welsh heritage while nurturing a deep love for nature. "Sarha Smith, in the footsteps of her mother, unselfishly devoted herself to her family's needs ahead of her own. "She was not only a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, but her absence leaves a void for those who relied on her radiant presence. "Her legacy lives on through her six daughters, who will forever hold her memory close and strive to honour her with their efforts." Zeineddine is due to be sentenced on 28 April.

Alexandra Rogers, political reporter
Mar 19
New Labour MP breaks ranks over 'devastating' welfare cuts
Chris Webb, the newly elected MP for Blackpool South, said the measures announced by the work and pensions secretary on Tuesday were "not what any of us stood on in the manifesto". Politics live: Has shine come off Labour? He told Sky News the government had "forgotten" coastal communities like Blackpool, which has the lowest male life expectancy in Britain and where nearly half of children live in poverty. Mr Webb, who is the first of Labour's new 2024 MPs to publicly criticise the reforms, said he was concerned they had been "rushed" to coincide with the timing of next week's spring statement - echoing criticism from Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride. And he warned Liz Kendall's welfare changes - in particular the tightening of the eligibility criteria for one of the main types of benefit, personal independence payments (PIP) - could push more children below the breadline. "This is a devastating blow for people already using food banks, already waiting for mental health support," he said. "And in places like these coastal towns that have been forgotten these past 14 years, there just isn't the jobs to get these people back into work." Claimants in limbo until spring statement Addressing MPs in the Commons yesterday, Ms Kendall said the government would not freeze PIP, as reports had previously suggested, but would tighten the eligibility criteria. It's unclear how many people will be impacted, with the Office for Budget Responsibility's full costings report not due until the spring statement on 26 March. Ministers have said as well as providing much-needed savings, there is a moral case for cuts, as one in eight young people are not in education, training, or employment. But Mr Webb said without the necessary mental health support, it would be difficult for young people to find the employment they are being encouraged to take up - with waiting lists reaching between 18 months and two years. He also argued jobs had been prioritised in the South East and Manchester, with "nothing for coastal communities". Read more:How is PIP changing?All the welfare reforms explainedThe town where a third are not in work 'This will make people worse off' While Mr Webb said he understood the need to make savings, he believed this could be done via other means. He suggested a wealth tax, and following Germany in approving a change to constitutional borrowing rules to allow much more defence spending. "If you're saying a young person needs to get to work, I don't see a plan where that mental support will increase in time," he said. "These changes aren't going to be enacted until 2028/29, so there may be a plan alongside this to do it - but at the minute, I'm not convinced by that, and this will make people in my constituency worse off. "If I'm to support these measures, I need to see a clear strategy so that I can tell my constituents, my friends, my neighbours, and family - there is something coming."

Faye Brown, political reporter
Mar 19
Starmer backs campaign to show Adolescence in schools
The drama, starring Stephen Graham, depicts the aftermath of the stabbing of a teenage girl - as a 13-year-old boy from her school is arrested for her murder. Politics live: PM challenged over tax rises Graham and co-writer Jack Thorne have said they want it to be a show that "causes discussion and makes change", after it was hailed by critics and topped Netflix's charts around the world. Asked by Labour MP Anneliese Midgley if he backs the creators' calls for it to be aired in parliament and schools, Sir Keir said he does. He told PMQs: "At home we are watching Adolescence. I've got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, and it's a very good drama to watch. "This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is a real problem. "It's abhorrent, and we have to tackle it." MPs want tougher action on online safety Sir Keir's commitment came as Sky News learned around 25 Labour MPs who want tougher action on online safety have formed an informal group and are due to meet next week. It could pressure the government to take more radical steps, after a private member's bill to raise the age of social media consent from 13 to 16 was watered down because ministers didn't support the measure. The changes were criticised by Thorne in a recent interview with Sky News, accusing the government of being "frightened of big tech". Johnathan Brash is among the MPs who backs showing Adolescence in parliament and schools, telling Sky News he found it "so powerful and distressing I immediately went upstairs and gave my son a hug". The Labour MP for Hartlepool, whose son is eight, said elements of the show could be shown in primary school "with discretion" so children understand the dangers before they are using social media. He said he will raise the issue with officials at the Department for Education to ensure Sir Keir's "extremely supportive" words are followed through on. Mr Brash said the government must "protect children from an environment that is increasing hostile and dangerous". It comes after Sky News revealed teenagers are regularly being served up "horrific" content on social media apps, including violent and sexually explicit material. Read more:Should social media be restricted for teens? Government 'alert' to 'toxic influencers' Speaking after PMQs, Sir Keir's spokesman called Adolescence "an incredibly powerful programme that shows the threat of young men carrying out violence from seeing things online". "Insidious misogyny taking root will be tackled," he added, though he did not say how. He also said the government is "alert to and taking on" issues raised by Sir Gareth Southgate, after the ex-England manager hit out at "manipulative and toxic influencers" who trick young men into thinking women are against them. The Online Safety Act, which is being implemented this year, is intended to protect young people from illegal and harmful content with fines for platforms who break the rules coming in this summer. However, MPs from across the political spectrum want further action to tackle the amount of time children spend on their smartphones. The Tories want the government to force teachers to ban smartphones from schools, with shadow education secretary Laura Trott revealing she is so concerned she won't allow her children to have one until they are 16. The government has resisted the measure, saying teachers already have the power to ban phones.