The man has been charged after the shocking incident
A man has been charged after four pedestrians were hit with a car on Christmas Day.
The shocking incident has seen one person left in critical condition in the hospital.
The man, named as Anthony Gilheaney, has been charged with four counts of attempted murder.
The 30-year-old has also been charged with causing serious injury by driving while disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy stated that a suspect was arrested within minutes.
He described the incident as a ‘violent attack in the early hours of Christmas Day in Central London’.
He went on to say: “Since then, investigators have worked tirelessly to build the case and have today charged Anthony Gilheaney with four counts of attempted murder.
“Our thoughts now are with the victims, one of which remains in critical condition in hospital.”
A car was driving on the wrong side of the road in Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, and hit the four people in question, leaving one in critical condition.
The incident occurred at 00.45 on Wednesday in the early hours of Christmas morning.
Gilheaney will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.
More to come.Featured Image Credit: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Topics: Crime, UK News, London, Christmas
Michael Slavin
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Updated 14:57 25 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 10:20 25 Dec 2024 GMT
Four people in hospital with one fighting for life after car hits pedestrians on Christmas day
The incident occurred in London’s West End
Four people have been taken to hospital after a car hit pedestrians in the early hours of Christmas Day morning.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, officers were called at 00.45am on Wednesday (25 December) morning following reports of a car driving on the wrong side of the road in the busy West London area of Covent Garden. The incident is not ‘terror-related’.
A police cordon is now in place on Shaftesbury Avenue (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Officers added that four people were subsequently taken to hospital, with one remaining in a life-threatening condition. Meanwhile the driver, a 31-year-old man, has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police said they believed the suspect was ‘involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement’.
They added that it had ‘been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related’.
Speaking about the incident, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “Officers responded quickly to this report, working closely with City of London Police to arrest a man within minutes.
“Detectives are quickly progressing inquiries as part of this investigation.
“It’s believed that the suspect was involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement.
A 31-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
“Several scenes remain in place at the location today.
“This has been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related.”
Anyone with information is asked to call officers on 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 233 of December 25.Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Brenna Cooper
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Updated 14:27 30 May 2024 GMT+1Published 13:54 30 May 2024 GMT+1
breaking
Police issue update after nine-year-old girl left in critical condition following shooting by motorcyclist near London restaurant
The girl is in critical condition after the horrific incident, police said
An update has been issued by police on the horrific shooting incident that occurred in Hackney, East London, last night.
The child was inside a restaurant having dinner with her family, when a firearm was discharged from a motorbike outside, Chief Superintendent James Conway said during a media briefing near the scene on Thursday afternoon.
Three men aged 26, 37, and 42, who were sitting outside the restaurant, were also injured and taken to hospital for treatment where their conditions are stable, although one potentially faces life-changing injuries.
Detective Chief Superintendent Conway, of the Metropolitan Police, stated: “We do not believe that the girl and the men injured were known to each other.
Chief Superintendent James Conway spoke to press today (PA)
“As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime.”
It is believed that the motorcycle that was used in the drive-by shooting has been recovered nearby Colvestone Crescent, which police said was stolen.
It is said that officers were ‘keeping an open mind’ in terms of determining the motive.
Mr Conway added: “We are keen to identify other witnesses who were in the area around the scene at the time of the shooting,
“Similarly, if you were in the Kingsland High Street area at the time of the shooting and have information or footage from a phone or other device, please share that with us,
“Events such as these are rarely spontaneous. Someone knows who is responsible for this shooting that has left a little girl fighting for her life,” he concluded.
Police were called to the scene on Kingsland High Street at around 9:20pm on Wednesday (29 May), with specialist firearms officers also attending.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, said in a statement: “We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight.
Police arrived at the scene in Kingsland High Street (PA)
“Our thoughts go to all those affected. Fast moving enquiries are under way and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us.”
The road, which is filled with restaurants and is a popular hub in East London, was full of emergency services, as London Ambulance Service was also in attendence.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9.21pm on Wednesday 29 May to reports of a shooting on Kingsland High Street, Hackney,
“We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers and members of our tactical response unit,
“We also dispatched a trauma team from London Air Ambulance, which consisted of a doctor and a paramedic in a car.
“We treated three adults and one child at the scene before taking them all to a major trauma centre.”
LADbible has previously contacted the Met Police for comment.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact @MetCC on X, referencing CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Crime, London, UK News
Joshua Nair
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Published 11:33 20 Dec 2024 GMT
UK Government issues critical health advice to avoid ‘quad-demic’ for Christmas and New Year
The threats are real and could scupper your festive plans
The UK Government has issued critical health advice to all Brits ahead of Christmas and New Year so that you can avoid the dreaded ‘quad-demic’ that is gathering pace.
Ahead of 25 December, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a four point step to keeping yourself healthy for festivities so that you’re not left in bed while everyone else celebrates.
It comes as the NHS is preparing for a ‘quad-demic’ of illness that could strain already stretched resources to breaking point with health bosses saying the public service is already ‘busier than ever’.
Following on from a recent ‘tripledemic’ warning, it truly is a grim time to catch a bug or work in the NHS and have to deal with it. Here’s everything you need to know.
Flu can knock you out for days and in severe cases see you hospitalised (Getty Stock Image)
What is the ‘quad-demic’?
Talk of a ‘quad-demic’ is in relation to a spike in cases concerning coronavirus, influenza (flu), norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Data from the UKHSA from December shows there were 747 laboratory reports of norovirus – aka the winter vomiting bug – between 18 November and 1 December this year. This was more than double the five-season average of 349 laboratory reports.
There is a belief in the UKHSA that there have been 105 outbreaks of norovirus across the country; a 27.4 percent increase on the last five year average.
Alongside this, the NHS has issued a stark warning regarding a ‘tidal wave of flu hitting hospitals’ with cases up 400 percent compared to 2023.
The ‘quad-demic’ threat is real (Getty Stock Image)
NHS warning
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS, said that increased norovirus rates turned an existing ‘tripledemic’ of the other three illnesses in to a four-fold horror show.
“The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospital rising sharply… we expect pressure to increase and there is a long winter ahead of us,” Professor Powis said.
“For a while there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, flu and RSV this winter, but with rising cases of norovirus this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’ so it’s important that if you haven’t had your Covid or flu jab to follow the lead of millions of others and come forward and get protected as soon as possible.
Stay warm to help fight off infection (Getty Stock Image)
Four simple steps to stay healthy
Ahead of Christmas, the UKHSA has advised of four steps you can take to remain well and stop infections from spreading over the festive period.
First of all, get vaccinated. It says: “Winter illnesses, including flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are circulating widely, with emergency department attendances on the rise.
“We strongly encourage everyone eligible, especially the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions, to come forward for their vaccinations for these infections. Vaccination will help reduce your risk of getting seriously ill this Christmas and New Year.”
Kids in school can get free flu vaccines on the NHS, which is delivered through a nasal spray. With schools set to break up for the year, it’s worth checking locally for drop-in sessions known as ‘catch-up clinics’ organised by the NHS in your area.
The second step is to keep washing your hands, with the UKHSA saying this is essentially when stopping norovirus from spreading.
Regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces are effective ways to stop the spread of norovirus and other infections. Avoid preparing food for others if you have diarrhoea and or vomiting.
Being ill at Christmas is no fun (Getty Stock Image)
Up next, the UKHSA is advising you give occasions a miss if you’ve got a cough or sore throat combined with a raised temperature. By turning up, you’re potentially putting vulnerable people at greater risk of catching something nasty.
If you’ve had norovirus symptoms, you should isolate from social or work situations for 48 hours.
Last up, it is advised you rest up and keep hydrated while keeping stocked up on over-the-counter medications.
“Antibiotics do not work against viruses, which are the usual cause of these conditions. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can contribute to antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat bacterial infections in the future, so always listen to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist’s advice.” the UKHSA says.
“Protect yourself against cold weather this winter. Maintain indoor temperatures of at least 18 degrees Celsius, particularly if you are older or live with elderly people, young children, or those with long-term health conditions. If you’re spending time outdoors, ensure you wear plenty of warm clothing.”Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Christmas, Health, NHS, UK News
Tom Earnshaw
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Updated 18:22 20 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 17:38 20 Dec 2024 GMT
Official Christmas number one for 2024 has been announced
It’s another record-breaking year in music
The official Christmas number one for 2024 has been announced.
With festive tunes of past and present having filled pretty much every public space for the last month or so, we’ve all got our favourites.
And this year, it felt like there was some tough music competition in the UK for the top spot. Of course, there’s always Mariah Carey and Slade, but 2024 had some new faces in the mix with Tom Grennan’s ‘It Can’t Be Christmas’ and Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘A Nonsense Christmas’.
Andrew Ridgeley celebrates Christmas Number One
Credit: Official Charts
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 21 secondsVolume 90%
What song has been named the official Christmas number one?
But for the second year in a row, it’s ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! that’s taken the place of the UK Christmas Number 1 2024.
To many fans’ surprise, last year was actually the first time the bop claimed the title despite knocking about since 1984.
It’s a biggie for the George Michael creation too as Official Charts confirm ‘Last Christmas’ is the first song in chart history to ever clinch two consecutive Christmas Number 1 victories. Also, it marks its 40th anniversary as the most-streamed and physically purchased song of the week.
The track secured the spot through both digital and physical domination, with a whopping 12.6 million streams.
WHAM!’s reaction
Speaking to Official Charts, WHAM!’s Andrew Ridgeley says: “37 years to get to Number 1, 39 years to Christmas Number 1, and then like London buses they all come along at once!
Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! (Official Charts)
“I’m especially pleased for George, he would have been utterly delighted, his fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey and pigs in blankets.
“It’s testament to a really wonderful Christmas song that in a lot of people’s minds evokes and represents Christmas as we would all wish it to be. I’d like to thank everyone who has listened to, downloaded, bought, streamed Last Christmas and been a part of history. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!”
Who else has Christmas number ones?
This second Christmas Number 1, puts Wham! in the rare group of acts to achieve it multiple times. Their peers now include: Queen (two), Spice Girls (three), The Beatles (four) and the current record-holders, LadBaby (five).
They’ve done it again (Wham!)
The second place in the UK Official Singles Chart for Christmas is taken by Gracie Abrams’ with ‘That’s So True’.
She’s followed by Mariah Carey’s now 30-year-old ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ with Tom Grennan landing in fourth.
ROSÉ and Bruno Mars round off the Christmas Top 5 with their track ‘APT’.
Not necessarily getting the number one single, Sabrina Carpenter does however take the title of Official Christmas Number 1 Album with Short n’ Sweet.