Displaying items by tag: violence

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after fireworks were fired at firefighters and police officers attending a blaze at Knowsley Heights, near Liverpool. Emergency services were called shortly before 7pm after reports of fireworks being directed at the high-rise building. Fire crews quickly extinguished a blaze on a third-floor balcony, but during the operation fireworks were launched towards emergency workers. A female police officer suffered a minor leg injury, and a teenager was also treated for firework burns. Merseyside Police confirmed the boy was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Chief inspector Kevin Chatterton condemned the 'disgraceful' attack, saying it was only by sheer good fortune that no one was seriously injured. Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan praised the professionalism of emergency services and vowed to hold those responsible to account. The fire service urged the public to respect first responders, warning that violence against them will not be tolerated.

The recent election which saw president Samia Suluhu Hassan win with 98% of the vote has exposed deep cracks in Tanzania’s democratic foundations. The landslide result - achieved amid opposition arrests, media restrictions, and reports of violence - has drawn widespread criticism from observers and foreign governments. What followed was unprecedented in Tanzania’s history: mass youth-led protests erupting across major cities, demanding electoral justice and democratic reform. The unrest reflects a broader generational awakening in Africa, where frustration with corruption, repression, and economic inequality is driving young citizens to demand accountability. With around 77% of the population aged under 35, the country’s future hinges on how leaders respond to this rising tide of civic resistance. Despite the violence and censorship surrounding the protests, they reveal a powerful truth: citizens are no longer content with symbolic democracy. Tanzania’s youth are asserting their right to shape their nation’s destiny. Going forward, the demand for a new constitution should be the priority.

At least 64 people, including four police officers, have been killed during a massive law enforcement operation in Rio de Janeiro - the deadliest in the city’s history. Governor Claudio Castro hailed the raids as a decisive blow against organised crime, but the high civilian toll has sparked national and international alarm. Operation Containment targeted the powerful Comando Vermelho gang, deploying 2,500 officers with helicopters and armoured vehicles across the Alemao and Penha favelas. Bystanders were reportedly caught in the crossfire, reigniting debate over police tactics, human rights, and the heavy cost of Brazil’s drug war. For many residents of Rio’s poorest neighbourhoods, the tragedy underscores a grim reality - they are trapped between violent gangs and aggressive law enforcement. Human rights groups have questioned the timing of such a large-scale operation, less than two weeks before the UN climate summit COP30 begins. As Brazil heads for a national election in 2026, the threat of criminal violence and drug trafficking is expected to take centre stage.

In July, protests over fuel price hikes erupted across Angola, paralysing parts of the capital Luanda and spreading to other provinces. Sparked by a taxi drivers’ strike, these demonstrations quickly turned violent, leaving at least thirty dead and thousands arrested. Many residents now fear speaking openly, wary of reprisals. The unrest exposed deep social and economic inequalities in the oil-rich nation, where youth unemployment stands at 54% and over a third of the population survives on less than £1.50 a day. Young people, frustrated by poverty, corruption, and lack of opportunity, led the protests, which sociologists describe as a response to decades of misgovernance since the civil war ended in 2002. President João Lourenço condemned the violence as foreign manipulation but faces criticism for failing to diversify the economy or curb high inflation. As Angola prepares to celebrate fifty years of independence, many fear further unrest before the 2027 elections if systemic issues remain unaddressed.

This year’s Notting Hill Carnival saw more than 500 arrests over two days, a sharp rise from 349 in 2024. Police deployed over 7,000 officers daily, supported by CCTV, knife searches, and live facial recognition technology, which directly led to 61 arrests, including a registered sex offender, a machete attacker, and a fugitive wanted for a decade. While four stabbings occurred, none were fatal - a reduction in serious violence compared to recent years when murders took place. Arrests included 167 for drugs, 50 for offensive weapons, 21 for sexual offences, and 55 for assaults on police, with two officers requiring hospital treatment. Deputy assistant commissioner Matt Ward praised both proactive policing and carnival organisers for discouraging violence. Despite improvements, concerns remain over crowd safety and overcrowding risks. An independent review is expected to report in October.

Emmanuel Macron has publicly acknowledged the violence committed by French forces in Cameroon during and after the country’s independence struggle from 1945 to 1971. A joint report by Cameroonian and French historians has detailed how France’s colonial authorities and army used severe repression, including mass killings, internment camps, and support for brutal militias, leading to tens of thousands of deaths. Macron named four independence leaders killed during French-led military operations and accepted France’s responsibility, but stopped short of offering an apology or addressing calls for reparations. Cameroonian responses have been mixed: some see acknowledgment as a positive step, while others say it is insufficient without concrete acts of justice. The report followed years of pressure for France to confront its colonial history, and Macron has taken similar steps regarding atrocities in Senegal, Rwanda, and Algeria, though often without formal apologies. The admission opens the door for further research and debate about France’s colonial legacy and reconciliation.

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and three attempted murders during a horrific sword rampage in Hainault, north-east London. Suffering from a cannabis-induced psychosis, Monzo launched a twenty-minute spree in April 2024, beginning with driving his van into a pedestrian before attacking several victims with a 60cm samurai sword. Daniel, on his way to school, was brutally killed in what a witness described as a chilling act of 'delight’. Monzo also wounded two police officers and a couple in their home, where he demanded to know if they believed in God. Though he claimed memory loss and diminished responsibility, the court ruled that self-induced intoxication was no defence. The trial revealed Monzo’s disturbing online history, including far-right and conspiracy-related content. The jury also heard he had previously killed his pet cat before the attacks.

Over 18,500 Sudanese refugees have fled into eastern Chad in the past two weeks, following devastating attacks on the Zamzam displacement camp and the city of al-Fasher in Darfur. The 11 April assault by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) left at least 400 dead in Zamzam after months of starvation and siege. Eyewitnesses report widespread atrocities including executions, torture, and sexual violence. The RSF destroyed the camp’s only medical centre, killing nine aid workers, and burned large sections of the camp. Once home to 500,000 people, Zamzam is now nearly abandoned. Many fleeing refugees, including children and pregnant women, are severely malnourished and traumatised. Chad, already hosting 1.3 million refugees - nearly 800,000 from Sudan - is overwhelmed and struggling to provide adequate shelter, food, and medical care. UNHCR officials, fearing more suffering ahead as the humanitarian situation deteriorates rapidly, are calling for urgent international assistance and intervention.

Counter-terrorist police are investigating videos of Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, recorded at gigs in 2023 and 2024. The videos appear to show band members encouraging violence against British MPs and expressing support for proscribed terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Kneecap has denied inciting violence, saying the clips were taken out of context, and offered apologies to the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox. The controversy, which follows backlash from the band’s Gaza-related statements at a concert in the USA, has led to sponsorship and booking losses. Major artists have signed a statement supporting Kneecap, opposing what they call political censorship and suppression of artistic freedom. Kneecap, known for provocative lyrics and nationalist themes, rose to prominence in Ireland and were the subject of a Bafta-winning film featuring Michael Fassbender.

President Luis Abinader has introduced measures to address illegal immigration from neighbouring Haiti, where the continuing violence is forcing many to flee. The new policies, described as ‘painful but necessary’, include charging migrants for hospital services and penalising those who rent to undocumented individuals. He is also increasing military presence at the border and speeding up border wall construction. He said that his country’s resources were strained, and spoke of the burden on hospitals, schools, and security. Human rights activists have criticised the measures as discriminatory and accused the government of abusing migrants. Over 180,000 migrants have already been deported, and stricter penalties will be imposed on those who aid illegal crossings. However, this week the nation’s attention is focussed on a tragedy in the capital, Santo Domingo: at least 184 were killed and over 250 injured after a roof collapsed at a nightclub. See