Adam Care

Seven-year-old Musa Ahmed died six days after getting into difficulty in the sea off West Mersea, Essex, while on a family holiday. His 15-year-old cousin, Sameeha Rahman, and her mother, Shelina Rahman, also died in the incident. An inquest heard that post-mortem examinations provisionally attributed all three deaths to drowning, with hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury also recorded for Musa. The inquest was adjourned until January 19, 2027.

Daniel Kinahan was extradited from Dubai to Ireland and flown aboard the Irish Air Corps’ Dassault Falcon 6X. He is expected to appear before the Special Criminal Court on allegations that he directed the Kinahan organised crime group during the Kinahan-Hutch feud, including alleged plots targeting James “Mago” Gately and Gerry Hutch. Gardaí, the Defence Forces and the Irish Prison Service are preparing a major security operation. The allegations have not been tested at trial, and Kinahan has not been convicted.

Megan McKenna said three masked burglars armed with machetes and baseball bats broke into her London home while she was alone in 2024. Fearing for her dog, she confronted the intruders despite police advising her not to engage, and one removed jewelry from her hand before the gang fled. Police arrested the men and they were jailed, but McKenna said she was distressed to learn they were released roughly a year later. She believes the attack was targeted and remains fearful of living alone in the UK while her husband, footballer Oliver Burke, plays in Germany.

An inquest heard that 71-year-old Anthony Buxton called police and ambulance services after strangling his wife, 69-year-old Michelle, at their home in Camelford, Cornwall, on September 24 the previous year. Both were found fatally injured, with Michelle having died from neck compression and Anthony from a self-inflicted stab wound. Their son described his father’s increasing paranoia, anxiety and belief that an organised crime gang was targeting the family. Mental-health services had assessed Buxton and referred him to community care, but no one had identified Michelle as being at risk. The coroner recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing for Michelle and found that Anthony had taken his own life.

A 15-year-old boy was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after suffering lower-body burns when petrol he was using in a field near the White Horse Pub in Darlington accidentally caught fire. Durham Constabulary described the incident as a tragic accident and said it was not being treated as criminal. Ambulance crews and the Great North Air Ambulance Service treated the boy at the scene before taking him to hospital, where he remained in a stable condition.

Jack Shepherd pleaded guilty via video link to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage after pinning down and punching his girlfriend in February 2025, then striking her with barbecue tongs and damaging her keys in June. Prosecutors withdrew allegations of controlling or coercive behaviour and intentional suffocation. Shepherd was remanded at HMP Swaleside pending sentencing in September, with a probation report requested. He is already serving a sentence connected to the death of Charlotte Brown in a 2015 speedboat accident and has a projected release date of January 2029.

Omar Majed appeared by video-link at Birmingham Crown Court after being charged with communicating false information to police over an alleged bomb hoax that led to the evacuation and cancellation of Peter Kay’s show at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on May 1. Majed did not enter a plea because psychiatric reports are still required. A pre-trial review was scheduled for September 30, with a trial date set for November 3, and he will remain in custody. West Midlands Police said searches found nothing suspicious.

Aaron Strachan, 21, was given an indefinite sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint in May 2025. He also admitted stabbing one man and attacking another with a claw hammer. Strachan must serve at least five years before parole can be considered, has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and may never be released because of the risk he poses to the public. He also escaped custody while being taken from court earlier in 2026 but was recaptured within hours.

Four men aged 23, 24 and 26 died after a black SEAT Cupra crashed into a lamppost on Liverpool Road in Huyton shortly before 2am. A 27-year-old passenger remains in stable condition in hospital. Merseyside Police have established a scene, closed nearby roads and imposed a temporary drone restriction while specialist officers investigate the cause. Witnesses and residents with relevant dashcam or doorbell footage are being asked to contact police.

A misconduct tribunal found former detective sergeant Jason Grafham guilty of gross misconduct for keeping and showing crime‑scene photographs of murder victim Sally Anne Bowman without any policing purpose, compounding the family’s distress. Grafham, who retired a day before the hearing, was permanently barred from police service but retains his pension since no criminal conviction was involved. Witnesses testified he kept the images for entertainment and bragging, and he was also found to have made multiple inappropriate and discriminatory remarks to colleagues. Metropolitan Police leadership condemned his actions and apologised to the victim’s family.

A 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck near Puerto Madero on Mexico’s coast close to the Guatemalan border, prompting a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific region. Buildings shook across Guatemala City, leading to widespread evacuations, while tremors were also felt in El Salvador and Mexico’s Oaxaca state. The US Geological Survey highlighted the vulnerability of regional construction and warned that liquefaction risks could be significant, though early reports indicated no major damage.

Kiran Kaur was jailed for hiding the knife her son Vickrum Digwa used to kill 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak. Judge William Mousley KC said she helped conceal the crime by taking the weapon home, aiding her son's false claims of victimhood. Prosecutors argued her actions hindered police and contributed to initial confusion over the killing. Her defence said she acted in panic after being misled by her son. Kaur showed emotion in court and has already spent more than seven months in custody.

Southern Europe faces the possibility of temperatures reaching 50C as heatwaves intensify, driven by climate change and an emerging El Niño pattern. Parts of Spain and Portugal have already experienced extreme temperatures and wildfires, prompting experts to warn tourists of dangerous outdoor conditions and advise staying indoors during peak heat. Scientists emphasise rising climate-driven risks, noting that Europe’s temperatures and heat extremes are increasing rapidly and will continue to worsen without significant cuts to carbon emissions.

Jennifer Finch, longtime bassist of L7, has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer and withdrawn from the band’s upcoming farewell tour. Her bandmates announced that she now requires extensive medical and in‑home care following multiple surgeries and complications. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover nursing support, therapy, equipment and home‑care costs. L7 will continue the tour at Finch’s request while prioritising her wellbeing, and supporters are urged to donate or share the campaign as her condition has left her with significant physical limitations.

Two men, Ian Pascoe and Wayne Taylor, drowned while attempting to rescue two children in difficulty at Seaton Carew beach near Hartlepool. Both families praised their actions and supported the Mirror’s water safety campaign calling for compulsory school lessons, better equipment at high‑risk areas, and a dedicated minister for water safety. Witnesses described the large rescue response, and local leaders and residents shared condolences. The children survived the incident, and a fundraiser has been launched for Taylor’s family.

A 19‑year‑old student and dancer, Freya MacLean, died after an accident at the Falls of Falloch near Stirling. Her parents and dance community paid emotional tribute, describing her as kind, joyful and deeply loved. A GoFundMe campaign launched by her dance academy has raised funds to support her family. Police Scotland is treating the death as unexplained but not suspicious.

Police are investigating the death of former MP and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe after a 28‑year‑old man was arrested in Rotherham on suspicion of murder. CCTV footage reportedly shows a man leaving a property linked to the suspect on the day she is believed to have been attacked, placing a wooden stick in a red car. Forensic officers and multiple police units searched the Rotherham address, removing a vehicle overnight. Police state there is no indication of terrorism or political motivation and urge the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.

Police investigating the killing of former MP Ann Widdecombe have declined to release suspect descriptions or CCTV, warning it could jeopardize ongoing inquiries. A previously arrested man has been released without charge, and officers continue to pursue multiple leads. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman urged the public not to speculate online and to submit information through official channels. Tributes were paid by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said his party found no evidence of targeted abuse toward Widdecombe. She was found dead at her home in Haytor after sustaining serious injuries, prompting a major police investigation.

A 20‑year‑old man from Salford is in a coma in an Athens hospital after suffering severe head injuries in a quad bike collision with a coach while on holiday in Zante. His mother and uncle describe difficulties obtaining information, uncertainty about his travel insurance, and challenges posed by a language barrier as they await MRI results. Friends and the local community have launched fundraising efforts to help cover potential medical costs while the family focuses on his recovery.