‘Very young girl’ among six left dead in Plymouth shooting

Published

4 years ago

August 13, 2021

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A “very young girl” was among those shot dead by a gunman who killed four other people in Plymouth before shooting himself, police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said the girl was shot dead by 22-year-old Jake Davison, while two people remain in hospital with “significant injuries”.

Speaking at a press conference, he said there were a “considerable” number of phone calls to emergency services and that police arrived at the scene on Biddick Drive in Keyham within six minutes.

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He confirmed Davison “murdered a woman” known to him at an address.

Police are investigating whether the pair were related but refused to confirm either way.

It’s not clear whether the suspect knew the rest of the victims, but Chief Constable Sawyer said Davison “knew people on that street”.

“We believe we have an incident that is domestic-related and has spilled out into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance,” he said.

Chief Constable Sawyer said Davison had a firearms licence in 2020 and there was “no motive” at present, and that witnesses described the weapon as a pump action shotgun – which was recovered from the scene.

He added: “Multiple shots have been fired from a firearm during that six-minute-or-so period.

“There are some 13 scenes and potentially more scenes. There are therefore five people of Plymouth who have lost their lives overnight – and Mr Davison himself – including a particularly young child.”

Chief Constable Sawyer said the victims’ identities would be made public at a later time.

Police also confirmed a woman, the girl and two men were found dead at the scene in Keyham on Thursday evening – along with Davison who is believed to be the suspected offender.

All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.

Another woman who was treated at the scene, also for gunshot wounds, died later in hospital.

Police named the suspected gunman as Davison earlier today, who Constable Sawyer said killed the others before turning his weapon on himself.

In videos shared online just weeks before the massacre, he spoke of being “beaten down” and “defeated by life”.

Davison, who posted on a YouTube channel under the name Professor Waffle, said he did not have “any willpower to do anything anymore” in a recording dated 28 July.

In several clips, he referred to the “incels” – an abbreviation online for “involutory celibacy”, the online subculture that involves men who are unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one, often expressing hostility and extreme resentment towards those who are sexually active, particularly women.

Although saying he did not “clarify” himself as an “incel”, Davison talked about “people similar to me have had nothing but themselves”.

Chief Constable Sawyer said police are “not considering terrorism or a relationship with any far-right group or any such other group” but will be investigating his computer hard drive.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, earlier confirmed on Twitter that one of the victims was a child under 10, and said he was “utterly devastated”.

He also said that more people were being treated for their injuries in hospital.

Officers were called to Biddick Drive at about 6.10pm following reports of a shooting.

South Western Ambulance Service said Hazardous Area Response Teams, multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics were also sent to the scene.

Police declared a “critical incident” but stressed the shooting was not terror-related and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened.

The next of kin of those who died have been informed.

Neighbours reported hearing very loud gunshots and some members of the public told Sky News it sounded like a bomb was going off.

Forensic experts have been pictured carrying out investigations at the crime scene on Friday morning. They have been doing fingertip searches, bagging up evidence and taking pictures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reacted to the news, saying his “thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected”.

He also thanked the emergency services for their response to the incident.

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the incident in the Devon city as “shocking” and said her thoughts were with all those affected.

Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth, Moor View, condemned the shooting as an “appalling act of violence” and told Sky News it will have “far-reaching effects throughout the community”.

UK

More than 500 people arrested after Palestine Action protest – with almost half aged 60 and above

Published

2 hours ago

August 10, 2025

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More than 500 people arrested after Palestine Action protest - with almost half aged 60 and above

The number of people arrested after a protest in London on Saturday supporting banned group Palestine Action has risen to 532, police have said.

Around half of them (259) were aged 60 and above – including almost 100 people who were in their 70s.

Some 522 arrests were for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, according to the Metropolitan Police.

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As of 9pm on Saturday, the number was put at 466.

Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act.

One of the arrests took place as the Palestine Coalition march formed in Russell Square, while 521 were at the protest in Parliament Square.

Of those arrested, the biggest number (147) was in the 60-69 age group, while 97 people were aged between 70 and 79, and 15 others were between 80-89.

Six were aged 17-19, sixty-five were in the 20-29 age group, 55 were aged 30-39, 45 were aged 40-49 and 89 were in the 50-59 age group.

The average age of those arrested was 54, while some 263 of those arrested were male, 261 were female and eight either defined themselves as non-binary or did not disclose their gender.

Among the arrests, six were for assaults on officers (none were seriously injured), one was for “obstructing a constable in the execution of his/her duty”, two were for breaching Section 14 Public Order Act conditions, and one was for a racially aggravated public order offence.

Hundreds of people attended Saturday’s demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, with the Metropolitan Police warning it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.

Anyone who was arrested as part of the operation was taken to one of two prisoner processing points in the Westminster area.

Those whose details could be confirmed were released on bail to appear at a police station at a future date. They were given conditions not to attend future demonstrations related to Palestine Action.

Those who refused to provide their details at the prisoner processing points and those who were found to have been arrested while already on bail, were taken to one of a number of Met Police custody suites.

Charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests under UK terrorism law as “deeply concerning”.

The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent.

Meanwhile on Sunday, hundreds of people joined a march on Downing Street to urge the release of those being held in Gaza by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

A scuffle broke out after at least two men shouted “Free Palestine” in front of the march.

One man was seen being bundled to the ground close to Trafalgar Square after being surrounded by around a dozen people.

Another man was seen being moved away by police officers after he began shouting.

UK

Four members of UK family die in crash on holiday in Portugal

Published

8 hours ago

August 10, 2025

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Four members of UK family die in crash on holiday in Portugal

Four members of a UK family have died in a car crash while they were on holiday in Portugal.

Domingos Serrano, 55, Maria Serrano, 51, and their twin sons Domingos and Afonso, both 20, died when the car they were travelling in collided with another vehicle in Castro Verde, southern Portugal, according to the Municipal Council for Mourao.

Two others died in the crash – the 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the sons, and the 26-year-old driver of the other car, its statement added.

The Serrano family were living in Thetford, Norwich, but were not British nationals, Sky News understands.

They were travelling from Faro to Mourao for their “usual and deserved vacation”, according to the Mourao authorities, who declared two days of mourning.

In a statement, they said: “In the car there were four occupants, of Mouranese nature, and a young woman with affinity to the family.

“Residents in England, follow from Faro to Mourão, for the usual and deserved vacation.

“It is with great regret that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.”

‘Massive void’

Thetford Town Youth Football Club paid tribute to the family in a Facebook post, confirming the twins played for the team.

“Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday,” it read.

“Afonso and [Domingos] were both an integral part of our U18’s team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident.

“The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community.”

UK

Amnesty International ‘deeply concerned’ as 474 arrests made at Palestine Action protest

Published

14 hours ago

August 10, 2025

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Amnesty International 'deeply concerned' as 474 arrests made at Palestine Action protest

Amnesty International says it is “deeply concerning” that police made 474 arrests during a Palestine Action demonstration in London.

Metropolitan Police said 466 were detained under the Terrorism Act for showing support for a banned group.

Eight more people were arrested for other offences, including five for assaulting officers.

The Met said it was the most arrests it’s made related to a single operation in at least the past decade.

Organiser of the event, Defend Our Juries, earlier said up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square and claimed police were preparing for the “largest mass arrest in their history”.

The group said those arrested included former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, NHS workers, quakers and a blind wheelchair user.

Amnesty International UK’s chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said in a statement: “The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists.

“Instead of criminalising peaceful demonstrators, the government should be focusing on taking immediate and unequivocal action to put a stop to Israel’s genocide and ending any risk of UK complicity in it.”

The Met said a “significant number of people” at the event were seen “displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action”.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation.

“Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.”

Police said those arrested had been taken to processing points in Westminster and any whose details could be confirmed were bailed on condition they didn’t attend further Palestine Action support events.

Others whose details could not be verified, possibly because they refused to give them, were taken to custody suites across London.

The protests have put a strain on authorities’ capacity to cope.

Sky News understands senior leaders in the prison service, known as “Capacity Gold”, met today to discuss how to deal with the large number of arrests as the male prison estate is close to full.

It’s understood 800 inmates were moved out of the busiest jails in and around London beforehand.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Federation said: “Thinking of our colleagues and wishing all assaulted officers well. Remember there are no ‘extra’ police officers – just the same ones having their days off cancelled, having to work longer shifts and being moved from other areas. Officers are emotionally and physically exhausted.”

‘We felt compelled to speak out’

The first of the arrests began just before 1pm, when a man waving a placard that read “I support Palestine Action” was stopped by police, writes Gurpreet Narwan, reporting from Parliament Square.

Officers told him he was showing support for a terrorist organisation, searched him and ushered him away.

The action soon escalated. Among the people arrested today were a number of elderly people, a blind man in a wheelchair, and a teenager.

They were protesting peacefully, with a number of people pointedly seating themselves below statues of Mahatma Gandhi and the suffragette Millicent Fawcett.

They told Sky News that they were fully expecting to be arrested but that they felt compelled to speak out and defend the right to protest.

One protester said: “I don’t think I’m a criminal. That’s not the person I am.”

However, he said he was being guided by his faith and his conscience.

Things calmed down after a few hours but there was a heavy police presence well into the afternoon and early evening.

Legislation to ban Palestine Action came into force on 5 July, making it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Defend Our Juries said earlier this week the protest would still go ahead, following several similar demonstrations since it was outlawed last month.

On Saturday, a spokesperson said: “Palestine Action and people holding cardboard signs present no danger to the public at large.”

Human rights advocates Amnesty International described the arrests of so many people under UK terrorism law as “deeply concerning”.

Another march organised by the Palestine Coalition, which is a separate group, set off from Russell Square and assembled on Whitehall.

The Met Police said one person had been arrested there for showing a placard in support of Palestine Action.

Earlier this week, three people charged as a result of illegal Palestine Action activity were named.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney in east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September.

The ban on Palestine Action faces a legal challenge in November after the High Court granted a full judicial review to Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.