Man subjected to exorcisms over ‘witchcraft’ claims fears victims being missed during pandemic
A man who was subjected to two years of exorcisms after being accused of witchcraft believes victims are going undetected in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mardoche Yembi told Sky News his relatives believed he was possessed by an “evil spirit” as a child and blamed him for his mother’s death after moving to London from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He fears youngsters have been at greater risk of the abuse during the UK’s lockdowns after campaigners said children with COVID have been branded witches in some communities.
Mardoche Yembi says he was left ‘scared’ and ‘depressed’ after being accused of witchcraft. Pic Mardoche Yembi
Police have warned cases of child abuse linked to faith or belief are “highly under-reported” – and there are fears school closures during the pandemic have worsened the problem.
Just six cases were recorded by the Metropolitan Police in the first half of 2021, compared to 37 cases throughout the whole of 2018.
Detective Sergeant Kate Bridger told Sky News that abuse by believers in witchcraft and spirit possession “can take all different forms” including physical, sexual and emotional.
“People who are ‘possessed’ could be cut, beaten, or have chilli powder put on any orifice to burn the spirit coming out,” she said.
“Ultimately, a person could be murdered because that person is the vessel for that evil spirit that creates such a risk for the believer.”
• Children killed in UK over witchcraft and possession claims
Fifteen-year-old Kristy Bamu was tortured and murdered by his older sister Magalie and her partner after they accused the teenager of using witchcraft in east London in 2010.
Kristy Bamu was tortured and drowned on Christmas Day because a relative believed he was a witch
Eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in north London in 2000 by her great aunt and her partner after a Christian preacher convinced them she was possessed.
Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000 after her carers believed she was possessed
On Monday, a hospital anaesthetist is due to be sentenced after injecting his partner with drugs during a series of exorcism ceremonies, leaving her close to death with multiple organ failure.
Hossam Metwally made dozens of video recordings of himself administering fluids through a cannula to Kelly Wilson while chanting as part of a “dangerous perversion” of the Islamic Ruqya ritual, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
The 60-year-old, who is originally from Egypt, told the jury he performed rituals on Ms Wilson to exorcise evil spirits, called Jinns, but claimed he only used holy oil and did not inject anaesthetics.
Hossam Metwally is facing jail after injecting his partner with drugs during a series of exorcism ceremonies
However a jury found the father-of-four guilty of endangering Ms Wilson’s life through the unlawful and deliberate intravenous administration of anaesthetics or sedative agents and drug possession offences.
• ‘The pastor came into the house… trying to get the demon off me’
Mr Yembi said he was first branded a witch by relatives at the age of 11 and he faced a two-year ordeal that left him “scared” and “depressed”.
“They took me to church to try to get the ‘demon spirit’ away from me – that’s what they called it,” he told Sky News.
“I started running away from home a lot because there was a lot of shouting and a lot of blaming on me.
“The pastor came into the house a lot, preaching and trying to get the demon off me.”
Mr Yembi said he was threatened with a knife in one incident and, on another occasion, his treasured football trophy was burnt.
Mardoche Yembi, pictured as a teenager, was first branded a witch by relatives at the age of 11. Pic: Mardoche Yembi
“I don’t want any child to go through it,” he said. “It’s just bad. I was depressed. I was in a bad place.
“I just felt lonely.
“I started getting scared.
“I couldn’t do anything in the house. I had to go in my room and lock myself in there.”
• Fears children accused of witchcraft being missed
Before he moved to the UK, Mr Yembi said he had seen children accused of witchcraft in Congo go through horrific rituals in which they were beaten and had chilli pepper rubbed in their eyes.
After his school learnt of a plan to take him back to the African country, Mr Yembi said social services became involved and he was admitted to a mental health hospital after his ordeal left him feeling suicidal, before he was placed in foster care.
The 29-year-old said he was never physically harmed and he has forgiven the relatives involved – who were not prosecuted – but he no longer speaks to them.
“I believe they still believe in it,” he added.
Mr Yembi, who is now a painter and decorator in London, as well as a motivational speaker, said he believes children are still being accused of witchcraft in the UK today.
“With the lockdowns, any kid who is going through it, it doesn’t help to be honest,” he added.
Mardoche Yembi says he doesn’t want other children to go through his ordeal. Pic: Mardoche Yembi
• Children with COVID symptoms accused of being ‘possessed’
International human rights activist Mandy Sanghera said she is aware of cases where people have sought rituals to cure “evil spirits” in children during the pandemic, after they have been blamed for adults losing jobs or being put on furlough.
She said some of those who carry out rituals claim that COVID is not real and tell the parents of children with symptoms of the virus that they are “possessed”.
“People’s religion overrides their common sense sometimes,” she told Sky News.
“We need professionals to be very clear about protection and not political correctness.
“Sometimes people – frontline social workers, police officers – won’t address certain things because they’ll say ‘it’s cultural’ or ‘we don’t want to get involved’. But sometimes it’s too late.”
Ms Sanghera said some people have been charged “hundreds of pounds and even thousands” for exorcisms and rituals to be carried out.
Some parents of children with epilepsy have been told “that was the evil spirit coming out”, she added.
“It’s really shocking some of the things people will believe, in the name of religion and culture,” she said.
• Which cultures and religions believe in witchcraft and spirit possession?
According to the Met Police, child abuse linked to faith or belief is not confined to one faith, nationality or ethnic community.
Examples have been recorded across several religions including Christians, Muslims and Hindus, the force said.
In England, around 1,950 suspected victims of child abuse based on faith or belief were identified by councils in 2018/19 – a 34% increase on the previous year, according to the Local Government Association.
Met Police inspector Allen Davis, who works to tackle abuse linked to faith and belief, told Sky News that the risk had increased during the pandemic.
“We can’t afford for this to be a taboo subject,” he said. “This is about protecting the vulnerable.
“It’s out there. We’re doing something about it.
“If we don’t respond and we don’t intervene early, what can be the worst scenario? That’s when we end up with the tragic child murders that we’re trying to prevent.”
Leethen Bartholomew, head of the National FGM Centre, said the pandemic had resulted in children having less contact with professionals – such as teachers and youth workers – who “spot the signs” of abuse linked to claims of witchcraft and spirit possession.
The organisation has previously warned that if vulnerable children or adults contract COVID, they could be labelled as being witches or possessed by families with those beliefs.
“The pandemic has put extra pressures on families, particularly those living in difficult circumstances, which can fuel harmful acts of abuse or neglect on children,” Mr Bartholomew said.
“So it is important that we support children and young people, create safe spaces to talk about their fears and anxieties and respond appropriately.”
The UK celebrated the start of 2025 with a spectacular fireworks display on the banks of the River Thames – as London defied weather concerns which led to the cancellation of other events around the country.
Thousands listened to Big Ben ring in the new year after celebrations had already taken place across the world – with fireworks lighting up the night skies in major cities including Sydney in Australia, Mumbai in India and Damascus in Syria.
The 11-minute display in the UK capital took place over the London Eye and began with the message “Your New Year Is Unwritten”.
To a diverse soundtrack which featured music from the likes of Sir Elton John, One Direction and Charli XCX, the display looked back at 2024 with topics including the weather, the Paris Olympics, the Paralympics and Euro 2024.
Follow latest: Live updates as world ushers in 2025
Fireworks exploded in the sky over the River Thames. Pic: PA
There were also voiceovers from British actress Dame Imelda Staunton and actor Sir Ian McKellen.
The London mayor’s office said around 100,000 ticketholders had attended the display, which included more than 12,000 fireworks and 420 lights.
The display ended with a message from Paddington Bear that “anyone can fit in” in London before a version of Auld Lang Syne by Boney M.
Fireworks light up the sky over London to welcome in 2025. Pic: AP
UK celebrations fall victim to bad weather
Meanwhile, crowds sheltered under umbrellas to watch fireworks and enjoy entertainment in Manchester, but the weather curtailed celebrations elsewhere with fireworks displays cancelled in Blackpool, Newcastle, Ripon in North Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight.
It came after Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, which were due to include a street party and fireworks, were called off due to safety concerns.
The Met Office has numerous weather warnings in place across the country on New Year’s Day – including an amber warning for rain covering much of the North West.
The world parties into 2025
The first country to welcome in the new year was the Pacific nation of Kiribati at 10am UK time.
It was followed by New Zealand an hour later – with fireworks launched from the Sky Tower in Auckland as part of a spectacular light show.
Fireworks at the Sky Tower in Auckland. Pic: APTN
At 1pm UK time it was Australia’s turn to usher in 2025.
A stunning fireworks display lit up the sky above Sydney Harbour Bridge as more than one million people watched below.
British pop star Robbie Williams led a singalong moments earlier outside Sydney Opera House, with indigenous ceremonies and performances also taking place in the build up to the celebrations.
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Celebrations in Sydney. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
A couple of hours later the clocked ticked into 2025 in South Korea, North Korea and Japan.
In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony took place in the historic Bosingak Pavilion.
On the other side of the demilitarised zone, North Korea said goodbye to 2024 with a fireworks display in Kim II Sung Square in the capital Pyongyang.
Fireworks in Pyongyang as North Korea enters 2025. Pic: AP
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The world celebrates 2025
At the same time crowds had gathered at a temple in central Tokyo to watch a traditional bell-ringing ceremony, known as Joya no Kane.
An hour later fireworks kicked off 2025 with a bang in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
It came as crowds in the Chinese capital Beijing gathered in Shougang Park to celebrate the start of 2025.
A monk hits the bell for the Joya no Kane ritual in Tokyo. Pic: AP
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. Pic: AP
In the Thailand capital Bangkok, fireworks blasted off in style over Chao Phraya River, while in Malaysia people gathered near the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, to celebrate the New Year.
A fireworks display in Indonesia’s Jakarta featured 800 drones.
A couple of hours later it was India’s turn to say goodbye to 2024, with thousands of people in Mumbai flocking to the city’s bustling promenade facing the Arabian Sea.
Pic: Reuters
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
In the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai, thousands attended a dazzling light and fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.
It came before hundreds gathered in the Syrian capital Damascus to sing, dance and watch a fireworks display – with many looking forward to a new beginning weeks after rebels ousted President Bashar al Assad.
People celebrate New Year’s Eve at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Pic: AP
Celebrations in the Syrian capital Damascus. Pic: Reuters
Hours later countries in Europe began to celebrate the start of 2025.
Paris appeared to have spared no expense with its display at the Champs-Elysees.
The French capital was capping a momentous 2024 following the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Pic: Reuters
Meanwhile, Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve festivities had an additional draw: the start of Pope Francis’ Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration projected to bring some 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City in 2025.
At 3am UK time, A huge fireworks display thrilled crowds gathered on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro as Brazil welcomed the new year.
More than two million people were expected to descend on the beach for the celebration.
Two hours later thousands of people celebrated the start of 2025 in Times Square in New York.
Crowds cheered and couples kissed when a crystal-covered ball weighing almost six tons descended down a pole in the square to signal the beginning of the new year.
The Times Square celebrations also included musical performances by TLC and Jonas Brothers.
Tionne Tenese Watkins and Rozonda Thomas of TLC perform at Times Square. Pic: Reuters
Elsewhere, Chinese state media covered an exchange of new year’s greetings between leader Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin in a reminder of the growing closeness between two leaders who face tensions with the West.
Meanwhile, a blackout hit nearly all of Puerto Rico early on Tuesday as the US territory prepared to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
More than 1.2 million out of 1.47 million customers were without power, according to Luma Energy, a private company that oversees electricity transmission and distribution on the island.
It was not immediately clear what caused the widespread outage or when power would be restored.
UK
UK weather: Fresh amber warning for rain into New Year’s Day as wind and downpours cancel celebrations
A new amber warning for heavy rain has been issued for parts of England this evening, as wet and windy weather elsewhere in the country forced the cancellation of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Outdoor events planned for 31 December as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will not take place, and events on the 30th were also cancelled.
A spokesperson said events in the city centre of the Scottish capital, including fireworks from the castle, are unable to go ahead “on the grounds of public safety” due to “high winds and inclement weather”.
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Meanwhile, organisers of a planned fireworks display in Blackpool said it has also been cancelled due to the weather.
Visit Blackpool said only the pyrotechnics have been affected, with the rest of the New Year’s Eve Family Party to continue as planned, including free ice skating and a projection light show.
Weather warnings for the UK as of Tuesday evening. Pic: Met Office
More bad news came on Tuesday evening when the Met Office issued an amber warning for rain over an area from Preston to Bradford. It is in place as of 8.38pm on Tuesday evening until 9am on Wednesday morning.
“Persistent and, at times heavy, rain will continue overnight before clearing southwards on Wednesday morning,” the forecaster said.
“40-50mm rain is expected fairly widely, with 50-100mm across west-facing hills. There is a chance a few locations could see in excess of 100mm.”
Heavy rain is likely to lead to disruption including flooding. Pic: Met Office
Almost every part of the UK is covered by at least one of multiple Met Office weather warnings over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Another fireworks event in Ripon, North Yorkshire, also succumbed to the weather, with the council posting on Facebook that the event planned to take place in the city’s Market Square could not go ahead due to high winds.
While a homemade boat race in Poole in Dorset, a sea dip in Lyme Regis in the same south coast county, as well as fireworks displays on the Isle of Wight and on Newcastle’s Quayside, were all cancelled on Tuesday morning.
Although London’s City Hall had said it was “monitoring the weather”, mayor Sadiq Khan this evening reassured visitors the fireworks would go ahead.
London mayor Sir Sadiq told the PA news agency: “I’m really excited about the London New Year’s Eve fireworks, the biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe.
“Hundreds of thousands of fireworks, great light display but also a great soundtrack tonight as well.”
Waves break on the seafront in Blackpool. Pic: PA
Rain, wind and snow warnings
Three separate weather warnings currently cover Scotland alone for Tuesday evening, including a yellow warning for “persistent snow” over Shetland and Orkney, a yellow warning for rain and snow in the north, which could bring possible blizzard conditions, especially over high ground in Sutherland and Caithness.
Three different warnings cover Scotland on Tuesday alone. Pic: Met Office
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Hogmanay event cancelled
A yellow warning for wind spans from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and the Met Office has warned of possible delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport.
Train operator ScotRail warned its services were being disrupted by speed restrictions due to “very heavy rainfall”.
At least 11 lines have been affected, according to the ScotRail website, and 18 trains were cancelled on Tuesday morning.
Network Rail said it closed the Highland Main Line at Kingussie because of “more extreme rainfall overnight”.
Forecasters say the high winds and rain may also cause flooding, particularly in the Midlands and Pennines, with the Environment Agency urging people to stay away from swollen rivers and avoid driving through floodwater.
In the Highlands, flooding has forced the closure of the A9 at Tomich.
The A9 in Inverness. Pic: PA
‘Tricky couple of days’
As the clock strikes midnight in the UK, separate warnings for wind and rain are in place for Wednesday.
Pic: PA
Strong winds are forecast across much of England and Wales until 3pm on 1 January, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills, according to the Met Office.
A period of strong winds on Wednesday across most of England and Wales risks disruption, the Met Office said. Pic: Met Office
The period from Thursday to Saturday is expected to be a “widely cold but sunny few days, with wintry showers mainly confined to coastal areas.
“Northern areas may see patchy rain, sleet and snow move in on Saturday.”.
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Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: “It will be a tricky couple of days and a wet and windy spell for many up into the new year.
“We’re encouraging anyone who is planning to travel to keep up to date with the weather forecast and news from their local authorities.”
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