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Plans to make encouraging self-harm online illegal have been backed by a charity set up in memory of a teenager who died after viewing content related to suicide, depression and anxiety.

The Molly Rose Foundation – established after the death of Molly Russell – said the proposal to amend the Online Safety Bill appeared to be a “significant move”.

The update will outlaw communications that encourage people to physically harm themselves – in line with laws on communications that encourage suicide.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the update was influenced by the tragic death of schoolgirl Molly, 14 – who died following “an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content”, an inquest heard.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has vowed to bring to justice “abhorrent trolls encouraging the young and vulnerable to self-harm”.

“I am strengthening our online safety laws to make sure these vile acts are stamped out and the perpetrators face jail time,” she said.

And she warned social media firms can “no longer remain silent bystanders”.

More on Molly Russell

“They’ll face fines for allowing this abusive and destructive behaviour to continue on their platforms under our laws,” Ms Donelan added.

Read more: What is the Online Safety Bill?

The draft bill aims to establish a new way to regulate online content – including abusive messages, bullying and pornography – and will place obligations on companies to keep people safe, while also protecting users’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy.

It is due to return to Parliament in early December after a series of delays and updates.

The proposal on self-harm is expected to be included in amendments to the bill – but the DCMS has yet to confirm when they will be tabled.

Molly Russell. Pic: Russell family
Image:
Molly Russell. Pic: Russell family

‘Vital matters we need to get right for the sake of young people’

The Molly Russell Foundation said any changes to the bill should not hinder its progress.

“The proposal to introduce a new criminal offence of ‘encouraging self-harm’ within the draft Online Safety Bill appears a significant move”, a spokesperson said.

“It not only criminalises those who do the encouraging, but also turns this activity into an illegal offence – which means that even if the harmful but legal clauses in the bill are removed or curtailed, such content would still be legislated against.”

“Harmful but legal content” probably did the most damage to Molly’s mental health, according to evidence submitted to her inquest, the charity said.

“It’s important that other ‘harmful but legal’ content, of the type we know was harmful to Molly, is also within the scope of the bill.

“Any changes to the current bill should not delay its progress to the (House of) Lords, to allow sufficient time for scrutiny and debate there, since the devil will be in the detail.

“These are complex and vital matters we need to get right for the sake of young people in the future.”

Molly’s father, Ian Russell, earlier told Sky News he wants tech companies to cooperate more with law enforcement and coroners by preserving and handing over data sooner.

He also called for “online search warrants” to be included in the bill.

More details around the maximum penalty for the offence will be revealed in due course.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said: “Lives and families have been devastated by those who encourage vulnerable internet users to self-harm.

“Our changes will ensure the full force of the law applies to those callous and reckless individuals who try to manipulate the vulnerable online in this way.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.

The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.

A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.

The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.

Pic: LNP
Image:
Pic: LNP

They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.

A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.

Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.

More on London Marathon 2025

There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.

More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.

Read more:
Sky’s Beth Rigby running marathon in honour of ‘dearest friend’
Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform

Pic: LNP
Image:
Pic: LNP

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.

“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”

The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.

The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week’s council elections

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week's council elections

Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out forming coalitions at a local level with Reform after the council elections next week.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the Conservative leader did however categorically rule out a pact with Nigel Farage’s party on a national level.

“I am not going into any coalition with Nigel Farage… read my lips,” she said.

However, she did not deny that deals could be struck with Reform at a local level, arguing that some councils might be under no overall control and in that case, “you have to do what is right for your local area”.

“You look at the moment, we are in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with independents,” she said. “We’ve been in coalition with Labour before at local government level.

“They [councillors] have to look at who the people are that they’re going into coalition with and see how they can deliver for local people.”

She added: “What I don’t want to hear is talks of stitch-ups or people planning things before the results are out. They have to do what is right for their communities.”

More on Electoral Dysfunction

A total of 23 councils are up for grabs when voters go to the polls on Thursday 1 May – mostly in places that were once deemed Tory shires, until last year’s general election.

It includes 14 county councils, all but two of which have been Conservative-controlled, as well as eight unitary authorities, all but one of which are Tory.

Ms Badenoch has set expectations low for the Tories, suggesting they could lose all the councils they are contesting.

The last time this set of councils were up for election was in 2021, when the Conservative Party was led by Boris Johnson who was riding high from the COVID vaccine bounce.

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Counter-terrorism police investigating after two women injured in Leeds

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Counter-terrorism police investigating after two women injured in Leeds

Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.

Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.

Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.

The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

Officers guard one of the crime scenes in Leeds
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Officers guard one of the crime scenes

Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Image:
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds

Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.

“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.

“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”

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