Brianna Ghey: Fatal stabbing of trans teenager investigated as possible hate crime
Police investigating the fatal stabbing of Brianna Ghey say they are exploring “all lines of enquiry” – including whether she was targeted in a hate crime.
The 16-year-old, who was transgender, was found on a pathway with serious injuries in Culcheth Linear Park, Cheshire, at around 3pm on Saturday.
Emergency services were called but Brianna, from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, died at the scene.
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Candlelit vigil for trans girl
Cheshire Police have arrested a boy and girl, both 15 years old and from the local area, on suspicion of murdering Brianna.
Detectives previously said there was “no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Brianna’s death were hate-related”.
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‘This has left a massive hole in our family’
Two teenagers arrested over stabbing
However, in an update on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the force said: “All lines of enquiry are being explored, including whether this was a hate crime.
“Please continue to avoid speculation online and be wary of sharing misinformation relating to this case.”
The force also said detectives had been granted another 30 hours to question the two suspects.
‘Strong, fearless and one of a kind’
It comes after Brianna’s family paid tribute, describing her as a “larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her”.
In a statement, the family said: “Brianna was beautiful, witty, and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless, and one of a kind.
“The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.
“We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support during this extremely difficult time.”
Brianna’s school ‘shocked and devastated’
Emma Mills, headteacher at Brianna’s school Birchwood Community High School, said: “We are shocked and truly devastated to hear of the death of Brianna.
“This is understandably a very difficult and distressing time for many, and we will do our utmost to support our pupils and wider school community.”
Damian Harry, whose daughters knew Brianna, said they were in “disbelief” and had been left “needing to take painkillers for stress”.
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Brianna’s friends ‘sick and in disbelief’
He added: “Brianna was just a beautiful young girl, quite active on social media like my daughters – they were just in each other’s worlds.”
Mermaids, a charity that supports trans and gender-diverse children, young people and families, said: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Brianna Ghey, a trans teenager who was murdered in Cheshire this weekend.”
The crash involving a cargo ship and oil tanker off the East Yorkshire coast is bad news for the sea, fish and air in the area. What we don’t know yet is quite how bad it will be.
That depends on a few things – but the speed of the collision, clouds of filthy black smoke from the fires and the leaked fuel are certainly worrying.
Firstly, it matters what was on board those two massive vessels.
Follow live: Jet fuel spilling into sea after tanker collision
Analytics firm Vortexa estimates the 183m-long tanker was carrying about 130,000 barrels of jet fuel (kerosene), which is now leaking into the sea.
Jet fuel is not as sticky or viscous as heavier types of oil, thankfully, so it’s less likely to clog the feathers and fur of birds and seals. It can also be broken down by natural bacteria.
But it can still poison fish and kill animals and plants on the shoreline if it makes its way into the soil there.
The Marine Conservation Society has pointed out the site in the Humber estuary is close to some protected areas and is important for seabirds and harbour porpoises.
And both ships will have been powered by a dirtier, heavier kind of oil – likely marine gas oil or heavy fuel oil, though we don’t know the details yet.
Heavy fuel oil is nasty stuff.
Pic: Bartek Smialek/PA
Cheap, thick and tar-like, it can smother animals and is very dangerous if they consume it, and is extremely difficult to clean up. Let’s hope this isn’t creeping around the North Sea already.
We don’t know how much of either the jet fuel or the oil powering the ships has leaked, or how much will be burned off in the violent fires – which themselves are ploughing black smoke and filthy air pollution into the surrounding atmosphere.
And we don’t know for sure what was on the Solong cargo ship and if, or what, will go into the sea.
Cargo ship ‘had sodium cyanide on board’
It was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide among other cargo, according to a report from maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
The container vessel was also transporting an unknown quantity of alcohol, said the casualty report – an assessment of incidents at sea – citing a message from the local coastguard.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, and potentially can choke or trap animals.
Many of us have seen that uncomfortable viral video of a turtle having a straw yanked out of its nose. Previous accidents on cargo ships have seen plastic Lego pieces wash up in Cornwall 25 years later.
Read more:
How UK North Sea platforms dump gas
Secondly, the impact depends on the sea and weather conditions around it.
Things like the wind and currents affect how an oil spill spreads in the sea. Scientists can draw up computer models to simulate how the oil could behave.
Thirdly, it matters how quickly this is all tackled and then cleaned up, if necessary, and if it can be.
Usually the slower the response, the worse the impact.
The coastguard has said the incident “remains ongoing” and it has started assessing the “likely counter pollution response” that will be required.
Such a response might need the help of numerous public bodies: the government environment department, the transport department, the Environment Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
So for now the best we can hope for – aside from the welfare of the people involved – is that not all the oil is spilled or burnt, that conditions are calm and that rescuers and those cleaning up can work swiftly.
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