Funeral held for British-Israeli woman who died after West Bank attack that killed daughters

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2023

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The funeral of British-Israeli woman Lucy Dee has been held after she was killed alongside her daughters in an attack in the West Bank.

The 45-year-old died in an Israeli hospital on Monday, after she was injured in the attack on her family’s car on Friday.

Her daughters, Maia and Rina Dee, aged 20 and 15, died at the scene when they were shot at and forced off the road.

The father and husband of the family, Rabbi Leo Dee, was in another vehicle some distance away and survived the attack.

Mrs Dee’s other children, Karen and Tali, were in tears as they spoke at the funeral in Kfar Etzion – a settlement in the West Bank.

In a eulogy, Rabbi Dee said: “Lucy, you were a great companion to everyone, but for me you were my best friend – we were each others.

“We built a new life for ourselves in the promised land. You would frequently say you couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Nor could I – even now, especially now.”

He also said this week his “family of seven is now a family of four” and that he would be “haunted” by missing a call from one of his daughters during the attack.

The incident happened near Hamra, about 30 miles north of Jerusalem, but the family lived in Efrat – close to Bethlehem.

Leo Dee was senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire from 2011-2014 and assistant rabbi in Hendon, north London, from 2008-2011.

The family moved back to Israel in 2014.

Italian tourist Alessandro Parini was also killed on the same day as the attack on the Dee family when a car drove in to people in Tel Aviv.

Friday’s attacks followed Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Gaza – launched in response to rocket attacks on Thursday that it blamed on militant group Hamas.

Tensions are also high following police raids last week on Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem as the Muslim and Jewish festivals of Ramadan and Passover coincide.

Violence has surged in the region this year, with more than 90 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners killed.

Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

Published

14 hours ago

October 12, 2025

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Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of two children in Stafford.

Police were called to a home on Corporation Street at around 7.30am on Sunday by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Two children were pronounced dead at the scene, Staffordshire Police said.

Detective Inspector Kirsty Oldfield said: “We are working hard to understand more about what happened leading up to these two children tragically losing their lives.

“We ask that people do not speculate at this stage as it is distressing for family and friends and could hinder our inquiries.

“We understand that this incident may cause concern in the local community. We don’t believe there is wider threat to the public at this time.”

The 43-year-old woman, who is from the Stafford area, remains in custody.

The force has not confirmed the ages of the two children. Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers, police said.

Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

Published

15 hours ago

October 12, 2025

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Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

A man has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family.

Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton, south London, was arrested last Monday, but it was only made public on Sunday.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody, the Met Police said.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between June and October.

Sir Ed, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, lives in southwest London with his wife, Emily, their 17-year-old son John, and his younger sister Ellie.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife.

“He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 October and was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the same court on Tuesday, 14 October.

“He was arrested on Monday, 6 October in relation to the offences, which are alleged to have taken place between June and October.”

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “We cannot provide any details at this time, Ed’s number one priority is the safety of his family.”

Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

Published

1 day ago

October 12, 2025

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Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison.

Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year jail term for multiple sexual offences, including serious crimes against young children and babies at HMP Wakefield, in West Yorkshire.

He was attacked with a knife by another inmate on Saturday morning, sources have confirmed.

West Yorkshire Police said two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene after prison staff reported the assault to police.

The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources added.

A Prison Service spokesperson said they could not comment while the police investigate.

Watkins was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison in 2023, suffering non life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly taken hostage by three other inmates before being freed by prison officers six hours later.

He was sentenced in December 2013 to 29 years in prison, with a further six years on licence, after admitting 13 sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

He also encouraged a second fan to abuse her child during a webcam chat and secretly stashed child sexual abuse videos, some of which he had made himself.

At the time, police described him as a “committed, organised paedophile”.

Having found fame in Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Watkins was arrested after his Pontypridd home was searched on orders of a drug warrant in September 2012.

A large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized during the search.

When sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court, the singer was told he was being given an extended sentence – and a judge said his crimes “plumbed new depths of depravity”.

After being caught with a mobile phone behind bars in 2019, he told a court that he was locked up with “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst”.