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An eight-year-old girl has died after a Land Rover crashed into a primary school in southwest London on the last day of term.

A total of 16 people were treated at the scene and 10 were taken to hospital, chief paramedic John Martin from the London Ambulance Service said at the scene in an update this afternoon.

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said: “What a sad incident – it is tragically on the last day of term, for this young girl to have lost her life.”

The Study Preparatory School said it was “profoundly shocked by the tragic accident” and “devastated that it has claimed the life of one of our young pupils as well as injuring several others”.

Up to 20 ambulances, an air ambulance and firefighters were sent to The Study Preparatory School on Camp Road in Wimbledon.

A woman aged in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.

The driver stopped at the scene after the crash, police said.

Wimbledon school crash – latest

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School crash: Emergency services update

Officers said the emergency services were called at 9.54am and at least seven children were among those injured.

Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, of the Metropolitan Police, teared up and her voice broke during a news conference as she described the crash.

“Very sadly one of the children, an eight-year-old girl, died at the scene,” she said.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time.”

‘Absolutely shell shocked’

The Sky News team on the scene understand from officers in the area that the crash was caused by an out-of-control vehicle.

A child was also seen earlier being carried away by her parents, with a cut to her leg.

She was not seriously hurt but was described as being “absolutely shell-shocked”.

Sky News understands a prize-giving event may have been taking place at the time, with images showing a table apparently covered with a picnic blanket laid out in the schoolyard.

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the incident is not terror-related, adding that “an investigation is under way to understand the full circumstances of what has taken place”.

The independent school is for girls aged four to 11 and sits on Wimbledon Common, just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it hosts the world-famous tennis tournament.

It is understood that the car hit the area of the school which housed the younger girls, aged between four and eight.

Scenes in Wimbledon, south London, where a car has collided with a primary school building. Officers, firefighters and paramedics, including London’s Air Ambulance, responded to the incident at around 9.54am on Thursday. Picture date: Thursday July 6, 2023.
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Police , firefighters and paramedics, including London’s Air Ambulance, responded to the incident at around 9.54am on Thursday.

In a statement, the school said: “We are profoundly shocked by the tragic accident this morning at Wilberforce House and devastated that it has claimed the life of one of our young pupils as well as injuring several others.

“Our thoughts are with the bereaved family and with the families of those injured at this terrible time.

“It is still far too soon to fully understand what happened, but we are well aware of the significant impact this dreadful event will have on our pupils and their families.

“Their welfare remains our top priority and we will be doing everything we can to support them, especially those who suffered injuries.

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Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond: ‘Tragic end of term for the girls’

“Now that a police investigation is underway we will not be making any further public statement for the time being and would ask that the privacy of our school community is respected at this deeply upsetting time.”

Local MP, Mr Hammond, described it as a “tragic end to the term” for the girls and said he was “led to believe some of the injures were serious and critical”.

He added that his “thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at The Study”.

Both Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said their thoughts were with those affected.

The Study
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The local MP said the collision occurred at The Study Preparatory School on Camp Road.

Merton Police tweeted that “a car collided with a building at the school” in the first sign of the news this morning, adding: “Several people are being treated at the scene.”

‘Incredibly tragic situation’

Emergency services were alerted to the incident just before 10am on Thursday.

Sky News’ Jacquie Beltrao, who is at the scene, said: “This is a very small road just off Wimbledon Common. It’s really narrow and very quiet. I can see about eight ambulances.

“A police officer said that he believes the incident was caused by an-out-of control car.

“The roads all around the common have been closed off and there are lots of what look like parents standing around me.

“It is difficult to know exactly what has happened, but we do know there are casualties and they are being taken to hospital.”

Scenes in Wimbledon, south London, where a car has collided with a primary school building. Officers, firefighters and paramedics, including London...s Air Ambulance, responded to the incident at around 9.54am on Thursday. Picture date: Thursday July 6, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE School. Photo credit should read: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Police said the driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene.

Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu told Sky News: “It is an incredibly tragic situation.

“In terms of policing, at this stage the traffic police will be there looking at things like skid marks, they’ll be checking the vehicle to see if there are any faults with the vehicle.

“They’ll be able to work out how fast the car was travelling and be checking CCTV and any door cameras from local residences.”

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission’s probe into Prince Harry claims

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission's probe into Prince Harry claims

The war of words over Sentebale is continuing, with the charity calling on the Charity Commission to provide clarity that its recent report did not specifically investigate claims of racism and misogyny against Prince Harry. 

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex claim they are “rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more”, describing their latest move as not “just provocative, it’s pitiful”.

A source at Sentebale has told Sky News: “We have written to The Charity Commission stating that the onus is on the commission to restate for the record that individual allegations of bullying have not been investigated or addressed in the commission’s report.”

It comes after the Charity Commission report stated that “based on the evidence provided and reviewed by the commission, it found no evidence of: widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity”.

However, the commission added that it “acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally”.

But sources at Sentebale believe the reporting around this statement – that Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying – has been inaccurate, as the charity watchdog did not specifically look at allegations made by the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, including during an exclusive interview on Sky News.

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From March 2025: Charity chair’s bullying claims on Sky News

A source close to Prince Harry and the former board of trustees has hit back, and said: “It’s remarkable, just yesterday Ms Chanduaka was applauding the Charity Commission’s findings, yet today, after a flurry of unflattering headlines, she’s back on the warpath.

“Issuing yet another media statement only reinforces the commission’s criticism about using the press to air internal disputes.

“Rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the commission found no evidence of and dressing them up as veiled threats isn’t just provocative, it’s pitiful.

“If Ms Chanduaka has genuine concerns, she should spell them out plainly or, better yet, redirect her energy toward something truly worthwhile, like raising money for the children Sentebale exists to support.”

It’s understood Prince Harry and his supporters have also been left unsatisfied by the scope of the report, including their concerns about money spent on consultants that was authorised by Dr Chandauka.

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Responding to Sky News, the Charity Commission said: “We have issued the charity with an action plan which sets out steps the current trustees need to take to improve governance weaknesses and rectify findings of mismanagement.

“We now urge all involved to put their differences behind them and allow the charity to focus on its work and beneficiaries”.

Their report, released on Wednesday, was highly critical of all parties for allowing their disagreement to play out so publicly and allowing it to severely impact the charity’s reputation.

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Bromley burglary: £500,000 worth of gold stolen from home

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Bromley burglary: £500,000 worth of gold stolen from home

Police have launched an appeal after £500,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from a house in southeast London.

The incident took place at a home in Bickley Road, Bromley, on 30 December last year.

Footage showed three men entering the property through a forced bathroom window.

The group, who entered the home at 5.40pm and left at 6.25pm, carried out the theft while the owners were home.

Pics: Met Police
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Pics: Met Police

The Metropolitan Police have now shared images of the stolen jewellery in a new appeal for information.

No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary so far.

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Pics: Met Police
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Pics: Met Police

Detective Constable Jamie White, of the Met’s South Area Command Unit, said: “While the monetary value of this theft is enormous, the sentimental value is priceless – with many of the pieces being passed down through generations of the family.

“Helpfully, a number of the pieces stolen are unique, so we are hoping that releasing these photographs will jog someone’s memory.”

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Three charged with showing support for Palestine Action

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Three charged with showing support for Palestine Action

Three people have been charged with showing support for Palestine Action after the group was banned as a terror organisation.

Two women and a man were arrested in Westminster following a protest in central London on 5 July, the Metropolitan Police said.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney in London, were charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation, under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The trio are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September.

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What’s happening to Palestine Action?

The charges come ahead of a planned protest in support of the group on Saturday afternoon in Parliament Square in London, which organisers expect more than 500 people will attend.

Defend Our Juries, which is organising the demonstration, said protests will continue until a High Court challenge over Palestine Action’s ban in November.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law.

“These charges relate to three people arrested in central London on 5 July.

“We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day.

“I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.”

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The latest charges bring the total number of people charged with offences under the Terrorism Act related to Palestine Action to 10 across England, Wales and Scotland, Counter Terrorism Policing said.

Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Our role is to enforce the law where we suspect offences to have been committed and we will continue to do so, without fear or favour.

“At this time, it remains illegal to be a member of or encourage support for the group Palestine Action. This legislation is specific to that group and does not interfere with the right to protest in support of the Palestinian cause.

“Operational plans are in place to ensure this right can be preserved over the coming days with protests expected in several major cities, including London.

“As well as robust plans to respond to activity in support of this proscribed group, resources are also in place to investigate offences that may be identified or reported following such events.”

More than 220 people have been arrested at protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month, as part of the campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries, including on suspicion of membership of, inviting support for and showing support for Palestine Action.

The ban on the group came after two Voyager aircraft suffered around £7m worth of damage at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June.

Three days later, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, calling the vandalism “disgraceful” and saying the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage”.

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