The King will lead a Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph today, just hours after protests sparked hundreds of arrests in London.
The Metropolitan Police has been under pressure to prevent disruption at Remembrance events after tensions surrounding Saturday’s pro-Palestine march and counter-protests.
The number of officers on duty in the capital is double the usual amount, with 1,375 officers expected today, and the Cenotaph has a dedicated 24-hour police presence until the conclusion of Remembrance events.
Image: Counter-protesters clash with police in Parliament Square in central London
Image: People set off fireworks during a pro-Palestinian protest in London
Around 150 pro-Palestinian protesters were detained on Saturday night after breaking away from the main group following a 300,000-strong march through central London
A total of 126 arrests were made, including at least 82 right-wing counter-protesters.
The marches have become a feature of weekends in the capital since Israel struck back against Hamas after the group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, killed 1,400 Israelis and took hundreds hostage.
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Latest police clashes with protesters
Remember the fallen
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The King will lead the country at the Whitehall memorial in commemorating the end of the First World War and other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.
Almost 10,000 veterans and 800 armed forces personnel from all three services will take part in a march-past.
A two-minute silence will take place across the UK at 11am.
Wreaths will be laid by members of the Royal Family, senior politicians and dignitaries at the Cenotaph.
They will be joined by thousands of members of the public who will line Whitehall to watch the service.
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UK falls silent for Armistice Day
Among those attending will be nuclear test veterans, who for the first time will wear a medal acknowledging their contribution.
After 70 years of waiting for recognition, those exposed to the effects of nuclear bombs during the UK’s testing programme were given a medal – depicting an atom surrounded by olive branches – for the Remembrance Sunday service.
More than 300 different armed forces and civilian organisations will be represented, as well as some 300 veterans not affiliated with an association who have been invited to join for the first time.
They will also mark 70 years since the end of fighting in the Korean War and 20 years since the start of the UK’s military operations in Iraq.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The courage and commitment shown by our servicemen and women, both today and throughout the generations that came before them, is humbling and I know many across the country will be honouring their memory today in quiet reflection.
“Recent events have served as a stark reminder that we cannot take the hard-earned peace we live in for granted, which is why I am honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the nation in the memory of all those that have lost their lives defending our country and the values we hold so close.
“I am determined to ensure we never forget the ultimate sacrifice they have made.”
Braverman saga rumbles on
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Braverman asked if she will resign
The prime minister remains under pressure to sack Home Secretary Suella Braverman after she branded the pro-Palestine protests “hate marches” in an article in The Times.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused her of “sowing the seeds of hatred” and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also called for her to be relieved of her post.
Her comments have also caused a rift in the Conservative party, with numerous Tories privately calling for her to be given the boot, while former Tory MP Dominic Grieve has publicly called for her to be removed and even barred from laying a wreath at the Remembrance service.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn are appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips from 8.30am today.
Two people who died following a fire at a caravan site near Skegness have been named by police.
Lincolnshire Police said 48-year-old Lee Baker and his 10-year-old daughter Esme Baker, both from the Nottingham area, were killed in the blaze.
However, formal identification is still yet to take place and “could take some time”, the force said.
Emergency services were alerted to a fire at Golden Beach Holiday Park, in the village of Ingoldmells, at 3.53am on Saturday.
In a statement issued through police, a member of the Baker family said: “Lee and Esme were excited to be spending the first weekend of the holidays together.
“We are all utterly devastated at what’s happened.
“This loss is incomprehensible at the moment, and we ask for people to give us space to process this utterly heartbreaking loss.”
A GoFundMe page set up for the victims’ family described the father and daughter as “two peas in a pod” who were “both happy-go-lucky people who loved life”. It has so far raised more than £3,000.
The police force, together with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Detective Inspector Lee Nixon said: “We believe we might be close to arriving at a working hypothesis.
“We are working hard to validate the facts available to us to be able to provide answers for the family and loved ones of those who were very tragically taken by this fire.
“Yet the evident intensity of the fire has made this task incredibly challenging.”
Dan Moss, from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family at this time.
“Our Fire Investigation Team is working with colleagues from Lincolnshire Police, and a full investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
“Once investigations are complete, local fire crews and our community fire safety team will be on hand to talk to people in the area and address any fire safety concerns they may have, at what will be an upsetting time.”
A man has been arrested by police investigating a “significant” wildfire that triggered a major incident in Northern Ireland.
More than 100 firefighters and 15 fire appliances were deployed on Saturday to Sandbank Road, Hilltown, to tackle the blaze which is believed to have been caused deliberately, fire chiefs said.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”.
It was extinguished at 2.53am on Sunday and the major incident status lifted, the NIFRS said.
“The cause of this fire is believed to have been deliberate,” chief fire and rescue officer Aidan Jennings said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Sunday that a 25-year-old man had been arrested “on suspicion of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and non-related driving offences”.
“He remains in custody at this time as enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire,” the force added.
Image: The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Image: More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Image: Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
Police are investigating after a man was shot dead in County Durham.
Officers were called to an address in Elm Street, Stanley, at about 5.20pm on Saturday after reports of a “disturbance”, Durham Constabulary said.
A man in his 50s was found to have been shot and despite the efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family have been told and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Specialist crime scene investigators are at the scene, and officers are carrying out house-to-house enquiries.
A cordon is in place and is expected to stay there for some time.
Detective Superintendent Neil Fuller said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which a man has been shot and has sadly died.”
He added: “Residents may see an increased police presence in the area. I would like to thank them for their support while we carry out this investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this time.”