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A teacher at a school in north London has been suspended after claims a 10-year-old pupil was “punched multiple times”.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating allegations that a member of staff at Christ the King Primary School in Islington punched the 10-year-old which resulted in the child needing to receive treatment at A&E.

Sky News has spoken to the father of the 10-year-old involved in the alleged incident.

Charles Etumnu recounted what his son told him happened: “He said he was on a stairwell landing watching a pupil that was getting into trouble.

“He then felt a forceful push from behind. He stumbled and regained balance and said ‘Don’t touch me’.

“The teacher then dragged him to a confined space on the landing and started raining punches on him.

“He was trying to fend them off when other teachers came and pulled them off him. My son then started crying.”

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Mr Etumnu’s wife said she was called to the school following the incident.

It was upon collecting him that their son said his chest was hurting.

“He was complaining of pains so my wife took him to A&E. He was restless and so shocked by what happened,” said Mr Etumnu.

Sky News has seen the now rescinded suspension letter issued to the family the same day.

It alleges the child “had been suspended for an act of aggression towards a member of staff”.

It claims the child “injured a member of staff today in the playground” and that he “hit them several times knocking off their glasses” and “pulled a clump of their hair out”.

Mr Etumnu said he did not recognise the language used regarding his son.

“I was really anxious after hearing about what had happened and then when I saw the suspension letter I was completely livid.

“He’s never been in a physical fight with anyone. So why would that happen to my son?

“It felt like they were ganging up against my family.”

The family say within the hour of receiving the emailed letter, the school rescinded the suspension after they said more information had come to light.

Mr Etumnu said they have long ties with the school with previous family members going there and having had positive experiences.

Three of his children, including their 10-year-old, had been enrolled at the school.

But after the alleged handling of the incident Charles and his wife decided to remove them all.

The family say they have tried to distract the 10-year-old and not remind him of the event which they say has traumatised him.

“He’s a lovely boy. He’s curious, loves playing games, just like any 10-year-old child.”

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The Metropolitan Police say they received a report regarding the alleged assault on 10 November.

The claims only became public knowledge on Tuesday after a video released on social media platform TikTok of Charles confronting the deputy headteacher at the school gates went viral with over one million views.

The chair of governors at Christ the King Primary School confirmed the member of staff at the centre of the allegation remains suspended from work.

In a statement to Sky News, James Potts said the school is taking the allegation “extremely seriously”.

“An allegation was made about an incident at the school in November.

“As soon as the allegation was made, we took the matter extremely seriously and took all appropriate actions.

“A member of staff was suspended at the time, pending a full investigation.

“We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police, Islington Council and the Diocese of Westminster.

“As part of our continued partnership with parents, carers and the wider community, we take the safety and well-being of our pupils extremely seriously, and are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst an investigation is ongoing.”

The Metropolitan Police says it has received no reports of any serious injuries following the incident.

It says those involved, along with “several witnesses”, are being spoken to and the investigation is ongoing.

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Man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool victory parade faces further 24 charges

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Man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool victory parade faces further 24 charges

A man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool FC’s title parade faces 24 new charges.

More than 130 people, including children, were injured when Paul Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy vehicle into hordes of fans at the celebrations on 26 May.

The 53-year-old, of Croxteth, Liverpool, was originally charged with two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and one count of dangerous driving.

Six of the new alleged offences relate to babies, including one six-month-old and one seven-month-old, proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday.

The new indictment, which was not read out in court, now has 31 counts relating to 29 victims, aged between six months and 77 years old.

Doyle now faces 18 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of wounding with intent, one count of dangerous driving and one count of affray.

He appeared in court via video link from prison and was in tears.

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He did not enter any pleas during the hearing, which lasted around 20 minutes.

The case was adjourned until 4 September, when Doyle is expected to enter pleas.

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Mosquito bite warning after rise in chikungunya cases in travellers returning to UK

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Mosquito bite warning after rise in chikungunya cases in travellers returning to UK

Travellers are being warned about mosquito bites on holiday after a rise in chikungunya infections in people returning to the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also said the first cases of the emerging oropouche virus had been recorded.

Chikungunya typically causes sudden fever and joint pain, which can be debilitating, and lasts from a few days to weeks.

The name comes from a word in a Tanzanian language meaning “that which bends up”, owing to the joint pain associated with it.

Most people recover but in some cases the symptoms can last several months or even years.

It’s spread by mosquito bites in tropical and subtropical regions, and most of the 73 cases reported in the UK so far this year were in London and linked to travel to Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius.

Only 27 cases were reported in the same January to June period last year.

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Chikungunya can’t spread directly from person to person – so if someone becomes ill in the UK, they can’t pass the infection on, and the mosquitos responsible aren’t present here.

Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said it can be a “nasty disease” and the increase in cases was “worrying”.

“It is essential to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling,” he said.

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“Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk.”

Chikungunya is mainly found in Asia and Africa, but cases have been reported in Europe and North America this year.

Two vaccines to guard against the infection are available in the UK from private travel clinics.

The first cases of the Oropouche virus have also been confirmed in Britain, according to the UKHSA.

It’s spread by midge and mosquito bites and the three cases are all linked to travel to Brazil.

Oropouche was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1950s and had been mainly confined to the Amazon area.

However, cases have been increasing since 2023 and have shown up in places such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Peru.

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Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

Anyone who gets such symptoms after being in Central and South America or the Caribbean is advised to get urgent medical advice.

Most people recover on their own, but it can cause severe disease in the very elderly or those with a weak immune system.

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Man staying at hotel that has been focus of protests denies sexual assault charge

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Man staying at hotel that has been focus of protests denies sexual assault charge

A man staying at a hotel that has been the focus of a series of protests has denied a charge of sexual assault and faces a trial next month.

Mohammed Sharwarq, a 32-year-old Syrian national, was arrested after police were called to the Bell Hotel on the Epping High Road in Essex yesterday, police said.

Sharwarq, who is alleged to have kissed a man on the neck, indicated a plea of not guilty to a charge of sexual assault at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

He indicated guilty pleas to six further charges concerning four complainants – with two counts of common assault and four of assault by beating.

Sharwarq is alleged to have punched a man in the face, thrown an object at a man, slapped a third man in the face and attempted to punch a fourth.

Sky News understands the alleged offences took place inside the hotel between 25 July and 12 August.

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District judge Lynette Woodrow remanded Sharwarq, who was assisted in court by an Arabic interpreter, in custody until his trial on 30 September.

The arrest followed weeks of protests outside the hotel.

Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest, said last month that the protests were a crisis that “risks boiling over”.

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