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A pilot on board the cargo ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge tried to swing it clear of a collision by dropping its port anchor to pivot it away, authorities said.

The pilot and a second on board at the time of collision will be interviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today.

The US Coast Guard also confirmed that the container ship’s engines had undergone routine maintenance while in the Baltimore port.

In a press conference, officials said one of the Dali’s pilots dropped the port anchor in an effort to pivot it clear of the Francis Scott Key bridge.

Information recovered from the ship’s voyage data recorder (VDR) showed power failed for just one minute and three seconds as it approached the structure, but that was enough for the collision to become seemingly unavoidable .

The recorder, which officials noted is “very basic” when compared to those on aircraft, stopped picking up sensor data during the outage but did record audio of the pilot giving steering commands and rudder orders and had enough information to create a timeline leading up to impact:

00:39:00 VDR recorded ship’s departure from Seagirt Marine Terminal
01:07 ship had entered the Fort McHenry Channel
01:24 ship was on a heading underway on a true heading of approx 141 degrees at a speed of 8 knots / 9.2mph
01:24:59 Numerous audible alarms recorded on ships bridge audio – at same time, the VDR stopped recording sensor data, but continued to record audio using redundant power source
01:26:02 VDR sensor data recording resumed. Steering commands and rudder orders were recorded on the audio during this time
01:26:39 Pilot made general VHF call for tugs in the vicinity to assist. At the same time, the power of association dispatcher phoned the Maryland Transport Authority (MDTA) duty officer regarding the blackout
01:27:04 Pilot ordered the DALI to drop the port anchor and ordered additional steering commands
01:27:25 Pilot issued a radio call over the VHF radio reporting the DALI had lost all power and was heading towards the bridge. Around this time MDTA data shows the following also occurred: the duty officer radioed to their units that were already on scene due to construction on the bridge – one on each side of the bridge – and ordered them to close the traffic on the bridge. All lanes were then shut down by MDTA
01:29:00 ship’s speed was just under 7 knots / 8pmh and from 0129:00 to 01:29:33 the ship’s audio recorded the collision of the bridge
01:29:39 Pilot reported the bridge down over the audio to the coast guard

More on Baltimore Bridge Collapse

NTSB officials on board the container ship Pic: NTSB
Image:
NTSB officials on board the ship Pic: NTSB

An official also said that the Key Bridge was fracture-critical, which means “if a member fails that would likely cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse, there’s no redundancy”.

NTSB board chair Jennifer Homendy also noted that according to the Federal Highway Administration, there are close to 17,500 fracture-critical bridges in the US.

She added: “It’s pretty devastating, certainly, seeing not just what’s going on with the cargo containers, but just looking at what was a bridge span – three bridge spans that is pretty much gone. It’s just utter devastation.”

It comes after the bodies of two victims were recovered from a red pick-up truck that was found in the Patapsco River, around 25 feet deep in the water.

The men recovered have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, who was from Mexico and lived in Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, who was from Guatemala and lived in Dundalk, Maryland.

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Earlier on Wednesday, the first two missing construction workers were named as Miguel Luna, a 49-year-old from El Salvador, and Maynard Sandoval, a 37-year-old father-of-two. Two other people are also still missing – all are presumed dead.

The recovery mission is now a salvage operation as it is no longer safe for divers to navigate or operate around the debris and concrete in the port.

Read more:
Everything we know about the disaster
End of an era in Baltimore

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Baltimore: Second missing man named

The victims, who were from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, were part of a crew filling potholes on the bridge’s road surface at the time of the collapse.

The Key Bridge carried the Interstate 695 highway over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area.

US President Joe Biden has promised that he will visit Baltimore “as soon as possible”, adding that the federal government will cover the “full cost” of rebuilding the bridge – which experts say could be over $600m (£474m).

Pic: NTSB via AP
Image:
Four men are still missing and presumed dead by authorities. Pic: NTSB via AP

Its main section spanned 1,200 feet and was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

The Dali was previously involved in a minor incident when it hit a quay at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in 2016, where it was damaged, according to Vessel Finder and maritime accident site Shipwrecklog.

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What we can learn about Charlie Kirk suspect Tyler Robinson from his charging document

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What we can learn about Charlie Kirk suspect Tyler Robinson from his charging document

A charging document from prosecutors has revealed new details about Charlie Kirk’s suspected shooter, including incriminating messages he allegedly sent to his roommate.

The details came after Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared in court via video link from prison, having been charged with aggravated murder, weapon, and obstruction of justice offences.

He was arrested following a two-day manhunt after right-wing influencer Kirk, 31, was killed at one of his rallies at Utah Valley University (UVU) last Wednesday.

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Kirk murder suspect appears in court

Here are some of the key details included in Robinson’s charging document:

What was in the texts between Robinson and his roommate?

Investigators and prosecutors, including the Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer James Cox, have said Robinson was in a relationship with his roommate, a biological male in the process of transitioning.

The document reveals some of the exchanges between the pair, which prosecutors say were provided to the police by the roommate, despite Robinson allegedly demanding that they deleted them.

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What we know about the case against Tyler Robinson

On the day of the shooting, Robinson allegedly sent the roommate a text which read: “Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”

Prosecutors say the roommate looked under his keyboard and found a note that stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

Robinson added he was hoping to be home soon and apologised for “involving” the roommate, adding he had “hoped to keep this secret till [sic] I died of old age”.

When his roommate asked if he was the “one who did it”, Robinson allegedly replied: “I am, I’m sorry.”

Robinson is said to have written in another text: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

He supposedly wrote that he had planned the shooting for “a bit over a week” and later instructed the roommate to “delete this exchange”.

Read more:
What the engravings on the bullets may refer to
Maps and videos show what happened moments before shooting
The string of bloody political violence in the MAGA era

Children present while bullet ‘passed closely’ by questioner

The shooting happened during Kirk’s “prove me wrong” series, which saw the father of two visit campuses and debate contentious subjects; in this case, he was discussing mass shootings.

The prosecutors say the bullet which struck Kirk’s neck “passed closely to several other individuals”, including the person questioning him as part of the event.

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How Tyler Robinson turned himself in

One of the seven counts against Robinson is for “violent offence committed in the presence of a child”, as prosecutors say there were children near the stage when Kirk was shot. The charge states that there was a child younger than 14 years old present.

Campus police officer started investigating immediately after shooting

The document details how one UVU police officer quickly uncovered the position where Kirk is believed to have taken the shot from.

It says the officer was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point when the shot was fired, and that he began to scan the area for threats as soon as he heard it go off.

The officer assumed the shot came from a rifle based on its sound, and started looking for sniper positions.

A drone view shows the reported location of the shooter on the rooftop. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A drone view shows the reported location of the shooter on the rooftop. Pic: Reuters

He noted the roof area where the shot could have been taken from. He rushed there and confirmed a clear shooting corridor between the position and Kirk’s seat.

“He also noticed markings in the gravel rooftop consistent with a sniper having lain on the roof – impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees, and feet of a person in a prone shooting position,” the document states.

A drone view shows the scene where Kirk was shot. Pic: Reuters
Image:
A drone view shows the scene where Kirk was shot. Pic: Reuters

Prosecutors say the discovery led the authorities to review footage covering the roof, which later helped them identify the suspect.

Targets with bullet holes found at suspect’s home

Police said they found several targets with bullet holes when they searched Robinson’s home, along with a shell casing with etchings in it.

The etchings, prosecutors said, were like the ones found on the shells in the rifle near UVU.

The words and symbols on those shells featured references to fascism, video games and internet memes.

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Arrests after Trump-Epstein images projected on to Windsor Castle

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Arrests after Trump-Epstein images projected on to Windsor Castle

Giant projections of Donald Trump alongside paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been beamed on to Windsor Castle by protesters as the US president arrived in the UK for his second state visit.

Mr Trump has faced mounting questions about his relationship with the disgraced late billionaire after messages allegedly sent to him by the US president were published by Congress earlier this month.

Follow Trump’s second state visit live

A giant image of Epstein
Image:
A giant image of Epstein

Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
Image:
Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

The US president's mugshot was projected on the castle too
Image:
The US president’s mugshot was projected on the castle too

The apparent notes – which Mr Trump denies having written – appeared in a 2003 “birthday book” for Epstein.

Four people were arrested on “suspicion of malicious communications” after the images of Mr Trump and Epstein appeared on the landmark, Thames Valley Police said.

Two men were also arrested for breaching airspace restrictions in place for Mr Trump’s visit.

Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
Image:
Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

The president is being feted with a stay in Windsor Castle, where he will be hosted by the King and treated to a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday and later, a lavish state banquet.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will meet the president and first lady Melania Trump in the grounds of the Windsor estate, where he will spend the day, before heading to the prime minister’s country residence Chequers on Thursday.

It is hoped the Queen – who pulled out of attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday after suffering from acute sinusitis – will recover in time to attend the busy run of royal events.

Read more: No one does pomp better than Britain

There are no public-facing engagements for the president throughout his 48-hour state visit, with thousands of people expected to take part in a major protest against his stay in central London today.

The Metropolitan Police said it is preparing for “a significant operation” with as many as 50 protest groups expected to take part.

More than 1,600 officers will be deployed, including 500 assisting from other forces.

What will happen today?

The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife in the grounds of the Windsor estate in the morning, before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.

Mr and Mrs Trump, the King, Camilla, William, and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle, with the carriage ride joined by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which will provide a Sovereign’s Escort, as well as members of the armed forces and three military bands.

A ceremonial welcome with a guard of honour will be staged in the quadrangle of the castle, as is customary, followed by lunch with the royal family and a visit to see a Royal Collection exhibition within the castle.

The president and his wife will then visit St George’s Chapel privately on Wednesday afternoon to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, whom they both met on their first state visit.

They will then be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, as well as a special Beating Retreat military ceremony.

They will then be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, as well as a special Beating Retreat military ceremony.

The traditional grand state banquet is set to follow in the castle’s St George’s Hall in the evening, with both Mr Trump and the King to give speeches as the event gets under way.

A small group of protesters from the Stop Trump Coalition were in Windsor on Tuesday night.

Two protesters from the activist group Fossil Free London were escorted out of a dinner organised by Republicans Overseas UK at Windsor Guildhall in the Berkshire town.

They chanted “how many will you kill if you drill baby drill” and unfurled a banner that said: “Oily Money Kills” at the event.

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One. Pic: Reuters

Speaking to reporters mid-flight, Mr Trump said: “My relationship is very good with the UK, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend.

“It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.”

He told the journalists “everybody is looking forward to it. You’re going to have the best pictures”.

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Tyler Robinson charged with murder of Charlie Kirk – and prosecutors seek death penalty

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Tyler Robinson charged with murder of Charlie Kirk - and prosecutors seek death penalty

Tyler Robinson has been charged with the murder of right-wing US influencer Charlie Kirk.

The 22-year-old, from Washington, Utah, was charged with aggravated murder, weapon, and obstruction of justice offences ahead of a court appearance later on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty and that Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the alleged murder weapon.

A note was also found under his keyboard which said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to a charging document from prosecutors.

It is also alleged that the suspect ordered his roommate to delete “incriminating texts” about the killing and to stay silent if questioned by police.

When his roommate texted to ask if he was the “one who did it”, Robinson replied: “I am, I’m sorry,” prosecutors allege.

Robinson is said to have written in another text: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

He also allegedly wrote he had been planning the shooting for just over a week.

Tyler Robinson. Pic: Utah Governor's Office
Image:
Tyler Robinson. Pic: Utah Governor’s Office

Kirk, 31, was killed at one of his rallies at Utah Valley University last Wednesday.

The political activist, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, died after being shot in the neck with a bullet.

County attorney Jeff Gray said “aggravating factors” in the killing included that the “defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on his political expression and did so knowing children were present and would witness the homicide”.

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The obstruction of justice charges relate to allegations that Robinson disposed of the weapon used in the killing, along with clothing he is said to have worn at the time.

Robinson has been held without bail since his arrest.

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and have carried out a search at his family home, 240 miles (385km) southwest of where the shooting took place.

Charlie Kirk moments before he was shot. Pic: Reuters/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune
Image:
Charlie Kirk moments before he was shot. Pic: Reuters/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune

Mr Gray said Robinson had accused Kirk of “spreading hate” during a conversation with his father. He also allegedly described the university as a “stupid venue” for the influencer to hold an event.

After the shooting, the county attorney said the suspect confessed to his parents after they confronted him, telling them he shot Kirk because “there is too much evil in the guy”.

Robinson’s mother told police that her son had become more political and had “started to lean more to the left” in the past year or so, Mr Gray said.

He added that the 22-year-old had become more “pro-gay and trans-rights oriented”, according to his parents.

His mother said he had started to date his roommate, who was “transitioning genders”, prompting “discussions” with his father who had very different political views.

Robinson allegedly wrote in another message to his roommate that “since Trump got into office [my father] has been pretty diehard Maga”.

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