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A French firm has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in Edinburgh Airport for around £1.27bn.

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has agreed to sell a 50.01% stake to French infrastructure group VINCI Airports.

VINCI Airports is one of the world’s biggest private airport operators, with more than 70 airports in 13 countries – including London Gatwick Airport and Belfast International.

GIP, which has owned Edinburgh Airport since 2012, said it will retain the remaining 49.99% stake and form a strategic partnership with VINCI Airports to support the site’s future growth.

Edinburgh Airport’s chairman Sir John Elvidge and chief executive Gordon Dewar will remain in their roles following the deal.

Mr Dewar said: “The leadership team – which remains in place – is wholly committed to working with our investors to improve customer service, accelerate our decarbonisation plans and strengthen Scotland’s connectivity with the world, which ultimately drives the country’s international competitiveness and prosperity.

“I should thank the whole team at Edinburgh Airport for the contribution they have made to our success over the last 12 years since GIP acquired the airport and look forward to working with them to write a new, exciting chapter in the airport’s story.”

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Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport, connecting the country to 155 destinations across 35 airlines.

Almost 15 million people are expected to pass through its doors this year.

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New York-based GIP, which was recently bought by US investment firm BlackRock, said the focus remains on improving passenger service and the long-term growth, modernisation and sustainability of the airport.

The Edinburgh deal follows a similar one in 2019 which saw VINCI Airports buy a majority 50.01% stake in London Gatwick Airport, with a group of investors led by GIP retaining the remaining holding.

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Nicolas Notebaert, chief executive of VINCI Concessions and president of VINCI Airports, said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our successful and strategic partnership with GIP to include Edinburgh Airport.

“Together with GIP, VINCI Airports will continue the strategy of growing connectivity and developing commercial activities, whilst also leveraging VINCI Airports’ international expertise to accelerate decarbonisation and continually improving customer experience.

“This acquisition of a third freehold airport in the UK, in addition to London Gatwick and Belfast International, demonstrates VINCI Airports’ long-term strategic ambition and continued commitment to the country.”

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Kersal Wetlands: Stuart Everett believed to be victim in Salford human remains investigation

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Kersal Wetlands: Stuart Everett believed to be victim in Salford human remains investigation

A man believed to be the victim after human remains were found in a Salford nature reserve has been named as Stuart Everett.

Police said DNA samples had been sent for urgent analysis to formally confirm the victim’s identity.

Mr Everett, 67, lived in the local area.

A major investigation started after a torso wrapped in plastic was found at Kersal Dale Wetlands on 4 April.

More remains were discovered at the weekend in the Greater Manchester area – at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, and on Monday in an alleyway in Eccles.

Police said they were confident they all belong to the same person.

Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski, 68, and Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, from Eccles, were yesterday charged with murder.

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They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

Police officers by a forensic tent at Kersal Dale.
Pic: PA
Police and forensic officers at Kersal Dale.
Pic: PA
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A torso was found at Kersal Dale on 4 April. Pics: PA

The discovery of the torso four weeks ago – consisting of the bottom of the back, buttocks and thigh – prompted a large search for other remains to try to identify the victim.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said Mr Everett’s family was being supported by specially-trained officers.

“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news,” he said.

“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.”

Mr Hughes thanked the public for their help and said police would leave no stone unturned “to find answers for Stuart’s family”.

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Hainault attack: Sword-wielding man arrested near station after ‘stabbing’ multiple people and police officers

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Hainault attack: Sword-wielding man arrested near station after 'stabbing' multiple people and police officers

A critical incident has been declared near a Tube station in northeast London after reports a man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers.

The man, alleged to have been carrying a sword, crashed a vehicle into a house in Thurlow Gardens, before reportedly stabbing a number of people, police said.

The 36-year-old was alleged to have attacked members of the public and two police officers before eventually being arrested.

The Metropolitan Police were alerted to the incident shortly before 7am this morning.

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A man wielding a sword has been arrested, police said. Pic:@ell_pht

Fire and rescue crews as well as a number of ambulances were also dispatched to the scene.

The condition of those injured isn’t currently known and officers are not looking for anymore suspects.

Hainault Tube station in Ilford has been closed by police after the incident.

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Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was being updated about the incident and extended his thoughts to those affected.

Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “A critical incident has been declared in Hainault.

“There are station and road closures in place. The police, ambulance service and fire brigade are responding.”

Pic: @petekingdom/X
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A man with a sword has been arrested. Pic: @petekingdom/X

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Police said the attack did not appear to be terror related.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan added: “This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned.

“I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm.

“People will want to know what has happened and will we provide more information as soon as we can.”

The Metropolitan Police previously said: “Police are at an incident in the Hainault area.

“Please follow the instructions of police officers on the ground.

“A man has been arrested.”

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Ex-cop who filmed wife having sex with lover in Screwfix car park avoids jail

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Ex-cop who filmed wife having sex with lover in Screwfix car park avoids jail

A former police constable who filmed his estranged wife having sex with a colleague in a Screwfix car park has avoided jail.

Gavin Harper, 45, was described as “obsessed” in court and was convicted of stalking his estranged wife, who was also a police officer.

He caught Stephanie Glynn, 40, having sex with her colleague Andrew McLullich, 42, in the car park of a Screwfix, in Birkenhead, Merseyside, after he placed a tracker on her vehicle.

Harper, from Liscard, Wirral, crept up to the vehicle and started filming at the window with his mobile phone.

Prosecutors said this was the culmination of a campaign of “obsessive, intrusive and unwanted behaviour” against Ms Glynn that lasted from December 2020 to February 2021.

The father of two was found guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court last month of aggravated stalking, including secretly bugging Ms Glynn’s car, listening in on her conversations, and tracking her whereabouts.

On Monday, Judge David Potter sentenced Harper to two years in jail, suspended for two years.

The judge said that Harper would have faced immediate imprisonment but for the significant impact this would have had on his elderly parents and youngest son.

The court heard Harper cared for his elderly parents, who would “not be able to cope” without him, and his son would have been forced to give up his university studies if he was jailed.

Harper and Ms Glynn were in a six-year relationship before they married in 2018, having met working at Merseyside Police.

However, Ms Glynn left their family home in December 2020 after she became close with Mr McLullich – an acting inspector and formerly her supervising sergeant.

Speaking in court, Harper claimed he wanted “undeniable proof” of the affair. His intention, he said, was to pass the video to police as evidence of two serving officers having an inappropriate relationship during the COVID lockdown restrictions.

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Judge Potter told Harper: “I am sure you became obsessed to the point of criminality in stalking Stephanie Glynn to provide evidence of her affair to weaponise that against her for having that affair, and you also became determined to destroy the career of Andrew McLullich.

“In that obsession the feelings, embarrassment and pain felt by Stephanie Glynn were collateral damage.

“You were more concerned about your own feelings and a raging sense of injustice.”

The judge said the events in Screwfix car park “do no credit to any of the people involved”.

The court previously heard that Harper and Mr McLullich punched one another in the car park after he began filming them.

Suzanne Payne, defending, said Harper’s behaviour against Ms Glynn was “out of character and borne out of the circumstances at that time”.

She added that Ms Glynn had received a written warning over her conduct in the car park.

Ms Glynn, now divorced, was said to have been left “sickeningly anxious” as a result of Harper’s stalking, and told the jury she now “constantly looked over her shoulders”.

The judge issued Harper with a seven-year restraining order from contacting or approaching Ms Glynn and Mr McLullich.

Harper must also perform 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 20 days of rehabilitation.

The Crown offered no evidence over an allegation that Harper unlawfully wounded Mr McLullich in the Screwfix car park after jurors could not reach a verdict on that charge.

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