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Two women, one in her 90s and one in her 80s, have died after a stolen BMW crashed into a care home in Sunderland during a police chase.

The Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, had to be evacuated after the crash occurred at around 9.40pm on Wednesday evening, Northumbria Police said.

The two women died on Thursday and their next of kin have been informed, the force said.

Eight other residents were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. All but one of them have since been discharged.

Before the deaths of the two women were known, the care home’s management Avery Healthcare said residents have been moved to alternative accommodation.

The blue BMW involved in the collision had been reported stolen from the Fenham area of Newcastle at around 9.20pm on Wednesday.

It was then seen in the Sunderland area at around 9.35pm and police were authorised to pursue the vehicle. It crashed into the care home around five minutes later.

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The scene outside Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, after a car crashed into the building during a police chase.
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Two 21-year-old men were re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

They were previously arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, while one was also arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

They remain in police custody.

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The scene outside Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland, after a car crashed into the building during a police chase.
Pic: PA
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The care home suffered structural damage. Pic: PA

Following the pursuit, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Northumbria Police said.

Chief Superintendent Mark Hall said: “This is an extremely sad development and all of our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of everyone affected. We will continue to support them in any way that we can at this time.

“Our investigations remain at an early stage, and we would ask people to avoid speculation both online and in the community.”

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Police officer describes moment he was shot with crossbow – as attacker jailed

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Police officer describes moment he was shot with crossbow - as attacker jailed

A police officer has described the moment he was shot with a crossbow – as his “extremely dangerous” attacker was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Jason King, 54, fired the weapon at PC Curtis Foster after stabbing a neighbour, a man in his 60s, following an altercation in Downley, Wycombe, on 10 May last year.

PC Foster was struck in the leg by a crossbow bolt while King chased after him and his fellow unarmed officer.

Jason King armed with the crossbow chases the officer. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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Jason King armed with the crossbow chases the officer. Pic: Thames Valley Police

King stabbed his neighbour in the stomach following an altercation. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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King stabbed his neighbour in the stomach following an altercation. Pic: Thames Valley Police

“I knew something had impacted me, but my adrenaline was so high that the pain wasn’t really there,” PC Foster said.

“I first realised I was bleeding quite a lot when I could feel it running down my leg, and then I touched my leg with above my trousers, and my whole hand was red where it’d gone through my trousers already.”

PC Foster and his colleague cleared the area of civilians, while armed officers chased King to a local park.

King also fired the crossbow at a police dog but missed.

He was ordered to drop the weapon, but instead started running with it in hand towards the exit of the park to where PC Foster had escaped.

An armed officer fired one shot at King, striking him in the abdomen, to stop him.

PC Curtis Foster was hit in the leg by a crossbow bolt shot by King. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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PC Curtis Foster was hit in the leg by a crossbow bolt shot by King. Pic: Thames Valley Police

PC Foster.  Pic: Thames Valley Police
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PC Foster. Pic: Thames Valley Police

‘Covered in my blood’

As King was apprehended, paramedics and his fellow officers treated the seriously injured PC Foster.

“There was a lot of blood. My two colleagues that turned up initially on scene were covered in my blood – that’s how much blood I’d lost,” PC Foster said.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor had a feel of it and said that I was really lucky it didn’t strike an artery. It was a couple of centimetres away from hitting an artery in the back of my leg.”

PC Foster has since made a full recovery, as did the neighbour King stabbed.

King himself was taken to hospital under police supervision with potentially life-changing injuries and was discharged 10 days later, when he was arrested and taken into police custody.

King was apprehended by armed police officers in a nearby park. Pic: Thames Valley Police
Image:
King was apprehended by armed police officers in a nearby park. Pic: Thames Valley Police

On Wednesday, King was jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court for nine years with a further three years on extended licence having previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, having an article with a blade or point, having an offensive weapon, wounding with intent and affray regarding the incident.

“Jason King will now serve a substantial prison sentence as a result of his violent actions on 10 May 2024. The community and residents of Downley are much safer for it,” said senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Nick Hind.

He added: “The courage of our officers in dealing with this incident was second to none.”

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‘Significant threat to police’

DI Hind explained that the impact the incident had in the local community couldn’t be underestimated as King was “an extremely dangerous man, who posed a significant threat to police, other emergency services and members of the community”.

A mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct was made after the police shooting of King.

The IOPC, which concluded its investigation in November, commended “everybody involved in this incident”, according to DI Hind.

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Husband’s tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

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Husband's tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

A mother-of-two who died after being hit by a falling tree branch on the way home from a family outing would do “everything she could for anyone”, her husband has said.

Madia Kauser, 32, was walking with her family in Witton Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 11 August when the incident happened.

She is reported to have pushed her young daughter to safety.

A joint investigation is being carried out by Lancashire Police and the Health and Safety Executive and any witnesses are being asked to come forward.

In a tribute issued by police, her husband Wasim Khan described her as the “most beautiful woman in the world” and said he feels “completely lost without her”.

He said: “My wife, a mother-of-two, a daughter, sister and a friend we lost to a tragic event that came on the way home from a family day out in the park.

“She was the most beautiful woman in the world, she did everything for our two children, she did everything she could for anyone and would bring smiles whenever she entered the room.

“She was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life.

“We have so many great memories, went through pain together and started a family together.

“Honestly, I feel completely lost without her and I do not know how to put into words how much I miss her face, her character and her presence. My one and only.”

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Detective Inspector Iain Czapowski said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident which has cost a young woman her life and my thoughts are with her loved ones.

“We are working closely with our colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive and with the co-operation of the council to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened, and I would like to speak to anyone with information which could assist with that.

“I am especially keen to speak to anyone who actually saw what happened on that fateful night and I would urge them to contact us.”

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

A member of rap trio Kneecap was greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at court this morning, charged with allegedly supporting a proscribed terror organisation.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.

Demonstrators waving flags and holding banners in support of the rapper greeted him with cheers as he made his way into Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA
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The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA

Supported by his Kneecap bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, it took the rapper more than a minute to enter the building as security officers worked to usher him inside through a crowd of photographers.

Fans held signs which read “Free Mo Chara”, while others waved Irish and Palestinian flags.

As the hearing got under way, O hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address, with the court hearing an Irish language interpreter would be present.

During a previous hearing, prosecutors said the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but said the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town was a “wholly different thing”.

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O hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge.

Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters
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Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters

Who are Kneecap?

Kneecap put out their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 after the release of their debut album and an eponymously titled film – a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language.

The film, in which the trio play themselves and co-star alongside starring Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, won the BAFTA for outstanding debut earlier this year, for director and writer Rich Peppiatt.

Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was business secretary.

They are known for songs including H.O.O.D, Fine Art, and Better Way To Live, featuring Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten.

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