Ahmed Ali Alid, 45, informed police after his arrest that his attack was “for the people of Gaza” and expressed regret that he didn’t have access to a machine gun to kill more people. Alid, who stabbed a stranger to death in a terrorist act motivated by the Gaza conflict, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 44 years.

An asylum seeker claiming to be from Morocco, Alid would have caused further casualties if he hadn’t been cornered by armed police on October 15, according to the trial. Last month, Teesside Crown Court found him guilty, and Judge Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb noted that he “did not have the courage to admit his guilt in court” and had no history of mental illness.

Initially, Alid tried to kill his housemate, Javed Nouri, 31, a Christian convert, before prowling the streets of Hartlepool. He then encountered Terence Carney, 70, whom he stabbed six times in the chest, abdomen, and back in a terrorist attack.

During sentencing, the judge declared: “You attacked and murdered Terence Carney in a terrorist act. You intended it as revenge for the actions of a foreign country, Israel, and to intimidate and influence the British government in its international relations. You hoped to frighten the people of Britain and to undermine the freedoms they enjoy.”

Alid’s attempt to kill Nouri was also meant to punish him for converting to Christianity, considered apostasy in Alid’s Muslim faith. For these offenses, Alid received a life sentence. Footage of his arrest shows armed police shouting for Alid to “get down on the ground,” with red laser dots from police guns covering his body as he ignores their commands.

After his detention, Alid told police his actions were “for the people of Gaza,” referencing Britain’s links to Israel. During his police interview, Alid said he would have killed thousands if he had more weapons.

At the end of his interview, Alid attacked two female interviewing officers, grabbing one and wrestling her to the ground while shouting “Palestine” and “Allahu Akbar,” prompting his solicitor to dial 999.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC sought a whole life order for the killing, arguing it was a murder committed to advance a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause. Although Judge Cheema-Grubb agreed the offenses were terror-related, she did not impose a whole-life term. She described Alid as a “dangerous offender” and said the jury “saw through his lies” when he claimed mistranslation by an interpreter and denied religious or political motivations.

Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

The court heard that Alid, a former pastry chef, had traveled from Morocco to Spain in 2007 and lived in 13 European countries, including Italy and Germany, before arriving in Middlesborough by ferry from the Netherlands in 2020. He claimed asylum and spent the next three years in state-funded accommodation in Hartlepool, awaiting his claim’s processing.

Selfie images showed him in various UK cities, and his last call before the attack was to Algeria, where his family resides. Investigators do not believe he had assistance with the attack.

Alid’s housemate, an Iranian asylum seeker, found Alid laughing and watching videos on his phone after the 7 October attacks. Mr. Nouri reported Alid’s threatening behavior to the police on October 13, but the police deemed it a matter for those responsible for the house to manage.

Two days later, Alid broke into Mr. Nouri’s bedroom at around 5 am, brandishing two kitchen knives and stabbing him in the chest. Nouri managed to fend off Alid and escape, with the help of another housemate. During a 999 call, Alid is heard shouting “Allahu Akbar.”

Alid then went onto the street, captured on CCTV holding a knife, and stabbed Mr. Carney, who was defenseless and cried out “no, no” as Alid showed him no mercy. Alid was arrested within 20 minutes with the knife still in his waistband.

Alid received a 44-year sentence for murder, with time already served considered. He also received a concurrent 19-year sentence for attempted murder, and no additional time for assaulting the police officers.

Mr. Nouri, in a victim impact statement, expressed his psychological trauma and disappointment at the attack happening in what he believed to be a safe country. Mr. Carney’s family described him as a beloved family man and thanked Mr. Nouri and other housemates for their courage in testifying. They expressed hope that no one else would endure what they have gone through, taking some comfort in knowing justice was served.

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Recent research suggests a notable increase in the risk of heart failure among individuals who vape, with those who have used e-cigarettes at any point being 19% more likely to develop heart failure compared to non-users. This finding underscores the potential dangers associated with vaping, particularly concerning heart health.

Dr. Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, the lead researcher of the study, emphasized the growing body of evidence linking e-cigarettes to adverse health effects, challenging the previous assumption of their safety. He highlighted the substantial difference observed in heart failure risk among vapers, urging individuals to consider the health implications, particularly concerning heart health.

Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to effectively pump blood throughout the body, often due to weakness or stiffness. According to the British Heart Foundation, over a million people in the UK are affected by heart failure. The study, which examined over 175,000 individuals in the US, including both vapers and non-vapers, found that 3,242 participants developed heart failure over approximately 45 months.

The research indicated that vaping is associated with a specific type of heart failure characterized by stiffening of the heart muscle, leading to impaired blood filling. However, no correlation was found between vaping and reduced ejection fraction, a condition where the heart muscle weakens, resulting in inadequate contraction of the left ventricle.

These findings underscore the need for further investigation into the potential cardiovascular effects of vaping. The study results are being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session, highlighting the significance of this research in shaping public health policies.

In response to the growing concerns, the UK Government recently introduced legislation, known as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aimed at curbing youth smoking and vaping. The bill includes measures to restrict vape flavors and packaging targeted at children, signaling efforts to address the rising prevalence of vaping among young people.

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So far this year, a record-breaking number of migrants have traversed the English Channel, according to preliminary figures from the Home Office. The count reached 4,644 within the first quarter of 2024, setting a new high for the initial three months of a year.

On a single day, Tuesday, 338 individuals were transported to the UK aboard seven vessels. This surge in arrivals surpasses the early 2022 record of 4,548 from January through March, and also outstrips the 3,793 migrants recorded in the early months of the previous year.

This increase occurs amidst Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s concerted efforts to curtail such crossings under his “stop the boats” initiative, which he claimed was showing results. Despite these efforts, a recent declaration from Downing Street labeled the situation as a “migration emergency,” following a record-setting day for crossings on March 20, with 514 individuals arriving in 10 boats.

Prime Minister Sunak had outlined the “stop the boats” campaign as a key goal for 2023, promising the enactment of new laws aimed at deterring unauthorized arrivals. According to this pledge, illegal entrants would face detention and expedited removal.

Comparatively, the UK saw 29,437 migrants arrive by crossing the Channel in the previous year, a decrease of 36% from the 2022 peak of 45,774. However, current figures indicate a 23% increase in crossings over the same period in 2023, and a 12% rise over 2022, based on PA news agency’s analysis.

Amid these developments, the government’s proposed Rwanda Bill is facing delays in Parliament, with discussions postponed until after the Easter recess. In response to the latest statistics, the Labour Party has criticized the government’s handling of the situation, with Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock urging for more effective border control measures. He criticized Prime Minister Sunak for denying the rise in small boat arrivals and emphasized the need for a more organized border strategy.

Labour proposes enhancing border security, dismantling smuggling networks, addressing the asylum application backlog, ceasing the use of hotels for asylum seekers, and establishing a new returns and enforcement unit.

In its response to the climbing numbers of small boat crossings, the Home Office emphasized the urgency of initiating deportation flights to Rwanda and highlighted ongoing collaboration with French authorities to combat the escalating violence and obstructions faced by police on French shores. The Home Office remains committed to legislative strengthening and international partnerships to decrease these crossings and ensure safety.

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