Woman dies after falling from library balcony in Birmingham

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A woman has died after falling from a library in a busy city centre.

Distraught shoppers alerted emergency services after the woman fell from the building in Birmingham at about midday today.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

He added: ‘Police received an emergency call just after 12 noon.

“The woman’s family has been informed.’

A Birmingham City Councilspokesman added: ‘We can confirm there was an incident at the Library of Birmingham this morning, in which a woman tragically died.

“We are co-operating with the police in their investigation of the incident and we are also offering support to library staff and those working at the café who may have been affected by the incident.’”

Girl, 15, sexually assaulted on Overground train in Hackney

Crime reporter(wp/es):

Police are hunting a train pervert who sexually assaulted a teenage girl on a journey through east London.

The 15-year-old was on an Overground train from Dalston Kingsland and when she was attacked, police say.

A man approached her and then started to touch the teenager through her clothing.

She protested and ran off the train when it reached Hackney Wick.

British Transport Police now want to speak to anyone who may have seen the October 13 attack, which took place at around 6pm.

They also want to speak to people who may have seen the man acting suspiciously before the sex assault.

Two schoolchildren and a man found dead in house

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Two schoolchildren and a man have been found dead at a house in Leicestershire.

Police were called to the semi-detached home in a leafy residential area of Hinckley at 9.30pm, following calls from concerned neighbours who had heard a disturbance.

Officers including specialist negotiators made contact with another man inside the house and an injured woman on the street.

The woman was taken to hospital in the early hours of the morning where she is now in a stable condition, Leicestershire Police said.

The causes of death are not known but detectives have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident on Welwyn Road.

Nearby resident Wendy Aubrey told The Hinckley Times: “My neighbour could see a woman standing in the street. She phoned the police. I was woken up by screaming.

“All the cars came down, there were loads of them. I was kept awake by all the doors banging.

“I’ve been here 30 years, there’s always something going on in Hinckley, but you don’t expect it round here.”

Detective Chief Supt Sandall, head of Leicestershire Police’s Crime and Intelligence Directorate, said: “A number of enquiries are now underway to understand what caused the three deaths, and the circumstances surrounding the events of last night in the house.

“Whilst we are not, at this stage, looking for anyone in connection with what happened, we would like to hear from anyone who may have information for us.”

The case has reportedly been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as police had prior contact with the people involved.

Post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.