Five injured and two 'critical' after multi-car crash closes M1 on Christmas Eve

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after a multi-car pile-up which has closed the M1 motorway heading to London.

Hundreds of thousands of motorists embarking on Christmas getaways are now facing severe delays after the major accident at 2.33am in Bedfordshire.

At least five people were injured in the crash between junctions 12 and 13, with two thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

One man, in his 20s, was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington where he remains “critical” after suffering a head injury.

Drivers are being warned of severe delays, particularly heading to Luton Airport and London, as the southbound M1 remained closed at 11am.

A diversion has been put in place while the northbound stretch of motorway was reopened but with only two lanes.

A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire police said: "Several people were injured and have been taken to hospital for treatment. Two people are thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries while a number of others are being treated for less serious injuries."

A Highways England spokesman said: “A signed diversion route is in place and drivers planning to travel to Luton airport are advised to allow extra time and to plan their journeys.

“Traffic for London is advised to use the A14/A1 and drivers heading towards the Midlands are being advised to use the M40.”

The southband carriageway of the M1 is expected to be closed until around 4pm.

Man fighting for life after double stabbing in north London

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A teenager was fighting for life in hospital and another man was injured after a double stabbing in north London.

Police were trawling the Turnpike Lane area for clues on the location of the stabbings on Friday morning after the 19-year-old arrived at a hospital in north London with knife wounds. 

Scotland Yard said officers believed both men were stabbed during "a violent incident" near Waldegrave Road in the early hours of the morning.

Staff at the hospital alerted police after the teenager was admitted at about 1am.

He was transferred to a hospital in east London where his condition was described as life-threatening.

Emergency services were seperately called to Waldegrave Road to reports of a man stabbed at 12.50am. A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital with stab wounds not believed to be serious.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Detectives from Haringey CID are investigating. 

"They believe the 19-year-old man was stabbed in the area of Turnpike Lane or Waldegrave Road. 

"The 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder."

A crime scene was set up and parts of Turnpike Lane and Westbury Avenue were sealed off for hours as officers investigated.

Mark Humphris posted on Twitter: “Lots of roads closed around Wood Green, Turnpike Lane and A10 area. Police on scene.” 

Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.

Top barrister killed as fire rips through Thames-side apartment in Bermondsey

Pic:prosecutor Ian Paton died after a blaze in his Bermondsey flat
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A top barrister and part-time judge who died after a blaze ripped through his Thames-side apartment was a “true gentleman”, friends said today.

Ian Paton, 66, a criminal prosecutor who also sat as a crown court recorder, was in his third-floor flat in Luna House, Bermondsey Wall West, when fire broke out.

Mr Paton, who worked for QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers, was pulled from the flames by firefighters but pronounced dead shortly after.

Other residents of the block fled as smoke poured from the apartment.

Sources said the blaze, which happened at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, had been investigated to ensure it was not connected to his work and to rule out a revenge attack.

Mr Paton’s prosecutions had led to several criminals being jailed. “This is no longer suspicious. This will probably go down more as misadventure. The cause is still being investigated,  but there were candles in the flat,” a source said.

A post-mortem examination has taken place and more tests are due to be carried out, but it is suspected Mr Paton, who lived alone, died from smoke inhalation.

Friend and former colleague Sally Mertens, 46, a barrister at Atkinson Bevan Chambers, said: “He was really well respected, a true gentleman and very fair towards people as a prosecutor. He was a lovely guy and a very good barrister. He also sat as a judge part-time, as a recorder. He worked on a lot of stuff, from murders to frauds.

“He was a pleasure to work with. It’s incredibly sad. He was incredibly well respected among his colleagues. Being at QEB Chambers, you’re talking about one of the top five to be with, so he was at the top of his game.”

Barrister John Traversi, of 9 Bedford Row Chambers, added: “We started at the Bar at about the same time. He was a very bright, capable and unyielding prosecutor. He was hugely respected.

“Anybody who came across him in court representing the other side knew they would be up against it. He was a formidable opponent and it’s a huge loss to the profession.”

A family friend, who wished not to be named, said: “Everyone is devastated. He was a great man who had a young daughter and this is terrible just before Christmas.” His daughter was too upset to speak.

It took 21 firefighters nearly two hours to control the blaze. One evacuated resident said: “It must have been going on for a good few hours. There was a lot of billowing, thick black smoke coming from the window. I don’t think anybody could have survived that.”

London Fire Brigade said: “A man was rescued from the flat by firefighters but was sadly confirmed dead at scene.”

Six men arrested in riots after 'Wild n Out' music event shut down

Pic:Frightened witnesses saw armed police outside McDonald's on Ealing Broadway 
Crime reporter(wp/es):

Six men have been arrested after a riot broke out in west London after police shut down a Somali music event.

Gangs of youths wreaked havoc as police officers were allegedly targeted with missiles while trying to disperse the crowd in Ealingon Thursday night.

Two police dogs were also injured in the melee after the £15 Somali “Wild n out” music show at Ealing Town Hall was shut down shortly after 11pm over fears of overcrowding.

A Metrolpolitan Police spokesman confirmed six men - aged between 19 and 23 – has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. They are being held at west London police stations.

Deputy Borough Commander of Ealing, Detective Superintendent Robert Mahoney, said: "A large number of people tried to gain entry to a pre-planned event being held at Ealing Town Hall last night.

"They were stopped from entering because of safety concerns. This resulted in some of the group engaging in disorder. 

"A swift and proportionate police response soon brought the situation under control and six men are currently in custody. I want to reassure the residents of Ealing that this was an isolated incident which has been effectively dealt with."

One organiser suggested some 2,000 people had turned up to the venue which can only hold 600.

After organisers decided to close the event to ensure safety, a mob of youths is said to have descended on nearby Longfield Avenue where rioting broke out.

Frightened witnesses reported seeing scores of armed police patrolling outside McDonald’s at the junction with Spring Bridge Road.

One of the event’s promoters told the Standard: “The reason it got closed was because too many people attended the event which was only promoted for a week.”

A man was found suffering from injuries in nearby Mattock Lane and rushed to hospital by ambulance.

He remains in a west London hospital in a stable condition and enquiries are underway to establish how he sustained his injuries.

Elderly man dies after being hit by car in Sydenham crash

Staff reporter(wp/es):

An elderly man was killed after he was hit by a car in south London on Thursday night.

The pensioner, thought to be aged around 80, was seriously injured and rushed to hospital following the crash in Lewisham.

He later died in hospital.

Police and ambulances raced to Sydenham Road in Sydenham at around 8.30pm following reports of a crash between a car and a pedestrian.

The road was closed between Newlands Park and Kent House Road while police dealt with the incident, which happened near to the Hexagon Housing building.

Witness Fiona Fraser said she saw "so many police" on the busy stretch of road. Another passerby described traffic as "gridlock".

The driver of the car stopped at the scene, a spokesman for the Met said.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out and officers are continuing to investigate what happened.

The Met Police are appealing for information following the fatal crash.

Woman and child killed after becoming trapped in burning Essex home

Pic:emergency services at the scene of a house fire in Braintree, Essex, which claimed the lives of a woman and a child
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A woman and child have been killed after becoming trapped in a burning house in Essex.

The detached home in Braintree was completely ablaze when fire crews were called to the scene on Wednesday night.

Two women were able to escape before fire crews arrived but a third woman and a child, the age of whom is not yet known, were stuck inside the burning building.

Firefighters were not able to rescue them and they died in the blaze on South Street.

The surviving women were treated for smoke inhalation but are expected to make full recoveries.

Police were also called to the scene and are launching a joint investigation with the fire service into the cause of the blaze.

Images released by Essex Fire and Rescue Service (EFRS) have revealed the devastating impact of the fire, with the red brick property left blackened by the heat of the flames.

Fire crews were called at 10.45pm, along with ambulances and police officers including the Essex force’s helicopter. 

The fire was extinguished by 1.24am but firefighters remained at the property dampening down "hotspots". 

An EFRS spokesman said: "Unfortunately it has now been confirmed that two people died in the house fire. An investigation into the cause will take place this morning.”

The busy road where the fire broke out has been closed as the investigation begins.

The town’s Conservative MP James Cleverly has spoken of his shock at the tragic double death. 

He said: “It is such sad and shocking news when members of a young family lose their life in any circumstances and at any time but obviously under these circumstances, just before Christmas, it’s absolutely tragic. 

“I was contacted this morning by my local police chief to be informed of the circumstances and obviously I am not going to get into any of those details now.

“I will be speaking later on in more detail with both the police and the local fire chief." 

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Police are working with the fire service to investigate the cause of the fire in which a woman and child have died.

"Emergency services were called shortly before 10.45pm yesterday to reports of a fire at a house in South Street, Braintree.

"Officers, a police helicopter, the fire service and ambulance service attended.

"Two women had managed to get out of the property before emergency services arrived. They were taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

“Sadly a woman and a child were trapped inside and died at the scene. 

"Police and the fire service will carry out a joint investigation. The road is currently closed.”

East London man charged with distributing terror propaganda

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A 23 -year-old man from east London has been charged with three terror offences.

Sabbir Miah was arrested by counter terror police officers on December 6.

And on Thursday morning he was charged with three counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006.

Miah, from Forest Gate, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 5 next year.