Policing News

Two arrests over railway attack

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of pushing a woman off a platform on to a railway track. Linda Buchanan, 58, was attacked at Farningham Road station last Wednesday after telling two men to stop smoking. She suffered a broken wrist. A 30-year-old man was arrested in Dartford by British Transport Police on Monday and bailed until September. An 18-year-old man from Dartford was arrested on Tuesday night and is being questioned by police. Ch Supt Steve Morgan said: "Officers in this case have spent many days trawling through CCTV from stations between Farningham Road and Victoria and have taken numerous witness statements from members of the public. "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those members of the public who came forward and provided us with invaluable information to assist us in this investigation." Police had initially said CCTV images of the incident were indistinct and showed only the backs of heads. Ms Buchanan was pulled back on to the platform by other commuters shortly before a train pulled in. She previously told BBC News she felt lucky to be alive.

Double murder probe CCTV released

CCTV images showing the last known movements of a woman, who was murdered along with her boyfriend at a flat, have been released by police. Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, died after a "frenzied" knife attack in a flat in Newcastle's West End. The images show Miss Xi on a bus and walking towards the home she shared with Mr Zhen in Croydon Road. Detectives have now also brought in an offender profiler to help establish a motive for the killings. The bodies of the victims, from China, were found at the downstairs flat on Saturday afternoon.

Armed siege continuing at house

Armed police have spent a second night surrounding a house in North Yorkshire where a man has been holding a six-year-old girl hostage. The man, who is in his 30s and believed to be armed with knives, barricaded himself in the property on Herdborough Road in Scarborough on Monday night. A police spokesman said the incident was "still ongoing". Police negotiators are believed to be in the house while the man is thought to be in a bedroom with the girl. The entire road has been cordoned off. Local residents told BBC Radio York they had heard the man shouting to police on Tuesday night and throwing items out of a window into the garden.

Arrests over fire attack 'horror'

Two people have been arrested over a petrol attack in Hartlepool which left a man with "horrific burns". The 38-year-old victim was set alight on the doorstep of a house in Annandale Crescent and remains critically ill. Police said he underwent surgery at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he had two fingers amputated. Officers are questioning a 34-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and a man, aged 29, on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both are from the Hartlepool area.

Armed robber targets bookmakers

A man armed with a hammer stole cash from a Tyneside betting shop after threatening staff. Police said the raider targeted the Pagebet shop in Dean Road, South Shields, on Tuesday night. Officers said staff members, who were unhurt in the robbery, had been left "extremely shaken" by the incident. The offender is about 18-years-old, with dark hair and he was wearing navy blue clothing. Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Teenager shot in town centre row

A teenager is being treated for head and leg injuries after being shot during a row in a town centre. The 19-year-old was taken to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate were his condition is described as stable. Kent Police said the teenager's injures were caused by shotgun pellets during an incident in Oxenden Square, Herne Bay on Tuesday evening. A 29-year-old man and a man aged 28, both from Herne Bay have been arrested. The area surrounding Oxenden Square has been cordoned off while officers carry out an investigation. Ch Supt John Molloy said: "We believe that this is related to a domestic matter and officers made two arrests early this morning. "This is a serious incident but from what we have established this crime involves people known to each other and is an isolated event."

Devices made safe by Army experts

Three firebombs found during a security alert in north Belfast have been made safe by Army bomb experts. Police said the incendiary devices were viable and had been left at addresses in Halliday's Road, New Lodge Road and North Queen Street. The devices have since been removed and taken away for further examination. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Alan Little said those responsible for the attack had shown "a callous disregard for human life". "Fortunately none of these devices detonated. We could have been dealing with carnage and destruction," he said.

Man stabs wife after killing pet

A man has admitted stabbing his ex-wife with a screwdriver in front of their children after killing the family pet. Maqsood Asghar, 36, slaughtered the pet rabbit in front of Yasmin Asghar and told her the same would happen to her. Two weeks later, he arrived at her home brandishing screwdrivers and stabbed her in the neck and back. At Edinburgh Sheriff Court Asghar pled guilty to assaulting and injuring Mrs Asghar by striking her in the neck and body with a screwdriver. He was remanded in custody until he is sentenced next month after psychiatric reports are prepared. The court was told Mrs Asghar had moved to the west of Scotland after splitting from her husband.