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Manchester synagogue security guard says 'life changed forever' after attack

July 23, 2026 at 17:40

A security guard seriously injured during the Manchester synagogue attack last year says "life changed forever that day" and has revealed how he struggles with the aftermath.

Bernard Agyemang, 44, suffered multiple broken bones and a suspected brain injury, when Jihad al Shamie, a Syrian-born UK citizen, drove his car at worshippers outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall on 2 October 2025.

Al Shamie went on to attack people with a knife and tried to storm his way inside the synagogue. Armed police shot him dead after he ran towards officers "aggressively" while carrying the knife and what police feared was an explosive device - later identified as a fake.

Worshippers Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed in the attack.

Mr Agyemang survived but has ongoing pain, limited mobilty, cognitive difficulties and severe psychological trauma, including PTSD.

"I'm still struggling to process what happened," he said. "For those of us who survived, life changed forever that day.

"I try not to think about the events of that day, but I still suffer from nightmares and flashbacks."

The 44-year-old from Whalley Range, Manchester, said his body "was left broken after the attack", during which he suffered fractures to his right leg and collarbone as well as the suspected brain injury. He now relies on a crutch to walk.

"I live with constant physical pain but it's the trauma that has been the hardest to cope with," he said.

"I now live with a great deal of fear for my family's safety in a place that once felt like the safest place in the world."

The security guard said he was "eternally grateful to still be here" for his partner and children "who've kept me going throughout my recovery".

He added: "I dread to think where I would be without them."

Mr Agyemang spoke out for the first time following the sentencing of al Shamie's associate Mohammad Bashir on Thursday to life in prison for preparing an act of terrorism. The two had planned to attack a UK military base.

It came as Greater Manchester Police apologised for not searching al Shamie's phone when he was arrested twice before he carried out the synagogue attack.

Mr Agyemang said: "While I'm relieved to see one of those involved in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks held accountable for his actions, no sentence will ever make up for the lives we have lost or the suffering my community has endured and continues to endure."

He added: "By speaking out, I want to show that, despite everything, I will continue to work alongside my family and community as we support one another and gradually recover from this."

To support his ongoing recovery, Mr Agyemang instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires.

Richard Biggs, the specialist serious injury lawyer representing him, said after the hearing: "Bernard suffered extremely serious injuries in the October attack, which continues to have a profound impact on his life and that of his family and his community.

"While Bernard is making progress in his recovery, he still faces significant challenges. Nothing can make up for the pain, trauma and loss caused on that dreadful day, but we remain committed to helping him access the specialist rehabilitation and support he needs."

World Cup: Domestic abuse reached record high in UK

July 23, 2026 at 19:57

Domestic abuse incidents during the 2026 FIFA World Cup were at their highest recorded level compared with similar tournaments, the UK Football Policing Unit has said.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the Football Policing National Lead in charge of policing football in the UK, said the World Cup and associated alcohol consumption had led to an overall increase in reported incidents.

In total, 384 domestic violence incidents were reported during the tournament - representing 17 per cent of the 2,322 incidents reported.

There were 391 UK arrests connected with the tournament, marking an increase from the 2024 UEFA European Championships when there were 1,302 incidents in the UK overall connected to the football and 321 arrests.

This year's overall figure also included 1,008 incidents in licensed venues, marking the second highest number for a comparable tournament.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there were 573 incidents and 123 arrests in the UK.

The highest number of overall incidents across England's last five international tournaments came during Euro 2020, played in various countries, including England, in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 2,345 incidents were logged, resulting in 599 arrests.

Chief Constable Roberts said police had also seen an increase in incidents during periods when alcohol licensing had been extended for late matches.

Police incidents during extended licensing included:

A man being stabbed at a licensed premises following England's match with Argentina;
A police station surrounded by supporters with bottles and other items thrown;
A man being stabbed leaving a licensed premises following England's game with Norway;
A domestic incident of strangulation between a stepfather and stepson following the Norway match;
And widespread disorder in London following the France-Morocco game.

The number of incidents spiked at about 300 on the night of the England v Norway game when pubs were allowed to stay open until 2am, figures show.

"The domestic abuse that we see around tournaments is certainly linked to alcohol consumption," Chief Constable Roberts said.

"The greater the alcohol consumption, the greater the problem.

"Certainly, on the figures that we can show, there were a large number of offences where the licensing laws were extended.

"There were offences which took place in those times. So there is a direct correlation."

He added that increased alcohol consumption "does increase the problems and that includes on domestic abuse".

Chief Constable Roberts said that while the fallout of the World Cup presented a "gloomy picture" domestically, British football fans who travelled to the US for the tournament had behaved well with few incidents reported.

"The behaviour of the fans was fantastic. Given the significant numbers that travelled, the number of incidents we had were really low," he said.

Local police arrested 22 England fans who had travelled to the tournament, which marked an increase from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when there were no incidents.

'Threats must be considered'

Regarding forces' ability to plan for the potential for crime in the UK, because licensing was relaxed at short notice on several occasions, Chief Constable Roberts said: "The concern was that the blanket exemption meant there was no opportunity for local scrutiny to make sure that plans were in place and that an area was saturated."

He pointed to England's game against Mexico, which had taken place at 1am UK time, resulting in then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granting pubs an extended licence to serve alcohol until 5am, as a cause for concern.

"In relation to the Mexico game in particular, it was only 48 hours before the game that the laws were changed to extend the licensing," he said.

"That doesn't allow us to re-roster shifts, it doesn't allow us to bring officers on in time … we'd like people to listen to us when we make submissions and suggestions about how to do it."

He added: "We don't want to be killjoys. We want to support businesses, but this can be done with a bit of broader thought, not just to consider the benefits, but also the potential threats and mitigate them."

Man jailed for 12 years after thousands of litres of date rape drug found in storage

July 23, 2026 at 20:22

A man has been jailed for 12 years after more than 2,000 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL), a date rape drug, were found in a storage container rented by him, police have said.

Metropolitan Police officers found 2,256 litres of GBL - equivalent to 10 bathtubs - in 188 boxes containing one-litre bottles in a storage container rented by Ahoor Ramabark Fathi.

Fathi, 61, was arrested in March following an investigation into the transportation of (GBL) from Manchester to London, as well as the supply of crystal meth from London to Manchester.

Investigators, who used phone data to establish Fathi's involvement, then searched a rented storage container where they found the GBL.

At one of three addresses linked to Fathi - two in Ealing, and one in Southall - officers also found a firearm, ammunition, £100,000 in cash and 456g of crystal meth.

Fathi, of Willowbrook Road, Southall, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs, possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on April 17.

He was sentenced at the same court last week.

It was one of the largest seizures of GBL in London, the force said. GBL - an odourless, oily liquid, usually sold in small bottles or capsules - can lead to a comatose state and memory loss and is linked to spiking.

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, who led the investigation, said the haul "represents one of the largest quantities of GBL recovered in London and has prevented a substantial amount of the drug from reaching our streets".

"GBL and crystal meth are frequently associated with serious offences," he said.

According to the NHS, the difference between a high and an overdose, where the drug causes unresponsiveness and unconsciousness, on GBL can be less than one millilitre.

PC who took own life alleged to have been violent rapist who attempted murder

July 23, 2026 at 20:33

A Police Scotland officer who took his own life earlier this year is suspected to have been a violent rapist who carried out a spate of attacks.

The force said it has identified a number of alleged victims of Alan Greer, 47, amid one of the "largest and most complex enquiries ever undertaken" by its anti-corruption unit.

Work is ongoing to investigate the extent of the reported offending - which includes attempted murder - and to identify and support any other potential victims.

Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, professionalism and assurance, said: "My thoughts, firstly, are with the victims in this case who have spoken up and reported these allegations, as well as with Alan Greer's family, friends and colleagues who have been deeply affected by these reports and his death.

"The investigation into this matter is one of the largest and most complex enquiries ever undertaken by the anti-corruption unit and significant work is ongoing to fully ascertain the extent of offending and identify and support as many victims as possible.

"Clearly Alan Greer cannot stand trial for these allegations of serious violent sexual offending, including attempted murder, but this investigation is about identifying and supporting potential victims, giving them a voice, and establishing the full circumstances."

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he was "absolutely horrified" by what had happened and "deeply concerned about the fact that this has been able to be carried out by a serving police officer".

He told journalists in Glasgow: "It is absolutely vital there is an open, transparent and candid response taken by the police in response to this particular case."

Greer joined Strathclyde Police in 2009 before it merged with Police Scotland in 2013.

The force confirmed that he worked as a PC.

A major police probe was launched at the end of 2025 following a complaint relating to a non-recent serious sexual assault being carried out by an unidentified officer.

The anti-corruption unit got to work and subsequently arrested Greer on 24 April 2026.

A number of electronic devices were seized during the search of a property in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, and enquiries into the contents of these are continuing.

Greer was released without charge pending further investigation and was suspended from duty.

He was found dead at the Wishaw property on 6 May 2026.

The force said there were "no suspicious circumstances", and the circumstances of the death following police contact are now subject of a Crown Office-directed investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

PIRC said it will report its finding to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in "due course".

Police Scotland said further investigations have identified a number of alleged victims of serious sexual offending at the hands of Greer, who are now being supported by specialist officers and partner agencies.

ACC Ratcliff added: "I would encourage anyone with any information or who may be a victim in this case to please come forward and speak to us.

"You will be listened to and given the support you need."

Police Scotland enquiry team helplines:

• Email: OperationSubmarine@scotland.police.uk
• Phone: 07484 438 539 / 0300 426 6644

Police complaints and concerns relating to allegations of corruption or serious abuse can be reported via Crimestoppers.

Rape Crisis Scotland has urged anyone in need of support to call its helpline on 08088 01 03 02 between the hours of 5pm and midnight.

Nicola Love, the charity's external affairs manager, said: "Our main thoughts today are with the women who have been affected, both those who have spoken out and those who have not.

"A survivor has shown tremendous bravery to come forward to report what has happened to her, and her making that report is ultimately what has forced the deplorable acts perpetrated by Alan Greer into the light and led him to be removed from the force."

Scotland's Justice Secretary Neil Gray also praised the bravery of the alleged victims.

He said: "This is a horrific and deeply shocking case and my thoughts, first and foremost, are with the victims, who have shown enormous courage in coming forward.

"The public place their trust in the police and for any officer to abuse that trust and the office they hold is truly heinous.

"The vast majority of officers serve to protect people and keep them safe, and the public should be confident about reporting any crime involving sexual violence to the police.

"As has been shown since the first victim came forward, the police will investigate such reports."

Mr Gray said he had spoken to Chief Constable Jo Farrell regarding the "terrible case".

He added: "I have been assured that this investigation is ongoing and I expect it to be handled professionally and with transparency.

"I would encourage anyone with information or who may have been a victim in this case to speak to Police Scotland."

Man in court charged with murder of woman at Edinburgh house

July 23, 2026 at 17:14

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman in Edinburgh.

Emergency crews were called to a disturbance at a house in the city's Craigievar Square at about 8.45pm on Monday.

Police Scotland said Vikki Soloman, 44, was found with serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lee Greenan, 46, was arrested and charged in connection with the aesthetician's death.

He appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, where he made no plea to three separate charges - assault to injury, murder, and assault.

The suspect, of Edinburgh, was remanded in custody and is due back in the dock within the next eight days.

Local businesswoman Ms Soloman was the owner of Vikki Soloman Aesthetics.

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton worked closely with Ms Soloman as new laws governing the beauty and aesthetics sector passed through Holyrood in March.

In a post on Facebook, the MSP for Edinburgh North Western said: "She was a proud ambassador for her industry and taught me so much about her line of work.

"She loved what she did and I enjoyed her effervescent charm every time we met.

"The police must now be allowed to do their job and provide much needed answers, but this is a shocking incident and it will cast a long shadow over our community.

"My thoughts are with her children and those who loved her at this awful time."

Detective Inspector Mark McGraw previously said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with Vikki's family, who have requested privacy at this difficult time.

"A police presence will remain in the area while enquiries continue and to provide reassurance.

"Anyone with information or concerns can speak to our officers out on patrol or contact Police Scotland on 101."

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