UK

Canal water in the West Midlands is being tested for sodium cyanide after a spillage of toxic chemicals. Walsall Council said the Environment Agency told it about a spillage that went directly into the canal at Pleck on Monday. A major incident has been declared, involving police, the fire service, the Canal and Rivers Trust

A young man whose best friend was killed by a paranoid schizophrenic has spoken of his anger that lessons were not learned ahead of the Nottingham attack that left three people dead. Michael Callaghan, 27, was left permanently disabled and his friend Jacob Billington died when they were both stabbed on a night out in

A man has been charged after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed in central London. Ioan Pintaru, 32, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article less than a day after the girl was injured in an attack in Leicester Square. Initial reports suggested the girl’s mum, 34, was also stabbed in

An 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman have been stabbed in London’s Leicester Square. Their condition is not yet known. Police say a man has been arrested and is in custody. Metropolitan Police added: “We don’t believe there are any outstanding suspects.” This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published

Temperatures could soar to 35C in some parts of the country today which would make it the hottest day of the year so far. Warm European air caused temperatures to climb across much of the country on Sunday – and the Met Office has said highs of 34C to 35C could be reached on Monday.

The parents of the nine-year-old girl killed in a stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop have released an image of her at the event on the day of the attack. The image shows Alice da Silva Aguiar next to a cardboard cutout of Swift at the Hart Space community centre on the morning

The impact of the far-right riots seen across the UK could be felt for “months and years to come”, the justice secretary has warned. Shabana Mahmood made the remarks in a piece for The Observer as courts have been working extended hours to deal with rioters who were charged by police during the disorder. Far-right

The parents of a six-year-old girl who was killed in Southport have paid tribute to their “precious daughter” – and revealed her older sister saw the attack and escaped. Bebe King died along with nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, after the stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in the

Police officers remain on high alert amid concerns unrest will continue this weekend. The start of the football season has sparked fears of further unrest, with some newspapers reporting police are considering football banning orders after investigations suggested a link between rioters and football hooligan groups. Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated that police should remain

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has intervened in British politics once again by posting images an offensive deleted tweet from a Labour MP. Musk has been sparring with Sir Keir Starmer since last week after the prime minister blamed social media companies for allowing the spread of false claims the Southport stabbings suspect was an asylum

Police in Greater Manchester and Merseyside have released new images of people wanted in connection with the disorder of the last week. It comes as courts are already sentencing people for taking part in the violence, with jail terms of up to three years handed down so far. Fears of more than 100 far-right demos

Rioters responsible for violence across the country have had their court cases fast-tracked to warn others they will “suffer the consequences” if they decide to take part. Some have been jailed for targeting mosques, immigration centres, and other community buildings amid disinformation around the Southport knife attack. Suspects arrested in dawn raids: UK riots latest

Counter-protesters have turned out in UK cities amid warnings of at least 100 far-right marches being planned for Wednesday night. People were on the streets of towns and cities including Bristol, London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Brighton. More than 6,000 specialist police had been mobilised amid fears of a repeat of the violence seen around the

The King has asked to be kept updated daily on protests planned around the UK, Sky News understands. He is said to be engaging privately in the issues it has generated. The monarch has a longstanding record of engaging in issues around community cohesion and interfaith dialogue. UK riots latest: Counter-protesters gather in Hackney It

Sir Keir Starmer has said he expects the sentencing of many far-right rioters convicted after widespread unrest in the last few days to take place by the end of the week – as police prepare for 30 more gatherings due to take place on Wednesday evening. Although officers in Liverpool and Durham issued dispersal orders

Twenty-eight suspects will appear in court on Tuesday following disorder in Middlesbrough on Sunday – as forces in other parts of the country charged people with alleged offences committed online during the UK-wide riots. Officers said they will appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with violent disorder and other offences. The court has set aside

Several police officers have been injured and a police van was damaged as rival protest groups faced off in Plymouth. The crowds were held apart by lines of riot police, with violence breaking out as protesters threw rocks and fireworks. Trouble centred on a crowd of anti-immigration protesters who attempted for several hours to confront

People arrested in connection with riots across the country last week have appeared in court. The riots began in Southport last Tuesday – a day after three girls were killed in a knife attack in the Merseyside town. The demonstrations – whipped up by far-right agitators sharing misinformation about the suspect online – spread to

Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq has told Sky News his family members in the Rotherham area have felt unable to go out and live normally amid the “frightening” violence. He said: “We’re not so far away either, it’s really worrying times for all of us concerned.” Rafiq added: “On the family groups, everyone’s checking in

Chairs have been hurled at police and windows smashed as anti-immigration rioters broke into a hotel in Rotherham. Objects including pieces of wood and chairs have been thrown at the Holiday Inn Hotel and at police officers who are lined up in front of the building. At least one injured officer in riot gear was