Glasgow Crash Helicopter Had Safety Checks

The police helicopter which crashed into a Glasgow pub was one of many that underwent safety checks as a precaution last year.

Police Scotland said the Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 was tested on the advice of its operator Bond Air Services last July.

It happened after Scotland's two air ambulance helicopters were suspended following a warning about their safety.

Eurocopter issued a safety information notice about its EC135 fleet early last May after reports of cracks on the lower hub shaft flange of the machines.

As a result, Bond Air Services, who operate the aircrafts on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service, decided to withdraw them from use.

PC Kirsty Nelis was one of eight people killed in the crash

The police helicopter was subjected to safety checks in July last year but was not withdrawn from service.

The force said: "In July 2012 we received a safety information notice from Eurocopter after a crack was found in the main rotor hub shaft of an EC135 helicopter in France.

"Following detailed inspection, in line with the latest airworthiness directive, no faults were identified and the force helicopter was available for operational deployment."

Eight people died and 12 people are in hospital with serious injuries following the crash at 10.25pm on Friday night.

Witnesses said the helicopter came down "like a stone" from the sky, hitting the roof of The Clutha in Glasgow when more than 100 people were inside the bar.

The three occupants of the Eurocopter EC135 T2 - two police officers and a civilian pilot - were among the dead.

Police have launched a major investigation under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Workers remove one of the helicopter's rotor blades for examination

At least one aviation safety expert believes something "dramatic" suddenly occurred to cause the helicopter crash.

The pilot would have had either little or no control of his aircraft in the final moments of the flight, Flight Global's operations and safety editor David Learmount told Sky News.

But he added that although a witness has described the helicopter as dropping like a stone, there were indications that the pilot might have still had "some ability to fly" before the impact.

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Lostprophets 'Angry, Disgusted' At Ian Watkins

Welsh rock band Lostprophets have said they are "heartbroken, angry and disgusted" at former frontman Ian Watkins after the singer admitted a string of sex crimes.

The 36-year-old, of Pontypridd, South Wales, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of a baby and 10 other sex offences.

Band members Jamie Oliver, Lee Gaze, Luke Johnson, Mike Lewis and Stuart Richardson said they did not know about the crimes, and "never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted".

Watkins had faced 24 sex offence charges, but admitted 11 at the last minute as his trial was due to begin at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard he plotted the abuse with the mothers of two babies - who pleaded guilty to 13 offences in total between them - in a series of text and internet messages.

Ian Watkins admitted a string of paedophile offences

Watkins also confessed to aiding and abetting a woman to sexually abuse her own child.

And he pleaded guilty to possessing and making indecent photographs of children, as well as having extreme pornographic material involving bestiality on his computer hard drive.

His bandmates said in a statement: "Earlier this week, we learned that the allegations of child sexual abuse against Ian were true, and that he would not be contesting them in court.

"Until then, we found them extremely difficult to believe and had hoped it was all a mistake. Sadly, the true extent of his appalling behaviour is now impossible to deny.

"Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: we did not.

"We knew that Ian was a difficult character. Our personal relationships with him had deteriorated in recent years to a point that working together was a constant, miserable challenge.

"But despite his battles with drugs, his egotistic behaviour, and the resulting fractures and frustrations within our band, we never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted.

The singer is due to be sentenced this month

"We are heartbroken, angry and disgusted at what has been revealed. This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

"Being in a band has always been a labour of love and a platform to inspire people, not to take advantage of them.

"It's still hard to believe this is happening and that someone we were once so close to has destroyed so many lives, lying every step of the way.

"Our hearts go out to Ian's family, the fans and friends he betrayed, and most importantly, the victims of his crimes and others like them.

"We hope for justice, but also that Ian will truly take responsibility for what he's done."

The group, who had been together since 1997 and announced they were splitting on October 1, urged any other victims to contact the authorities.

:: Anyone who has been affected by the Watkins case, or other cases of child abuse, is urged to contact South Wales Police on 029 20634184 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

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Energy Bills 'To Fall By £50' Under Govt Plan

Household energy bills will be reduced by an average of £50 a year under plans by the Government which will see a cut in green levies.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg confirmed the plan to reduce the burden on consumers by cutting the green taxes, which add £112 to each bill.

The cost of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme, which funds energy efficiency measures for low-income households and makes up the vast majority of the environmental levies, will be halved under the plan.

Around £12 of the £50 savings to bills will come from a reworking of the Warm Home Discount in a £300m deal. The remainder will come by switching the funding for energy measures to general taxation.

The reductions are expected to be finalised in negotiations taking place with the Big Six power firms this weekend and are to be disclosed by the Chancellor, George Osborne, in his Autumn Statement on Thursday.

They will also include the announcement of a £1,000 grant for energy efficiency measures for anyone buying a new home, which will be funded by a fresh crackdown on tax avoiders.

The two leaders insist the plan is 'serious and credible'

Labour and the Conservatives have been scrapping to gain ground with the public on energy prices as the cost-of-living looks likely to take centre stage in the run-up to the General Election.

Labour leader Ed Miliband announced in his party conference speech in September that if he was in power would freeze energy prices for 20 months.

It was followed by a series of eye-watering price increases by the so-called Big Six energy firms.

In response, Mr Cameron insisted he would roll back the green levies and in return, the energy companies should bring down prices.

However, the Liberal Democrats have insisted that environmental measures - one of their election pledges - should not be dropped and have fought to find alternative ways of funding them.

Bills are burned during a protest this month against prices and budget cuts

Mr Osborne today insisted that the energy firms would not just pocket the green levy reductions and that the Government had been "absolutely insistent that this is passed on".

"We are doing it in the way that government can do it, which is controlling the costs that families incur because of government policies.

"We are also doing it in the way that is not going to damage the environment or in any way reduce our commitment to dealing with climate change," he told BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

The Shadow Business Minister Chuka Umunna told Sky's Dermot Murnaghan that the measures were a "pale imitation" of Labour's plans to freeze energy prices and reform the market.

Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor, told Andrew Marr: "Anything they do is better than nothing" but that shifting the cost to households from bills to taxes was simply "taking with one had to give with the other".

In a joint article for The Sun on Sunday, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg wrote: "Later this week, we'll announce further help: proposals that will be worth around £50 on average to energy bill-payers.

"We're doing it without taking any help away from poor families or sacrificing our green commitments; and in a way that will keep Britain's lights on in the long-term too."

The pair added: "Alongside the Green Deal, when you buy a new home, you could get up to £1,000 from Government to spend on important energy-saving measures - equivalent to half the stamp duty on the average house - or even more for particularly expensive measures.

"It's an all-round win: better insulation means cheaper bills; it's how we cut carbon emissions; and it will boost British businesses who provide these services."

EDF, one of the Big Six welcomed the move, and said it did not expect to raise prices again before 2015.

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Pub Stab Victim: Case of 'Mistaken Identity'

A man stabbed to death outside a London pub was a victim of mistaken identity, police believe.

Christopher Foster was attacked while having a cigarette with a male friend in an alleyway outside St Christopher's Inn, in Borough High Street, Southwark, central London.

Witnesses said they saw seven suspects wearing hooded clothing carrying baseball bats and at least one knife.

Emergency services were alerted to the stabbing at about 11.45pm on Friday.

The attack happened outside St Christopher's Inn in Borough High Street

Mr Foster was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, where he died at 1.05am on Saturday.

The unmarried 34-year-old, who had a four-year-old daughter, lived in Walworth, southeast London.

He worked in administration for a firm of lawyers.

A post-mortem will be held at Greenwich.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin said: "At this stage of our investigation, this appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Flowers were left at the scene of the murder

"I am keen to identify a group of males who were seen running from St Christopher's Inn along Borough High Street towards Elephant and Castle immediately after the stabbing."

Witnesses or anyone with information can call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. She was taken to an east London police station where she remains in custody.

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Glasgow Helicopter Pub Crash: PC Is Victim

PC Kirsty Nelis was one of the eight people killed when a police helicopter crashed into a crowded pub in Glasgow, officers have confirmed.

Many of the 36-year-old officer's friends have changed their Facebook profile pictures to a black square cut across by a thin blue line in her memory.

David Traill was flying the police helicopter

Andrina Romano said: "For my beautiful friend Kirsty and all others involved. You will never be forgotten and I will miss you every day. Rip."

Police said her colleagues PC Tony Collins, 43, and civilian pilot David Traill, 51, also died in the helicopter.

Four of the eight known victims have so far been named.

Gary Arthur was drinking in the pub when the crash happened

Gary Arthur, 48, from Paisley, who was drinking in The Clutha pub in Stockwell Street at the time of the incident, was also killed. Four other people also died in the pub.

Friends of a man called Mark O'Prey have been tweeting pictures of him, saying he is missing and was drinking in the pub on Friday night.

Emergency services at the scene on Sunday morning

The mangled wreckage of the helicopter remains embedded in the middle of the building. It is not known how many people are still inside the pub.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House told a news conference he "couldn't discount the possibility" that the death toll will rise.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "Until we remove the helicopter, we cannot be sure what we'll find."

Mark O'Prey was in The Clutha when the aircraft crashed

Officers have removed a second body from the wreckage, and are continuing the formal process of identification.

DCC Fitzpatrick said it was a "painstaking" recovery operation because they had to ensure the safety of the emergency services at the scene.

A service for the victims was held at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday morning, with Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon among those attending.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have sent their "most heartfelt thoughts and sympathy to the families of those who were lost or injured in Friday's truly shocking helicopter accident in Glasgow".

The Clutha had been packed with more than 100 people watching a ska band when the crash happened at 10.25pm on Friday.

A special service has been held at Glasgow Cathedral

Twelve people remain seriously injured in three Glasgow hospitals.

A total of 32 were admitted and 20 of them have been discharged. The wounded suffered mostly chest, spinal and head injuries as well as fractures and lacerations.

Mr Arthur's 18-year-old daughter, Chloe, who plays forward for Celtic women's first-team and is on the Scottish team, tweeted her thanks to everyone for their support.

"RIP dad. you'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart," she wrote. "Thanks to everyone who has tweeted me, text me etc, means so much, I have the most amazing friends ever."

A post on the Facebook page of Mr Traill's cousin Heather Lawson read: "RIP David Traill my lovely big cousin away far to soon xxx."

A police officer lays flowers at the crash scene

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

A large crane was brought in overnight and one of the aircraft's rotor blades has been removed for examination.

Witnesses said the helicopter came down "like a stone" from the sky at "a great speed", while some suggested that there was a problem with the aircraft's rotor.

Grace MacLean, who was inside the pub at the time, told Sky News: "There was a band on, they were quite loud, and we just kinda heard a whoosh and some smoke.

"We looked around and no-one really knew what was going on. Everyone just carried on listening to the band. And then we kind of looked again and the roof was gradually coming down."

The Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 helicopter involved in the crash was one of many that underwent safety checks as a precaution last year, it has emerged.

Police Scotland said the aircraft was tested on the advice of its operator Bond Air Services last May after reports of cracks on the machines.

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Pub Stab Victim: Case of 'Mistaken Identity'

A man stabbed to death outside a London pub was a victim of mistaken identity, police believe.

Christopher Foster was attacked while having a cigarette with a male friend in an alleyway outside St Christopher's Inn, in Borough High Street, Southwark, central London.

Witnesses said they saw seven suspects wearing hooded clothing carrying baseball bats and at least one knife.

Emergency services were alerted to the stabbing at about 11.45pm on Friday.

The attack happened outside St Christopher's Inn in Borough High Street

Mr Foster was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, where he died at 1.05am on Saturday.

The unmarried 34-year-old, who had a four-year-old daughter, lived in Walworth, southeast London.

He worked in administration for a firm of lawyers.

A post-mortem will be held at Greenwich.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin said: "At this stage of our investigation, this appears to be a case of mistaken identity.

Flowers were left at the scene of the murder

"I am keen to identify a group of males who were seen running from St Christopher's Inn along Borough High Street towards Elephant and Castle immediately after the stabbing."

Witnesses or anyone with information can call the incident room on 020 8345 3865, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. She was taken to an east London police station where she remains in custody.

22.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lostprophets 'Angry, Disgusted' At Ian Watkins

Welsh rock band Lostprophets have said they are "heartbroken, angry and disgusted" at former frontman Ian Watkins after the singer admitted a string of sex crimes.

The 36-year-old, of Pontypridd, South Wales, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of a baby and 10 other sex offences.

Band members Jamie Oliver, Lee Gaze, Luke Johnson, Mike Lewis and Stuart Richardson said they did not know about the crimes, and "never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted".

Watkins had faced 24 sex offence charges, but admitted 11 at the last minute as his trial was due to begin at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard he plotted the abuse with the mothers of two babies - who pleaded guilty to 13 offences in total between them - in a series of text and internet messages.

Ian Watkins admitted a string of paedophile offences

Watkins also confessed to aiding and abetting a woman to sexually abuse her own child.

And he pleaded guilty to possessing and making indecent photographs of children, as well as having extreme pornographic material involving bestiality on his computer hard drive.

His bandmates said in a statement: "Earlier this week, we learned that the allegations of child sexual abuse against Ian were true, and that he would not be contesting them in court.

"Until then, we found them extremely difficult to believe and had hoped it was all a mistake. Sadly, the true extent of his appalling behaviour is now impossible to deny.

"Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: we did not.

"We knew that Ian was a difficult character. Our personal relationships with him had deteriorated in recent years to a point that working together was a constant, miserable challenge.

"But despite his battles with drugs, his egotistic behaviour, and the resulting fractures and frustrations within our band, we never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted.

The singer is due to be sentenced this month

"We are heartbroken, angry and disgusted at what has been revealed. This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

"Being in a band has always been a labour of love and a platform to inspire people, not to take advantage of them.

"It's still hard to believe this is happening and that someone we were once so close to has destroyed so many lives, lying every step of the way.

"Our hearts go out to Ian's family, the fans and friends he betrayed, and most importantly, the victims of his crimes and others like them.

"We hope for justice, but also that Ian will truly take responsibility for what he's done."

The group, who had been together since 1997 and announced they were splitting on October 1, urged any other victims to contact the authorities.

:: Anyone who has been affected by the Watkins case, or other cases of child abuse, is urged to contact South Wales Police on 029 20634184 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

22.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Energy Bills 'To Fall By £50' Under Govt Plan

Household energy bills will be reduced by an average of £50 a year under plans by the Government which will see a cut in green levies.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg confirmed the plan to reduce the burden on consumers by cutting the green taxes, which add £112 to each bill.

The cost of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme, which funds energy efficiency measures for low-income households and makes up the vast majority of the environmental levies, will be halved under the plan.

Around £12 of the £50 savings to bills will come from a reworking of the Warm Home Discount in a £300m deal. The remainder will come by switching the funding for energy measures to general taxation.

The reductions are expected to be finalised in negotiations taking place with the Big Six power firms this weekend and are to be disclosed by the Chancellor, George Osborne, in his Autumn Statement on Thursday.

They will also include the announcement of a £1,000 grant for energy efficiency measures for anyone buying a new home, which will be funded by a fresh crackdown on tax avoiders.

Labour and the Conservatives have been scrapping to gain ground with the public on energy prices as the cost-of-living looks likely to take centre stage in the run-up to the General Election.

Labour leader Ed Miliband announced in his party conference speech in September that if he was in power would freeze energy prices for 20 months.

It was followed by a series of eye-watering price increases by the so-called Big Six energy firms.

In response, Mr Cameron insisted he would roll back the green levies and in return, the energy companies should bring down prices.

However, the Liberal Democrats have insisted that environmental measures - one of their election pledges - should not be dropped and have fought to find alternative ways of funding them. The two leaders insist the plan is 'serious and credible'

Mr Osborne today insisted that the energy firms would not just pocket the green levy reductions and that the Government had been "absolutely insistent that this is passed on".

"We are doing it in the way that government can do it, which is controlling the costs that families incur because of government policies.

"We are also doing it in the way that is not going to damage the environment or in any way reduce our commitment to dealing with climate change," he told BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

The Shadow Business Minister Chuka Umunna told Sky's Dermot Murnaghan that the measures were a "pale imitation" of Labour's plans to freeze energy prices and reform the market.

Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor, told Andrew Marr: "Anything they do is better than nothing" but that shifting the cost to households from bills to taxes was simply "taking with one had to give with the other".

In a joint article for The Sun on Sunday, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg wrote: "Later this week, we'll announce further help: proposals that will be worth around £50 on average to energy bill-payers.

"We're doing it without taking any help away from poor families or sacrificing our green commitments; and in a way that will keep Britain's lights on in the long-term too."

The pair added: "Alongside the Green Deal, when you buy a new home, you could get up to £1,000 from Government to spend on important energy-saving measures - equivalent to half the stamp duty on the average house - or even more for particularly expensive measures.

"It's an all-round win: better insulation means cheaper bills; it's how we cut carbon emissions; and it will boost British businesses who provide these services." Bills are burned during a protest this month against prices and budget cuts

EDF, one of the Big Six welcomed the move, and said it did not expect to raise prices again before 2015.

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Glasgow Crash Helicopter Had Safety Checks

The police helicopter which crashed into a Glasgow pub was one of many that underwent safety checks as a precaution last year.

Police Scotland said the Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 was tested on the advice of its operator Bond Air Services last July.

It happened after Scotland's two air ambulance helicopters were suspended following a warning about their safety.

Eurocopter issued a safety information notice about its EC135 fleet early last May after reports of cracks on the lower hub shaft flange of the machines.

As a result, Bond Air Services, who operate the aircrafts on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service, decided to withdraw them from use.

PC Kirsty Nelis was one of eight people killed in the crash

The police helicopter was subjected to safety checks in July last year but was not withdrawn from service.

The force said: "In July 2012 we received a safety information notice from Eurocopter after a crack was found in the main rotor hub shaft of an EC135 helicopter in France.

"Following detailed inspection, in line with the latest airworthiness directive, no faults were identified and the force helicopter was available for operational deployment."

Eight people died and 12 people are in hospital with serious injuries following the crash at 10.25pm on Friday night.

Witnesses said the helicopter came down "like a stone" from the sky, hitting the roof of The Clutha in Glasgow when more than 100 people were inside the bar.

The three occupants of the Eurocopter EC135 T2 - two police officers and a civilian pilot - were among the dead.

Police have launched a major investigation under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Workers remove one of the helicopter's rotor blades for examination

At least one aviation safety expert believes something "dramatic" suddenly occurred to cause the helicopter crash.

The pilot would have had either little or no control of his aircraft in the final moments of the flight, Flight Global's operations and safety editor David Learmount told Sky News.

But he added that although a witness has described the helicopter as dropping like a stone, there were indications that the pilot might have still had "some ability to fly" before the impact.

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Glasgow Helicopter Pub Crash: PC Is Victim

PC Kirsty Nelis was one of the eight people killed when a police helicopter crashed into a crowded pub in Glasgow, Sky News sources say.

Many of her friends have changed their Facebook profile pictures to a black square cut across by a thin blue line in her memory.

Andrina Romano said: "For my beautiful friend Kirsty and all others involved. You will never be forgotten and I will miss you every day. Rip."

Ms Nelis is the third of the eight victims to be named. The first was Gary Arthur, 48, from Paisley, who was drinking in The Clutha pub in Stockwell Street at the time of the incident.

David Traill, thought to be in his 50s, was the civilian pilot at the controls of the police helicopter.

David Traill is believed to have been the civilian police helicopter pilot

Ms Nelis and another police officer also died in the aircraft. Mr Arthur and four others were killed in the pub.

The mangled wreckage of the helicopter remains embedded in the middle of the building. It is not known how many people are still inside the pub.

Gary Arthur was drinking in the pub when the crash happened

Deputy chief constable Rose Fitzpatrick told a news conference they hope to identify further victims today.

She confirmed there were eight fatalities, but warned: "Until we remove the helicopter, we cannot be sure what we'll find."

Officers removed a second body from the wreckage this morning, and are continuing the formal process of identification.

Emergency services at the scene on Sunday morning

DCC Fitzpatrick said it was a "painstaking" recovery operation because they had to ensure the safety of the emergency services at the scene.

A service for the victims was held at Glasgow Cathedral on Sunday morning, with Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon among those attending.

One of the aircraft's rotor blades has been removed by crane

The Clutha had been packed with more than 100 people watching a ska band when the crash happened at 10.25pm on Friday.

Twelve people remain seriously injured in three Glasgow hospitals.

A total of 32 were admitted and 20 of them have been discharged. The wounded suffered mostly chest, spinal and head injuries as well as fractures and lacerations.

A special service has been held at Glasgow Cathedral

Mr Arthur's 18-year-old daughter, Chloe, who plays forward for Celtic women's first-team and is on the Scottish team, tweeted her thanks to everyone for their support.

"RIP dad. you'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart," she wrote. "Thanks to everyone who has tweeted me, text me etc, means so much, I have the most amazing friends ever."

A post on the Facebook page of Mr Traill's cousin Heather Lawson read: "RIP David Traill my lovely big cousin away far to soon xxx."

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

A large crane was brought in overnight and one of the aircraft's rotor blades has been removed for examination.

A police officer lays flowers at the crash scene

Witnesses said the helicopter came down "like a stone" from the sky at "a great speed", while some suggested that there was a problem with the aircraft's rotor.

Grace MacLean, who was inside the pub at the time, told Sky News: "There was a band on, they were quite loud, and we just kinda heard a whoosh and some smoke.

"We looked around and no-one really knew what was going on. Everyone just carried on listening to the band. And then we kind of looked again and the roof was gradually coming down."

The Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 helicopter involved in the crash was one of many that underwent safety checks as a precaution last year, it has emerged.

Police Scotland said the aircraft was tested on the advice of its operator Bond Air Services last May after reports of cracks on the machines.

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