21/10/2016 BBC News at Ten

The Welsh village of Aberfan falls silent 50 years after the disaster

that killed 144 people, most of them children.

Remembering the dead at the exact moment when the village was suddenly

hit by an avalanche of coalmining waste.

It swept down the hillside engulfing a primary school

Some rescuers had to dig with their bare hands

Hell of a noise. We didn't know what it was. We looked out of the window

and seen like a black mass. Prince Charles laid a wreath

in the village this afternoon and paid tribute to the survivors

saying no-one could have borne those losses with greater

strength or greater courage. A teenager's arrested on suspicion

of terrorism after a suspect package was found on the tube

in London yesterday. Sailing past the White Cliffs

of Dover, the Russian It's been an extraordinary display

of Russian military power just a few miles off the British coast. One

Moscow newspaper called it an Armarda.

The undercover Fake Sheikh, journalist Mazher Mahmood is jailed

for tampering with evidence in a drugs trial.

And a controversial twist for Wonder Woman as the fictional

character's made a United Nations envoy for women.

And coming up in Sportsday on BBC News, England are in a real battle

in the first Test against Bangladesh. The tourists were bowled

out for 293 while the hosts closed day two on 221.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Ten.

It was one the worst disasters in modern British history.

This morning at 9:15 a minutes' silence was held in the village

of Aberfan at the exact moment 50 years ago when 116 children

between the ages of 7 and 10 and 28 adults were killed.

They died when an avalanche of coal waste, 150,000 tonnes of it,

slid down the hillside and engulfed the village primary school

Around half the children at the school were died.

Sian Lloyd has spent the day in Aberfan.

Early morning in Aberfan and a community coming together

to remember the disaster 50 years ago.

The site of Pantglas School is now a memorial garden.

At 9:15, the moment classrooms were engulfed,

And at the cemetery, high on the hillside.

This was a time to remember the 144 people who died in a man-made

disaster when liquefied coal waste slid down the mountainside.

Eight-year-old Gerald Kirwan was in the second year juniors.

He was one of the lucky ones, but his memories

I could hear like, a rumbling, like thunder.

A hell of a noise, didn't know what it was

and we looked up to the window and we see, like,

I'd been pushed across the classroom to the back wall,

We were just waiting, wondering what had happened

to cause the devastation we were trapped in.

Where classrooms once stood, today the Prince of Wales planted a tree,

No-one should have to bear the losses you suffered, but

no-one could have borne those losses with greater strength

A balloon for each of the victims and a moment for Gerald Kirwan to

share with his granddaughter, after keeping his emotions bottled up

We never, ever spoke about it, to my mother and father,

Even the children, there were only a few of us

But it had been a disaster that was waiting to happen.

Coal waste had been dumped in huge tips on top of streams and

Local people were joined by miners in the search for survivors.

But as the hours passed, rescuers realised that

the children they were now finding had all died.

Many were looking for their own own sons and daughters.

David Goldsworthy lost his ten-year-old

This is the first time he has returned to Aberfan

on the anniversary itself from Canada, where he emigrated

He would have been 60 this year, in August.

No-one was ever prosecuted for the lives that were lost,

although the National Coal Board was found to be to blame.

I can go back to that class in seconds.

And I don't imagine that will ever go away.

Today has been difficult for many people here in Aberfan. For some,

it's been the first time they've opened up and spoken publicly about

what happened that day. This community showed great strength when

fighting for answers and justice following the disaster and it

continues to show that resilience, particularly today 50 years on when

so many people have been looking in on Aberfan, the community spirit

here's been tremendous. A 19-year-old man has been arrested

under the Terrorism Act, following the discovery

of a suspicious device on a Tube The man was arrested today by armed

police who used a Taser stun gun during the operation on a street

in North London. Our Home Affairs Correspondent,

June Kelly has the story. The teenage suspect under

arrest and being led away It was early afternoon

when they moved in on him on a busy Armed officers were involved

in a large police operation. They had him just under

where the bridge is, just there. It was all seen by this man,

who doesn't want his face shown. All of a sudden, I saw four or five

men running towards this guy then they put him on the floor,

they were shouting, saying "Armed And then I was looking from upstairs

- they had him on the floor Police used a Taser stun gun

to overpower the 19-year-old. He was struggling not

to be arrested, but in the end they arrested him

and they took him away. He has been detained

after a security alert yesterday A suspicious package was found

on a train at North Greenwich station and was detonated

in a controlled explosion. Police are said to be

keeping an open mind about a possible motive,

and are not looking for anyone Over the past 24 hours patrols have

been stepped up around transport hubs in the capital,

to reassure the public. The device is now being

forensically examined. There are reports, unconfirmed

by the police, that it contained Tonight the suspect

is being held on suspicion of committing, preparing

and instigating terrorist acts. Theresa May has warned other

European leaders that Britain mustn't be sidelined,

within the EU, while both The Prime Minister was speaking

after a summit in Brussels where she was allowed just five minutes,

in the early hours of this morning, to outline her position

on leaving the European Union. From Brussels here's our

Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg. Colour-coded documents tagged,

ready for the talks. But after only a five-minute hearing

at 1am can Theresa May Not just throw up their hands,

or worse, gang up against Britain. My aim is to cement Britain

as a close partner with the EU once we have left and the UK

will continue to face similar challenges to our

European neighbours. We will continue to share the same

values and so I want a mature, cooperative relationship

with our European partners. Do you really expect all 27

countries in the European Union to keep listening to Britain

when we are quitting? Aren't they entitled,

actually, to ignore us now? But as long as we are members

of the European Union, we continue to meet our rights

and obligations as members of the European Union and that has

been welcomed and I think that is the right spirit

and approach to take in this. We will continue to play our role,

as I have done, I can assure you that

I haven't been backwards Just listen to the EU's

top official. How did the evening

go with Theresa May? We had no special event

with Theresa May yesterday. to stop influence draining

away before we leave. She has all the experience,

she knows the corridors, how to talk on how to behave

and what to expect from others, There's still business to do,

on steel dumping, on Russia. How did you get on with

Theresa May last night? ..that the UK still

deserves to have a voice. This is so tricky for

the Prime Minister because Britain has basically told the rest

of the EU, we want a divorce, but we won't move out for two years

and we still want to call the shots. Theresa May is keen to preserve

as much influence as possible, but that will be irritating

to the rest of the EU. It's been a grumpy summit all round,

with tensions between its leaders on Brexit, and despite the Brussels'

top brass's best efforts, an EU trade deal with Canada is

being blocked by just one tiny part A taste of what might

lie ahead for us. As meeting the EU's top official,

the difficulties of escaping As leaders left after 15 hours

of talks out of 24... More or less one hour left

to Italian journalists. ..not much is settled, but this -

there is no guarantee continental colleagues will heed Britain's

demands to be heard. No sense, even, that our wishes

will be a priority. And the Prime Minister lives under

no illusion that quitting the EU Well while in Brussels,

Theresa May said the European Union had to keep "all options" open

to try to halt Russia's bombing of civilians

in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Her warning came as a Russian

task force, including an aircraft carrier,

steamed through the English channel The convoy was shadowed all the way

by Royal Navy ships, as our correspondent

Daniel Sandford reports. Just off-shore, beneath Dover, the

Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov. A 30-year-old survivor

from the Soviet era. On the decks, Mig 29s. Two of the

planes on board to reenforce the Russian power planes in Syria.

The Russian ships were man marked as the Defence Secretary put it, by the

Royal Navy. The type 45 destroyer, HMS Duncan sailed from Portsmouth to

do the defensive duties. As we watched all ships were sailing west,

down the main shipping lane. It's been an extraordinary display

of Russian military power, a few miles off the British coast. One

Moscow newspaper called it an Armada and the chosen route, straight down

the English Channel is likely to have been chosen deliberately.

The warships could have gone around the north coast of Scotland but this

was the route that sent a powerful message, one which a former Royal

Navy Admiral said was a wake-up call.

Since the end of the Cold War we allowed capabilities to decline and

our skills to decline as well. We have to get back into the game of

countering the Russians when they seek to coerce European nations or

project power like they have done with this task group.

The task group is reenforcing a big Russian presence in Syria. Today the

EU, blocked by Italy, stopped short of threatening sanctions by Russia

for what it called aRossilities, like the bombings of civilians in

Aleppo. Russia denies that this is a demonstration of hard power.

. We are not talking about Russia's place on the world stage, that is

not the aim of what Russia is doing in Syria. What Russia is doing is

assisting at the request of the legitimate Government of that

country, assisting its fight against terrorism. The truce in Aleppo,

announced by Moscow, still held today. There were UN medical

evacuations, and no-one able to leave. But the show of strength off

the south coast was are reminder that the truce will not hold forever

and more Russian firepower is on its way. Daniel Sandford, BBC News in

Daniel Sandford, BBC News in the English Channel.

In Iraq, government troops backed by Kurdish forces are inching

forward in their fight against so-called Islamic State.

Clashes near the city of Mosul have continued throughout the day

with Iraqi troops pushing in from the South and Kurdish

Today IS struck back launching an attack in Kirkuk a hundred miles

Our Middle East Correspondent Orla Guerin is less than 10 miles

from Mosul and sent this report from the frontline.

Savouring freedom, civilians brought to safety by Kurdish fighters.

They escaped the tyranny of so-called Islamic State,

and the dangers of coalition air strikes.

IS targets north of Mosul being pounded again today,

This is the scene in the city of Kirkuk.

Security forces battling to regain control, after a daring

They hit multiple targets in and around the oil-rich city,

which is 100 miles from Mosul and had been considered secure.

Troops hunting for the militants who proved they can still strike

Back at the front line, bomb disposal experts arrived

They've already cleared 300 landmines along a stretch

Troops are getting into position now for mine clearance.

This is absolutely crucial for the Peshmerga

The mines are slowing progress and they're claiming

lives, but the work has to be done with care.

Islamic State has laid mines in this area like a carpet.

There were fears it was a suicide bomber.

Nearby, civilians who had just fled, now safe from IS, but being screened

by Kurdish intelligence, they're trying to prevent militants

This man tells us they were forced to grow beards, and if IS caught

someone with a phone, they were beheaded.

He's rushed away before he can say more.

A new camp is now being raised here for the many others

who are expected to seek refuge from Iraq's latest war.

Orla Guerin, BBC News, north of Mosul.

In other news London City airport was closed for around three

hours this afternoon after it was evacuated because of

26 people were treated at the scene for breathing difficulties -

Tonight police said they discovered what they "believe

But they say it's not being treated as a terrorist related

and that the spray cannister may have been discarded by a passenger.

Flights were cancelled for more than three hours.

The French authorities say they will start clearing

the migrant camp in Calais - known as the jungle - on Monday.

Migrants will be put on buses and taken to 300 temporary

The authorities say the whole camp will be demolished by Friday.

The FBI is investigating the cause of cyber attacks which have affected

some of the best-known names on the internet today including

The sites were disrupted after what's known as a denial

It's not clear yet who is responsible, but the

Authorities are looking at whether it is a criminal act.

Nissan, says it will decide next month whether it will produce

a new version of its Cash-qai model at its plant in Sunderland,

in the first major investment decision in the car industry

Last month, the company's chief executive

warned he could halt investment because Brexit could make it more

The Conservatives won the by-election in Witney brought

about by David Cameron's departure from politics.

But the new MP 's majority was cut from 25,000 to around 5,000

In last night's other by-election Labour held the uncontested

seat of Batley and Spen following the killing of the MP

Mazher Mahmood - the man better known as the Fake Sheikh -

who was responsible for a string of high profile tabloid stings,

is beginning a 15 month jail sentence tonight.

He was convicted of tampering with evidence in the drugs

trial of the singer Tulisa Conto-stavlos,

trial of the singer Tulisa Contostavlos,

Mahmood has now been sacked by his employer News UK -

Our correspondent David Sillito was in court.

The man with his face hidden behind the hood is Mazher Mahmood,

the Fake Sheikh, the king of the tabloid sting.

He would pose as an Arab sheikh and lured dozens of people to do

or say things that made them front-page news.

Today, he was the one heading for jail, a 15 month sentence

for lying and manipulating evidence, trying to get the singer Tulisa

Outside court, one of his former victims, the actor John Alford,

We now know that Mazher Mahmood is a manipulator of evidence

This goes to show no one is above the law.

Behind him, others who had been stung by the Fake Sheikh.

He's not a journalist, he is a nasty conman.

No, I never did, I never thought that we, the little people,

would ever get the truth out there and it's a great day for us.

Now many of the criminal cases are under review.

Over the years, he's boasted about how many people he's

helped send to prison, sometimes based almost entirely

He has now been sacked by the Sun On Sunday

but some wonder why it didn't happen sooner.

It was 28 years ago that he left his job at the Sunday Times

He was soon back, a star of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World.

His former boss always felt there was something wrong.

The warnings were there, the warnings were there

for the police, who continued to assist him, the warnings

were there for News International, who continued to employ him,

and I find it astonishing that he wasn't found out soon.

and I find it astonishing that he wasn't found out sooner.

And of course, all this follows the hacking scandal.

The Government said there would be a second part of the Leveson

Inquiry, an investigation into the press and the police.

This conviction has only added to the demands for that inquiry

To comic book fans she's an iconic superhero,

brought to life in a hit seventies TV show and soon a film.

To the United Nations, she represents 'female empowerment'.

And because of that the UN has made the fictional character -

Wonder Woman - an honorary UN ambassador for women and children.

as our New York correspondent, Nick Bryant reports

She can leap from tall buildings, she can also bend steel,

but the transformation of Wonder Woman into a UN Ambassador

for Female Empowerment has plunged this world body into the kind

of storm that would test even her superhuman powers.

With a new film about to be launched, UN officials hope the hero

will help to reach younger audiences around the world.

And the actor who first played her, spoke out.

Wonder Woman helps to bring out the inner strength that every woman has.

The staff at the UN mounted a silent protest. Real women deserve a real

ambassador read their signs. There is real annoyance, that cultural,

religious, and geopolitical sensibilities may be tramled by the

cartoon character's leather boots. Hundreds of the UN staff have added

their name to an online petition, complaining "that a large breasted

white woman, of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a

shimmery body suit with an American motif and knee-high boots is not an

appropriate figure head." So what's been the reaction outside of the UN?

I like what she stands for but I don't appreciate what she is

wearing. I think she a great woman character but I think we could find

somebody who is not so hyper sensualised.

There are many here who see this as a towering PR disaster.

Now on BBC1, its time for the news where you are.Have