06/12/2015 BBC Weekend News

severe flood warnings are still in place

for northern England, after record levels of rainfall left homes

flooded, bridges washed away and tens of thousands without power.

Streets underwater and cars submerged in Carlisle,

Hundreds have been rescued from their homes and

We are told that it was going to be after these defences, it was a once

in a 250-year event. And here we are, ten years later.

Workers are battling to restore electricity to

around 40,000 homes, after some flood defences failed.

Questions will be asked about whether everybody has got ready, the

authorities are ready for the sheer scale of the kind of rainstorms we

are seeing now. We'll have the very latest tonight

from the worst-affected areas. Counter-terrorism police are

investigating the knife attack at a London tube station, which left

one man seriously injured. France's far right Front Nationale

party, is on course to win 30% of And what's behind the doors

of this living advent "Extreme and unprecedented" is how

the Government has described the torrential rainfall that's caused

severe flooding, leaving hundreds of homes submerged, across northern

England and parts of Scotland. The Army's been called

in to evacuate people in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders,

where some flood defences were Tonight, around 40,000 homes are

without power, after flooding A second

in Carlisle is also under threat. There are no trains running

between England and Scotland through Preston,

while road restrictions are in place And dozens of severe flood warnings

are still in place in northern England, indicating

a risk to life, though there are The city of Carlisle is one

of worst-affected areas. From there,

Danny Savage has the latest. On the flooded streets of Carlisle

tonight, rescue boats are busy. It's dangerous work. They have to dodge

hazards like submerged cars. This crew, from Greater Manchester Fire

Rescue, are out looking for those desperate to escape their freezing,

dark homes. Is that your tights. One woman throws a key down for the

rescuers to let themselves N but there is no escaping getting wet. A

few doors away, another family have had enough. So after three-quarters

of an hour out in the flooded streets of Carlisle tonight, we have

a full boat. We have three ladies from the same address. Another lady,

Kay and two dogs. Too. This is what is happening tonight. Many hours

after it flooded, people are still being rescued. It is pretty scary.

You have no electricity, no light, no nothing. We didn't have enough

food. We started to worry. We didn't have a toilet. Our toilet is

downstairs. It was pretty frightening. Earlier today you could

see the full extent of the damage to this city. Hundreds of homes have

been washed out. Houses, which have all been repaired in the past, after

flooding, are ruined again. This is the A69 heading out of the city,

passable only by boat. It flooded so quickly last night, that they didn't

have time to move their cars and fled upstairs. We will come in and

have a chat. Ron and Denise Wood were flooded ten years ago. They're

cold, wet and angry. We were told that it was going to be, after these

defences, it was a once in a 250-year event and here we are, ten

years later. Are you angry or... Angry, very angry. I feel like we've

been fed a bit of false information, I think. At the top of the road

another resident watched the water creeping ever-nearer. The sun may

have been shining, but the water was still rising. I think it would be

unfair to blame the Environment Agency, really for this. It is one

of those things that happens. I think maybe the flood defences held

it back for a while but it was probably just too much. Just too

much. I mean, I don't know - how high can you build the wall, really?

Power to many of these houses has been lost and power cuts are

widespread across the affected region tonight. In Scotland, Hoik

was badly-hit, too, roads were washed away and sandbags brought out

N more remote areas, rescue helicopters were deployed this.

Family was rescued off a roof in Cumbria. The water levels are

dropping in Keswick but not before homes and businesses were ruined.

Most people have given up on the idea of trying to stay in their

homes and abandoned ship. Many have needed basic first aid treatment,

too, another part of a huge recovery effort to deal with multiple

locations, destroyed by floods. The Environment Agency has

acknowleged some flood Almost 14 inches, 340mm, is believed

to have fallen in the Lake District in just 24 hours and that would be

a new British record. Millions of pounds has been spent

on Carlisle's defences, Our Science Editor, David Shukman,

took to the sky, The skies above Cumbria have cleared

but the legacy of Storm Desmond I'm above the city of

Carlisle and the sheer scale and depth of the floods is

extraordinary. Most striking the depths on residential streets.

He floodwaters not only rising above Slnchts We can see people working

here, in the substations, on the edge of Carlisle, trying to make

sure this substantial isn't put out of action.

This isn't only affecting the people who live here. It is having a huge

impact on transport, the major rail link through here has been UK and

this is a place, bear in mind, that was just given five years ago, a new

?38 million flood defence scheme. The violence, and the volume of the

floodwater have taken everyone by surprise. This was Northumberland.

Hillsides have been scoured by the torrents. And at uswater, one of

Three Bridges in the county washed away -- Ullswatre. In Cockermouth,

water has poured into the streets. We filmed these scenes this

afternoon and as in Carlisle, this was a place that was meant to be

made safer. With flood defences upgraded after a devastating flood

six years ago. Now the nightmare was returning. It's devastating. It is

the third time in a very short period of time that it has happened.

It's really dreadful. Dreadfully upsetting. It is heart-wrenching,

heartbreaking to see hour town be destroyed again in this way. They

just got going again nicely and got set back. It is dreadful. New

barriers along the river here did hold back some of the water. But a

lot spilled over the top and ministers are once again under

pressure it give more communities better protection. Unfortunately

there are unpredictable weather events. It isn't going to be

possible to protect everybody everywhere, but that's why we are

investing billions in improving flood defences everywhere, listening

to communities. A lot of this is about getting the right response in

place. A major road through the heart of the Lake District, wrecked

by rainfall that might have set a new record. And this disaster

reopens a long-running dispute over which areas should be protected and

how much the taxpayer should spend to keep people safe. So, on the

approach to Christmas, there are many places reeling from the floods

and now wondering when the next storm will come.

Let's join Danny Savage in Carlisle tonight.

Given the huge scale of the flooding, how are the authorities

coping? Clive, they have been doing quite well, really but they have

pulled in resources and help from a much bigger area than Cumbria and

North West England. The lifeboat crew I was out with during daylight

hours today were from Weston-Super-Mare, some of them,

others from South Wales. There are rescue boat crews here from York and

Lincolnshire. They have been brought in from a very big area to help with

this relief operation. That doesn't mean that Cumbria's emergency

services and authorities can't cope with this, they can and they have

done in the past but the problem is you have had all the elements of the

worst floods here in the last decade, rolled into one incident

which has stretched services and it means that hospitals n Lancashire,

for example, are still running on generator power, because of power

cuts but they are seeming fairly resilient at the moment, Clive. Many

thanks. And you can get more detail

on the flooding, and advice Counter-terrorism police are

investigating a knife attack on the London Underground,

in which the suspect is said to have It happened at Leytonstone

tube station last night. One man suffered serious stab

wounds but is The suspect, who's 29,

was later tasered and arrested. Our Home Affairs Correspondent June

Kelly has more. 7.00pm and dozens of travellers stop

their Saturday night facing After reportedly shouting,

"This is for Syria", he used it on Captured on mobile phone footage,

people shouting to The police dealing with

this were local officers. They used a taser stun gun

on the suspect. It took more than one

attempt to overpower him. From one onlooker there was

a strong, simple message to the And nearby, from the local mosque

today, there was a statement. We are extremely saddened

by the events that occurred at Leytonstone underground station

yesterday evening. This was

an individual that we do not know. He is not a member of the

congregation of Leytonstone mosque. We strongly condemn any sort

of violent acts and terrorism. Islam does not allow

and does not have any place During the day, Leytonstone tube

station reopened and details emerged of how one victim,

said to be stabbed in the neck, There was no way anybody would go

near him because he was a very strong man

and he was punching like a boxer. Within hours Scotland

Yard said it was being treated as a terrorist incident and appealed

for any mobile phone footage. We are pursuing a number of lines of

inquiry at the moment but at this particular stage and this time,

motive is not that clear, so we want We want to know exactly what

happened, precisely, So, 24 hours after the mayhem here,

detectives will be working to establish the background

of their suspect. His beliefs, his associates,

his mental state. And underlying all this will be

the fundamental question of whether they knew about him before

the attack and if so, how much. There has been a large police prens

a the this flat in Leytonstone. Forensic officers have been at the

scene. Meanwhile a 29-year-old man remains in custody.

President Obama is to make a rare televised address from the Oval

Office in the next few hours, to try to reassure Americans about the

Today, church services were held in California, to

remember the 14 people shot dead in San Bernadino, in an attack that's

being treated as "an act of terrorism". From there, Laura Bicker

We are here to stand by the families. This service is not just

about remembering those killed. It's to try to deal with division and

develop trust. The local Islamic centre opened its doors to all

faiths, to remind this city that Muslims stand with them in

condemnation of the attack. But emotions are still raw here, along

with disbelief. To see it so close, this is something that really can

happen and is happening anywhere and everywhere. What is going on in the

world, in Paris and other places, amean to allow it on our doorsteps

is negligent from our Government, I feel. The FBI has raided another

home in San Bernadino. The house is thought to be belonged to the friend

of the couple who bought the assault rifles. Investigators now believe

that Syed Farrook and his wife were planning another attack. Barack

Obama is preparing to address the nation from the Oval Office for only

the third time in his presidency. He says he will use every single aspect

of power to destroy the Islamic State. His critics, including a

frontrunner for the republic Presidential nomination say he has

been slow to act and understand the terror threat We are having this

radical terrorism. A lot of people don't want to say T not a lot. We

have one person, President Obama.ed until he admits it is a problem

we'll never solve it. But others believe we need to do more to work

with America's 3 million Muslims. If you are a law-Ayerza biding,

peace-loving Muslim, you need to be with us against those distorting

Islam. For most in San Bernadino, the wider political debate is

passing them by. They are still grieving and their thoughts are with

the 14 lives lost. Well, they are still gathering here to pray after a

the shooing which has hit at the heart of America's worst fears and

that is why, in just a few hours' time, the President will make this

very rare address from the Oval Office. He will say he will do

everything within his power to defeat Isis and he'll hope to

reassure critics, who say has underestimated a threat which they

now see on their doorsteps. Many thanks, lawyeria.

Exit polls tonight suggest France's far right Front Nationale party

could take as much as a third of the vote in the first round of

It's the first major test of public opinion since gunmen from the

so-called Islamic State group killed 130 people in Paris last month.

The leader of the Front Nationale, Marine Le Pen, has called the

result "magnificent" and said it proved the FN was "without contest,

Our Paris Correspondent, Lucy Williamson, joins us now.

Snr Lucy, looking at the results tonight, does that bold claim from

marine will he pen ring true? Well, I think if there was any remaining

doubt that there was now a third force nor French politics that died

tonight. -- Marine Le Pen. The Front Nationale seems to have got one in

three votes today, in some areas more than 40% A little bit will be a

boost from last month's attacks in Paris and the fears that surrounded

it but this is a result that has been building for sometime now. The

Front Nationale has been expanding its share of the national vote for

two years or so and even though it has problems in the second round of

elections, turning that into power, the mainstream parties tend to come

together and work together to keep it from power, that's the real

question we are looking at in this election as well - what will happen

on snubbed will the mainstream parties again come together? Even if

the Front Nationale wins just one region, it is very important for

them, because their eyes and all eyes here are starting to turn

towards the presidential elections in France in less than 18 months'

time. #12k3w4r Lucy, thank you. Lucy Williamson in Paris. -- Lucy thank

you. Sepp Blatter, the President

of world football's governing body FIFA, is being investigated by the

FBI, concerning his alleged role in a bribes scandal which saw sports

officials paid $100 million. Mr Blatter had denied knowing

about the bribes, but the BBC's Panorama programme has

seen a document which suggests the FIFA boss knew about the payments

all along, and did nothing. The net is closing in on

Sepp Blatter. The suspended Fifa President is

already under investigation by the Swiss authorities, following

allegations of corruption. Now, the BBC can reveal,

that Blatter is also being investigated by the FBI for his role

in a bribe scandal from the 1990s. A sports marketing company

called ISL, paid a total of $100 million to sports

officials, including former Fifa President, Joao Havelange and former

Fifa executive, Riccardo Teixeira. In return, ISL was repeatedly

awarded the contract to market the World Cup to advertisers

and broadcasters around the world. Sepp Blatter denied knowing about

the bribes and took no action. He even allowed Mr Teixeiri to take

part in the notorious vote You have to ask yourself why did he

seek to protect these people and not just protect them

but allow them to continue to play an active role in some of Fifa's

most important decisions. Now the Panorama programme has seen

a letter, obtained by the FBI, which suggests Sepp Blatter knew

about the bribe payments all along. The letter,

apparently written by Joao Havelange,

talks about the payments he received It says,

"I emphasise that Mr Blatter had full knowledge of all activities

and was always apprised of them." Blatter declined to comment

on the letter. The Panorama programme has also been

told about how much money the Qataris spent winning the right

to host the 2022 World Cup. Former FA Chairman, Lord Treisman,

was given a figure of ?117 million, by sources close to British

intelligence. That's almost six times what England

spent trying to win 2018. I just take

the straightforward view that it should be possible, when you look at

the money that people have spent, to know exactly how it was spent and

whether it was legitimate or not. In a way, the problem is that

goodness knows, it's not transparent The FBI has already charged 39 Fifa

officials with corruption And you can see the full Panorama

investigation, 'FIFA, Sepp Blatter and Me', that's tomorrow night at

8.30, here on BBC One. Millions of advent calendars

of course mark You can make your own,

or buy them filled with chocolate, But now a new type of calendar,

pioneered in Sweden, is gaining It's a living advent calendar,

with the goodies behind real doors, as Duncan Kennedy explains

from Winchester. And a new one when it comes

to celebrating Christmas. Real Advent doors are being

swung open everywhere. But inside, instead of chocolate,

it's Christmas performances. Every kind of door across the city

is being used, with everything from sugarplum fairies in front rooms to

memories of Christmas underground The live Advent calendar concert is

a way of the city coming together to share in collective activity over

this really special time of year. Advent calendars first appeared

in Germany around 1850. They were made of wood and usually

depicted scenes from the Bible. The first live Advent calendar is

using real wood doors seems to have started in Sweden

about ten years ago. Now

the idea has come here with places from Cornwall to Cumbria joining

in this new festive phenomenon. It is different because you actually

go into the door, It's not often Christmas gets

a noncommercial new twist. Here, behind

the city's doors, they are really I'm closing the door on our

programme tonight. You can see more on all of today's stories, including

the latest on the flooding on