24/03/2017 Midlands Today

The headlines tonight: alone.

Another arrest and more searches, as Birmingham remains at the heart

of the investigation into the Westminster attack.

It was really scary at the time because you didn't

I looked outside, there were guns everywhere.

They were just in my garden, over the fences.

I've been talking to the man charged with countering

Also tonight, chaos for motorists with the M6 closed for most

of the day in Staffordshire due to problems with a bridge.

Leading the way - a team of scientists from Birmingham make

a major breakthrough in the fight against TB.

And after a gloriously sunny day, there's more to come this weekend.

These catechins are an unusual sight. Join me later while I'll be

explaining why. And after a gloriously sunny day,

there's more to come this weekend. Definitely something to smile

about - and there are more reasons here as the BBC gears up

for Red Nose Day - find out what I'm doing

here a little later. A major police investigation

is continuing in Birmingham following Wednesday's

attack in Westminster. The Metropolitan Police say

they made "a significant arrest" in That brings the number of people

arrested in the city to eight. But it's still not clear

what links these people Another address, another police

search. This one in Hockley, in Birmingham, the third of three

locations in the city raided by armed officers on Wednesday night

and Thursday morning. They were like - get down, get down, it was really

scary at the time because you didn't know what was going on. I looked

outside, there were guns everywhere. They were in my garden, over the

fences, it was just crazy. It was scary because it was right next

door. You don't know who you are living next door to. A low loader

turned out to remove three vehicles thought to belong to the family that

lives here. Someone thought the dad came from Saudi Arabia, another said

Morocco. The Mane rested had been living here with his wife and four

year for a children. One person told me they saw him in the park, he

seemed affable and pleasant. Another said he kept himself to himself

Nobody has spoken to him, he is not that social. All of a sudden he is

arrested and apparently linked to events at Westminster. A bit mad, a

bit mad all on my doorstep. A stone throw away is a property where it is

thought the Westminster bomber, Khalid Masood used to live, with

another arrest last night described as significant, a at the timal of

eight people have been detained in the city, for those who spent years

working to prevent extremism, it is a blow I think we've been moving in

the right direction, although this individual has clearly set us back

with the level of the attack and audacity of t where we have seen a

number of people killed and injured and a police officer stabbed in the

line of duty. One of Birmingham's Muslim MPs went in front of the

cameras today, to reject the notion that the city is a hotbed of

extremism but admits some Muslims don't trust the anti-extremism

programme known as Prevent Confidence has been lost but can

easily be restored if there is greater transparency around Prevent

but when it comes to people sharing information where they are worried

of an attack I'm confident they are sharing that information with mri.s

Questions remain, was Khalid Masood acting alone or were others

encourage him or supporting him? In the search for angers this city

remains the focus. Well, a number of vigils are being

held this evening it bring communities together to express

their sympathy for the people affected by the attacks and to show

unity against racism. There's one in Wellington

in Shropshire and our reporter Kathryn Stanczyszyn attended

a Birmingham event. Well, of course the spotlight has

fallen on Birmingham in the past few days for all the wrong reasons and

with multiple arrests in the city. There has been a lot of speculation.

Does Birmingham have a problem with radicalisation? Tonight Unity Vigil

on New Street, by Stand up to Race imand the Birmingham Muslim

Engagement Network said it was for two reasons. They said it was partly

to pay tribute to those who died and those who were injured but, also, it

was to actually show that communities do stand together in br.

Some short speeches were given and candles were lit during the vigil.

There was lot of passionate speaking and people who felt very strongly

about being there, including this woman who explain idea she came.

Nobody should pay the price for other people's crime. So I'm

standing now with in Birmingham, proud, across race, cultures and

religion. We all unite for humanity and against crime S -- against

crime. Today a former counter-terrorism advisor said

Birmingham must do more to tackle extremism but the Birmingham faith

leaders network put out a statement saying they will not let the actions

of one individual taint the city. Thank you.

A minute's silence for the victims of Wednesday's attack was held

at a number of locations across Birmingham today including

mosques, as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.

But many Muslims are fearful that there could be a blacklash

against the community, despite condemning the attack

After the events of the past two days, Friday's prayers seemed to

have a deeper significance today. At this moss income Small Heath,

worshippers were struggling to understand how a Muslim man, living

in Birmingham could carry out such an atrocity Everyone here, we can't

understand T if there was an explanation to the reason why, maybe

you could have a discussion, but no reason. It is blind madness. Islam

does not allow killing, ever on any innocent people. Whatever they have

done is wrong and not Islamic. Do you really think that our we are

allowed to be extreme... In a speech before the prayers started, the

imam, Dr Ather Hussain announced all forms of extremism. A booklet

condemning the faithless propaganda of the so-called Islamic State was

also handed out. I want Muslims today to go away with a positive

message a stance, a disposition which shows we are proud to be puss

limbs and equally we are proud to live on beautiful shores. #234r0s

noe contradiction in being a Muslim and British. Across the Midlands

there is an increased visible police presence today but despite that,

some Muslim still fear possible revenge attacks. I can't go

somewhere far away, alone, I'm irskad maybe be someone will attack

me, you know, because I know some people all Muslims,y, we are worried

about it. Tomorrow's Muslim community will once again show

solidarity with their city by holding a rally against terrorism.

After this week's events, some newspapers are referring to

Birmingham as a Jihadi heartland. but for the past

10 years there's been a battle to counter Islamic radicalisation

in Birmingham through a council-run It works in partnership

with communities to try to encourage Its manager is Waqar Ahmed,

and I began by asking him, why Birmingham seems to have

such a problem? There are chalence in Birmingham, as

there are elsewhere. -- challenges. I would say that Birmingham is

probably also known as knotted a good place for terrorists, the fact

that people are being convicted from the city. -- not. It demonstrates

great partnership working with the police and local communities.

Pre-investigate has been sent -- prevent is set up to sprent this

happening. Is it failing? I don't think Prevent is failing. It is not

without its challenges, we can do more. Fws safeguarding individuals

from radicalisation of all forms. In Birmingham, we are here at Kick T

which have prevented people travelling and have supported a

former member of the farmed force who was being radicalised by far

right groups and they were trying to utilise his skills to attack faith

institutions in the city. Now I would argue that people are being

prevented from Syria to r has saved lives. How much of a problem is it

with people being scared, if that's the right word, to come forward?

There are issues in terms of people trying to create fear and suspicion

amongst people in terms of - if you come forward what would happen. I

would argue, on the contrary, there are actually people who have come

forward and have assisted the authorities in investigations. And

that is not often heard. Can I ask you, from a personal point of view,

what did you think when you heard about the events in Westminster? I

was devastated. It was tragic. It's been something that we've probably

anticipated, but wished wouldn't happen and for me, the police

officer is, for me, also a colleague, somebody who works on the

counter-terrorism agenda, somebody who was there, trying to defend

people, trying to defend our dome crass sane values. You are a

Birmingham ma'am -- our democracy. You are a Birmingham man, how did

you feel there was a big Birmingham connection? It is always a pity

because communities in Birmingham stand up regularly, there are faith

communities coming together, the Muslim community has consistently

come out and tried to challenge these issues. So it is always, you

know, disheartedening to hear that once again the city comes into

focus. Can you understand non-Muslims being fearful at the

moment? I think now is the time to come together. I think now is the

time to show the unity. Now is the time to support each other. Think

about the Muslims you do work with and the people you have come across

and suddenly you realise that this isn't necessarily an epidemic

problem with Muslims. So I would say - let's not retreat into fear and

suspicion. That's exactly what they want and not what we want. Waqar

Ahmed there from Prevent. Paul Dadge's photograph was sent

around the world following the 7/7 A retained firefighter,

originally from Staffordshire, he was hailed as a hero

after helping a woman who received He's been speaking to our

Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper about the impact of living

through a terrorist atrocity. His was the image which encapsulated

courage and compassion in the wake More than a decade on,

and Paul Dadge has been reflecting on the acts of bravery

seen at Westminster. I think there will always be people

who will run in the other direction, but I think the majority of people,

whether they've got the skills or not, have got this in-built

need to want to help. And I think that was really

noticeable, specifically on the Westminster Bridge

where you had a lot of people running towards and helping

those who were injured. Paul now runs an IT company

based near Cannock. He's also involved in a network

of support offered to I imagine over the last few days,

people will have been running on adrenaline,

really, and it's this kind of period after the attack

where people start to suffer, and they need to be

able to seek help. And that help may be

needed for many years. Paul Dadge, though, speaks

on the half of those survivors who are determined

to defy terrorism. Terrorists, wherever they strike,

whether they come from Birmingham or London or anywhere else

in the country, will never beat us. The 7/7 attack happened

on a Thursday. On that Monday, I was

back on a Tube train. And I think it's important

to pass that message, The British way of

life will continue. In other news, there've been major

problems for motorists on the M6 and surrounding roads

in Staffordshire all day. The motorway was closed completely

between Junction 14 and Junction 15 from 6.00am after problems

with a bridge. Our reporter Laura May McMullan

joins us now from Stone. Yes I'm pleased to say justing 14 to

15 have finally now reopened in both directions after 12 hours of

emergency bridge repair work today. As you can see, the congestion along

the surrounding route is now starting to ease. But today, along

the A34 here there have been horrendous delays. Gridlock,

stop-start traffic as well as the A50, A500 adding hours on to

people's journey. Speaking to some motorists they've said it has been a

very frustrating day. I've had more than three hours now

and waiting one hour I was coming from Swindon

and I'm going to Preston. It should have taken me

three-and-a-half hours, I have been travelling

most of the day. I went down to Wednesbury

this morning. and getting back home,

I have just been on the go Well, highways England has

apologised but it said that safety is a top priority and now that

things are on the move, it's hoped that people will still be able to

enjoy some of what's left of their Friday night.

A team of scientists in Birmingham and Oxford have made a major

breakthrough in the treatment and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Using Genome Sequencing, they're able to isolate different

strains of TB much more quickly, which means patients

Our correspondent Phil Mackie reports.

The X-ray on left shows a healthy chest.

On the right, the latter stages of tuberculosis.

100 years ago recuperation meant rest and fresh air.

Then as technology advanced came more breakthroughs.

The latest scientific step towards the detection of tuberculosis

By the 1970s, TB rates in the UK were at an all-time low

but as drug resistance grew, the killer disease came back.

Now scientists in Oxford and here in Birmingham have made

In a world first they've used genome sequencing to give

a more precise diagnosis, far more quickly.

Well, this is the machine where all the really interesting

15 samples goes here and for the next 25 hours it works

out the DNA scores of each of those examples.

Patients will ultimately get better treatment because it means

that the doctors will get those results and the individual

We are now using one single test which gives us all the information

on the identity of the organism, saying is this TB

or some other microbacteria, what are the drug resistance

mutations, so what treatment can we use

and is this related to other strains and should we be looking

for a transmission network, to intervene and prevent further

Genome sequencing could be used to treat other diseases with massive

Most importantly it'll save lives and if we can show that

using the most modern technology can help reduce the time it takes

to identify who's got TB, get them on to a treatment

programme, then we can move closer to what we all want,

which is to eradicate TB from the shores of the country.

The UK has some of the highest TB rates in Western Europe.

Birmingham is one of the cities cities worst affected.

This clinic has been here for more than 80

years and these patients now

have a better chance of a full recovery.

If we can start people on the treatment

they will have less lung damage and they'll be cured quicker,

back to work quicker and it will be better for them.

Instead of spending months in hospital, patients with complex

drug resistant cases of TB have been sent home after just a week,

with a much better chance of long-term survival.

Investigations are continuing into a fire in Gloucester yesterday.

Police and fire crews were called to an address on Painswick Road just

The body of a man was found at the scene and a woman was taken

Both the death and the cause of the fire are being

A Herefordshire schoolgirl, who's undergone life changing

spinal surgery in America, is due to fly home later today.

14-year-old Ella Tomlinson from Leominster had a severe

Her family had to raise a hundred and forty thousand pounds to pay

for the operation because the NHS wouldn't fund it.

In days of old, they called the aspen the tree of of heroes,

In days of old, they called the aspen the tree of heroes,

endowed with magical qualities, including the power

In fact, aspens are one of our most beautiful native trees and there's

a huge demand for seeds to grow new ones for planting.

Trouble is, the aspen tree itself really doesn't like to produce seeds

which makes life very difficult for everyone.

But last year our Environment Correspondent David Gregory-Kumar

tried out a new method to trick the trees into flowering

And now it's time to see if it worked.

This is probably something you've never seen before.

A small group of Aspen trees and every single one is in flower.

In some places this hasn't happened for decades.

Aspen trees tend to produce seed very infrequently.

The last main crop of aspen in Scotland was probably 20 years

ago, so we're always short of seed and there is demand to find a lot

of native aspen around forestry plantations.

This Shropshire company collects all sorts

of wild tree seeds - about a billion a year -

to grow new trees for planting, last year I helped Rob cut section

trees because he had a theory this would make the tree produce seeds.

Hopefully because we have male and female trees here,

all have flowered we should be able to produce seed from these

The strips we cut are now healing nicely.

There's no long-term damage to the aspen's health but how do

we know removing this strip of bark did the trick?

Well this branch comes from the part of the tree

which is underneath the area we ringmarked last year,

and there are no catechins, no flowers on it, but this branch

see, it's heaving with catechins and if you are wondering,

this is how an aspen reproduces without using seeds - it sends up

a sucker, each one a clone of the parent tree.

Now in a month we should have an idea of how many

Mind you, if it's too many that will cause problems.

If it has 1,000 seeds, then it will become

But if Rob can keep the birds away, our stocks of seeds and future

In rugby, there's a vital game tonight in the battle to avoid

Gloucester take on Bristol, who are currently bottom

of the table and seven points behind rivals Worcester.

It's the first game for Gloucester since their head coach Laurie Fisher

left the club at the beginning of the month.

And now Ben Smith is heading back to Worcester for more.

The famous fundraiser will be taking part in the city's

It'll be held alongside a 10k run, which is now in its fourth year.

And event organiser Steve Cram hopes that 4,000 runners will take part.

Two famous runners, two very different stories.

You might recognise Steve Cram from his middle distance

Ben Smith is attracted to - well, longer distances and it

doesn't get much longer than 401 marathons in 401 days.

You know, I didn't run four years ago.

If somebody had said to me I would be stood here,

in front of you now talking about this, I think I probably

would have laughed at you but for me I found so much joy and so much

passion in running, it gave me freedom and adventure.

You don't have to be a professional runner to run

Today he and Steve were part of a luminous green army of runners.

They tried out some of the course which thousands

With the running bug taking off in Worcester,

Keep it up, well done, only 14 miles to go.

It doesn't matter which city in the UK I go, any evening,

any time of the year, there are people like

Which if you said that to me when I was training as a 15

or 16-year-old when you used to feel embarrassed running round

the streets and you were an odd one out, it's been fantastic

4,000 runners are expected, you've got 25 weeks to get training.

It's Red Nose Day and people across the Midlands have been

involved in multifarious schemes to raise money for Comic Relief.

The TV fundraiser kicks off at 7.00 here on BBC One,

with Sir Lenny Henry and a host of other TV and music stars.

Meanwhile, Rebecca's gone to meet some of the people who'll be

answering those fundraising calls throughout the night, Beccy.

Yes I'm here tea telephone exchange in shrews bri. I'm taking this off,

it's ridiculous. I'm contractually obliged to keep these on. I'm with

Emma and Sharon who will taking calls later. There is a team of 80

volunteers here, but it is not just them who will be working for Red

Nose Day. You have been out doing loads. Let's find out what you have

been up to. The Birmingham City university

today, there's been Among those involved

were Girl Group, Capital B who you may have seen on this year's

The Voice. It feels really good to be

supporting Red Nose Day. It's always a brilliant day

and everyone gets together and does their bit for charity

so we're really happy This vicar was collared

for a charity head shave at Kidderminster rugby

club last night. I think about ?300 last time

I looked, so, it's got to be Back in Birmingham, it was easier

than ever for shoppers Simply by tapping this red

nose with their card. In Burntwood in Staffordshire

children and parents at the Busy Bees nursery have been

taking part in a chuckle Lovely to see the children taking

part in activities that It's good to raise money,

a good cause and there is nothing And the giggles continued

at Dudley Leisure Centre with some Before you know what is happening,

the whole room is laughing because they are laughing

at everybody else laughing Finally, in Coventry,

Baggington Field School has been selling red food and drink to pupils

and staff today and it's not every day off bouncy castle

in your school hall. It's a hive of activity as I'm sure

you can see. We haven't had any calls here yet but eagerly poised

are our pros, like Tony. I'm usually in ost westry making sure the phone

calls get through but tonight I'm here to make money. You have done

this brvings any pledges that stick out in the memory? A couple of 500

and a couple of 2,000s when we have been in os westry. I'm sure there

will be bigger pledges elsewhere but when you get that it gives you a

buzz but it doesn't matter, fivers, 10s, 20 are important but that gives

you a buzz. You are going to be here until 11.00pm and Alison will be

here what will you say? I will say Hello Comic Relief, thank you for

donating how much would you like to donate? How are you feeling? Very

proud and proud that Shrewsbury will be I can at thatting the points. You

have to take your breaks at certain times there is lot going on? Yes we

have paint facing, a discoax an entertainer who is doing balloon

modelling. So plenty going on. So you might be lucky enough to speak

it one of these guys should you make a pledgeton. If you are out and

about doing something funny for money you might want to wrap up

warm. High pressure is dominating our weather.

Oh, I'm hoping we can go back to Becky. Yes, back to her live. Yes,

this weekend, high pressure dominating our weather. We have

lovely sunshine to could. We also have the breeze dropping out. So

when the breeze drops out it'll feel much more pleasant in the sunshine

but overnight frosts, gardeners beirwith a. So for tonight, clear

spells, temperatures falling away. A little bit of mist and fog will

develop without the wind and a wade spread frost. Our temperatures

dipping down to between 1 and 3. But that high pressure, not going

anywhere just yet. Keeping things nice and settled. Great news for

tomorrow because we'll see cloud through the morning, the mist and

fog, but it'll lift, thin and break, lots of lovely sunshine 20 come

through the day. lots of lovely sunshine 20 come

through the day. Temperatures up to around 13 or 14. But we could do

better than that, 15 or 16 somewhere not out of the question. A little

more cloud through the end of the day, fair weather cloud but it will

be with us overnight intop Sunday and that will help our temperatures

ever so slightly. So where we have the proud temperatures ranging

between 2 and 5. Into Mothering Sunday, more of the same. Lots of

lovelishine, dry, settled, temperatures again, up to around 13.

Staying settled into the new working week as well. Now, don't forget,

this weekend we lose an hour. It is the start of British Summer Time but

our clocks are going forward. So set them through Saturday night into

Sunday, you will lose an hour but time to pick up the phones and get

donating. Thank you very much. That was the Midlands Today. I'll be back

at 10.25. Have a great evening and a wild weekend. Goodbye for now.