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Man arrested after death of British woman whose body was found inside suitcase in Athens
A man has been arrested over the death of a British woman, whose body was found in a suitcase dumped in an abandoned building in Athens.

The body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on 18 July.

Ms Ross, from the Edinburgh area of Scotland, is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found, police said.

It is understood she arrived in the country from the United States via Cyprus on 29 June, according to Greek media.

She was initially staying with friends in Piraeus and is then said to have gone to meet American friends in another part of Athens, but it is unclear if this ever happened.

Earlier this week, toxicology tests were being carried out to establish whether "foul play" was involved in her death.

The Hellenic Police, Greece's national force, were able to identify the victim using fingerprints.

In the following days after her death, police said her bank card was still being used to withdraw money and text messages were being sent from her phone.

On Sunday, Greek police said a 26-year-old man, described as a foreign national, has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, robbery and violation of weapons laws.

A replica pistol and a knife were allegedly found at the suspect's home.

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The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said earlier it was "providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities".

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.

"Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland."


Two suspects arrested after man shot dead at Traveller site
A man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s have been arrested after a fatal shooting at a Traveller site in Wiltshire.

The victim, who was in his 30s, died at the scene in Calcutt near Cricklade on Sunday morning.

Officers said "urgent enquiries" were taking place to "establish the full circumstances of the incident".

A man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and assisting an offender.

They have been taken into custody for questioning by detectives.

Wiltshire Police said that around 8.15am officers received a report from paramedics that a man had been shot at a Traveller site.

The force said emergency services went to the scene where the man was pronounced dead.

An area around the scene has been cordoned off, and there is still a "significant policing presence" while an investigation is carried out.

Officers have contacted the victim's loved ones, the force said.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, from the major crime investigation team of Wiltshire Police, said: "This is an incredibly serious incident, and my thoughts are with the victim's friends and family at this devastating time."

He added: "Enquiries are ongoing at the site and in the wider area to establish the circumstances which have led to this incident and locate all the people involved.

"A cordon is in place at the site and the road leading to it has been closed to allow for enquiries to be conducted and I would ask that this is respected.

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"Those in the area will see an increased policing presence throughout the evening as enquiries continue."

Wiltshire Police are appealing for anyone who has "any information or witnessed anything suspicious this morning" to contact officers or call Crimestoppers anonymously.


Teenage girl dies at Kendal Calling festival
A 17-year-old girl died at Kendal Calling festival in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police said emergency services were called to the festival site in the Lake District in Cumbria at 2.13am, following reports of the girl suffering a "medical episode".

Despite the best efforts of emergency responders, including the administration of CPR, she was pronounced dead at the scene, Cumbria Constabulary said.

The girl's family have been told and are being supported by specialist officers.

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding her death are ongoing.

Police are keen to speak to people who were in the area of the festival's Calling Out tent and the Big Wheel at around 2am.

They also want to speak to a group of women who directed emergency personnel to the girl after becoming concerned for her welfare.

A festival spokesperson said in a statement: "The team at Kendal Calling are deeply saddened by the passing of a festival attendee in the early hours of Sunday morning following a medical episode.

"As soon as the individual became unwell, they were immediately attended to by our on-site security and medical teams.

"Paramedics and medical personnel provided emergency care at the scene and did everything they could to help.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the individual's family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

"We are supporting the relevant authorities and will continue to assist them with their investigation."

The four-day festival, which continues Sunday (2 August), is being headlined by acts Biffy Clyro, Wolf Alice, Two Door Cinema Club and The Kooks.

Growing year on year since its launch in 2006, Kendal Calling takes place annually at Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith and Hackthorpe.


Police issued warrant for paedophile Harrison Simpson's arrest 18 months before he killed partner's toddler
Police failed to execute an arrest warrant against a paedophile in the 18 months before he killed his partner's two-year-old daughter.

This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

Harrison Simpson, 22, and the toddler's mother, 26-year-old Alexandra Walker, were jailed last week for murdering Isabelle Welsh after weeks of abuse.

Isabelle collapsed at her home in September last year following a "massive head injury". A post-mortem found she suffered 21 broken bones in the weeks leading up to her "sadistic" death.

Cleveland Police has told Sky News that Simpson was charged with breaching a non-molestation order in March 2024.

"A warrant for his arrest was issued that same month after he failed to appear at court," a statement said. "Multiple enquiries and arrest attempts were carried out to try to locate and arrest him but these proved unsuccessful."

Isabelle's family was told about "the circumstances surrounding the outstanding warrant early on in the investigation", the force added.

"We recognise the time Simpson had an outstanding arrest warrant is far from adequate. A review of this was immediately conducted upon his arrest for murder," the statement added, after first being reported by The Sunday Times.

Cleveland Police said several changes were made after the review, including increased visibility of outstanding warrants, a comprehensive data system to track them, and daily reviews of the highest-risk cases.

A 'sadistic' death and 21 broken bones

Simpson and Walker were convicted of murder and child cruelty, while Simpson was also found guilty of sexually assaulting the toddler.

When paramedics arrived at Walker's house in Thornaby on 13 September 2025, they found the two-year-old at the foot of the stairs without a pulse.

The trial was told that as Isabelle was dying, Walker smoked a cigarette in her kitchen and delayed ringing 999 despite Googling "why would my toddler be bleeding".

She called her stepfather to come round, and it was only on his instruction that she finally rang emergency services.

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There were bruises all over Isabelle's body, including to her head, neck, abdomen, back and private parts. There was blood in her nappy and sick on her face, jurors were told during the trial.

Isabelle was taken to hospital but died the next day.

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC said the toddler suffered weeks of assaults and the head injury "was simply the end point in that campaign of violence".

Eleven days before her fatal collapse, Isabelle was taken to her GP and then to hospital with a broken leg.

Despite the misgivings of some staff, she was discharged after Walker claimed she must have suffered the injury after getting caught in her cot.

Walker began dating Simpson after they met on Facebook just months before - and she suspected he might be a paedophile, saying he preferred to see her with Isabelle and would bathe the toddler without her permission.

Despite being suspicious enough to check the Sex Offenders' Register, Walker did not break up with him.

Simpson refused to answer police questions or testify at trial.

The judge considered a whole life tariff for Simpson but could not be sure if the murder was sexually motivated.

Simpson and Walker were given minimum terms of 28 years and 22 years, respectively.


At least five dead and dozens missing after Indonesian ferry catches fire
At least five people have died and 41 are missing after a ferry caught fire off the coast of an Indonesian island, officials have said.

The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry, which was carrying 271 passengers and crew members, caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island, the country's rescue agency said.

The search operation is still ongoing for those missing - with 225 people understood to have been found.

It was heading from Surabaya, in East Java province, to Makassar city, in South Sulawesi, when the blaze started.

It's unclear how the ferry caught fire, but Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said the flames broke out between 6am and 7am local time.

The ferry operator, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, reported the incident to the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour later, Basarnas confirmed.

It said the company received information from the ferry's captain that the vessel was on fire near the northern tip of Madura island, but contact was later lost.

By 9.45am, authorities determined the ferry was about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island after communicating with the nearby cargo vessel Meratus Project 3, which was unable to approach the burning vessel because it was carrying a flammable load.

A tugboat and another passing vessel moved in and began evacuating passengers from the stricken ferry shortly before 10am.

By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels managed to rescue 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies.

Footage on social media appeared to show people wearing life jackets as thick smoke poured from the vessel.

Search and rescue teams dispatched a rescue vessel from Surabaya, although officials estimated it would take about six hours to reach the scene.

A rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post was sent towards the location but had to return because of rough seas and high waves.

An Indonesian naval warship has also been deployed to help with the search and rescue.

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The 160m (525f) long and 25m (82ft) wide ferry serves the Surabaya-Makassar route, a voyage that typically takes around 40 hours and is primarily used by domestic travellers and cargo transport.

Maritime accidents are not uncommon in Indonesia, which relies heavily on boats and is made up of over 17,500 islands.

Last month, rescue operations had to be launched after a different ship, the KM Nurul Salsa, suffered an engine failure and sank.

Rescuers then found five survivors, including a 7-year-old girl, days after the ship had sunk.


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