IRN - Independent News Radio

The news service heard by 26 million listeners to commercial radio in the UK

Top Stories

Fifteen jailed for life over involvement in Sri Lanka bombings that killed more than 260

September 22, 2026 at 22:03

Fifteen men have been convicted for their involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings which killed more than 260 people in Sri Lanka.

Each was sentenced to 200 years in prison and had their property confiscated by order of the country's High Court.

All the convicted men were from Sri Lanka's minority Muslim community. None of those believed to have directly participated in the attacks are alive.

On 21 April seven years ago, three churches and three hotels across Sri Lanka were attacked in a coordinated bombing during Easter services and celebrations.

Inspired by Islamic State terror attacks, they were among the deadliest incidents in the country's history, killing 278 - including nine suicide bombers.

Around 500 people were injured in the bombings, and 42 foreign nationals - including eight from the UK - were killed.

Two Sri Lanka-based Islamic militant groups - National Thowfeek Jamaath and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim - were accused of carrying out the bombings.

More: Wealthy and well-educated bombers behind the Sri Lanka attacks

Some of the British nationals who died in the attacks were later named as Daniel Linsey, 19, and his 15-year-old sister Amelie.

Lorraine Campbell, 55, also died. She was staying at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel at the time of the attacks.

Bill Harrop and Sally Bradley were also staying at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel at the time, and died in the explosion.

Anita, Alex and Annabel Nicholson - 42, 14 and 11 respectively - died when the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo was targeted.

Early intelligence warnings ignored

Police said there were warnings from international intelligence agencies as early as 4 April, with the defence ministry writing to the police chief five days later.

On 11 April, police wrote to the heads of security of the judiciary and the diplomatic security division, a government spokesman said. It's not clear what action was taken.

A parliamentary committee later found that police and intelligence officials failed to act on repeated intelligence warnings of the attacks.

In July this year, a former police chief and a former senior defence ministry official were also sentenced to death for failing to act promptly on foreign intelligence warnings of possible attacks.

Sri Lanka has not carried out executions since 1976, meaning death sentences typically result in life imprisonment.

Sri Lanka's Catholic Church has claimed, without providing evidence, that those identified so far as perpetrators are not the masterminds behind the bombings, and that there was a bigger conspiracy behind the attacks.

After the bombings, allegations emerged that the attackers had links to Sri Lanka's state intelligence services.

The country's defence ministry has denied any involvement.

Two men arrested over suspected terrorist plot to target Jewish community in Manchester area

September 22, 2026 at 18:05

Two men have been arrested over a suspected terrorist plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area.

Counter-terrorism police ‌said on Tuesday that they had arrested ‌two people under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 as part of an investigation into a ⁠suspected terrorist ⁠plot.

The two men, in ⁠their 30s, were arrested in Newton Street, in central Manchester on Sunday ⁠and taken to a London police station where they remained in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers also searched ‌addresses in Salford and Liverpool.

Yom Kippur, widely held to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, ran from sundown on Sunday until nightfall on Monday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing (CTP), said the arrests followed a long investigation in which the force has disrupted "a plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area".

Police realise it will cause "further concern" to the Jewish community, "especially given the significant High Holy Day period," she said, adding that officers "are doing everything we can to keep them and the wider public safe".

Ms Evans said her unit and local forces were working together "to provide protective security support and advice for areas with Jewish communities, and particularly during the High Holy Day period".

Manchester Mayor Bev Craig said in a post on X that the arrests "will send a chill down the spine amongst Jewish communities" in the city.

Warning people that there would be increased police presence, she said she and her deputy, Kate Green, "will do everything in our power to keep people safe, to challenge hatred and to stamp out the poison of antisemitism" in the region.

The Jewish Representative Council for Greater Manchester called on the government to "redouble its efforts to tackle the root causes of the hatred and extremism that are espoused in places of worship and other community spaces that continue to motivate people to target Jews".

It added: "We cannot simply keep protecting our community from the next attack but must do much more to stop people being motivated to carry one out in the first place."

The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said news of the suspected plot was "utterly chilling" as it came so close to the anniversary of the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.

Urging the Jewish community to stay calm, CST said it has been working closely with police in Manchester and around the country throughout Yom Kippur, "as part of our security operation over the High Holy Days".

Last October, two Jewish worshippers were killed during an attack on a synagogue in Manchester, carried out by ⁠a British citizen of Syrian descent who had said he was acting for Islamic State.

Jihad al Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of the synagogue, hitting a security guard, before attacking Melvin Cravitz with a knife.

Mr Cravitz was killed, as was fellow worshipper Adrian Daulby - hit by a single police bullet as he held the doors closed - to stop the terrorist getting inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

Al Shamie, who was wearing a fake suicide vest, was shot dead as he charged at officers with the knife.

The attack came four months after four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in northwest London were set on fire in an arson attack that caused around £1m in damage.

Four men - Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, 18, and Saif Ali, also 18 - admitted destroying or damaging property by arson at the Old Bailey last month.

Four people who died in Merseyside house fire were woman and three children

September 22, 2026 at 18:18

Four people who died in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, were a woman and three children, it has now been confirmed.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said it was called to a semi-detached property in Stone Square at 3.38am on Tuesday and arrived seven minutes later.

Chief fire officer Nick Searle confirmed the four deaths and said another person had been taken to hospital with burns after the "intense fire which spread very rapidly".

Six engines were on scene at the height of the fire and eight firefighters entered the house to search for people and fight the blaze, said a spokesperson.

On Tuesday evening the fire service said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service attended a house fire in Bootle on Tuesday, 22 September, and can sadly confirm that a woman and three children have tragically lost their lives in the fire."

A neighbour said: "I heard shouting in the early hours but I just thought someone was having an argument, then I came downstairs and saw all the fire engines."

The blaze was put out and the street remained cordoned off this morning as fire officers knocked at neighbouring properties.

Kevin Longshaw, MFRS area manager, said: "This is a devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

"We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident."

MFRS added: "A casualty outside the house on arrival of fire crews was taken into the care of North West Ambulance Service and taken to hospital suffering from burns.

"During the course of their search, firefighters discovered four casualties in an upstairs bedroom, showing no signs of life.

"Two members of North West Ambulance's Hazardous Area Response Team were committed into the incident and tragically confirmed that all four had lost their lives."

It said MFRS and Merseyside Police are now undertaking a joint investigation to establish the cause of the blaze.

Migrant dinghy heading towards UK was at sea more than 33 hours, French officials say

September 22, 2026 at 21:35

A migrant vessel is heading towards the UK, as French officials say that it spent more than 33 hours at sea.

A French coastguard vessel had been shadowing the boat since it left the Normandy coast on Monday, with officials responding throughout yesterday and today.

Later, the French Maritime Prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea (MRCC) said the small boat was carrying around 60 people as it attempted to cross the waterway.

It said in English that its Jobourg centre monitored the vessel from around 9am yesterday to this afternoon, and added it was "ill-suited for such a crossing and whose occupants were weakened after more than 33 hours at sea in precarious conditions".

Sky News understands that the migrants were taken on board two RNLI vessels before being transferred to HMC Vigilant, a border control vessel.

The vessel appeared to have set off close to the village of Vierville-sur-Mer, west of Bayeux. Authorities say departures as far west as Normandy are rare.

The MRCC added: "The deployment of French assets specifically responds to the duty to render assistance stipulated by international and maritime law.

"This operation is also carried out within the known and delicate context of the migrants' refusal of assistance, as they are determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom."

It is very rare for the MRCC to send out press releases in English and for it to explain its operations.

Earlier this month, a dinghy had to be met by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight, having set off from the Cherbourg area, triggering angry protests in Portsmouth.

It is thought to have made one of the longest journeys of any small boat in the Channel.

Officials said at the time they believed it was a one-off rather than a sign of new tactics.

The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the migrants will be transferred to Border Security Command.

Two RNLI lifeboats are believed to be on their way to meet the dinghy.

Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, the founder of the far-right anti-migration group Patriot Platform, which protested in Portsmouth and Dover this month, shared a YouTube livestream where he showed the boat from the sea.

Speculation from Patriot Platform that the migrants would be taken to Gosport in Hampshire led to hundreds of demonstraters at a police cordon at the road entrance to the marina.

Several men wearing black, some with face coverings, arrived at the front of the protesters with chants of "send them back" from the crowd.

The black-clad protesters remained quiet as they lined up face-to-face with the police officers. Most eventually dispersed without incident.

Conservative MP for Gosport Dame Caroline Dinenage also said on Facebook that Border Force would be taking those who were crossing to Dover by water.

A government spokesperson said of the latest arrival: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival."

It comes after five people were detained and passed to Border Security Command after a migrant boat reached the Kent coast without being intercepted.

The dinghy made it to shore at Folkestone on Monday morning. The Home Office said an investigation has been launched.

Around 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year. The total so far for 2026 is down 46% on the same point last year.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Hayden Panettiere: Scream actress's cause of death revealed

September 22, 2026 at 20:10

Hayden Panettiere died after taking an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl, a coroner in the US has said.

The Nashville and Heroes star, 36, was found unresponsive in a flat in the city of Greenville in South Carolina last month.

Ruling that her death was an accident, Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis said an autopsy found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death.

Her cause of death was ruled as "the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP (fentanyl's chemical byproduct), Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine," Sky's US partner NBC said.

Alprazolam is an anti-anxiety medicine, Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxer, while Quetiapine is used to treat major depression and other serious mental health disorders.

Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were also in the apartment at the time.

Asked for her reaction to the report, Kasey Kitchen, a publicist for her family, said "the investigation is still ongoing and the case is complex".

Greenville Police said they are still investigating Panettiere's death.

Paramedics performed CPR on her for 40 minutes, as well as trying other advanced resuscitation efforts, before declaring her dead.

The police report released after her death mentioned a list of medications Panettiere was taking, but the names of the drugs were redacted.

Panettiere, who also appeared in the Scream horror movie franchise, released her memoirs earlier this year, opening up about her experiences with postpartum depression, addiction, and recovery.

This led to her decision to give custody of her only child, Kaya, in 2018, to her former partner, Ukrainian professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, Kaya's father.

Panettiere first appeared in adverts when she was just 11 months old - and went on to become a child actor with roles in soap operas including One Life To Live and Guiding Light.

Her first major feature-film role came when she was nine years old, as the voice of Princess Dot in A Bug's Life.

News Awards

The Commercial Radio News Awards aim to recognise the talent, hard work and dedication of commercial radio news teams and in the process reward and encourage the very best in radio journalism.