so itjust, my mental health was already really bad at this point. so itjust, that was my lowest point, i think. and you have said that you've spent time reflecting on the women who were still in that prison cell, who are still detained, those women that you met. yeah. i mean, one girl in particular, she's just 23. she has no family in dubai. she has no—one to bring her clothes or a toothbrush, because you're not provided with these things. what was she supposed to have done? she said there was like, i think there was a party where there was drugs at it. and they went in, they stormed in and theyjust took her. she doesn't know how long she's going to be there for. she hasn't been given a court hearing date. some girls, um, were there ten years. god. that i spoke to. they were from the philippines.

and obviously, you know, because you work for emirates as a flight attendant, dubai a really popular holiday destination for british people and for british people who want to make a life out there. what would you say to people in the uk and ireland, particularly women, who are thinking about setting up a life there? i think you just have to be careful because it's marketed as it's very relaxed, that it's changed over the years, but everything's 0k until it's not ok. it takes you having an argument with somebody, calling somebody a name. even around alcohol, it has this reputation for parties, yacht parties, but it's actually, the laws are still the same as they were years ago. so if they test you and you have alcohol in your system, you're still technically breaking the law, which i didn't know. i mean, i had two glasses of wine in my own home and i was charged with alcohol abuse.

so i just think you just have to be careful. ms towey�*s former husband denies the allegations. if you've been affected by the issues discussed in that interview, you can contact the bbc�*s action line. let's take a quick look at a few of the stories on the front pages. they all feature the beautiful pictures of the three young girls who were killed in southport. the guardian, you can't help but cry. hundreds pay tribute to stabbing victims. and you can see alice, elsie and bebe. again, faces of the innocent taylor swift fans killed by a despicable human being. violence erupts over child killings. no words

can describe our devastation. the independent, no words to describe the devastation that has hit our family. that is it from us tonight. christian's here tomorrow. goodnight live from london, this is bbc news... violent clashes between far—right protesters and police in southport, where three children were stabbed to death on monday. earlier, thousands gathered for a vigil to remember all the victims of the stabbings. israel launches an air strike on the lebanese capital, beirut, targeting a senior

hezbollah commander. hello, and welcome, i martine croxall. just hours after people gathered to pay their respects to three young children killed in a knife attack in southport, violence has broken out, with right—wing protesters — named by police as supporters of the english defence league — clashing with officers in the street. items were thrown at a local mosque after unrest fuelled by speculation over the identity of the knife attacker — speculation which the police have described as unhelpful. hundreds of people gathered to confront police officers, setting off fireworks and throwing rocks, bottles, and wheelie bins. a police van was set on fire, and officers have been injured — with one suffering a broken nose. earlier, thousands of people attended a peaceful vigilfor the victims of a stabbing on monday.

bebe king, who was six, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe, and alice dasilva aguiar, aged nine, were killed at a dance studio yesterday. eight other children and two adults were wounded. a 17—year—old boy is being questioned by police. we'll have more on those violent protests which took place this evening injust a moment — but first, this report from judith moritz. alice aguiar, only nine years old, whose parents said today she will always be their princess and told her, "keep smiling and dancing like you love to do." elsie dot stancombe, age seven, smiling proudly for her school photograph. the head remembers how she used to love to be carried to lessons on her father's shoulders. and bebe king, just six years old, with her milk teeth missing, whose school says it has lost one of the shining stars, and whose family says it has

no words to describe the devastation that has hit them. how can you find the words? three children who were just dancing, now they're gone. tonight, thousands turned up to a vigil in the town to gain collective strength as a community, each person struggling to take all of this in. the firefighters of green watch, who went to help the children yesterday, are numb. the ambulance crews who raced to save them and treat their wounds feel the same. all anyone can do now is show their sorrow and offer their support. my daughter goes to a drama club, so it hits very close to home. obviously, if she went to a holiday club, you think your child is going to be safe, and something like this happens, it's absolutely awful. it's a place we would all go as mummies and mummies—to—be, to go and feel safe, and to be with our children there. it is the most gorgeous place.

you would never, ever think anything like that would happen. emotions have been near the surface all day. the prime minister brought flowers and came to pay his respects, but found that, for some, feelings were riding high. the person i've held as a child, and you can't do— come here, sweetheart. he can't do bleep! | the prime minister! i came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine. i can't imagine it as a dad myself. to get a briefing from the chief constable and emergency services about the ongoing investigation, but also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from the emergency services, to say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that, as prime minister, on behalf of the country,

we are grateful for what they did. more information has been emerging about the heroes of this tragedy. this is leanne lucas, who's understood to have been running the children's dance class, and who is thought to have been stabbed while trying to protect them. her condition is not currently known. and this isjoel verity, a window cleaner who went to confront the knifeman before waiting for police to arrive, and then carried a child away from the scene. his friends have been speaking about his bravery. in that situation, you know, no one knows how they are going to react, no one knows if their fight orflight is going to kick in, and which one will kick in, and in that second, being a father himself, i thinkjoel. .. he heard kids and thought he had to help out. he went straightaway. he was truly fearless, and i am personally so proud of him. the children had been at a taylor swift—themed dance workshop.

today, the star posted her thoughts on instagram, saying the horror of the attack is washing over her, and she's completely in shock. fans of the singer have raised a quarter of a million pounds to support the families involved. some were at the vigil in the town centre, determined to keep positive against these odds. especially, southport is our holiday resort, and unfortunately, we find ourselves in a situation where we are now on the map for all the wrong reasons, and it's so, so sad to be in that situation. there are many still waiting anxiously for news and praying for those who remain critically hurt. and tonight, three families are devastated — unable to believe that their little girls aren't here any more. judith moretz, bbc news, southport. hours after that vigil, hundreds of right—wing protestors clashed with police following speculation over

the identity of the suspect, a 17—year—old boy who remains in custody. we know he was born in cardiff to rwandan parents, and moved to the southport area in 2013. our home affairs correspondent daniel sanford has the latest. tonight, the tragedy of southport descended into violence. a few hundred people had gathered outside a local mosque for a protest. they had been fired up by social media posts that suggested, incorrectly, an islamist link to monday's stabbings. now the protest has turned into a small riot, with large rocks being thrown at police officers wearing riot helmets and carrying shields. at times, there was extreme violence, as heavy rocks rained down on officers, and a police vehicle was set on fire. the home secretary had earlier warned about disinformation links to the attack.

this seems to have been one of the consequences. the suspect has no known links to islam. yesterday, the usual quiet of this modern cul—de—sac, where the 17—year—old suspect lived, in banks, just outside southport, had been shattered by the arrival of armed police officers, and today, the close remained closed, as forensic officers meticulously gathered evidence. the 17—year—old is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. the suspect was born in cardiff to parents who had moved to the uk from rwanda. the family, including his older brother, moved to the southport area 11 years ago, and to this close in banks seven years ago. we do know his name, but it is unlawful for us to identify him, because he is under 18 and involved criminal proceedings. neighbours say he left his home in banks yesterday in a taxi at around 11.30am. he was wearing

a covid—style facemask. about a quarter of an hour later, a man arrived in a taxi on hart street. the police were called at 11.1i7am to reports of a stabbing at the taylor swift—themed dance event, just off hart street. the suspect was arrested at the scene. this 3d animation shows how the hart space dance studio, where the stabbings happen, is down a cul—de—sac, with only one way in and out. so it may have been difficult for people to escape once the attack started. the new home secretary was in southport this morning to lay flowers and meet the police, fire, and ambulance staff who responded to what she called an unimaginable attack. it's beyond every parent's worst nightmare. you had what should have been a children's party, having fun at the beginning of the summer holidays, could then turn into something so devastating. with police forensics teams poring over the streets around

the attack site today, the 17—year—old remains in custody but has not been charged. but that was before tonight's riot, in which one officer suffered a broken nose. merseyside police said the violence was sickening for a community already devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives. the home secretary yvette cooper has condemned the violence. well, in southport this morning, i saw a community that was coming together to grieve together, to support each other, and also to thank the police for their heroism yesterday in the face of the horrific attack — where there is an urgent criminal investigation now under way. but that's why it's so appalling to now see those same police facing violent attacks from thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community. it's a total disgrace. frankly, this is a time when everyone should be showing respect for our community and for the police.

there's been a lot of speculation about exactly what may have happened in the background of the person, and all of that kind of thing. obviously, you're not going to get into that. has the speculation been unhelpful, do you think, in terms of these scenes tonight? well, i think everyone should be showing some respect for the community that is grieving, and also for the police who are pursuing an urgent criminal investigation now, and who showed such heroism and bravery yesterday in the face of these horrific attacks. i think everyone needs to support the police in that work — and frankly, the scenes of thuggery that we have seen on the streets of southport this evening bear no relation to the way in which the southport community has been coming together to support each other and to support grieving families. we need to see some respect for the grieving community and for the police in their urgent work. despite the disorder seen in southport tonight,

the community is filled with grief for the victims and hope for those still in hospital — and as fiona trott reports, they have been coming together to help each other. when you don't have the words, this is the answer. it's putting your emotions somewhere, isn't it? the town today has been really subdued. but for families who can't afford flowers, janet and graham are giving them away at their donation point. please come and get the flowers, and i'll be collecting again tonight. i hope the supermarkets will donate some more tonight. if every little person in your street, in the neighbourhood, does one good thing, i guess that brings the community together, doesn't it, and you can get through this? well, it is true. i think in any of these tragedies, you know, you see people... just the flowers and the family, they've got to grip onto something that's going to try and hold them together in a situation like this. a few streets away is janet and graham's friend mike. we're not sure how many people's at the hospital, so we've got a i6—seater prepared. he runs a taxi firm, and is offering free transport

to and from hospitals where victims are being treated. my daughter died in 2019, so i know how these parents feel. today, he's helped a grandmother and brother of one of the injured girls. it was all silent in the car for a good ten minutes, and then we just got chatting, as you do. and how was the little brother that was with her? he was quite happy, the fact that the little girl was coming round, wanting biscuits, wanting ice cream, you know? so he was quite happy with that, and you could see it in him. but his granny, you could see, was really worried. and for people who need quiet reflection, local churches have opened their doors. it can be a catalyst for people coming together and trusting one another more. i think that's what people want now, isn't it? they want trust and hope, i guess. i think hope, definitely. that's the sort of thing i hang on to, but you want to share that hope. fiona trott, bbc news, southport.

joining us now on the line is megan banner, who is a seniorjournalist at the liverpool echo. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. tell us how your newspaper is reporting the unrest in southport tonight. hi. reporting the unrest in southport toniaht. . ~ reporting the unrest in southport toniaht. ., ~ i. ., reporting the unrest in southport toniaht. ., ~ ., ., tonight. hi, thank you for having us. i've tonight. hi, thank you for having us- i've been _ tonight. hi, thank you for having us. i've been in _ tonight. hi, thank you for having us. i've been in southport - tonight. hi, thank you for having us. i've been in southport for . tonight. hi, thank you for having | us. i've been in southport for the last few days, but tonight, it's absolutely horrific. i've been here with my colleague, and the things we've seen, isjust with my colleague, and the things we've seen, is just absolutely disgusting. i'm still here in the middle of the street, hiding away from the others — i've just seen a fellowjournalist from the others — i've just seen a fellow journalist get chased from the others — i've just seen a fellowjournalist get chased down the street. we've got broken walls, smashed up cars, glass everywhere — there's a sea of blue lights from emergency services, which of course we've heard police have been injured inside riots. just horrific scenes. and of all the communities in the

country, southport really does not need this when you think about the grief, the bereavement that the community's suffering after the stabbing. community's suffering after the stabbinu. ., ., , , stabbing. no, absolutely night. i soke to stabbing. no, absolutely night. i spoke to the _ stabbing. no, absolutely night. i spoke to the residence _ stabbing. no, absolutely night. i spoke to the residence in - stabbing. no, absolutely night. i spoke to the residence in the - stabbing. no, absolutely night. i. spoke to the residence in the area this evening — they are trying to grieve just streets away from where i am now, there's flowers, teddy bears, messages being left at the scene. theyjust want bears, messages being left at the scene. they just want to bears, messages being left at the scene. theyjust want to be left in peace to mourn the tragic death of these three little girls.— these three little girls. there's been a statement _ these three little girls. there's been a statement that - these three little girls. there's been a statement that you - these three little girls. there's| been a statement that you may these three little girls. there's - been a statement that you may not have seen, megan, released by the liverpool city region mosque network, saying mosques were shocked by the heinous scenes of murder and acts of violence against the children and adults in south park. it goes on to say, "a minority of people are trying to portray this

heinous act as part of the muslim community. frankly it is not, we must not let those who seek to divide us use this as an opportunity." and this is where community leaders from all backgrounds are will need to come together to hold that community safely, won't they?— together to hold that community safely, won't they? absolutely, this is what southport _ safely, won't they? absolutely, this is what southport needs _ safely, won't they? absolutely, this is what southport needs in - safely, won't they? absolutely, this is what southport needs in this - is what southport needs in this horrific, sad time. they need to come together, not fight together, but come together and more in this tragic news. it's horrific, yeah, they need to come together. find tragic news. it's horrific, yeah, they need to come together. and your newsa er they need to come together. and your newsnaper will — they need to come together. and your newspaper will be _ they need to come together. and your newspaper will be reporting _ they need to come together. and your newspaper will be reporting on - they need to come together. and your newspaper will be reporting on all- newspaper will be reporting on all aspects of it, and this is a great opportunity for you as well to carry that message?— opportunity for you as well to carry that messaue? ~ , , , �* that message? absolutely, yes, we've been here since _ that message? absolutely, yes, we've been here since the _ that message? absolutely, yes, we've been here since the moment - that message? absolutely, yes, we've been here since the moment it - that message? absolutely, yes, we've been here since the moment it broke l been here since the moment it broke on monday, just before midday — we plan to be here for days coming. yes, it's horrific and we want to be here for the community more than

anything at this time, what they need. . , , ., �*, ., need. certainly is, that's what newspapers — need. certainly is, that's what newspapers are _ need. certainly is, that's what newspapers are so _ need. certainly is, that's what newspapers are so good - need. certainly is, that's what newspapers are so good at. i need. certainly is, that's what - newspapers are so good at. thank you so much, megan, for talking to us. the prime minister has just said anyone involved in this southport unrest will suffer the full force of the law. in our other major story tonight — israel has carried out an air strike on the lebanese capital, beirut, in what it says was a targeted move against a commander of the militant group hezbollah, which is backed by iran. in the last hour, israel has announced the strike killed hezbollah's most senior military commander, fuad shukr. israel hit a densely—populated neighbourhood — lebanon says three civilians were killed and 7a injured, with emergency services still looking for survivors. israel blames hezbollah for an attack last weekend in the israeli—occupied golan heights, during which 12 young children died — the group denies involvement. from lebanon, here's our

correspondent quentin somerville. israel's response came just before sunset — a drone attack, three strikes on a building in beirut�*s southern suburb of dahiyeh. explosions could be heard across the city, an attack that lebanon has been bracing itself against the days. the target, a hezbollah commander israel blames for the attack in the occupied golan heights. emergency services here are still working to rescue the injured, at least one woman died and dozens have been left wounded, it is not known if the commander was killed. this is the building that was struck by an israeli drone, we believe, three rockets hit the building — as you can see this as a heavily

built—up civilian area, but israel says it had a hezbollah commander it holds responsible for the attack on its sites. there are mixed reports about whether he actually made it out alive, but we know that it's a least one woman killed in a number of people injured here tonight. this area of southern beirut was the same area in which a hamas official was targeted and killed by israel back injanuary this year, the big question now though is, what comes next? because israel has said its response will be severe, and it would take a number of days — so this strike may not be the end of it. a new footage has emerged tonight of saturday's attack in the golan — children playing quietly, then an air raid siren. there was no time to take cover. it left 12 dead, all children and young adults, watching a nearby football match. hezbollah, which has fired thousands of rockets and missiles into israel in the last ten months, denies it was behind the attack.

the iranian—backed group stands shoulder—to—shoulder with hamas, but it's far better armed and its fighters more formidable. the conflict here was mainly contained to border areas and military targets — the unwritten rules of this almost—war. but saturday's attack on the golan on civilians has pushed lebanon and israel to the brink. the united states and others have been working to contain things. how hezbollah responds to tonight's assassination attempt, and what israel does next, will determine whether war here is inevitable. quentin somerville, bbc news, beirut. time to take a quick look at tomorrow's newspaper front pages — many of them leading with tributes to the southport victims. we start with the mirror — �*a town in tears, keep smiling and dancing' including photos of alice, elsie and bebe. their faces also on the front page

of the i — �*no words can describe our devastation�*. the metro reads �*holiday club stabbing victims — our little innocents'. a similarly sombre mood for the front page of the guardian, which also has an exclusive report about kemi badenoch, who is vying for conservative party leadership. the daily telegraph writes about the violence that has erupted in southport — where riot police have clashed with an angry mob. the financial times includes those pictures of keir starmer laying flowers at the scene of the attack. but the main headline is a warning the budget will raise taxes. if the paris olympics have a superstar, it is the american gymnast simone biles. she pulled out of the tokyo games three years ago with the so—called "twisties", a debilitating mental health issue which causes a lack of spatial awareness for gymnasts — but today she stormed back to claim a gold medal in the

women's team event. natalie pirks reports. simone biles has stood here so many times, but her fifth olympic gold was only half the story for a woman now empowered to write her own endings. in the sweltering sun, stars and stripes fluttered in place of the tricolour as far as the eye could see. usa! hollywood royalty was in the house, but there was only one star fans were here for. go, simone biles! go, simone! biles started her road back to olympics glory on vault. this, would you believe, her easier routine. as herfamous friends looked on, the mental health issues of tokyo seemed a world away. for team gb, becky downie was back on the biggest stage for the first time in eight years. this is massive. it was also the heavenly birthday of her brother, josh, who died three years ago. the 32—year—old harnessed all her emotion to nail britain's highest—scoring routine. wow, becky! but with all lenses trained on the four foot seven

phenomenon, biles showed she was human after all. oh, wow, that was a bit wild! it was still enough to keep her team way out front. well, look at this — standing room only as team usa close in on yet another olympic gold with just the floor to go. taylor swift's ready for it opened her routine, but this was biles' redemption song. and when the troubles of tokyo fell from her shoulders, with every twist and tumble, 15,000 rose as one. and that routine marks the start of her golden return to the olympics! britain was simply brilliant but fell agonisingly short in fourth behind brazil. but the usa were unmatched for biles' 38th major medal and first of a possible five here. hear the roar as the gold medal is hung around her neck. after opting to focus on her mental health after the last olympics, some labelled her a quitter. how foolish they must feel now. natalie pirks, bbc news, paris.

team gb�*s andy murray and dan evans are into the quarterfinals in the men's doubles at the paris olympics with a nail—biting win over belgian pair sander gille and joran vliegen. 37—year—old murray is set to retire after the games. it's been the uk's hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures hitting 32 celsius in london. these are arial shots of people cooling off in the capital's parks and lidos. elsewhere, heatwave conditions — which require three days of temperatures above a specific threshold — have been reached in parts of kent and west yorkshire. but it might not last, as the met office has issued a yellow alert for thunder later this week. let's ta ke let's take a look at that forecast now with sarah.

hello. tuesday brought us the warmest day of the year so far. several parts of london saw temperatures up to 32 celsius, including heathrow, kew gardens, saintjames' park, as well. and it's notjust been the warmest day of the year — we've also officially seen a heat wave already in some regions, especially kent, east malling, and bramham, in west yorkshire. these areas have seen temperatures exceed their heatwave threshold for sunday, monday, and tuesday. so already, three consecutive days — and we may well see another day or so of heatwave conditions in some areas. so, it's still warm and humid again, but a thunderstorm risk as we head through wednesday in the southeast of england. to start the day, then, we've got the heat and humidity in the south from the word go. it's fresher further north. long spells of sunshine, lots of dry weather, light winds, really pleasant late—july day — but it is humid towards the south and, as we head through the afternoon, you can see those showers and thunderstorms starting to crop up, particularly so across parts of kent into sussex, as well. they'll be hit—and—miss, so you might not see one, but if you do catch one, could be some localised flooding. top temperatures still 28—29 for central and southern areas.

low—20s or high teens though further north. now, heading on into wednesday evening and overnight into thursday, some of those heavy showers and thunderstorms become a little bit more extensive, especially across parts of england and wales. could be a bit of rain across the west of scotland heading on into thursday, as well. it's going to be another really muggy, sticky night in the south — mid—to—high—teens here — a little bit warmer further north than it has been overnight too. now through thursday, we've got this first mass of heavy showers and thunderstorms that clears away, and then, through the day cloud and showers bubble up. so again, some thunderstorms potentially breaking out, especially for england and wales, i think during the afternoon. drier for scotland and northern ireland. temperatures 22—28 — so still above average for most of us. we've still got that warm air with us as we head through friday. but later on friday and into saturday, a frontal system pushes its way eastwards — and that's going to allow fresher air to start to move in from the west. so, a change in weather—type as we head through friday into saturday. still quite warm and sunny in the south and east, i think, through friday, but the winds pick up in the north and the west

with the arrival of some showers, as low pressure starts to move in. so, temperatures around about 16—21 for northern ireland and scotland, still about 28 in the far southeast — but then, eventually, things do turn a little bit fresher and more unsettled as we head into the weekend. bye for now.