you're watching bbc news. our main headlines... a majorfire at the liverpool echo arena multi—storey car park — police say a number of vehicles are on fire and traffic restrictions are in place. police say there are no casualties but tonight's international horse show has been cancelled. six people have died after a seaplane crashed into a river in australia — it's thought four of the victims may be british. the plane has hit the water and it has subsequently sunken. it is sitting in approximately 13 metres of water. iran imposes restrictions on social media and uses watercannon to disperse protesters, as demonstrations against the ruling clerics continue. and this is the scene at the world's tallest building in dubai, the burj

khalifa. and manchester city's winning run comes to an end as they we re winning run comes to an end as they were held to a goalless draw by crystal palace. and coming up, mark kermode looks back at 2017's big film releases — including the sequel to blade runner — that's the year in film in half an hour. good evening and welcome to bbc news. a majorfire has broken out at the liverpool echo arena multi—storey car park. the arena is currently staging the international horse of the year show and the horses have been moved inside the venue for safety. on the line isjenny kirkhan, a reporter at the liverpool echo, who is at the scene of the fre.

tell us what's going on there now? at the moment the fire is still raging over a number of floors of the multistorey car park. it has now com pletely the multistorey car park. it has now completely ta ken over. the multistorey car park. it has now completely taken over. fire crews are attempting to stop it spreading to an apartment blockjust beside it and the smoke can be seen across the city at the moment. there are five 01’ city at the moment. there are five or six fire crews tackling the blaze. i think we're having a little trouble with hearing you on the line, we will try and come back to you if we can. for the moment, we can speak to our correspondent nina warhurst who has been following the story from our studio in salford. tell us more about exactly what happened? we understand from merseyside fire and rescue that it

was around half past four that they we re was around half past four that they were made aware of the blaze which had started at the arena. they say they they were there less than ten minutes later. as you were hearing from jenny some five hours later, it is still going strong. this car park is still going strong. this car park is just next to the arena, about 50 metres across the road. we understand there are a around 150 ca i’s understand there are a around 150 cars in there. some eyewitnesses say they heard explosions but that could well be from a cars catching fire. as you said, the international horse show was taking place, which has since been cancelled. from what we know, all people and horses have been accounted for. we think there we re been accounted for. we think there were some horses inside the car park when the fire started, but that they we re when the fire started, but that they were moved inside the arena for safety but they have all been accounted for now. liverpool city centre will be busy tonight, it's new year's eve, it's somewhere that people will go to bring in the new year and there will be obvious

ramifications for all of those people, not least because police have told those visiting the horse show, who will have come from across the country, to leave their cars for 110w the country, to leave their cars for now and come back in the morning. so, the fire is under control but there will be implications for the area around the city centre. you may not have seen this, the mayor of liverpool, joe anderson, has tweeted that everyone is safe and no animals we re that everyone is safe and no animals were hurt. but it seems a land rover went on fire on the third level of the car park, so that seems to have been the cause of the fire. it's worth saying, this is a major event, and there will be a lot of people who will have had their cars in the car park and who will be very inconvenienced by this? absolutely, and the liverpool arena, anybody in the north of england knows it well, it has an11,000 the north of england knows it well, it has an 11,000 capacity, with big events and concerts taking place there and political parties meeting there and political parties meeting there as well. so, this is a well—known venue as you say to

though, the fact that there are more than 100 vehicles in there, and all the people who will be heading from the people who will be heading from the arena to go and get their cars, but also people who may have parked their overnight from the surrounding area who have come to celebrate new year in liverpool will be having trouble getting to their vehicle. if people are visiting liverpool for the night, the hotels will be full. so, where are they going to stay? you can imagine there will be busy scenes in liverpool city centre tonight. but as far as we know, every person and every horse at the arena have been accounted for, and the organisers have said all people and horses are safe and secure, and they would like to thank spectators, riders and support teams for their understanding and co—operation. there is a possibility of rescheduling the show for tomorrow, but that is currently under review. nina warhurst, many thanks. lets

code back now tojenny kirkhan, reporter at the liverpool echo, who is at the scene. we were having some trouble hearing due before, i think the line is better now, tell us what you can see? at the minute the fire can be seen coming out of a number of flaws in the multistorey car park. there's around five or six appliances here are attempting to stop it from spreading to a nearby apartment block. you can hear in the background alarms going from the cars and horns going. and there's a lot of people very, very affected by this, whether they are staying in the city and have just come to visit or whether they are here for the horse show. as i'm standing here they are bringing horses out of the arena and taking them to stables across merseyside that have offered them a base for this evening. just looking at the pictures of the fire now, jenny, it is clearly a huge blaze, and although we know that

people are safe, and the animals are safe, it will still have shaken people up? i think what is affecting people up? i think what is affecting people the most is, you can hear explosions in the background, and people are very concerned about it spreading to surrounding buildings ifa spreading to surrounding buildings if a lot of staff from local businesses have been sent home which will affect the new year is celebrations tonight. the smoke is affecting a lot of people here as well in their eyes and throats just but hopefully it seems to be as much under control as it can be at the minute and hopefully it will die down in the next couple of hours. thank you very much indeed. a seaplane has crashed into a river near sydney, killing all six people on board. reports suggest four of those who have died are british,

although this hasn't been confirmed by the police. the foreign office here is in contact with officials in australia. the aircraft, which was on a sightseeing trip in advance of the new year celebrations, came down in a river close to the suburb of cowan. phil mercer reports from sydney. the seaplane crashed intojerusalem bay near the town of cowan. on board were five passengers and the pilot. the single—engine aircraft is thought to have sunk rapidly. a witness said it had made a tight right—hand turn and then nosedived into the hawkesbury river. a full—scale search was soon under way. there were no survivors. police divers have found the six bodies. police divers have found six bodies. the wreckage of the plane remains in more than a0 feet of water. the authorities say a full investigation will take place. i cannot confirm the identity or ages of the people who were on the plane. we are... it is early in the investigation, and we are working with the plane company, getting investigators here to confirm the identities

and investigate why the plane crashed into the water. the seaplane was returning from a waterfront restaurant to rose bay on sydney harbour. it's a journey that would normally take around 20 minutes. the aircraft is owned by sydney seaplanes. it provides flights around some of the city's most popular tourist attractions, including the opera house, the harbour bridge, and to the north the hawkesbury river. the company said in a statement that its pilots are some of the most experienced in the world and that all its flights had been suspended until further notice. air—crash investigators will arrive at the site of the accident early on new year's day to try to establish how and why a routine sightseeing flight could end in catastrophe. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. preparations are under way

for this evening's hogmanay for this evening's fireworks celebrations in london. it isa it is a huge event for the city of london. 100,000 people will be filling the viewing areas here on the victoria embankment and on the bridges across the river thames in the hours between now and midnight. the match of bolton police they that there is no specific threat to tonight's celebrations but there is tight security in place, as you would expect. armed officers are on patrol, undercover officers will be amongst the crowds as well, we're told. police say they are using cctv as well as sniffer dogs and vehicle number plate recognition technology and vehicle barriers as well, all pa rt and vehicle barriers as well, all part of a policing plan which we are

told has been developed and reviewed given the tragic events in london this year. the city has seen several terrorist attacks. but people coming to watch the fireworks up close will as ever be treated to a spectacular show, and earlier on this evening the mayor of london, sadiq khan, told us that it was important for london to put on that show. notjust londoners will be enjoy in tonight's fireworks, people around the country will be watching the fireworks on tv and also people around the world. this is a sign of confidence, it is who we are, it is showing the world we are london, we are the greatest city in the world, london is open. but also our theme of gender equality, the theme of the soundtrack showing the world that we area soundtrack showing the world that we are a beacon for pluralism and equality, we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it and embrace it and celebrate it. so, thatis embrace it and celebrate it. so, that is the mayor's intention between behind that theme of gender

equality which we will see in tonight's display. the second half of the soundtrack, looking forward to 2018, featuring exclusively female artists. the display itself will be 11 minutes and 15 seconds of fireworks, 50,000 individual explosives, and it will be set off from the centrepiece behind me, the london eye and three barges along the river, holding 30 tonnes of equipment. so, a spectacular show us a lwa ys equipment. so, a spectacular show us always and it all takes off as big ben, which is covered in scaffolding at the moment, chimes midnight to see in 2018. the countdown is also on for hogmanay in edinburgh. there will be an increased police presence in the wake of this year's terrorist attacks in london and manchester. 0ur correspondent andrew black is in edinburgh. despite the security concerns, the mood still looks upbeat behind you? yeah, just look

behind me at princes street, the main street in edinburgh, the party is really starting. we're expecting about 60,000 people in total on this street to see the fireworks tonight. as well as that we've also got a tonne of live bands performing tonight, including rag and bone man and others. but we also have some more home—grown talent as well and i'm joined now by one of the bands which is performing tonight. welcome to you both. it has been a big year for you, you have won the scottish album of the year award, so how was that? it was amazing, it's been a crazy year, we never imagined that would happen but it was a huge honour and we have had a nice time. and how did you get involved in playing here tonight?” and how did you get involved in playing here tonight? i can't hear you, sorry! how did you get involved in playing here tonight? we were invited to play and it was a real pleasure and it should be fun. have you done something on this scale

before? no, not at all. we played at the hydro the other day and that was the hydro the other day and that was the biggest room with ever played m, the biggest room with ever played in, and we have never done something like this open—air before, so it's really exciting. what does it into you to be playing an event like this? it feels really special to be pa rt this? it feels really special to be part of it. everyone's having a great time and we hope it will help them enjoy the night! so, this is obviously a great way to end the year, so what do you think the year ahead has in store for you? sorry? what do you think the year ahead has in store for you? well, we're going to write some new songs and put out a new record hopefully soon—ish, so hopefully more of the same, more touring and doing shows and... and when are you playing tonight? when are you playing tonight? at nine o'clock. fantastic, thank you very much forjoining the. just a quick word on the security — police say

there is no specific threat here tonight but there is an increased presence including an are police presence, but the organisers say that everything is going to plan, the weather is looking right, so i think we're in store for a good night ahead. and the dancing has started behind you! many thanks, andrew black. 0ur started behind you! many thanks, andrew black. our main headlines... there is a majorfire in the car park of the liverpool echo arena. 0rganisers say there are no casualties but tonight's international horse of the year show has been cancelled. police say six people have been killed after a seaplane crashed into a river north of sydney. are reports that fall of the victims victims may be british. and festivities ashya in the new year, hong kong had a spectacular fireworks display above the iconic victoria harbour. time for a look at

the sport now with 0llie foster. after 18 league victories in a row, manchester city's winning streak has come to an end. they were held to a goalless draw at crystal palace, but might have lost, had it not been for a late penalty save from ederson, who kept out luka milivojevic in injury time. city were also hit by injuries to gabrieljesus, who is out for at least a month with a knee problem, and kevin de bruyne, but they head into the new year 1a points clear at the top of the premier league. big read it for crystal palace, at the end they have a big chance to win the game. i think the first half, we have action but we didn't control, we conceded a lot of free kicks and corners, that means we are not ina kicks and corners, that means we are not in a good way. in the second half it was much, much better, we created enough chances, they had one, the penalty. deserved point for both teams. and now, we just focus on the next one, when we didn't win, we focus on the next one. no-one

would have expected us even to get a point from the game and, so one should not start being too critical, because a point against a team of this quality is always good, considering our position. but on a couple of occasions now, we have had straightway late penalties awarded and we have failed to capitalise wish you you look at those four points, if we could have got those we would have been a lot further away from the relegation zone, but the lads are doing a wonderfuljob. arsene wenger took charge of a record 811th premier league match today. it was a 1—1 draw at west bromwich albion. alexis sanchez looked to have give the gunners the win with a deflected free—kick in the last 10 minutes, but callum chambers gave away a penalty with a debatable handball and jay rodriguez equalised in the last minute. i think many, many years ago david lea n i think many, many years ago david lean and myself fought very hard for the club to become professional and i think we did a good job. but i have said many, many times now that

they don't work enough and i question even more than that, but on top of that, we have a very uifze schedule and i believe difficult schedule and i believe that we did fight very hard to win the game, and in the end we couldn't because of that decision. in the end, it was a fortunate decision, because of that decision. in the end, it was a fortunate decision at say it'sl penalty, s definitely nalty, 77 if "1 " ” 7 ee- £53325! it—fiikzz; es; lz’zf‘ 55:54 7:7 iii??? it—fiizkzz; 77; l727; 55:74 7:7 we £73325! it—fiik77f 77; l727; k75:74 7:7 we £5 :‘ theiri should have had a we should definitely have had a penalty. so sometimes when they say about football, it comes back and treats you at times, we got a treaty today. ashley young... ashley young will miss the next three manchester united matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct from the football association. he was caught on camera elbowing southampton's dusan tadic in yesterday's goalless draw

at old trafford. the incident wasn't spotted by referee craig pawson. swansea's kyle naughton is also banned for three matches after accepting a similar charge for stamping on a watford player. exeter chiefs are 10 points clear in the rugby union premiership after beating leicester 30—6. they ran in four second half tries. leicester's sixth league defeat in a row is their worst run in over 50 years. there were two matches in wales in the pr014. scarlets won away at cardiff blues 14—11. cardiff led at half—time but scarlets fought back soon after the break. rhys patchell‘s try, their second of the match, sealed the win. they are top of conference b in the pr014. 0spreys beat dragons 22—9. england's cricketers have been enjoying new year in sydney ahead of the final ashes test, which begins in four days' time. england wicketkeeper jonny bairstow has given his backing to all—rounder moeen ali, who has only taken three wickets and averaged 19 runs with the bat in the series so far. i think that that's unquestionable, even to think that he's not in that best xi. he wouldn't have played the first matches if he's

not in that first xi. i think there's not many spinners that will come i think there's not many finger spinners that will come to australia and bowl teams out. so i think it's very important that you get behind moeen, he can take a game away from you. ben stokes won'tjoin up with the england one—day squad in australia — he's still waiting to hear if he'll be charged following a fight outside a bristol nightclub in september. the five match series starts on 14th january, but it's very unlikely that stokes will play a part. dawid malan will replace him in the squad. that's all the sport for now. iran has moved to restrict social media networks that have been used to organise four days of anti—establishment protests. the protests have been the biggest show of dissent in the country since disputed elections in 2009. in his first public statement since the unrest began, president hassan rouhani has said iranians have the right to protest, but not cause disorder. alan johnston reports. 0n the protests go. water cannon,

deployed in the heart of tehran late on this fourth day of unrest in the streets. as they marched down one of the capital's avenues, they made their feelings known. the capital's avenues, they made theirfeelings known. death to the capital's avenues, they made their feelings known. death to the dictator, they chanted. 0n their feelings known. death to the dictator, they chanted. on saturday night, gunshots rang out in a western city. a casualty is carried away. two people died. 0fficials insist the police didn't open fire. they blame the deaths on provocateu rs they blame the deaths on provocateurs in the crowd. translation: in these clashes, traces of groups and anti—regime media and western intelligence services are visible. in these

clashes, no bullets were fired by the police, military or security forces towards the people. the call was for the protests to end peacefully. the night also brought violence to other cities. the governor's office was set ablaze. and ina governor's office was set ablaze. and in a shout, the security forces watched as some of their motorbikes burned. the protests initially focused on economic grievances, but they've become highly political, with demands for an end to the rule of the clerics. demonstrations like these have been organised on social media, so the authorities have stepped in. the telegram messaging app says it refused to shut downer channels engaged in peaceful protest and now the government has restricted access to most users of the service. the government rallied

in supporters on saturday, showing that huge numbers of iranians back it. the authorities promised they will tackle the nation's economic woes. for the first time since the u nrest woes. for the first time since the unrest began, we've heard from president rouhani. he said people we re president rouhani. he said people were free to criticise his government, but there should be no violence. he knows the anger in the streets is dangerous. the wave of protests represents the most serious that iran's leadershi- has challenge that iran's leadership has faced for years. alan johnston public bbc news. afshin molavi is an expert in middle eastern politics and is a senior fellow at the foreign policy institute atjohns hopkins university. thank you forjoining us. can i ask you first of all about the iranian government's move to restrict social media use — what effect is that likely to have when it comes to

these protests? well, i think it will certainly have an effect. after all social media is like a telegram, about half of the population who use the apps accords telegram, it has become part of the daily life of iran, it is where you share photos and jokes but increasingly it is where people are mobilising political protests. but it is also worth noting that we should not overstate twitter, instagram or telegram. after roll iran had quite an extraordinary revolution in 1970s nine before social media apps existed, before the internet existed. so, ithink existed, before the internet existed. so, i think it will have an effect, but if the revolutionary conditions are there, then social media is only one aspect of it. you talk about the revolutionary conditions, what do you mean? this is what i mean. i mean, revolutions, we have to be very careful when we think about revolutions historically. historically they take a long time. sometimes it looks as if these things happen overnight, but they don't. so, if we were to

play out the next few days and weeks and months, ithink play out the next few days and weeks and months, i think we would probably seymour protests. but as long as the government continues to have a monopoly of violence and as long as the government is willing to inflict violence, it's going to be very difficult to get out of this pattern of street protests, and violent response and it is very difficult to find a breach, so to speak. but one thing is worth noting to your viewers — the voices that we are hearing from iranians, an end to corruption, better management, better economy, a meaningful and at ago voice, these are things which iranians have been saying for more than a century, and the government of the islamic republic of iran is giving the iranian people not one or two or three of these things. so, this system is not sustainable in the long—term. but the question is, how do you define the long—term? the long—term. but the question is, how do you define the long-term? and we heard today for the first time from president rouhani condemning

the protests, and also attacking president trump for commenting on the situation — what sort of effect is that kind of language likely to have on the protesters?” is that kind of language likely to have on the protesters? i don't think it's going to have much effect on the protesters. president rouhani sniping at president trump, that's parfor sniping at president trump, that's par for the course, that's expected. when you look at the protester who oppose demands, these are very iranian demands, it doesn't really have much to do with what president trump says or what outside leaders will say, although outside leaders support is welcome. but what iranians are asking for is a political voice, a meaningful one, an end to corruption, greater economic dignity. and these are very reasonable demands. and when you look at other authority indian states like china, they've given their people growth and prosperity and social freedom, they may not have given them a political voice

but the islamic republic of iran has given their people none of those three. —— authoritarian states. what president trump says will make very little difference to those very basic demands. many thanks for your time. it is new year's eve, of course, very important to know what is going on outside. suso powell can tell us. the new year promises some wet and windy weather. if you're heading out this evening, we're now saying good night storm dylan, which has brought strong winds to scotland and northern ireland today, but there are plenty of showers coming in behind that weather systems. it's still going to be pretty breezy into the small hours. the showers will be clearing perhaps across eastern areas but still some persistent ones in the west. and then by the end of the night, in the south—west we can see another area of weather to contend with, which could mean some

rough conditions for southern coastal counties in the early part of new year's day. heavy rain and particularly strong winds along the south coast. this system should move out of the way fairly promptly, however. this is bbc news. our latest headlines: firefighters are tackling a blaze at a multi—storey car park at liverpool's echo arena. the international horse show that was being staged at the venue has been cancelled. a seaplane has crashed into a river north of sydney, killing all six people on board. unconfirmed reports say the casualties include an 11—year—old boy, the pilot and four british nationals. police in the iranian capital, tehran, use water cannon against protesters during a fourth day of anti—government demonstrations. authorities are restricting access to some social media channels. fireworks and festivities usher in the new year —

—— revellers are gathering in london amid tight security ahead of this evening's celebrations. now on bbc news, film critic mark kermode takes a look back at the big releases of the year, sorting the crackers from the turkeys, in review 2017: the year in film. hello and welcome to this review of the year in film. i'm mark kermode and we're here at the cinema museum in south london. over the next half an hour, i'll be looking back at some of the best movies released in uk cinemas in 2017.