at the olympics, it's double gold for team gb. alex yee wins the mens triathlon and in rowing, the women's quadruple were involved in a dramatic photo finish. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. we begin in the middle east, where two separate attacks in the space of 12 hours — on two senior iran—backed militant leaders — have raised fears of a wider regional conflict. hamas says its political leader ismail haniyeh was killed during a visit to tehran. early indications suggest that he and his bodyguard died when a rocket hit the house where he was staying. hamas has accused israel of being responsible and described the killing as a "grave escalation". hours earlier, israel said it had killed a senior hezbollah figure in a strike in beirut.

the movement has confirmed that fuad shukr, one of its top military commanders was in a building targeted by israel, but hasn't confirmed his fate. israel said he was responsible for an attack that killed 12 youngsters in the israeli—occupied golan heights. our correspondent injerusalem, yolande knell, sent this report. state media in iran reporting the assassination in its capital of this top hamas leader. a vip guest, ismail haniyeh, had been in tehran, along with the heads of other regional armed groups backed by iran, for the inauguration of the country's new president. but these were to be his last—ever public appearances. in gaza today, news of the killing worried many palestinians about the implications for ending nearly ten months of war with israel. translation: if the leaders die,

the political leaders, _ where are we going? children are dying. the elderly are dying. the youth are dying. no—one is looking out for us. i hope this will be the last assassination. and god willing, the war will end after this assassination. we are all tired. ismail haniyeh was from gaza but had recently lived in qatar. he was seen as more pragmatic than hard line hamas leaders still in the palestinian territory, and had been overseeing talks on a ceasefire and the release of israeli hostages. now hostage families fear a setback. i don't know how this news affect the deal, but i wish, i really wish for all of the forces around the world that will gather in order to bring our people back home. i hope our politicians will know to make these news into the release of the hostages. just hours before the tehran attack,

israel had targeted a senior hezbolla commander in the lebanese capital, beirut. it said he was responsible for a deadly rocket strike in the occupied golan heights last weekend. fears were already running high about the possibility of retaliation and a wider war. now, with iran announcing three days of mourning for ismail haniyeh and vowing a harsh and painful response, the middle east is even more on edge. let's speak to our world affairs correspondent barbara plett usher, injerusalem. israel never comments on these types of assassinations, is there any difference this time? hat of assassinations, is there any difference this time?— of assassinations, is there any difference this time? not so far, no. in difference this time? not so far, n0- in the _ difference this time? not so far, no. in the most _ difference this time? not so far, no. in the most recent _ difference this time? not so far, no. in the most recent briefing l difference this time? not so far, i no. in the most recent briefing with the prime minister's office, the spokesperson was asked and he said

we are not commenting on this incident. but we do know that after the october seven attacks, which were led by hamas, the israeli government said they were going to target all of the hamas leadership, including the political leadership, and their cat that threat throughout the last ten months. there was a strike against the deputy political leader in beirut injanuary. i think the entire region believe that it was the israelis who carried this out. there is a brief moment on social media where a picture of ismail haniyeh was posted by the press office here with a graphical process by saying eliminated but that was taken down very quickly so clearly, the israelis don't want to own this publicly. as i say, they have been saying that they would be targeting the leadership. question is now, why they would take this particular opportunity, especially when mr haniyeh had been involved heavily in ceasefire that many hoped

would result in at least a pause in the conflict in gaza.— would result in at least a pause in the conflict in gaza. there are the implications _ the conflict in gaza. there are the implications you _ the conflict in gaza. there are the implications you mention - the conflict in gaza. there are the implications you mention but - the conflict in gaza. there are the implications you mention but has| implications you mention but has anything been reported about how exactly this attack was done? we don't exactly this attack was done? - don't know exactly how it was done. we do know it took place at 2am, according to iranian media, and it was also very precise because there are other hamas leaders in the building, as well as leader of palestinian islamichhad, and they were not hit. it was very much aimed at mr haniyeh so israelis probably had good intelligence about where he was. this is possibly because you throughout organised event so perhaps they had time to get on it. the rainier media initially reported it was a missile fired from outside the country but there have been other reports that it was a rocket fired from a nearby building, which

would suggest there was some inside help for the attack. we don't have any confirmation of exactly how it was carried out.— any confirmation of exactly how it was carried out. thank you very much for the latest — was carried out. thank you very much for the latest from _ was carried out. thank you very much for the latest from jerusalem. - let's speak tojerome drevon, who is a senior analyst onjihad and modern conflict at the international crisis group. welcome to bbc news. when you heard this news that the political leader of hamas had been targeted, how surprised will you? in a of hamas had been targeted, how surprised will you?— surprised will you? in a way, it's not surprising. _ surprised will you? in a way, it's not surprising, the _ surprised will you? in a way, it's not surprising, the israeli - not surprising, the israeli leadership has killed most of the hamas leaders since the october attack and there was the attack on the hezbollah commander yesterday, so it's not that surprising even though ismail haniyeh has not been targeted up till now. he though ismail haniyeh has not been targeted up till now.— targeted up till now. he was the head of the _ targeted up till now. he was the head of the political— targeted up till now. he was the head of the political wing, - targeted up till now. he was the head of the political wing, is - targeted up till now. he was the | head of the political wing, is very ahead of the military wing that is went after a few weeks ago.

described for viewers watching, in terms of heading up the political wing, the sorts of decision—making that he would have been involved with. he that he would have been involved with. , , .,, ., with. he basically was the external face of hamas, _ with. he basically was the external face of hamas, so _ with. he basically was the external face of hamas, so he _ with. he basically was the external face of hamas, so he was - with. he basically was the external face of hamas, so he was in - face of hamas, so he was in diplomatic positions abroad, developing ties with other countries, both those alight and not allowed with western countries. qatar, iran, turkey. he was widely travelling in the region in order to present hamas' political face and play a role in negotiations. he did not have a military role. he play a role in negotiations. he did not have a military role.— not have a military role. he was critically involved _ not have a military role. he was critically involved in _ not have a military role. he was critically involved in those - critically involved in those negotiations, though, about a new hostage and ceasefire deal. what happens there? who is left to negotiate with?—

negotiate with? hamas is a relatively — negotiate with? hamas is a relatively institutionalised i negotiate with? hamas is a - relatively institutionalised group so he's not the only leader. there is a connective leadership and decisions are usually taken collectively so his replacement has been named already, the man who was the previous leader of hamas. hamas is the north leaders to continue negotiations was dropping the main question mark is what israel is going to do now. is going to go through negotiations, where they try to retaliate before continuing negotiations? this is the question stopping negotiations? this is the question stomin ., �*, negotiations? this is the question stoninu . �*, ,., . negotiations? this is the question stoming . �*, ,., . stopping what's your instance? i think hamas _ stopping what's your instance? i think hamas does _ stopping what's your instance? i think hamas does not _ stopping what's your instance? i think hamas does not have - stopping what's your instance? i think hamas does not have an i think hamas does not have an interest —— has an interest in posing negotiations which are not leading anywhere but they will have to continue eventually. this is not the first of the last time that negotiations can and will continue.

thank you for speaking with us. we speak now to a political analyst and middle east adviser from the department of defence. welcome to you today programme. your assessment to what we have seen overnight? this was, first to what we have seen overnight? this was. first of— to what we have seen overnight? this was, first of all, _ to what we have seen overnight? ti 3 was, first of all, humiliating blow to iran itself. of a look at the location of the assassination attempt, israel was sending multiple signals by doing this in iran. as you are probably following, benjamin netanyahu spoke to the us congress recently and mentioned iran as the main adversary and the cause behind it so stuff happening in the middle east. he made clear that iran was the target and this assassination in iranian territory was a blow for

them and a message to them as well. whether or not it was the right move or even a strategically smart move, i would say absolutely not. this comes at a critical time, a sensitive time in the negotiations which have been going on for months. obviously as your previous guest mentions, haniyeh was involved in the negotiations and that rumours he was pushing sarwar towards taking a deal and now he's gone. it is difficult to see a way forward is other than hamas becoming more extreme and less willing to compromise on the negotiations. find compromise on the negotiations. and the response you anticipate, we heard of the rhetoric months ago and we saw how the drone was what tile do you expect any continuation after

this space? it’s do you expect any continuation after this sace? v do you expect any continuation after this sace? 3 ~ do you expect any continuation after this sace? fl ~ ., this space? it's the kind to tell because it _ this space? it's the kind to tell because it was _ this space? it's the kind to tell because it was in _ this space? it's the kind to tell because it was in one - this space? it's the kind to tell because it was in one way - because it was in one way humiliating move. to save face, they are going to have to do something. on the other hand, we also know iran is not wanted an all—out war. for the last several months, it has been trying to balance the need to deter israel, to send messages to israel, while at the same time being careful not to ignite the whole region on fire and it is said both publicly and privately it does not want an all—out war. it is difficult to see what kind of reaction it is going to be able to strike that balance to be harsh not to respond to this assassination was at the same time, not setting the region on absolute flames. in not setting the region on absolute flames. , ., . .,

flames. in terms of the impact of those hostage — flames. in terms of the impact of those hostage negotiations, - flames. in terms of the impact of those hostage negotiations, yourj those hostage negotiations, your thoughts on that and what do you think we have seen over the last end ten months, hamas' capacity to respond to this and retaliate, what does that look like to you? fin respond to this and retaliate, what does that look like to you?- does that look like to you? on the negotiations. _ does that look like to you? on the negotiations, no _ does that look like to you? on the negotiations, no party... - does that look like to you? on the l negotiations, no party... netanyahu is banking on the fact that more pressure will actually cause sarwar to make concessions and sign the deal. from what we have seen historically, that is not the case and over the last nine months, the more pressure israel has placed militarily on hamas the less willing sinwar has been altered to sign the deal. the one condition they have had is that military operations have to enter in gaza completely so it is

difficult to see how they would be more willing to compromise after the head of the organisation was assassinated. i think we really should wait and see, the rhetoric is extremely angry and extreme, vowing retaliation but come back to the point made before, none of these actors actually want to push the region towards all—out war suffering the question is whether any of the moves they make is going to be that miscalculation, that one step too far that actually ignites an unintended war across the region. we will have to wait and see.— will have to wait and see. thank ou. will have to wait and see. thank you- plenty _ will have to wait and see. thank you. plenty more _ will have to wait and see. thank you. plenty more ahead. - will have to wait and see. thank| you. plenty more ahead. around will have to wait and see. thank - you. plenty more ahead. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. huw

edwards has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. he admitted having a 41 indecent images of children which had been sent to him by another man on whatsapp, seven were cattle classified as category a, no serious category. let's head to the courthouse where our correspondent is now. take us through what we heard in court earlier.— heard in court earlier. here right here 'ust heard in court earlier. here right here just after _ heard in court earlier. here right here just after 9am _ heard in court earlier. here right here just after 9am this - heard in court earlier. here right| here just after 9am this morning, flanked by several police officers. he walked around the corner and then was led through the double doors behind me and when he got into court, he quietly and calmly confirmed his name, address, date of birth, before pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children. we hear that there were 41 images in total, we

previously heard 37 but that correction was made in court. seven of them category a, the most severe level of content, the others catch a brother and c. b is not as serious but still quite serious and then c is defined as not falling into category a or b. he was in a whatsapp chat with another man and there is no suggestion here that he had created that images but we do know those images were mainly of children between the ages of 13 and 15 and there were also at least two images that were moving images of children between the ages of seven and nine. thejudge said he wasn't going to sentence mr edwards today and said he wanted to know more about his motivation, his health, about his motivation, his health, about whether there is a risk of him reoffending. he has now been scheduled to appear again in court

for sentencing on the 16th of september. huw edwards. for decades, the calm, trusted face of bbc news. walking into court charged with making indecent images of children. minutes later, he would plead guilty to all three charges. 41 images, seven class a, the most serious classification. to the crowds outside, there was no visible emotion, just the familiar demeanour of one of television's best known faces. for 20 years, he fronted the news at ten. tonight at ten, thousands of police officers... he has also been the face of the bbc for elections. so, as big ben reaches ten o'clock... political crises... we are live in downing street... and royal and state occasions. welcome to windsor. but a newspaper headline changed everything. the media frenzy of lastjuly followed a series of articles published in the sun alleging that an unnamed bbc presenter was paying a young person to send photographs described by the sun

as "sordid images." police eventually concluded there was no evidence of illegality and a statement from huw edwards' wife finally revealed his name to the public. a decision she said was out of concern for his mental wellbeing. he remained off airfor another nine months until in april it was announced he had resigned from the corporation on medical advice. it was the end of a career that had taken him from reporting on politics for bbc wales... he speaks welsh. to being made a lead presenter of bbc tv news and become one of the most familiar faces on british television. there are 650 mps... when he was given the job of presenting the bbc�*s tv election coverage of 2019, it was the first change of host in a0 years. he occupied a role that demanded reliability, trustworthiness, dignity for those era defining moments. here, the minutesjust before the announcement

of the death of the queen. contrast that with today, a man who we have learnt this week was arrested in november, charged injune and today pleaded guilty to those charges. he had already resigned but he was to the public still one of the faces of the bbc. this is more thanjust the end of a career and a reputation destroyed. clamouring. there will be several questions for the bbc - there will be several questions for the bbc — what they knew and when. huw edwards was charged last month but when i found out on monday and like we said, the organisation may

be quizzed on why actions were not taken sooner if it did know and there is speculation that it didn't know, that people in the building were just a stance when it came out on monday that he had been chance. i think there will be some pressing questions of people will want to know from management at the bbc. in the meantime, this is one of the bbc�*s biggest news stars, someone who presented the flagship ten o'clock news programme for several years and planning a career at the organisation of a0 years. years and planning a career at the organisation of 40 years.- years and planning a career at the organisation of 40 years. detectives investigating the mass stabbing in southport in north west england, that has left three children dead, have been granted more time to question a 17—year—old suspect. hundreds of people attended a vigil last night to pay tribute to the three girls who were killed in a knife attack, at a children's dance workshop. just hours later, violent clashes broke out close to where the girls were stabbed.

39 police officers were injured with 27 needing hospital treatment. merseyside police described the violence as sickening. members of the community, including the mother of one of the victims of the stabbing, have appealed for calm. let's speak to our correspondent, nicky schiller. horrifying scenes last night because at the local mosque was attacked, the police, the first responders to that standing, also coming under attack. ~ , attack. absolutely. there was violence last _ attack. absolutely. there was violence last night _ attack. absolutely. there was violence last night and - attack. absolutely. there was violence last night and i - attack. absolutely. there was violence last night and ijust l attack. absolutely. there was - violence last night and ijust want to explain where that was. you can see the flowers here near the scene of the mass stabbing. mosque isjust five minutes walk away from here and last night was the scene of violence. a police estimate there was 200 to 300 people there, all of the people i spoke into today say

they believe the majority of those people were from outside southport. they were not from the southport. they were not from the southport. they picked up breaks and threw them at the police was to bring those breaks came from people's garden walls, they knock down those garden walls, they knock down those garden walls to throw at the police and at the local mosque. we saw broken windows on the mosque, we saw a huge amount of debris this morning. a police van last night was set on fire. but the thing is, when i arrived this morning, in the streets, there was debris everywhere, piles of rubble. but what happened was the local community came out, people with brooms. i spoke to a man who travelled from manchester with a pocket and a broom to help clear up. and the locals came out in force, clearing that whole street. within three hours, it was clear of that

tapering. the local fire service came in with a cherry picker to make sure the windows in the mosque will secure. the people of southport wanted to make it clear that that community effort was what mattered. here, you see the flowers behind me. one of the sets of flowers is from the school of one of those three children who were killed. that's seven—year—old elsie dr stancombe and her school wrote that she loved life, school and herfriends. her eyes lit up when she spoke, because her one—of—a—kind. it is her mother that has come out and appeal for calm suffering she wrote on social media after the trouble as nights, please, please stop. police have been nothing but heroic, day and we don't need this. in the last couple of hours, the chief constable of merseyside has told the area where

that violence happens, saying that three people had been arrested and more arrests will be made. she said they weren't caught unawares by that violence and they were prepared if there was further violence, they've brought in support from other forces around the area. this is what serena kennedy had to say, the chief constable. kennedy had to say, the chief constable-— kennedy had to say, the chief constable. ., ., ., ., constable. based on the information i have available, _ constable. based on the information i have available, we _ constable. based on the information i have available, we understand - i have available, we understand there _ i have available, we understand there was— i have available, we understand there was people who identify as english _ there was people who identify as english defence league attending here yesterday. i am aware that other_ here yesterday. i am aware that other functions would say they haven't — other functions would say they haven't existed for a number of years— haven't existed for a number of years but— haven't existed for a number of years but based on how people were defining _ years but based on how people were defining themselves on our intelligence picture, that is what we would — intelligence picture, that is what we would understand. what intelligence picture, that is what we would understand. what would you sa to we would understand. what would you say to people — we would understand. what would you say to people down — we would understand. what would you say to people down the _ we would understand. what would you say to people down the street - we would understand. what would you say to people down the street at - we would understand. what would you say to people down the street at the i say to people down the street at the moment_ say to people down the street at the moment who — say to people down the street at the moment who are _ say to people down the street at the moment who are looking _ say to people down the street at the moment who are looking at - say to people down the street at the moment who are looking at their. moment who are looking at their garden _ moment who are looking at their garden was — moment who are looking at their garden was being _ moment who are looking at their garden was being repaired - moment who are looking at their garden was being repaired and l moment who are looking at their. garden was being repaired and the streets _ garden was being repaired and the streets they — garden was being repaired and the streets they walked _ garden was being repaired and the streets they walked out _ garden was being repaired and the streets they walked out on - garden was being repaired and the streets they walked out on this - streets they walked out on this morning — streets they walked out on this morning and _ streets they walked out on this morning and will— streets they walked out on this morning and will go _ streets they walked out on this morning and will go to - streets they walked out on this morning and will go to bed - streets they walked out on this - morning and will go to bed tonight and wonder— morning and will go to bed tonight and wonder about _ morning and will go to bed tonight and wonder about pretty— morning and will go to bed tonight and wonder about pretty much - morning and will go to bed tonight and wonder about pretty much any noise _ and wonder about pretty much any noise they— and wonder about pretty much any noise they hear _

and wonder about pretty much any noise they hear outside _ and wonder about pretty much any noise they hear outside their- noise they hear outside their window? _ noise they hear outside their window? i— noise they hear outside their window? ., , ., window? i would share with them robabl window? i would share with them probably the _ window? i would share with them probably the horror _ window? i would share with them probably the horror and _ window? i would share with them probably the horror and disgust i window? i would share with them i probably the horror and disgust are what took— probably the horror and disgust are what took place in this neighbourhood last night. southport is a tight—knit, family community. everyone — is a tight—knit, family community. everyone knows everybody, it's more like a _ everyone knows everybody, it's more like a village so i would share in their— like a village so i would share in their horror _ like a village so i would share in their horror and disgust but what i would _ their horror and disgust but what i would say— their horror and disgust but what i would say is please be reassured in terms _ would say is please be reassured in terms of— would say is please be reassured in terms of that level of support that they are _ terms of that level of support that they are going to see from policing, from all— they are going to see from policing, from all of— they are going to see from policing, from all of our partners. we are being _ from all of our partners. we are being supported in terms of reassurance from the services that to make _ reassurance from the services that to make sure during the day there are people — to make sure during the day there are people for them to speak to. we have that _ are people for them to speak to. we have that wider network we are working — have that wider network we are working with, there are drop—in centres — working with, there are drop—in centres because we can't get away from — centres because we can't get away from the _ centres because we can't get away from the fact that this community is traumatised by the events of monday. they need _ traumatised by the events of monday. they need support and help around what they— they need support and help around what they witness in relation to that traumatic incident on monday as

well as— that traumatic incident on monday as well as last _ that traumatic incident on monday as well as last night. will that traumatic incident on monday as well as last night.— well as last night. will have more ofthat well as last night. will have more of that interview _ well as last night. will have more of that interview later _ well as last night. will have more of that interview later in - well as last night. will have more of that interview later in the - of that interview later in the programme. there has been an extension granted to detectives in terms of the questioning of the 17—year—old? terms of the questioning of the 17-year-old?_ 17-year-old? that's right, the 17-year-old — 17-year-old? that's right, the 17-year-old suspect _ 17-year-old? that's right, the 17-year-old suspect was - 17-year-old? that's right, the i 17-year-old suspect was arrested 17-year-old? that's right, the - 17-year-old suspect was arrested on 17—year—old suspect was arrested on monday and police have normally a8 hours to question and they went to a magistrate to have it extended by 96 hours. the police are not saying much about the suspect other than to say is a 17—year—old. legally, were not allowed to name him because of his age. we know he was arrested in the village about three miles from here and originally from cardiff, moved to the southport area in 2013 and his parents are originally from rwanda. that investigation, the police continue with that. we also have to remember there are still victims from monday's horrific events in hospital. the last we

heard, there were five still critically ill, including cosmic adults who help to protect the children here on monday. hello there. the heatwave continues today across some parts of the country but overnight tonight and into tomorrow, the weather looks like it will start to break down. we've the risk of heavy rain, thunder and lightning, mainly across england and wales. still difficult to pin the details down because those storms are yet to develop. we've had some threatening cloud here in the far southeast of england with showers closed by. these are the temperatures we have this afternoon. not really changing much for the northern half of the uk, it's much hotter further south, but because we've got an easterly breeze this time, the highest temperatures will get pushed that little further towards the west. even some showers into wales and northern ireland but things get going overnight.

the wetter weather develops overnight in northern ireland and pushes across to scotland with thundery downpours across parts of england and wales. more cloud around tonight, for scotland, warmer than last night, 5 degrees in glasgow. further south, no lower than 17 in the southeast of england. this wet weather through the midlands and northern england, possibly thundery, moving away with sunshine coming through, triggering more thundery showers across england and east wales. more sunshine across scotland and northern ireland in the afternoon with temperatures a shade higher than today but not quite so high further south. very warm or hot in places depending on those heavy showers. we end the week with low pressure approaching from the atlantic, so quite a turnaround in the weather. still heavy or thundery showers across eastern parts of england which will move away and as the breeze picks up in the west, outbreaks of rain moving in here. that will keep the temperatures

a bit lower, only 20 degrees, though still very warm across eastern england, up to 28 celsius here. as that weather front pushes west from saturday, we will have cooler and fresher air following, a west or southwesterly wind and low pressure bringing rain into the northwest of england on sunday. in the southeast, rain to begin on saturday and the rest of the weekend dry, temperatures are lower and nearer normal for the time of year.