did you carry out std tests on harrods — did you carry out std tests on harrods staff _ did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? - did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? no, i did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? no, i did not. also on the programme tonight, israel's prime minister tells the army to fight on. i will be live from lebanon, where a further 26 people have been killed today in israeli air strikes, raising questions about whether a mooted ceasefire from world leaders at the un can really be achieved. the uk covid inquiry — a senior doctor breaks down in tears as he describes about what he called scenes "from hell" in hospitals during the pandemic. naomi campbell is banned from being a charity trustee after a watchdog finds funds were spent on spa treatments and cigarettes. and the tale of greg james and long boi — why the radio i star ended up spending the morning in york unveiling a statue of a duck. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news — another busy night of europan football with tottenham one of the british sides in action as they prepare to play their first

match in this season's europa league. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the metropolitan police have revealed that 19 women made allegations of rape and sexual assault against the former harrods boss mohamed al fayed over the past two decades, but no further action was taken. a bbc documentary last thursday has led to many more women coming forward with allegations about al fayed, who died last year. now the police say they're exploring whether any other individuals could be pursued for criminal offences. our uk correspondent daniel sandford is here. yes, sophie. this is a significant moment in the al fayed story, with detectives now saying they're looking into whether anyone around him may have committed a criminal offence. one of the most striking things in today's metropolitan police

statement was how many times women had already come forward to the police over the last two decades. they said there had been 19 allegations from 19 separate women. the first time they were contacted was in 2005, and the last time in 2023, just before al—fayed died. the first alleged offence was in 1979, before he bought harrods. the last was in 2013, after he had sold the world—famous store, but while he still owned fulham football club. there were three allegations of rape, 15 of sexual assault and one of trafficking. all the allegations resulted in no further action being taken by police, though twice, full files of evidence were sent for consideration by the crown prosecution service. a former director of public prosecutions said the number of cases was striking. it is obviously worrying and concerning and somewhat indicative, if that many allegations are being made against the same man,

because it produces a pattern that one would think that police and prosecutors would be very interested in indeed. i mean, it's not normalfor a person to face this many allegations of such serious criminal offences from 19 separate women. today, scotland yard said they were asking more victims to come forward. the force said that although mohamed al fayed is dead, "we must ensure we fully explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences". so what possible offences might they be looking at? the obvious ones are conspiracy to rape and trafficking. scotland yard's complex investigation team know the lack of success of their previous investigations will weigh heavily on the victims, but the commander insists they will do their work thoroughly and get it right. daniel, thank you. while harrods has been the focus of the allegations,

fulham football club, which al fayed owned until 2013, is also trying to establish whether anyone has been affected. 0ur correspondent laura scott is there now. there has been a development today. tell us more. there has been a development today. tell us more-— tell us more. yes, sophie, lawyers representing _ tell us more. yes, sophie, lawyers representing women _ tell us more. yes, sophie, lawyers representing women who _ tell us more. yes, sophie, lawyers representing women who have - tell us more. yes, sophie, lawyers - representing women who have accused mohamed al fayed of rape and sexual assault have revealed that they have received several inquiries relating to fulham football club during the 16 years when mohamed al fayed was the owner here. that was between 1997 and 2013. these individuals have come forward since last week's press conference. when the barristers representing the late billionaire's victims said he was a monster who threatened his sexual abuse victims to keep them silent. fulham responded today by saying that they remain in the process of trying to establish whether anyone was or has been affected at the club by the reports about al fayed. they

previously encouraged anyone to come forward with information. a bit earlier, i heard from the club's manager, marco silva, who said he had been really sad to hear the testimony of the women and he had sincere empathy with them. also, we have had the first comment from the football association on this matter. tonight, they have said they are aware of the reports and that they would remain in contact with fulham football club to monitor the matter. with the latest from fowler, thank you, laura scott. we will have more on this later in the programme. for a 21—day ceasefire between israel and hezbollah, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has told the israeli military to keep fighting with full force in lebanon. fighting has continued on both sides. the israeli military says it hit around 75 hezbollah targets in southern lebanon and the bekaa region. around a0 projectiles have been fired from lebanon into israel today. israel's prime minister is now in new york where he will address

the un general assembly. we'll get the latest from there in a moment, but first, here's anna foster in beirut. thanks, sophie. it's been another heavy day of cross—border fighting. the lebanese health ministry says at least 26 people have been killed in the latest strikes, and israel say that includes another of hezbollah�*s top commanders. they say it was a precision strike in the southern suburbs of beirut, not far from me. the iran—backed militant group says it is acting in solidarity with palestinians. israel says hezbollah must be displaced from the border area. so destroy —— displaced is rays can return to the north of israel. from where paul adams reports. after a lull of several hours, hezbollah rockets started arriving

around the middle of the day. faint sirens. many landing harmlessly in the sea. but for israelis in nearby nahariyya, this was evidence that a ceasefire is not yet on the cards, not that they appear to want one. we must finish with this, to kill them, to stop them, to do something, but not stop the war. no. for the past 11 months, it just feels like we've been abandoned, and now, well, personally, i'm happy that the government has started to do something in lebanon. israelis just want the rockets to stop. at the scene of a recent attack on the outskirts of haifa, israel's foreign minister scoffed at the idea that his country's assault on hezbollah would stop now. "there won't be a ceasefire," he said. "we are going to win in order to change this reality." israel is still signalling its willingness to escalate further, releasing these pictures of troops exercising near the lebanese border. no word yet on when or even if

a ground operation will begin. we've spent the last three days in the north. 0ccasional glimpses of what could be preparations, but nothing yet that looks massive or imminent. the two lebanese villages you can see on the ridge behind me, yaroun and maroun el ras, are both hezbollah strongholds. both have been heavily bombed in the past couple of weeks. they are the kind of places israel's top general has in mind when he warns that israeli troops could soon be on the ground inside southern lebanon. benjamin netanyahu has arrived in new york. he will be taking his case to the un general assembly. "we are continuing to strike hezbollah with full force," he said, "we won't stop until we reach all our goals." washington says a diplomatic solution is still viable, but is that what israel's prime minister wants? paul adams, bbc news, northern israel.

since monday, more than 700 people have been killed here in lebanon, and more than 90,000 people displaced. israel says it's targeting israel says it's targeting hezbollah military infrastructure and missile launch hezbollah military infrastructure and missile launch sites in the country. sites in the country. but many civilians but many civilians are among the dead, are among the dead, including at least 50 children. including at least 50 children. 0ur senior international 0ur senior international correspondent 0rla guerin reports correspondent 0rla guerin reports now from southern lebanon. now from southern lebanon. sirens wail. sirens wail. firefighters rushing from air firefighters rushing from air strike to air strike. strike to air strike. carrying out the wounded. carrying out the wounded. by a war not fighters here, but children. not fighters here, but children. israel says it's targeting hezbollah israel says it's targeting hezbollah sites, but it's bombing sites, but it's bombing many residential areas. many residential areas. "how old are you?" he asks. three fingers are raised. three fingers are raised. "you're very brave," he says. "you're very brave," he says.

a young generation threatened

were you sad? were you sad? yes. yes. "i was very sad," he tells me. "i was very sad," he tells me. "we left half our "we left half our belongings and my stuff. belongings and my stuff. a missile hit near us. a missile hit near us. we went quickly so we went quickly so we wouldn't be hit." we wouldn't be hit." many children and their families many children and their families have found shelter in have found shelter in schools and universities. schools and universities. this could be home for some time. this could be home for some time. international calls for a ceasefire came to nothing today. 0rla guerin, bbc news, 0rla guerin, bbc news, sibylline, lebanon. sibylline, lebanon. as the fighting continues in the as the fighting continues in the middle east, the israeli prime middle east, the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has arrived in new york where he will minister benjamin netanyahu has arrived in new york where he will

address the un general assembly. address the un general assembly. james landale is there. there is a loss of diplomacy going on there at the moment. what chance that this talked about ceasefire will actually happen? fist talked about ceasefire will actually ha en? �* ., talked about ceasefire will actually hauen? �* ., ., happen? at the moment, the mood at the un is as — happen? at the moment, the mood at the un is as damp _ happen? at the moment, the mood at the un is as damp as _ happen? at the moment, the mood at the un is as damp as the _ happen? at the moment, the mood at the un is as damp as the weather. - the un is as damp as the weather. 0vernight there had been some optimism, this proposalfor a three—week ceasefire had taken a lot of diplomatic legwork, getting the americans on the side was seen as particularly significant because they are of course israel's main backers. israeli diplomats had been keptin backers. israeli diplomats had been kept in the loop while this was being drafted and had said they were open to ideas. today, not so much. israeli politicians had lined up to say they reject the idea of a ceasefire and mr netanyahu, when he arrived here, said that israel's military would continue to hit hezbollah hard with all of its might until evacuated israeli citizens were safely back in their homes in the north. diplomats are not giving up the north. diplomats are not giving up hope. they are taking comfort

from the fact mr netanyahu himself has not explicitly ruled out a ceasefire. they are going to lobby him hard in the coming

our top story this evening. police reveal that 19 women made allegations against former harrods boss mohammed al fayed in the past 20 years, but no further action was taken. but no further action was taken. coming up, no invitation coming up, no invitation to an investment summit to an investment summit for elon musk, after his comments for elon musk, after his comments about this summer's about this summer's violent disorder. violent disorder. coming up on sportsday in the next coming up on sportsday in the next 20 minutes on bbc news — 20 minutes on bbc news — a tough first days racing a tough first days racing in the louis vuitton cup off in the louis vuitton cup off the coast of barcelona, the coast of barcelona, as ineos brittania fight back as ineos brittania fight back to level their final to level their final against the italians luna rossa. against the italians luna rossa. under—staffed and desperate a senior doctor has repeatedly a senior doctor has repeatedly broken down or giving evidence at broken down or giving evidence at the uk covid inquiry. the uk covid inquiry. professor kevin fong, professor kevin fong, an anaesthetist who worked for nhs an anaesthetist who worked for nhs england as an adviser on emergency england as an adviser on emergency care, described horrifying scenes, care, described horrifying scenes,

with intensive care units critically with intensive care units critically under—staffed and desperate shortages of drugs and equipment. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson was at the inquiry

since this started and we don't know when the attacks are going to stop. icu was the coal face of the pandemic, caring for thousands of patients in critical conditions. professor fong said he saw death on an unimaginable scale and scenes from hell. �* ., , ., ., , from hell. another hospital told us the had from hell. another hospital told us they had ten _ from hell. another hospital told us they had ten deaths _ from hell. another hospital told us they had ten deaths in _ from hell. another hospital told us they had ten deaths in their - from hell. another hospital told us they had ten deaths in their shift, | they had ten deaths in their shift, two of whom wear their own staff. we had nurses talking about patients raining from the sky. where the nurses said that they... 0ne raining from the sky. where the nurses said that they... one of the nurses said that they... one of the nurses told me theyjust got tired of putting people in body bags. professor fong said it had been impossible to maintain normal standards of care. icu nurses were looking after not one patient but six, and doctors were so busy they were sleeping in hospitals in their cars. this has probably been one of the most explicit accounts from an official close to the heart of government and the nhs about the critical state of hospitals during

the pandemic. professor fong said that in many places and at many times, intensive care units were unable to function, all at a time when government ministers and nhs england insisted the health service was not overwhelmed. the inquiry was told today that covid was the biggest national emergency since the second world war. hearings into the impact on the health care system will continue into november. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. more now on our top story, and the current managing director of harrods has spoken out for the first time since the bbc documentary was broadcast a week ago. in a statement michael ward said the company had failed their colleagues and that it is "deeply sorry". helena wilkinson reports. the scale of what mohamed al fayed is accused of is staggering. women continue to come forward, accusing the former harrods boss, who died last year, of serious sexual

allegations. today, the current harrods managing director made a public statement for the first time since the bbc documentary a week ago. in his statement, michael ward said... today, the bbc has heard harrowing testimony for the first time from a woman who says that she was raped by the former harrods owner when she was 16. kate, not her real name, was one of five women who revealed to a bbc documentary team of the serious sexual attack. she also described the intrusive medical examinations she was made to have.

when i first started working for mohamed al fayed, he soon asked... ..started asking me inappropriate questions. like, did i have a boyfriend? had i been sexually active? i was only 16 years old and i was a virgin, and he soon discovered that. so, it was organised for me to see dr ann coxon of harley street for a medical examination. this was offered to me as a perk for working in the chairman's office. kate's new testimony adds to accounts already broadcast in the bbc documentary, which has started to uncover the role of other people around al fayed who helped facilitate his abuse. two of the doctors — dr wendy snell, who has since died, and dr ann coxon — have been repeatedly named by the women who've spoken to the bbc. kate, who was 16, was also sent for

an intrusive medical examination with dr coxon. dr coxon asked me to do an internal examination. she wanted to test for hiv and stds, but i said that i wasn't sexually active yet so therefore it was unnecessary. my concerns were brushed off and i was told that an internal examination was necessary. i rememberfeeling i remember feeling very confused. i was 16 at the time. this was my firstjob and ifelt was 16 at the time. this was my firstjob and i felt very much out of my depth. first job and i felt very much out of my depth-— first job and i felt very much out ofm deth. ., “ ., ., of my depth. today the bbc managed to seak to of my depth. today the bbc managed to speak to dr — of my depth. today the bbc managed to speak to dr coxon _ of my depth. today the bbc managed to speak to dr coxon after _ of my depth. today the bbc managed to speak to dr coxon after days - of my depth. today the bbc managed to speak to dr coxon after days of - to speak to dr coxon after days of trying to contact her. [30 to speak to dr coxon after days of trying to contact her.— trying to contact her. do you have an hint trying to contact her. do you have anything to _ trying to contact her. do you have anything to say — trying to contact her. do you have anything to say to _ trying to contact her. do you have anything to say to the _ trying to contact her. do you have anything to say to the victims, - trying to contact her. do you have anything to say to the victims, dr| anything to say to the victims, dr coxon? _ coxon? did - coxon? did you coxon? - did you carry out coxon? — did you carry out std tests on harrods — did you carry out std tests on harrods staff _ did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? - did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? no, i did you carry out std tests on harrods staff members? no, i did not. you harrods staff members? no, i did not- you have _ harrods staff members? no, i did not. you have been _ harrods staff members? no, i did not. you have been accused - harrods staff members? no, i did not. you have been accused of. harrods staff members? no, i did i not. you have been accused of doing so. do not. you have been accused of doing s0- do you — not. you have been accused of doing s0- do you have _ not. you have been accused of doing so. do you have anything _ not. you have been accused of doing so. do you have anything to - not. you have been accused of doing so. do you have anything to say - so. do you have anything to say on that? _ so. do you have anything to say on that? ., . ., so. do you have anything to say on that? ., _, g , a ., that? no comment. the justice for harrods survivors _ that? no comment. the justice for harrods survivors group _ that? no comment. the justice for harrods survivors group has - that? no comment. the justice for harrods survivors group has filed l that? no comment. the justice for harrods survivors group has filed a complaint to the general medical

council about dr coxon. the growing number of women who accuse mohamed al fayed of horrific attacks now want those who enabled his abuse to be held responsible. helena wilkinson, bbc news. the supermodel naomi campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee for five years. the regulator, the charity commission, found there had been serious mismanagement of funds at the charity fashion for relief, which ms campbell set up and was overseeing. graham satchell has been looking into the story. what more can you tell us? naomi campbell is one of the most famous supermodels in the world. she set up a charity, fashion for relief and was regularly giving interviews in the media to promote it. the idea was to raise money for poverty relief and to help in global disasters. today the charity commission has found that actually not very much of the money it raised ended up going to good causes.

specifically over a six—year period, only 8.5% of the charity's overall expenditure was given out on charitable grants. so where did the money go? the commission says that almost £8,000 was spent on a three night stay in a 5—star hotel by naomi campbell. she racked up more than £6,000 on spa treatments, room service and cigarettes. so today she has been disqualified from being a charity trustee for five years, which will be embarrassing for her. the bbc has tried to contact naomi campbell but sofa we have had no response will stop the charity itself was folded in march this year. graham satchell, thank you. two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of a woman believed to have undergone a non—surgical brazilian butt lift procedure. 33—year—old alice webb, who's a mother of five, died at gloucestershire royal hospital in the early hours of tuesday after falling unwell. the two people arrested have

been released on bail. one of the prisoners wrongly let out of jail under the government's early release scheme has been charged with sexual assault. amari ward was among 37 prisoners incorrectly released earlier this month because of an administrative error. the chief inspector of prisons says all but one of the men have now been returned to jail. a cyber attack on the free wifi at 19 major railways stations has been traced to an account at a company supplying the facility to network rail. passengers logging onto the stations own wifi networks were greeted with pages detailing historic high—profile terror attacks in the uk and europe, which british transport police described as islamophobic. ten mainline stations in london as well as ones in manchester, birmingham and glasgow were among those impacted. wet weather warnings are in place for parts of england as heavy rain threatens to cause flooding and travel disruption. the met office issued warnings from 6:00pm tonight for parts of the midlands and southern england, while warnings are already in place for eastern england and parts of wales

and northern ireland. jo black is in earls barton in northamptonshire. yes, the bad weatherfrom yes, the bad weather from the last few days has caused hundreds of homes in kent and bedfordshire and northamptonshire, where i am standing now, to be flooded. as you can see we are here in earls barton. is whether things are about to get wor see “here is whether things are about to get wor see we 'e is whether things are about to get wor see we are here in earls barton. you can look down the road there, can see we are here in earls barton. you can look down the road there, thatis thatis you can look down the road there, that is closed, flooded just around you can look down the road there, that is closed, flooded just around the corner, there is a arena that is the corner, there is a arena that is completely saturated. just here completely saturated. just here there is a red kayak and we have there is a red kayak and we have seen two men in a green canoe making seen two men in a green canoe making their way in the water this evening. their way in the water this evening. people have also been using this people have also been using this kayak to navigate their way around. kayak to navigate their way around. we spoke to a lady in the next we spoke to a lady in the next village who said her home was village who said her home was completely ruined by floodwater in completely ruined by floodwater in the space of ten minutes. we have the space of ten minutes. we have seen people rescued off river boats seen people rescued off river boats and we have seen a nearby caravan and we have seen a nearby caravan park, around five miles from where i park, around five miles from where i am standing talking to you now, am standing talking to you now, completely evacuated. the question completely evacuated. the question

is whether things are about to get is whether things are about to get worse. there worse. there is an amber warning for rain covering central england and some of the eastern counties. that lasts until six o'clock tomorrow morning, it hasjust lasts until six o'clock tomorrow morning, it has just started. there is a wider yellow warning for rain covering wider parts of

is a wider yellow warning for rain covering wider parts green economic agenda, in green investment, tech investment, he would be pretty much top of the list as the owner of tesla, spacex and with his investments in al. 0n the other hand, as you point out, billionaire elon during that very sensitive period of unrest and riots, he made a series of what was seen as inflammatory posts, some of the misinformation that he later deleted, and the government, i understand, have decided that was too much and he wouldn't be invited too much and he wouldn't be invited to this investment summit because they also didn't want the distraction at a very serious summit. he has responded, as you have said, and some would argue rather underlining the dilemma and the point and why he wasn't invited in the first place, while other politicians such as former chancellorjeremy hunt have been in touch to say that in their private conversations with elon musk last year there was the option of opening a carfactory. 0thers cast year there was the option of opening a car factory. 0thers cast doubt on that, he will not be coming joining

the hundreds of business people attending next month.— the hundreds of business people attending next month. faisal islam, thank ou. there were strange scenes at the university of york this morning. a statue was unveiled for an unusually tall duck that became famous around the world before it disappeared last year. and bbc radio 1's greg james attended the ceremony and led a minute's quacking. danny savage can hopefully explain. for years he walked tall among the wildfowl at york university. long boi, the indian runner duck. his height made him stand out, and the resulting social media accounts made him famous globally. but in spring last year he went missing presumed dead, and a darkness fell across the world of ducks. cheering and applause. until today. it takes a lot to get hundreds of students out of bed and into a lecture theatre for 8am but, such is the affection for long boi, they came to see a statue of him unveiled. the honours carried out by radio 1's greg james. my greatest sadness in life

is that i didn't get to meet him before he passed. but let this be a reminder to all of you — make the call, plan the trip, check in with those you hold dear, whether it's a duck or a grandparent a duck or a grandparent with questionable views... with questionable views... laughter. laughter. clearly that's a very famous clearly that's a very famous tattoo i've got now. tattoo i've got now. long boi super fan tanisha's family long boi super fan tanisha's family in india were envious. in india were envious. i suddenlyjust started getting i suddenlyjust started getting a lot of texts from my family a lot of texts from my family and friends being like, and friends being like, "oh, my god, you go to the same "oh, my god, you go to the same university as long boi?!" university as long boi?!" just really was like, just really was like, that is peak international fame. that is peak international fame. the statue was this afternoon put, the statue was this afternoon put, appropriately, by the lake. appropriately, by the lake. 0ur lovely art curator says 0ur lovely art curator says she hopes a tradition will be she hopes a tradition will be started where if people need good started where if people need good luck for their essays or exams luck for their essays or exams they will rub the beak, they will rub the beak, which i sincerely hope will stand. which i sincerely hope will stand. i think it will. i think it will. and of course there was one other positive thing and of course there was one other positive thing about afternoon's installation... about afternoon's installation... about this afternoon's installation... about this afternoon's installation... it's nice weather for ducks. it's nice weather for ducks.

danny savage, bbc news, york. danny savage, bbc news, york.

tricky for of 4—6 hours. could be tricky for getting a decent night of sleep once again. drifting its way steadily southwards and behind it quite a clearance with the wind direction switching to a northerly and turning colder. some showers on higher ground could be a little bit wintry. low single figures for scotland, double digits to the south but we still have rain around first thing tomorrow morning. it will clear from east anglia and down through the kent coast by lunchtime, pushed away ljy kent coast by lunchtime, pushed away by these northerly winds so the colder air, the blue tones are starting to dig in through the day. a grey and wet start across the south—east and then brightening up into the afternoon. sunny spells, scattered showers but noticeably cooler for all, scattered showers but noticeably coolerfor all, looking scattered showers but noticeably cooler for all, looking at highs of 9-14. cooler for all, looking at highs of 9—11t. moving out on friday and into the start of the weekend i can offer you something quieter to begin with. higher pressure building from the west, and frontal system starting to make its presence felt for sunday, so saturday for all of us will

certainly be the better day of the