but the future remains uncertain. crowds gather at syria's notorious saydnaya prison near damascus, searching for missing victims of the deposed president. we report from inside the jail. nobody knows exactly what they might find or who might be underneath the ground. but many, many people are hoping that some of their loved ones will be found. and after a six—day search, police arrest a man in connection with the killing of health care ceo brian thompson in new york city. i'm sumi somaskanda. it is good to have you with us. work is under way in syria to build a transitional

government, 48 hours after the sudden collapse of bashar al—assad's brutal regime. no—one is officially in charge of the country. but power appears to be consolidating into the hands of abu mohammed aljolani, the islamist leader whose rebel group, hts, launched a lightning offensive that led to mr assad's downfall. mr assad has left the country and been granted asylum by russia. and the regime he left behind is swiftly falling in line behind the rebels. our correspondent yogita limaye now reports from the streets of damascus, as people celebate the end of the assad regime and wonder what comes next. a jubilant people pour into the capital's central square for a second day. a street party—like atmosphere. this might seem like a dangerous way to celebrate. but not in a country that has endured years of bombs and bullets, finally rid of a brutal dictator. anyone who wants to celebrate is coming here, to the central square in damascus. every couple of minutes, we are hearing celebratory gunfire.

the ground here literally is strewn with bullets that have been fired. and it's notjust members of the rebel group hts, it's lots of civilians. i've seen women and children bringing their families along. stories of horror, too easily found amidst this joy. mohammed is a5, but looks older because he has no teeth. he says bashar al—assad's soldiers brok them because he belonged to a rebel militia. they also cut off part of his tongue and gave him mice to eat in prison. "we are the people of damascus," he says, "though they accused us of being terrorists. thank god, i can't believe what's happened." hayat tahrir al—sham's fighters, heroes for those here for liberating them. but can a group that has a jihadist past deliver the democratic rule that hani told us he wants?

i think, based on the last 13 years, hayat tahrir al—sham has changed a lot. they started maybe as part of al-qaeda, but now they are syrians, purely they are syrians. i think in the coming days, we will see good things from these guys. noor is a nurse. she believes hts won't impose hardline rule, especially on women. "they are from our country, they are not islamic state. "we're not afraid of them. "i don't think they will force us to cover ourselves from head to toe." today, the man at the centre of it all, dressed in his usual military attire, hts leader mohammed abu al—jolani, met the interim prime minister met the interim prime minister to discuss the way forward. to discuss the way forward. so far, there is little clarity so far, there is little clarity men brought in to protect it. on what that could be. on what that could be. damascus is still largely shut damascus is still largely shut down, and there is a curfew down, and there is a curfew from dusk till dawn. from dusk till dawn. at a police station, we met hts at a police station, we met hts

men brought in to protect it. we asked what would happen to the men who fought for assad. translation: our revolution is not for revenge. _ any policeman who does not have blood on their hands, we will work with them. the looting and vandalising that was seen on the first day, that appears to have stopped today. what we've seen at government buildings, public places, markets, is that rebels from hayat tahrir al—sham have been moved from idlib, the region which they control, en masse to damascus, to secure these places. but as of now there isn't a proper, functioning government in place. that vacuum can breed instability. who will run this country? an answer is needed quickly. yogita limaye,

bbc news, damascus.

leader he and his group might leader he and his group might be. what do you think this be. what do you think this means for syria, then, going means for syria, then, going forward. , , ., ., forward. , , ., ., forward. this is a great forward. this is a great question- _ question- _ forward. this is a great question. toppling - forward. this is a great l forward. this is a great question. toppling - forward. this is a great l question. toppling assad forward. this is a great - question. toppling assad is not the end, it is the beginning question. toppling assad forward. this is a great - question. toppling assad is not the end, it is the beginning for the syrian people. if you for the syrian people. if you look back at 2011, people took look back at 2011, people took to the streets chanting for to the streets chanting for freedom, chanting for dignity freedom, chanting for dignity and chanting for an inclusive and chanting for an inclusive syria for all syrians. now the syria for all syrians. now the regime has toppled, there is no regime has toppled, there is no

guarantee that the next chapter guarantee that the next chapter would be an easy would be an easy chapter, and most syrians, from my conversations, they do most sy

we are going to continue our coverage of developments in syria in a moment but we want to bring up to date on a story thatis to bring up to date on a story that is developing right here in the us. in the past hour, 20 six road luigi mangione appeared in pets of any court in connection with the murder of the unitedhealthcare ceo brian thompson in new york last week. —— 26—year—old. police have been giving a trust conference was to governor of pennsylvania josh schapiro has condemned the vigilante justice. let's listen into them now. , . , justice. let's listen into them now. , ., now. our partners at the federal _ now. our partners at the federal level _ now. our partners at the federal level as - now. our partners at the federal level as well. - now. our partners at the - federal level as well. everyone came together to solve this case, and keep the public safe. i again want to ask my fellow pennsylvanians, if you have any

thank you, say a few words. thank you, governor- — say a few words. thank you, governor. good _ say a few words. thank you, governor. good evening, . governor. good evening, everyone. i would echo the governor's sentiments. law enforcement does work at its best— enforcement does work at its best when they were together, would — best when they were together, would also like to thank district _ would also like to thank district attorneys title. he and — district attorneys title. he and his_ district attorneys title. he and his staff came down from the manhattan district attorney's office today in record _ attorney's office today in record time to assist us, and as the — record time to assist us, and as the governor stated, the state — as the governor stated, the state police, that in the police _ state police, that in the police department, the fbi and new york city police department, logan township tease — department, logan township lease department, blair county sheriffs— lease department, blair county sheriffs department, other agencies all work together today— agencies all work together today -- _ agencies all work together today —— altoona police department. to do what needed

to be _ department. to do what needed to be done to seekjustice. i woutdm _ to be done to seekjustice. i woutdm i_ to be done to seekjustice. i would... i don't often brag would... idon't often brag about— would... i don't often brag about how the humidity in blair county— about how the humidity in blair county is — about how the humidity in blair county is not afraid to say something, to report a crime, to contact— something, to report a crime, to contact local law enforcement and i often touted how they — enforcement and i often touted how they make their community, whether— how they make their community, whether it — how they make their community, whether it be altoona or somewhere else, a safer place to live, — somewhere else, a safer place to live, and to estimate a resident _ to live, and to estimate a resident from altoona and the altoona — resident from altoona and the altoona police suburban help to make _ altoona police suburban help to make new york city a safer place — make new york city a safer place to _ make new york city a safer place to live and kick start the — place to live and kick start the process forjustice for a senseless killing. again, i would _ senseless killing. again, i would like to thank everybody, and is — would like to thank everybody, and is my— would like to thank everybody, and is my own to introduce the deputy— and is my own to introduce the deputy commissioner at this time — deputy commissioner at this time. . ~ deputy commissioner at this time. ., ~' ,, deputy commissioner at this time. ., ~' ~ x time. thank you, mr da. on behalf of — time. thank you, mr da. on behalf of the _ time. thank you, mr da. on behalf of the north - time. thank you, mr da. on behalf of the north city - time. thank you, mr da. on i behalf of the north city mayor eric adams, _ behalf of the north city mayor eric adams, my _ behalf of the north city mayor eric adams, my boss, - behalf of the north city mayor eric adams, my boss, police i eric adams, my boss, police commissioner— eric adams, my boss, police commissionerjack- eric adams, my boss, police commissionerjack is - eric adams, my boss, police commissionerjack is a -

—— jessica tish, want to extend their— —— jessica tish, want to extend their appreciations— —— jessica tish, want to extend their appreciations to - —— jessica tish, want to extend their appreciations to the - their appreciations to the police _ their appreciations to the police department, - their appreciations to the police department, yourl police department, your leadership— police department, your leadership team, - police department, your leadership team, the . police department, your- leadership team, the federals, state. — leadership team, the federals, state. ioodl— leadership team, the federals, state, local authorities - leadership team, the federals, state, local authorities and - state, local authorities and especially— state, local authorities and especially to _ state, local authorities and especially to the _ state, local authorities and especially to the customerl state, local authorities and l especially to the customer at the mcdonald's— especially to the customer at the mcdonald's that - especially to the customer at the mcdonald's that has - especially to the customer at| the mcdonald's that has seen something. _ the mcdonald's that has seen something, says _ the mcdonald's that has seen something, says something, i the mcdonald's that has seen l something, says something, to the mcdonald's— something, says something, to the mcdonald's employee - something, says something, to the mcdonald's employee whol the mcdonald's employee who called — the mcdonald's employee who called 911— the mcdonald's employee who called 911 and _ the mcdonald's employee who called 911 and reported - the mcdonald's employee who called 911 and reported this . called 911 and reported this individual— called 911 and reported this individual inside _ called 911 and reported this individual inside the - individual inside the restaurant. - individual inside the restaurant. the - individual inside the| restaurant. the man individual inside the - restaurant. the man behind individual inside the _ restaurant. the man behind me, the detectives, _ restaurant. the man behind me, the detectives, some _ restaurant. the man behind me, the detectives, some of- restaurant. the man behind me, the detectives, some of these i the detectives, some of these detectives— the detectives, some of these detectives have _ the detectives, some of these detectives have not _ the detectives, some of these detectives have not been - the detectives, some of thesel detectives have not been home since _ detectives have not been home since tuesday— detectives have not been home since tuesday when _ detectives have not been home since tuesday when this - since tuesday when this incident _ since tuesday when this incident happen. - since tuesday when this incident happen. they. since tuesday when this i incident happen. they have since tuesday when this - incident happen. they have been working — incident happen. they have been working this _ incident happen. they have been working this case _ incident happen. they have been working this case tirelessly, - working this case tirelessly, around _ working this case tirelessly, around the _ working this case tirelessly, around the clock, _ working this case tirelessly, around the clock, and - working this case tirelessly, around the clock, and when| working this case tirelessly, - around the clock, and when they -ot around the clock, and when they got that— around the clock, and when they got that phone _ around the clock, and when they got that phone call, _ got that phone call, immediately- got that phone call, immediately they. got that phone call, - immediately theyjumped in immediately they jumped in their— immediately they jumped in their car, _ immediately theyjumped in their car, police _ immediately theyjumped in their car, police car, - immediately theyjumped in their car, police car, and - their car, police car, and raced _ their car, police car, and raced down _ their car, police car, and raced down here - their car, police car, and raced down here to - their car, police car, and raced down here to go . their car, police car, and i raced down here to go see their car, police car, and - raced down here to go see if this— raced down here to go see if this was— raced down here to go see if this was the _ raced down here to go see if this was the individual- raced down here to go see if this was the individual theyl this was the individual they were — this was the individual they were looking _ this was the individual they were looking for. _ this was the individual they were looking for. that - this was the individual they were looking for. that is i were looking for. that is dedication. _ were looking for. that is dedication. that- were looking for. that is dedication. that is- were looking for. that is dedication. that is their| dedication. that is their commitment _ dedication. that is their commitment to- dedication. that is their commitment to bring i dedication. that is their. commitment to bring this individual— commitment to bring this individual to— commitment to bring this individual tojustice, - commitment to bring this - individualtojustice, standing behind — individualtojustice, standing behind me. _ individualtojustice, standing behind me, and— individualtojustice, standing behind me, and on— individualtojustice, standing behind me, and on behalf- individualtojustice, standing behind me, and on behalf ofl individual tojustice, standing i behind me, and on behalf of the mayor— behind me, and on behalf of the mayor and —

behind me, and on behalf of the mayor and police _ behind me, and on behalf of the| mayor and police commissioner, they— mayor and police commissioner, they extend _ mayor and police commissioner, they extend their— mayor and police commissioner, they extend their thanks - mayor and police commissioner, they extend their thanks and - they extend their thanks and appreciation— they extend their thanks and appreciation to _ they extend their thanks and appreciation to you - they extend their thanks and appreciation to you as - they extend their thanks and appreciation to you as well. i appreciation to you as well. here's _ appreciation to you as well. here's a _ appreciation to you as well. here's a message - appreciation to you as well. here's a message to - appreciation to you as well. here's a message to the i here's a message to the criminal— here's a message to the criminal element- here's a message to the criminal element that i here's a message to the i criminal element that think that— criminal element that think that they— criminal element that think that they want _ criminal element that think that they want to _ criminal element that think that they want to commit l criminal element that think that they want to commit aj that they want to commit a crime — that they want to commit a crime in _ that they want to commit a crime in new— that they want to commit a crime in new york - that they want to commit a crime in new york city. - that they want to commit a i crime in new york city. and cross — crime in new york city. and cross state _ crime in new york city. and cross state lines, _ crime in new york city. and cross state lines, county- cross state lines, county tines _ cross state lines, county lines the _ cross state lines, county lines. the message - cross state lines, county lines. the message is i cross state lines, county. lines. the message is very clear _ lines. the message is very clear. police _ lines. the message is very| clear. police commissioner tish's— clear. police commissioner tish's police _ clear. police commissioner tish's police department. clear. police commissioner. tish's police department will find you _ tish's police department will find you and _ tish's police department will find you and bring _ tish's police department will find you and bring you - tish's police department will find you and bring you to - find you and bring you to justice _ find you and bring you to justice. just _ find you and bring you to justice. just look - find you and bring you to justice. just look behind | find you and bring you to - justice. just look behind me. thank— justice. just look behind me. thank you _ justice. just look behind me. thank you. anybody- justice. just look behind me. thank you. anybody else? i i thank you. anybody else? think, with that, happy to thank you. anybody else ?u think, with that, happy to try and take a few questions. you are watching _ and take a few questions. you are watching a _ and take a few questions. you are watching a press - and take a few questions. you are watching a press conference taking place right now in pennsylvania, you see pennsylvania, you see pennsylvania governorjosh shapiro there, they are speaking about the fact that earlier today police arrested 26—year—old luigi mangione in connection with that shooting of the health care insurance ceo brian thompson in new york

last week. all of this happened today in altoona, pennsylvania, where someone in a mcdonald's called the police, that is what we heard the district attorney referencing, as well as the governorjosh shapiro. he called this pennsylvania resident, quote, a hero and said, he saw something and said something. the man was charged share with gun charges as well. he was found with a so—called ghost gun and suppressor. all of that consistent with the murder weapon and the mask that new york police were looking for. this was a collaboration between pennsylvania, local authorities, and also the new york police, and we do have a reporter in the court in altoona where luigi mangione has appeared. our reporter has been sending some updates, so we will bring you updates as that story continues, but this

press conference taking place in pennsylvania after that fatal shooting in new york. we will cover that story. in damascus, thousands of relatives of disappeared political detainees are flooding to the notorious saydayna prison, desperate for news of their loved ones. inside, volunteer rescue workers are trying to gain access to underground floors — where they believe more inmates are trapped — but have been unsuccessful. rebels freed thousands of people after toppling the assad regime on sunday — some had spend decades in confinement. former prisoners have been giving horrific accounts of torture and killings at saydnaya, described by rights groups as a human slaughterhouse. the bbc�*s barbara plett usher was the first western journalist inside damascus when the regime fell. she's now travelled to saydnaya prison and sent this report. the saydnaya prison, a symbol of some of the darkest abuses of bashar al—assad's rule. thousands of opposition supporters were tortured and killed here.

now there's a rush for a chance of finding those still missing. for the first time, the doors have been opened wide to a country traumatised by decades of repression. everyone has a desperate story to tell of loved ones jailed for years. munther tariq is looking for his brother—in—law. we came to here, like everyone, to find maybe a light at the end of the door, maybe. "call me the wounded mother," she says, because of the children she's lost. "may god take revenge on bashar al—assad." just days ago, rebels freed thousands of prisoners here on their march to damascus, amazed at this sudden recovery of their lives. the empty cells a striking image of how much has changed,

but many believe this isn't the end — people still trapped, they think, in an underground prison. the syrian civil defence group the white helmets has joined the search. translation: we believe there's a network of cells. with prisoners beneath the jail, but we haven't yet been able to find the entrance. we do not have any details on how many people are underground. family members have reached the prison building, pushing at the gates to get in. we squeezed through on a surge of excitement. for a moment, they thought they'd made a discovery. they're searching the bowels of the prison, looking for tunnels that lead to hidden cells. we went down to see for ourselves the frantic efforts to break through to anyone who might still be alive. this is where they think they may have found an entrance

to an underground prison. they've been looking for more than a day, but they haven't found anything so far. nobody knows exactly what they might find or who might be underneath the ground, but many, many people are hoping that some of their loved ones will be found. sifting through a litter of documents for any evidence of their loved ones or clues to an underground prison — no sign of it yet, but the hunt will continue. after the past two weeks, syria has entered a new era, but people are still caught in the dark grip of the old one. translation: our priority is our sons, who are - the future of this country. do you believe that we, the elderly, can do much now? we want our sons back and we want our country back, too. how can this country move forward without dealing with the horrors of its past?

joining me live is ibrahim al assil, seniorfellow at the middle east institure. he's also a founding member of the syrian non—violence movement, which works for social and political change in syria. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. you were detained by the syrian secret service, you were interrogated, tortured for four days at the military airport. we just saw these images of family members, loved ones, of political detainees, trying to reach their loved ones to see if they are still alive. i wonder how you feel seeing these images? thank you for having me. this is such an emotional moment for the syrian nation. people are having their worlds open now and they are seeking closure. many don't want to face the reality that tens of thousands and probably over 100,000 detainees just and probably over 100,000 detaineesjust over the and probably over 100,000 detainees just over the last ten years totally vanished. they don't know where they are,

and they don't know what happened to them and they do not even know what happened to their bodies. i think the search is going to the mass graves, to try to find them and to understand the mechanism, how there was able to torture and execute all that number of people, hide their bodies in mass graves, and this at the end it drained the syrian society. we're talking about best and brightest. just as the syrian woman said in your report, who is going to build this country? those are the people, that's white bashar al—assad wanted to oppress the society so much and drink it, society so much and drink it, so they cannot topple him and they cannot have enough power to oppose him —— that is why he wanted to drain it stop what we have been talking a bit about justice, as people uncover these horrors. what could that possibly look like? a, , what could that possibly look like? , ., , , what could that possibly look like? , ., , like? many syrians, tens of professional _ like? many syrians, tens of professional syrian - like? many syrians, tens of| professional syrian lawyers,

worked over decades, and especially over the last 13 years. so many other groups and centres, they have been working on this, on a plan for transitionaljustice. i think transitional justice. i think now transitionaljustice. i think now the international community should consult with them, and the process should be syrian led process. they need lots of support. there is no way syrians can only do it on their own. the country is devastated stop this society is exhausted. they have enough expertise, professionalism and motivation to lead this process themselves, and i think the international community and different agencies should guarantee that the next chapter would be an community and international community and different agencies should listen to them. do listen to them. do different agencies should listen to them.— different agencies should listen to them. do you think different agencies should listen to them.— different agencies should listen to them. do you think there will— listen to them. do you think there will be _ there will— listen to them. do you think there will be _ listen to them. do you think there will be room - listen to them. do you think there will be room to - listen to them. do you think there will be room to do - listen to them. do you think there will be room to do sol there will be room to do so listen to them. do you think there will be room - listen to them. do you think there will be room to - listen to them. do you think there will be room to do - listen to them. do you think there will be room to do sol there will be room to do so inside syria, ibrahim? we know inside syria, ibrahim? we know leaders of the rebels, leaders of the rebels, questions about what kind of questions about what kind of