this is bbc news. new wildfires break out across los angeles. five people are now confirmed dead. more than 130,000 have been evacuated. this is the scene live in los angeles, where firefighters are struggling to contain fires in and around the city. it is without words that i can even explain to you what is taking place, especially in my district in altadena, but also in the bordering area of pasadena. my heart is heavy. targeting the finances of people smuggling networks — the uk's new plans to tackle illegal migration. racism and bullying — a former security guard tells the bbc what life was like at harrods under mohammed al fayed. elon musk is due to host an online discussion with the far—right alternative for germany party leader, just weeks before the country's elections.

hello, i'm samantha simmonds. at least five wildfires are now raging across los angeles and its neighbouring ventura county. the latest blaze — starting here in the hollywood hills in the past couple of hours or so — has forced more people to evacuate, including in areas dotted with celebrity homes. these are live pictures from los angeles. at least 130,000 people have been evacuated and tens of thousands more have been told to pack and be ready to go. officials say, despite their best efforts, the fires are 0% contained. among the areas affected is the pacific palisades, which is between santa monica and malibu. a fire there doubled in size within hours, fuelled by tinder dry conditions and high winds. president biden visited los angeles on wednesday and met emergency workers.

it's been announced he's cancelling his upcoming trip to italy to focus on the federal response to the fires. helena humphrey reports. as soon as you walk in, you would be met with the living room, which is literally right here in this area. the only thing that's basically standing is the chimney. and, yeah, now it's nothing. a picture of utter devastation. the flames here are pitiless, sparing nothing in their path, not the glitzy houses of pacific palisades, nor the hillsides. hey, everybody. notjust this community, the community next door, i'm sure all the people up there have lost everything. it's just pretty devastating. i don't think la has seen anything like this before. the house, the house goes on fire. - our house will- definitely be next. with the fires still burning, more people are being told to evacuate their homes — faced with the agonising decision of what to take and what to leave behind.

you look at something and you go, "you know what? i've had that for almost all my life. but you know what? i can let that go. i can let it go." and then i took photographs and things that meant something, a little...a little figurine that my daddy bought for me when i was five. you know, those kinds of things. southern california is used to wildfires, but not like this. january is supposed to bring rain. instead, the ground is tinder dry. palisades, the first blaze to break out on tuesday, has now become the most destructive in la's history. hurricane—strength winds fanning the flames. some desperately trying to protect their homes. i know this looks pretty stupid, but if i can save one ember from burning down my house, i'll take the risk. the downtown of pacific palisades is nearly wiped out. its celebrity—filled suburbs, home to tom hanks, ben affleck and reese witherspoon, now deserted.

vice president kamala harris's los angeles residence also affected. what residents will return to no—one knows. i'll be ok. i'm tough and we'll start over. you are tough. even though i'm 91 years old, i'll start over again. 0n the ground, there's limited water supply. the wildfires have caused massive issues for power supply too, affecting 1.5 million people. and it is surreal. it is without words - that i can even explain to you what is taking place. my heart is heavy, but i have to say, resources, both - financial, but also resources financial, but also resources for boots on the ground - for boots on the ground - are here and we're going to are here and we're going to continue to fight this fight. | continue to fight this fight. | but promises of help will do but promises of help will do little to calm fears. little to calm fears. what the next hours will bring. scientists warn that wildfires scientists warn that wildfires in the region are growing in the region are growing faster and more unpredictable, faster and more unpredictable, fuelled by climate change. fuelled by climate change. as residents watch the orange as residents watch the orange haze on the horizon, haze on the horizon,

all they can do is wonder all they can do is wonder what the next hours will bring. helena humphrey, bbc news, los angeles. people living in the pacific palisades area and in nearby addresses have been warned to use only boiled or bottled water for drinking and cooking, until further notice. as we have said, there are now at least five fires burning across the los angeles region. a further two have been contained. as this map shows, they are spread across a wide area — threatening coastal areas, communities near the hills, and two are close to central urban areas. one is in the hollywood hills — which has led to scenes like this on the famous hollywood boulevard.

and mutual aid resources from out of state, including arizona, have arrived to assist us with this firefight. tyler bridges is a resident of pasadena and he and his fiancee chose to stay in their house despite officials recommending they leave late on wednesday evening. he told us about his experience. kind of nightmarish, a little bit, like armageddon. you know, we had it started with really, really powerful winds. you know, we get santa ana winds here, which is pretty common, but these were, i think, far worse than normal. you know, winds, gusts, you know, coming in at 85 miles an hour. and, at first, that was scary enough because you have, you know, tree branches getting thrown around and falling on cars and on fences and on houses. and then the fire started and, you know, there's no way to stop or contain

a fire that the winds are that powerful. and and itjust, it came so fast. and i think, like one of you guys said that, you know, it was raining ash. you go outside and ash would slam into your eyes and your face and your mouth, and it's hard to breathe, you're coughing and the worst part is the closer to the fires you get, the darker it gets. and very black, very dark. and, so, last night was a really scary time, i think, for pasadenans. the message from officials is clear — it's not yet been possible to contain the worst fires, and those who are nearby should evacuate to safety. that's led to traffic jams on major roads, such as those you can see here near the hollywood hills, as the fire burns above. let's hear more now from helena humphrey who gave us this summary of what people in los angeles have been having

to deal with and what they can expect next. the message here from authorities in la county is that nobody is out of danger tonight in a county that is home to almost 10 million residents, the most populous county in the whole of the united states. and those fires, they are continuing to grow in strength, size, severity. as we came into los angeles, as we came into los angeles, another fire erupting. another fire erupting. this time, the hollywood hills, this time, the hollywood hills, over the horizon. over the horizon. behind me right now, behind me right now, helicopters are up in the air. helicopters are up in the air. they are trying to dump water they are trying to dump water on those affected areas, on those affected areas, taking it from swimming pools, taking it from swimming pools, the pacific ocean, the pacific ocean, at a time when there at a time when there are also water shortages. billy crystal, for example, are also water shortages. scenes of some unease, scenes of some unease, perhaps even panic, with some perhaps even panic, with some fire hydrants running dry fire hydrants running dry earlier today, as fire earlier today, as fire crews tried to use that crews tried to use that to battle the flames. to battle the flames. now, we know that in the hollywood hills, a—listers saying that they have a—listers saying that they have been impacted. been impacted. the likes of paris hilton, the likes of paris hilton,

billy crystal, for example, saying that they have lost their homes. but of course, los angeles is a diverse community. these flames are merciless. we saw people close to the sunset boulevard, for example, grabbing whatever they could take with them, pet carriers, stuffing carrier bags full of whatever they could bring with them. we also know that the department of defence is going to be deploying military aircraft equipped with a fire retardant substance to spray over the affected areas, but president biden has said that because of the severity of this crisis now here in california, he will be cancelling his trip to italy, his last foreign trip in the white house. and i think there is a sense of unease and nervousness about what the day break will bring in terms of the level of destruction that we are seeing here in los angeles. these are live pictures from

the scene in los angeles of one of the fires still raging tonight. tonight la time anyway. we know at least five wild fires are raging across the area. three of the blazes are completely uncontained. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

a warning now that the next story, some viewers may find upsetting and offensive. a former security guard at harrods has been speaking exclusively to bbc radio 5 live about the clear racism and bullying he saw during mohammed al fayed's ownership of the department store. the bbc has heard from scores of women who say they were sexually assaulted or raped by mohamad al or raped by mohamad al fayed when he owned the knightsbridge store.

that followed a documentary in september which included 20 women's claims about al fayed's behaviour. harrods said they were utterly appalled by the abuse allegations, and that harrods is a "very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by al fayed". with me is 5 live's clare mcdonnell. what more can you tell us. to no what more can you tell us. to go back. _ what more can you tell us. trr go back, mohammed al fayed in 1995 sued vanity fair magazine. they alleged that he was racist 1995 sued vanity fair magazine. they alleged that he was racist and alleged sexual misconduct. and alleged sexual misconduct. he denied those allegations and he denied those allegations and the case was settled out of the case was settled out of court. i have been speaking to court. i have been speaking to a former security guard, a man a former security guard, a man we are called henry, he told me we are called henry, he told me this that mohammed al fayed this that mohammed al fayed before he would do his morning before he would do his morning floor, you would _ rounds, daily rounds in rounds, daily rounds in harrods, black members of staff harrods, black members of staff would be asked to leave the would be asked to leave the shop floor by a secret passage shop floor by a secret passage way and then when mohammed al way and then when mohammed al fayed had left the shop floor, fayed had left the shop floor, they would be invited back in. they would be invited back in. his words are spoken by an his words are spoken by an

actor. ~ .., ., actor. ~ .., ., his words are spoken by an actor. ~ ., , .,, his words are spoken by an actor. ~ ., , .,, actor. when he came on the shop floor, actor. when he came on the shop floor. you — actor. when he came on the shop actor. when he came on the shop floor, actor. when he came on the shop floor. you — actor. when he came on the shop floor, you would _ actor. when he came on the shop floor, you would see _ actor. when he came on the shop floor, you would see a _ actor. when he came on the shop floor, you would see a lot - actor. when he came on the shop floor, you would see a lot of - floor, you would see a lot of movement. for example, idon't know— movement. for example, idon't know how— movement. for example, idon't know how to say this and be nice — know how to say this and be nice you _ know how to say this and be nice. you would see the women, the women — nice. you would see the women, the women who the world sees as attractive — the women who the world sees as attractive would stay and those who they — attractive would stay and those who they wouldn't consider cohsider_ who they wouldn't consider consider attractive, you would see them _ consider attractive, you would see them leaving, all around the store. _ see them leaving, all around the store, you would see these people — the store, you would see these people making a beeline to exit — people making a beeline to exit. ~ ., ., , people making a beeline to exit. . ., ., , ., people making a beeline to exit. ., ., ., exit. what would say? you say the world _ exit. what would say? you say the world finds _ exit. what would say? you say the world finds attractive. - the world finds attractive. what kind of women. young, thin, blonde, _ what kind of women. young, thin, blonde, this _ what kind of women. young, thin, blonde, this type. - what kind of women. young, thin, blonde, this type. it - what kind of women. young, | thin, blonde, this type. it was like nobody had to tell them to leave, — like nobody had to tell them to leave, it — like nobody had to tell them to leave, it was robotic. the way they— leave, it was robotic. the way they would know something was happening, the security guards would — happening, the security guards would be — happening, the security guards would be moving around like ants — would be moving around like ants and _ would be moving around like ants and people knew then that something was going to happen. where _ something was going to happen. where did they go? the something was going to happen. where did they go?— where did they go? the staff area. if where did they go? the staff area- if you _ where did they go? the staff area. if you go _ where did they go? the staff area. if you go to _ where did they go? the staff area. if you go to door - where did they go? the staff area. if you go to door no i where did they go? the staff area. if you go to door no 3, | area. if you go to door no 3, it is— area. if you go to door no 3, it is an —

area. if you go to door no 3, it is an escalator that goes into— it is an escalator that goes into the _ it is an escalator that goes into the other building and this— into the other building and this is_ into the other building and this is where those people hid. henry— this is where those people hid. henry told us he was never close enough to al fayed to hear how he interacted with those who were allowed to stay on the shop floor. i asked him high he thought some people were asked to leave the shop floor before mohammed al fayed did the rounds. the floor before mohammed al fayed did the rounds.— did the rounds. the level of racism was _ did the rounds. the level of racism was clear. _ did the rounds. the level of racism was clear. i - did the rounds. the level of racism was clear. i don't . did the rounds. the level of i racism was clear. i don't know if they're _ racism was clear. i don't know if they're instructed to do that, _ if they're instructed to do that, it _ if they're instructed to do that, it seemed like the protocol that the black people would — protocol that the black people would disappear. you would see one lrlack— would disappear. you would see one black person at a beauty statioh _ one black person at a beauty station. someone had to give instruction, why would they all leave? — instruction, why would they all leave? ~ . . instruction, why would they all leave? ~ ., ., ., , leave? what have other staff been saying _ leave? what have other staff been saying about _ leave? what have other staff been saying about the - leave? what have other staff i been saying about the claims? we have spoken to other women in roles at harrods who corroborated henry's claims. anna told us that she was told

not to hire black people, as, customers wouldn't like it. somebody else said, those also hidden asked to leave the shop floor, would be overweight. henry said there was a culture of fear and bullying and that was about fear of losing your job. he said the whole system at harrods in his opinion had let women down, with the various assaults allegations that have come forward. he said he wanted other security guards to come forward to talk about what they might have seen and what they might have seen and what they might have seen and what they might have known. have harrods responded? they have. we asked harrods for a response and they referred us to their previous statement following the bbc documentary and said they were appalled by the abuse allegations and said harrods today is a very different organisation to the one owned and run by mohammed al fayed. one owned and run by mohammed al fa ed. . ~' ,,

if you have been affected byish jupps if you have been affected byish jupps issues there are help on the bbc action web—site. if you have any information that you would like to share about this story, please get in touch with the address on screen. please include a contact number if you're willing to speak to a bbc journalist. here, the government is drawing up new measures which it says will help tackle people smuggling — by targeting the money generated by the gangs behind it. sir keir starmer says that as well as seizing

to where they came from, and returns are up 23% since we have come to power. 0r whether it is with using the tools at my disposal to freeze the bank accounts of companies and individuals that facilitate this, or impose travel bans on them, working with other allies to make it harder for them to do that, that is what i'm announcing today in a speech in a few hours' time. let's speak to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. he is in westminster. welcome to you. tell us the more about the thinking the behind this policy, why target the finances of these network, what #e6d is there that that would work? it there that that would work? it is about using every lever possible to disrupt smuggling

gangs. we know the small boats crossings are one of the biggest challenges facing the government. the previous government's approach was to find a way to stop people crossing and they had the rwanda scheme. this government has taken the view that was a gimmick and what you need is to find a way to disrupt or in keir starmer�*s language, smash the gangs. we have heard a lot, we know a lot of course about the fact that the uk government can sanction individuals or entity, we usually hear about them doing that to terrorists or cybercriminals or whatever it may be. this is the first time the uk has tried to do it to people involved in people smuggling. they reckon it is the first time any country has tried to do this. they're not saying it is a magic tool that

will make the entire problem go away, but they hope it is will contribute to disrupting the gangs and reducing the flow. irate gangs and reducing the flow. we have heard from david lammy who was asked to comment on donald trump's comments about his desire to purchase greenland. what did he say about that? he was what did he say about that? he: was trying to play down the tension, which is apparent here between the us and many of its nato allies over this. and i think itjust exemplifies what a challenge it is going to be for the uk government, as it was for previous uk governments, dealing with donald trump. just in terms of responding to things he says day—to—day. it is such a reminder, as a result of that press conference that the president—elect gave, where he talked about many things besides greenland, and you know

the uk government and uk government officials have spent the subsequent couple of days having to respond to them one ijy having to respond to them one by one. that is while he is president—elect. wait until he is president. it is always the case that the us has an outsized role in affecting what happens in the uk and the tone of discussion and the nature of discussion in the uk. but that is clearly going to be turbo charged on january 20th when donald trump swears the oath of office. ~ :, , ., ~ office. we have been talking about eton _ office. we have been talking about elon musk— office. we have been talking about elon musk and - office. we have been talking about elon musk and his - about elon musk and his weighing into uk politics. the ft reporting that he had more criticism of our prime minister, keir starmer and criticism of our prime minister, keir starmerand his minister, keir starmer and his desire minister, keir starmerand his desire to remove him from office. what have they been saying. office. what have they been sa inc. :, , :, :, saying. not 'ust the owner of x. saying. not 'ust the owner of x, but a saying. not just the owner of x, but a confident _ saying. not just the owner of x, but a confident and - saying. not just the owner of| x, but a confident and advisor and incoming member of the president administration to donald trump. which is what gives it more force that elon

musk has taken such an interest in the uk. what the ft have been reporting i think is, they have spoken to unnamed people who say they have spoken to elon musk and he is talking about trying to find ways to mobilise his influence to remove keir starmer before the general election. elon musk has said publicly about 300 general election. elon musk has said publicly ab