- passed his location to the authorities, barzan majeed received authorities, barzan majeed receivede is outstanding. and it is a difficult situation because we tracked him down in iraq, there is no extradition treaty, it creates a lot of problems for authorities in europe. they are going to try and negotiate with iraqi authorities to get back. these children are still making these dangerous journeys and barzan majeed is still living a life of luxury in iraq and he should face the authorities, face justice of luxury in iraq and he should face the authorities, facejustice in this case. the authorities, face 'ustice in this mt the authorities, face 'ustice in this asst the authorities, face 'ustice in this case. ., ., this case. you can hear the full sto of this case. you can hear the full story of the — this case. you can hear the full story of the bbc _ this case. you can hear the full story of the bbc journalist - this case. you can hear the full story of the bbc journalist and | this case. you can hear the full. story of the bbc journalist and the story of the bbcjournalist and the

so, barzan so, ba rzan majeed's so, barzan majeed's phone number was found on the mobile phones of peoplee uk by small boats. i was working on this investigation together with a former soldier and aid worker, who has great contacts in europe and the middle east. together, we started our search in nottingham. that is where barzan majeed used to live when he first came to the uk. we're searching for the boss of one of the biggest smuggling gangs in europe. he calls himself scorpion. he's on the run and he's wanted by crime agencies across europe. we finally track him down, after eight months. a search that began in nottingham, through france, belgium and turkey, then finally to iraq, where rob and i meet him face—to—face. he sets out to rob shocking claims about how many people he's smuggled into the uk. maybe 1,000, maybe 10,000, i don't know, i didn't count. thousands of passengers had your number in their phones. i'm telling you, yeah. you're right, what you are saying. nobody forced them, they wanted to. they are begging, they are begging the smugglers, please, do this, do this for us.

she says barzan majeed's phone number was found on the phones of migrants coming to britain in smallartner in this investigation is rob lawrie. he's former british army and he has a lot of contacts in the migrant camps in both in europe and in the middle east. together we set off to find the scorpion, barzan majeed, starting in nottingham where majeed used to live. we're searching for the boss of one of the biggest smuggling gangs in europe. he calls himself scorpion. he's on the run and he's wanted by crime agencies across europe. we finally track him down after eight months, a search that began in nottingham through france, belgium and turkey. then finally to iraq, where rob and i meet him face—to—face. he sets out to rob shocking claims about how many people he's smuggled into the uk. maybe a thousand. maybe 10,000. i don't know. i didn't count. thousands of passengers - had your number in their phones. i'm telling you. yeah, you're right in what are you saying. nobody forced them. they wanted to. they're begging. they begging the smugglers, "please do this." yu know that smugglin

barzan majeed, also known as scorpion, wanted by several countries.ted in the north of iraq earlier today. with me see mitchell he was part of that investigation and we were talking to you last week on this programme.— and we were talking to you last week on this programme. events have moved really rapidly- — on this programme. events have moved really rapidly- the _ on this programme. events have moved really rapidly. the iraqi _ really rapidly. the iraqi authorities immediately got in touch with us and said what evidence can be provided to them? we have had munication with them and the national crime agency here in britain and this morning at 7am, they sent police forces out to arrest ba rzan they sent police forces out to arrest barzan majeed in the north of iraq. as far as you know, he is now being held in attention and there is great interest with police forces across britain and belgium waiting to find out what turns of extradition there might be. there is such a development _ extradition there might be. there is such a development because - ext

so news that barzan majeed, also known as scorpion, has been arrested this morning. mentioned that bbc investigation that was done by sue mitchell. we will speak to sue in the next few minutes on that break —— breaking

by his own admission, barzan majeed has smuggled as many as 10,000 people across the english channel.ne of his boats failed at sea. many adults and children have had to be rescued in the channel, including six—year—old maili. how many children were on the boat, maili? there was you and your brother... four. four children? yeah, four children. 26 members of the scorpion gang arranging these channel crossings have already been arrested and prosecuted after an investigation by police across europe. but majeed escaped and went on the run. together with former soldier rob laurie, we traced barzan majeed through his network across europe, finally confronting him in iraq where he spoke to us off—camera, telling us he was providing a service that people wanted. nobody forced them. they wanted to, they were begging. they were begging the smugglers, "please do this, do this for us. you know that smuggling through europe is illegal and highly dangerous. you know that. of course. and yet you did it. i'm telling you, i've done them kind of things. i done it. majeed was arrested earlier today as a

the bbc has tracked down — one of europe's most wanted �*people smugglers' barzan majeed — nicknamedr thousands of people, to travel to the uk, in small boats and lorries, arguing migrants are begging him for help. 0ur reporter sue mitchell is part of the team that tracked him down. shejoins me now. just how did you do it, how did you tracking down? 50. just how did you do it, how did you tracking down?— just how did you do it, how did you trackin: down? , , ., , tracking down? so, his phone number was found on — tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the _ tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones _ tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones of— tracking down? so, his phone number was found on the phones of migrantsl was found on the phones of migrants and my partner is a former british army officer and he has contacts in the migrant camps both in europe and the migrant camps both in europe and the middle east and we set off to try and find the scorpion, starting in nottingham where he used to live. we're searching for the boss of one of

by his own admission, barzan majeed has smuggled as many as 10,000 people across the english channel.our investigation began when one of his sports field at sea. many adults and children have had to be rescued in the channel, including six—year—old maili. how many children were on the boat, maili? there was you and your brother... four. four children? yeah, four children. 26 members of the scorpion gang arranging these channel crossings have already been arrested and prosecuted after an investigation by police across europe. but majeed escaped and went on the run. together with former soldier rob laurie, we traced barzan majeed through his network across europe, finally confronting him in iraq where he spoke to us off—camera, telling us he was providing a service to the people wanted. nobody forced them. they wanted to, they were begging. they were begging the smugglers, "please do this, do this for us. you know that smuggling through europe is illegal and highly dangerous. you know that. of course. and yet you did it. i'm telling you, i've done them kind of things. i done it. majeed

we started this investigation about eight months ago, barzan majeed is wanted across europe for crimesn admission he smuggled 10,000 or no in lorries and small boats across the english channel, some times in crossings that went disastrously wrong. i investigated with former british servicemen rob lawrie, we tracked him through germany, belgian, france into turkey, always one step behind him. he was on the run, hence had been sentenced to ten years in his absence, 26 members of his gang had been arrested and they were in prison but he had vast resources to help hide him, he has made a fortune from people smuggling. we tracked him down to iraq and we lay in wait, confronted him and it was part of a bbc podcast to catch a scorpion that was released on friday. almost instantly, the iraqi authorities got on to the bbc to ask for help so they could pursue him themselves, and we were able over the weekend to supply them with information, enough they could raid him at 7.00am this morning, he is in custody now, the national crime agency in britain and the belgian prosecutors have thanked the bb

by his own admission, barzan majeed has smuggled as many as 10,000 people across the english channel. at sea. many adults and children have had to be rescued in the channel, including six—year—old maili. "please do this, do this for us." you know that smuggling through europe is illegal and highly dangerous. you know that. of course. and yet you did it. i'm telling you, i've done them kind of things. i done it. majeed was arrested earlier today as a result of our bbc investigation. he is now being held and questioned by police in iraq. sue mitchell, bbc news. you can hear the full story in a new series or that you can find it on bbc sounds wherever you listen to podcast. let's go to baltimore in the us state of maryland where engineers have carried out a controlled explosion to remove the part of the collapsed francis scott key bridge, which has trapped a container ship, the dali, since the vessel struck it, causing it to collapse, in march. the blasts were intended to break up the bridge into smaller sections, which would allow salvage crews to haul it away using cranes and barges. t

we started in investigation about eight months ago, barzan majeed is wanted across europe for crimesss the english channel, some times in crossings that went disastrously wrong, investigated with former british servicemen rob lawrie, we tracked him through germany, belgian, france into turkey, one step behind him. he was on the run hence had been sentenced to 10 years in his absence, 26 members of his gang had been arrested and they were in prison but he had vast resources to help hide him, he has made a fortune from people smuggling. we tracked him down toe iraq and we lay in wait, confronted him and it was part of a bbc pod cass to cash a or i don't know released on friday, almost instantly, the iraqi authorities got on to the bbc to ask for help so they could pursue him themselves, and we were able over themselves, and we were able over the weekend to supply them with information, enough they could raid him at 7.00am this morning, he is in custody now, the national crime agency in britain and the belgian prosecutors have thanked the bbc, they are delighted to have caught him and t

his real name is barzan majeed but he's nicknamed the scorpion. europe's most wanted people smugglers. our reporter sue mitchell set out to find him with the help of aid worker and former soldier rob lawrie. it was a dangerous search that began in nottingham, where barzan majeed used to live and work as a mechanic — this picture is from back then. rob lawrie picks up the story? what people are interested in about this individual, the scorpion, being a podcast where he was portrayed and when we were researching and making the podcast, this one name kept coming up time and time again which was the scorpion and it seems that he was in contact with many migrants and refugees around turkey and around dunkirk. and this can be a lot of movement around his name. so, myself and bbcjournalists sat down and pick their interest in the summer look at the sky, what was said scratching beneath the surface, itjust said scratching beneath the surface, it just went said scratching beneath the surface, itjust went on and on, the extent of human trafficking that is n

it was a dangerous search that began in nottingham, where barzan majeed used to live.orner shop may still be working with him. i say, please help. isay, please help. i i say, please help. i say, isay, please help. isay, please, we need help. i say, please help. i say, please, we need help-— i say, please help. i say, please, we need hel. , . ., we need help. these are the haunting words of a six-year-old _ we need help. these are the haunting words of a six-year-old who - we need help. these are the haunting words of a six-year-old who was - words of a six—year—old who was rescued from a boat that was sinking in the english channel as she and herfamily attempted to in the english channel as she and her family attempted to cross from france to the uk. because she speaks english she was the one to call the emergency services. she begged people to come and rescue them. then the olice people to come and rescue them. then the police can — people to come and rescue them. then the police can come _ people to come and rescue them. then the police can come here and take us out

an individual called barzan majeed . individual called barzan majeed. you know that case well. the scorpion arrested and he originally lived in britain, was deported , he said he's was deported, he said he's forgotten how many people he smuggled into britain. certainly untold thousands. he's been nicked. but, you know, as sure as night follows day, he'll just be replaced. and so long as that multi, multi million pound business model is there, mark white this will continue to happen. >> yes. he will be replaced . >> yes. he will be replaced. multiple other individuals who have been arrest cited over recent weeks and months and years. indeed by the likes of the national crime agency will be replaced . i mean, i think for be replaced. i mean, i think for the nca and others involved in the nca and others involved in the small boats operational command, there's a little bit of a slap in the face from the labour leader, effectively saying that they're not doing a good enough job what they're working around the clock to try to dismantle these criminal gangs that are operating on the o

barzan majeed — known as scorpion — was arrested this morning in sulaymaniyah — a city in northern iraqestigation tracked him down, no one knew his location. this video shows the moment our reporter sue mitchell and aid worker and former soldier rob lawrie sat down with the scorpion in a mall. my colleague matthew amroliwala spoke to sue mitchell, the bbc reporter who tracked him down, earlier today the iraqi authorities immediately got in touch with us and said whatever evidence we can provide with them, we've had communication with them, we've had communication with them, we've had communication with them and the national crime agency in britain, and this morning at seven and they sent police forces out to arrest him in the north of iraq. as faras out to arrest him in the north of iraq. as far as we know he is now being held in detention and there is great interest of police forces across britain and in belgium to find out what terms for extradition there might be. that find out what terms for extradition there might be.— there might be. that is such a development, _ there might be. t

barzan majeed is accused of controlling much of the illegal people smuggling across the english channelearned that he has been arrested by local kurdish forces. that developmentjust been reported in the last hour or so. one more important story in the uk. a record number of wild swimming spots in england have been designated as bathing sites by the government. there are 27 locations — including 16 on rivers — but — the desgination doesn't guarantee they are clean. jonah fisher has the details. the water quality is only monitored after their designation will it's the start of the bathing water season, and i'm here at jaywick to take a sample. the environment agency is in charge of testing england's bathing water. the bottle is now labelled up for identification at the lab. from may to september, it takes samples at more than 400 locations. they're all sent to a laboratory near exeter. bayley will be here, will be passing a known volume of water from that sample through a filter such as this one. the outcome of the tests here determines whether the bathing site is rated excellent, good, s

barzan majeed, also known as scorpion, was arrested in iraqi kurdistan on sunday morning.years will be some of the most dangerous and, at the same time, the most transformational our country has ever known." that was the claim made this morning by the british prime minister, rishi sunak. in a speech to the policy exchange here in london, the prime minister set out a list of dangers britain is already facing, the threats from russia and china, mass migration and the extremists that exploit it, gender activists, cancel culture, the scottish nationalists trying to tear the uk apart. we've proudly taken the generational decision to increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of gdp by 2030, yet labour have refused to match our pledge. keir starmer supported a former labour leader who wanted to abolish the army and withdraw from nato. and labour's current deputy leader, shadow foreign secretary and many others voted against our nuclear deterrent, the ultimate guarantor of our security. rishi sunak has spent much of his time in number 10 distancing himself from the recor

this week, the scorpion, a man called barzan majeed, an iraqi citizen deported from uk, one of the biggestgotten the true number. he's been nicked. he'll be replaced immediately. isn't this. it sounds great. it sounds effective. but really, unless we actually stop the boats getting to britain, unless we turn them back to france, they will continue to become. because britain is such an attractive proposition. >> well, i don't agree with with that analysis. and but let me just say, first of all, martin, i've actually been. >> don't you agree? >> don't you agree? >> well, i'll come to that, but let me just say i've been down to dover. i've actually seen the work that our frontline law enforcement are doing, and i've been across to france as well and seen that work. and it isn't and seen that work. and it isn't a criticism of what front line law enforcement officers are doing. it's about the lack of leadership , the lack of leadership, the lack of competence of the government. now, why would the border security command be different, which is the fair challenge that you're putting to me now wit

barzan majeed had been on the run for over a year but was finally caught on sunday morning.uggling trade between europe and the uk between 2016 and 2021. northern ireland's first minister is due to appear before the covid inquiry today. michelle o'neill, seen in the foreground, is expected to be asked about the funeral of senior ira figure bobby storey, which saw large crowds line the streets, despite covid guidelines limiting numbers at the time. the troubled new co—op live arena has said it will officially open this evening, after a number of setbacks. the uk's biggest indoor venue was due to launch last month but has been forced to postpone three times. rock band elbow will be the opening act, as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson reports. music: one day like this by elbow. co—op live are hoping it's fourth time lucky, as once again it tries to open tonight — exactly three weeks to the day after peter kay was supposed to be the first act to play the biggest indoor arena in the uk. the venue has been beset by power, communication, and air conditioning problems