The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
A far-right extremist from Leamington Spa was caught making a “submachine gun and ammunition” and collecting terrorism material, say police. During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court the jury heard how Ben Styles, 25, was inspired by the Islamophobic Christchurch terrorist and making weapons in his garage with the aim of starting “a religious war”.
A conspiracy theorist who wanted to launch terror attacks and overthrow the British government because he believed it was run by “a Jewish elite” has been found guilty at his trial in Birmingham and jailed. Oliver Lewin, 38, planned to attack phone, radio and TV masts and damage the road system in his plot to…
An antisemitic terrorist who planned to carry out attacks across the country was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday (19 December). Oliver Lewin, 38, from Leicestershire, was found guilty of plotting to spread widespread terror and chaos which he hoped would topple the UK government.
Two women have been arrested by police after entering the House of Commons to deface a memorial statue of former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour. The Palestine Action activists, reportedly pretending to be tourists, squirted tomato ketchup onto the statue in the Houses of Parliament earlier today.
Hundreds of Birmingham residents are today joining thousands of people in London for a rally to mark international UN Anti Racism Day. As protests take place in cities around the world under the slogan ‘World Against Racism & Fascism’, the annual awareness day is being observed with a mass march through central London this afternoon.
Purim is a Jewish religious festival commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an official of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Haman was planning to have all of Persia’s Jewish subjects killed, as recounted in the religious Book of Esther.
Birmingham’s annual civic commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day will this year be hosted at Millennium Point. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Muhammad Afzal, will lead the free public event on next week on Sunday 30 January, which has the theme of ‘One Day’ for 2022.
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah – also spelt ‘Chanukah’ – has begun for Judaism’s faithful followers across the world, and it’s no different in Birmingham and the West Midlands. The first such annual celebrations since the national lockdown restrictions were eased, the region’s Jewish community are able to mark the eight-day ‘Festival of Light’ making full use of synagogues once again this…
West Midlands mayor Andy Street will join members of the Jewish and interfaith community tomorrow to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, ahead of national commemorations. Marking Holocaust Memorial Day in a special virtual event, the mayor will be joined by guest speakers and religious figures from the region, who will be reflecting on the events that took place during the…
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah – also spelt ‘Chanukah’ – began last night for Judaism’s faithful followers across the world and indeed, in Birmingham and the West Midlands too. While festivities are less visible and quieter than usual due to national coronavirus restrictions, the region’s Jewish community continues to persevere and is marking the eight-day…