LONDON: The UK government warned bird keepers to remain vigilant after bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry farm in northern England, the second outbreak this year and first of the season.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed on Tuesday the presence of the H5N5 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.
The virus was detected at a farm in Yorkshire, meaning the UK is no longer free from bird flu as per World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) rules.
All poultry on the premises was set to be culled, with a three-kilometer (1.8-mile) protection zone placed around the farm, near the seaside town of Hornsea.
While the last outbreak in February 2024 was of the H5N1 strain of the virus, the H5N5 virus detected this time around follows previous findings in Europe, according to DEFRA.
No bird flu cases have yet been detected during this outbreak in Wales or Scotland.
While the risk level to poultry remains low for premises with strong biosecurity, the risk was increased from medium to high for wild birds.
Between 2021 and 2023, the UK experienced its largest ever bird flu outbreak due to the H5N1 strain. It killed 3.8 million birds and the virus became widespread in wild bird populations.
Some UK seabird populations experienced “extensive declines” in the period, said a study by conservationists at the start of 2024.
The disease mainly affects birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
However, scientists have raised concerns about the virus’s ability to spread to and between mammals.
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New bird flu outbreak confirmed in UK
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New bird flu outbreak confirmed in UK
- The virus was detected at a farm in Yorkshire, meaning the UK is no longer free from bird flu as per World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) rules
Bystander who tackled armed man at Bondi Beach shooting hailed as hero
- The video then shows the man in a dark shirt losing his footing, backing away toward a bridge where another shooter was located, while the bystander places the gun down on the ground
SYDNEY: A bystander captured on video tackling and disarming an armed man during an attack in which 12 people were shot dead at a Jewish holiday event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday has been hailed as a hero whose actions potentially saved lives.
Footage circulating on social media shows a man in a car park wearing a white shirt running up to a man in a dark shirt who is holding a rifle. He then tackles the armed man from behind, wrenching the rifle from him with his hands before pointing the gun back at the man.
The video then shows the man in a dark shirt losing his footing, backing away toward a bridge where another shooter was located, while the bystander places the gun down on the ground.
Reuters confirmed the video from verified corroborating footage showing the same men.
Reuters also verified that the armed men in the video are the same as the individuals seen surrounded by the police in verified corroborating visuals by their clothing.
One suspected gunman was killed and another was in a critical condition following the shooting and police said they were investigating whether a third gunman was involved.
The footage of the bystander’s actions spread quickly on social media as people praised the man for his bravery, saying his actions had potentially saved many lives. His identity was not immediately known.
“Australian hero (random civilian) wrestles gun off attacker and disarms him. Some people are brave and then some people are ... whatever this is,” one person said on the X platform, sharing the video.
“This Australian man saved countless lives by stripping the gun off one of the terrorists at Bondi beach. HERO,” another said.
Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, where Sydney is located, said it was the “most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen.”
“A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people.”
“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had “run toward danger in order to help others.”
“These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” he told a press conference.
Footage circulating on social media shows a man in a car park wearing a white shirt running up to a man in a dark shirt who is holding a rifle. He then tackles the armed man from behind, wrenching the rifle from him with his hands before pointing the gun back at the man.
The video then shows the man in a dark shirt losing his footing, backing away toward a bridge where another shooter was located, while the bystander places the gun down on the ground.
Reuters confirmed the video from verified corroborating footage showing the same men.
Reuters also verified that the armed men in the video are the same as the individuals seen surrounded by the police in verified corroborating visuals by their clothing.
One suspected gunman was killed and another was in a critical condition following the shooting and police said they were investigating whether a third gunman was involved.
The footage of the bystander’s actions spread quickly on social media as people praised the man for his bravery, saying his actions had potentially saved many lives. His identity was not immediately known.
“Australian hero (random civilian) wrestles gun off attacker and disarms him. Some people are brave and then some people are ... whatever this is,” one person said on the X platform, sharing the video.
“This Australian man saved countless lives by stripping the gun off one of the terrorists at Bondi beach. HERO,” another said.
Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, where Sydney is located, said it was the “most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen.”
“A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people.”
“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had “run toward danger in order to help others.”
“These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” he told a press conference.
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