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No Writer
Oct 17
Three neo-Nazis who plotted terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues jailed

Brogan Stewart was sentenced to 11 years in prison, Christopher Ringrose for 10 years and Marco Pitzettu for eight years by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday. Stewart, 25, Ringrose, 34, and Pitzettu, 25, stockpiled body armour and more than 200 weapons including crossbows, swords, machetes, axes, hunting knives and had 3D-printed parts of a gun. An almost completed FGC-9 Mk II printed assault rifle found in Ringrose's loft was missing the barrel and firing pin, but the men were sourcing the components to complete the weapon, which prosecutors said could then "have been used to devastating consequences". The court heard the trio had a shared interest in bushcraft and YouTube videos of "preppers" - who prepare for the possibility of a world-changing disaster by stockpiling supplies, food and ammunition. But prosecutors said they were preparing for a race war and had used the online communities to recruit an inner circle, which moved on to neo-Nazi chat groups before setting up their own private group, as they prepared to take action. It was infiltrated by an undercover officer on 5 January last year. Stewart messaged the officer on the encrypted Telegram app, telling him he was disillusioned with other far-right groups that just "sit around and talk," adding: "I want to get my own group together because action speaks louder than words." Self-appointed leader Stewart, of Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, appointed Ringrose, of Cannock, Staffordshire, and Pitzettu, of Mickleover, Derbyshire, as "armourers" and they discussed getting a uniform as well as potential targets, including mosques and synagogues. In a group call on 5 February last year, they said the plan was to "cruise around" looking for "human targets" near an Islamic education centre, "do whatever we do, then back at mine for tea and medals and a debrief". Before the "operation" went ahead, he wanted the members, who had never met in person, to "hang out, bring ourselves closer together and just cement that brotherhood" on 18 February. But the event did not go ahead, and the group were arrested on 20 February after counter-terrorism police raided properties in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. All three men were found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism and possessing information useful for terrorism in May. At trial, a jury ignored defence arguments that the defendants were fantasists with no intention of carrying out their threats. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing the lower receiver for a 3D firearm, a prohibited weapon, while Pitzettu pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun. Jurors heard how the defendants formed an online group called Einsatz 14 in January 2024, with "like-minded extremists" who wanted to "go to war for their chosen cause". Stewart told the group: "Hitler did more for his people than any politician. And for Britain to have a p*** and zionist in charge of the country is absolutely outrageous." Prosecutors said this last comment was a reference to the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sentencing them, judge Mrs Justice Cutts said she thought they all continued to believe in their extreme right-wing ideology. All would be dangerous after their release from prison, she said, noting the group's ideology was "laid bare" in a 374-page dossier of internet activity presented to jurors. The document was "filled with hate towards black and other non-white races, especially Muslim people and immigrants, with ideas of white supremacy and racial purity together with a belief that there must soon be a race war". It featured the "glorification and admiration of the policies and actions of Hitler and the German Nazi Party, including antisemitism, and of mass killers who had targeted black or Muslim communities". The judge said she did not believe a terrorist attack was "imminent", but "was likely in the not too distant future". Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the group came together because of their "extreme racist views". Read more on Sky News:Talks over ban on Israeli fansPalestine Action can challenge terror banMan guilty of making 3D-printed gun parts "They've idolised the Nazi party, they've glorified mass murders, and they share a hatred of groups such as the Jewish community and the Muslim community," he said. "I genuinely believe had we not taken action, this group could've carried out a violent attack and the consequences of that attack could've been fatal."

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Bethany Minelle, ats and entertainment reporter
Oct 17
BBC Gaza documentary breached broadcasting code, Ofcom finds

The regulator said the failure to disclose that the 13-year-old boy narrating the programme was the son of a deputy minister in the Hamas-run government broke the rules and that it was "materially misleading" not to mention it. In July, the BBC said it breached its own editorial guidelines by failing to disclose the full identity of the child narrator's father in the Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary. The documentary was made by independent production company Hoyo Films, and features 13-year-old Abdullah Alyazouri, who speaks about life in Gaza during the war between Israel and Hamas. It was pulled from BBC iPlayer in February after it emerged that the boy was the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. A BBC review into the controversial programme said three members of the independent production company knew about the role of the boy's father - but no one within the BBC was aware. Ofcom's investigation into the documentary, which followed 20 complaints, found that the audience was deprived of "critical information" which could have been "highly relevant" to their assessment of the narrator and the information he provided. The report said the failure to disclose a narrator's links to Hamas "had the potential to erode the very high levels of trust that audiences would have expected in a BBC factual programme about the Israel-Gaza war". Following its internal review into the programme, and a full fact-finding review the BBC's director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, Peter Johnston, the corporation's director general, Tim Davie, and Hoyo Films apologised. Hoyo films said it was "working closely with the BBC" to see if it could find a way to bring back parts of the documentary to iPlayer, adding: "Our team in Gaza risked their lives to document the devastating impact of war on children. "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone remains a vital account, and our contributors - who have no say in the conflict - deserve to have their voices heard." Israel does not allow international news organisations into Gaza to report independently. 👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Describing it as "a serious breach" of its rules," Ofcom said they were directing the BBC to broadcast a statement of their findings against it on BBC2 at 9pm, with a date yet to be confirmed. Responding to the findings of Ofcom's investigation, a BBC spokesperson said: "The Ofcom ruling is in line with the findings of Peter Johnston's review, that there was a significant failing in the documentary in relation to the BBC's editorial guidelines on accuracy, which reflects Rule 2.2 of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code. "We have apologised for this and we accept Ofcom's decision in full. "We will comply with the sanction as soon as the date and wording are finalised."

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No Writer
Oct 17
Talks to find 'way through' Maccabi fans ban - as PM condemns 'wrong decision'

There has been political outcry after the city's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) said it would not allow Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend the team's away game against Aston Villa next month. Politics latest: MPs condemn decision to ban Israeli fans from Birmingham match The announcement, supported by West Midlands Police, was based partly on what happened in Amsterdam last year, when Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters attending a game against Ajax were caught up in attacks in the Dutch capital city. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it "the wrong decision", while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said it was a "national disgrace". Speaking to Sky News on Friday morning, science and technology minister Ian Murray revealed Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, is meeting with the Home Office in a bid to reverse the decision. "It's just completely and utterly unacceptable, and the prime minister has said we will do everything we possibly can to resolve this issue," Mr Murray said. "It's an operational issue for the police, and government doesn't get involved in operational issues for the police," he said. "But I know the Culture Secretary of State (Ms Nandy) will be meeting with the Home Office and other stakeholders today to try and see if there's a way through this." West Midlands Police said it had classified the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv fixture as high risk based on "current intelligence and previous incidents". The force said this included violent clashes and hate crime offences that occurred during the 2024 UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, when more than 60 people were arrested. Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, has called for an "immediate review" of the decision. However, Andrew Fox, honorary president of Aston Villa Jewish Villans supporters' club, said the decision to ban only fans of the Israeli side is "a political message rather than a safety message". The decision has provoked a political row with some independent MPs welcoming the ban but senior figures in Labour, the Tories, Reform UK and the Lib Dems condemning it. Sir Keir criticised the ban on X last night, writing: "This is the wrong decision. We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets. "The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation." PM 'lacks backbone' However, Ms Badenoch said he "lacks the backbone to stand up for Britain", and branded the decision a "national disgrace" last night and suggested the PM reverse it. Richard Holden, the shadow transport minister, claimed "nobody believes this is an operational issue". He told Sky News: "There's clearly political pressure being put on. It's quite clear that there needs to be political leadership from the prime minister to ensure that this can't go ahead." Read more from Sky News:Starmer orders mandatory antisemitism training for NHS staffMI5 boss says China plot disrupted in past weekMajor milestone in Post Office IT scandal Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group is made up of officials from the local authority, emergency responders - including the police - and event organisers. Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, who had called for the match to be cancelled, welcomed the decision. He said in a statement that "with so much hostility around the match... it was right to take drastic measures". Later on BBC Newsnight, he said there were "vile chants of racism and hatred" at the Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Amsterdam last year and the prime minister should "stay out of operational matters". How have football clubs reacted? UEFA, which runs the Europa League, urged UK authorities to make sure Maccabi Tel Aviv fans could attend the match. Aston Villa said the decision followed safety concerns raised by officers. They said in a statement: "Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG has formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture. "West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night. "The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision." Jack Angelides, chief executive of Maccabi Tel Aviv, said he did not want to take security issues lightly but said the team has travelled to places such as Turkey where he said the sentiment is "not so kind towards Israeli teams" but the police "were out in force" and there were no incidents. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "So I do find it somewhat difficult to understand why this has come to pass in the sense that our fans cannot be secure in attending this match. "And also begs the question a little bit to be honest - well, there is a delegation coming of management, of players, and all the supporting staff, are we saying that they will be secure also or that there are issues with them?" He said he understood the reasons given for the ban and tries to avoid interfering in how other countries should behave. "But I do think this is an extremely important moment because of what it signifies," he added. "I don't use this term lightly but people ask 'what does antisemitism look like?' And it's often manifested as part of a process, a process in other words small events - leading up to something that's more sinister."

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No Writer
Oct 17
Brian Carney on Super League expansion to 14 teams: London Broncos snub ‘fair’ but new duo face ‘financial pain’

What is your reaction to the inclusion of Toulouse and York? "Many would say the right decisions have been reached. I wasn't particularly pleased with us finding a different way of putting teams 13 and 14 in when we have IMG gradings. "My suggestion was you either do everybody by a certain set of criteria - or nobody by that set of criteria. Toulouse and York chosen for Super League expansion as London miss out Bradford make shock return to Super League as Salford drop outThe making of Mikey: How Lewis owned his Grand Final momentGet Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW "That wasn't the direction of travel. We went the first 12 with IMG and the next two through the Lord Caine panel process. Now it's happened that we've got 13 and 14 so the right decision has been reached. "There was controversy about Bradford being announced because of Nigel Wood's links with the club. The fact they got in on gradings alone put much of that to bed. "If nothing else, it has shown it to be a robust and fair process. There was much made of Lord Caine and his strong and long-standing relationship with Gary Hetherington at London. But none of that came into account, as Lord Caine said it wouldn't. "This has been a very open and I would believe rigorous and fair assessment. London will probably say the same about it. So we've got York and we've got Toulouse. But it does open up plenty of other questions." Is there a worry about both Toulouse and York having to take reduced funding compared to the other 12 clubs? "The devil will be in the detail in all of this. Teams 13 and 14, so York and Toulouse, will be on half the central distribution. That's really significant. "We've been down this path before with Bradford over a decade ago where they were readmitted into Super League but on half the central distribution and they were destined to fail. "Now, obviously, the criteria were laid out. It is who could take the most pain is what I believe. "York or Toulouse in particular have shown themselves willing to take financial pain, remembering Toulouse will come in under the same travel criteria expenses as the Catalan Dragons. "That means they will have to pay, obviously, all their own travel expenses to play games in this country and they will have to pay for visiting teams coming to Toulouse, as Catalans do. "For your own travel and opposition teams' travel, that's circa £1m. You've got half the distribution of all the other clubs and you've got a £1m bill that most of the other clubs will not have to pay. "They have said they can handle that financial pain. The proof will be in the pudding but try and put together a competitive squad when financially you've been handicapped to that extent. "York must have something financial up their sleeve to be able to say, 'we will take less distribution than everybody else and still be able to put together a competitive squad', when sides who are getting full distribution and who have wealthy benefactors are struggling themselves to put together competitive sides. "Time will tell on much of this. "It does worry me a little because I can put together a financial plan on a spreadsheet right now and tell you what I can spend this year, next year and the year after. I haven't had to spend a penny to do that though. "There's no money going into an escrow account to guarantee that. "I can promise you that I have sponsors willing to commit x amount of pounds in three years' time, but until that money is turned into cold hard cash, it's only on paper. "We've just lived through the Salford experience, haven't we? Millions and millions of pounds being promised and nothing has ever materialised. "I have some concerns about that but again, Lord Caine was presented with all these details. We will have to back Lord Caine and his panel. "They have been provided with much more information than I do. I'm judging it on experience and nearly 25 years in the game and what I've seen come and go. "Let's go with it for the moment but I have question marks about how Toulouse and York will be able to compete financially, getting only 50 per cent of the central distribution. I don't think it's the right way to go. "I think in fact, it is evidence of the game not having the financial preparedness to go to 14 teams." What are your thoughts on London missing out? "A lot has gone into that club so how do they go from here, being probably the top club in the Championship? It remains to be seen what they decide to do in in 2026. "At their current rate of recruitment, if the players that have committed, signed deals and are playing in the Championship next year, London should have arguably the most competitive side, the strongest side. "It's an expensive operation to run outside of Super League and there's next to no central funding for it. "Whether or not they can grow their crowds sufficiently in the Championship, even if they're top in the Championship, remains to be seen. "I would suggest it's a setback for Gary [Hetherington] and his consortium. They have said that they're more determined now than ever before but it's going to be a long year with a lot of unknowns. "If London are to make Super League in 2027, who's going to miss out then? Unless we're going to go again with 18 teams." Does rugby league need a strong London? "It is probably better for the competition. I'm all for the game being strong. "I'd like a strong rugby league team in Wales. I'd like one in Ireland, in Scotland, in France. Multiple teams in France. That would be great. "I'd also like a strong rugby league team in some of the heartland places. It'd be great if there was a strong team well supported in Halifax or Cumbria, for example. I mean well supported so getting significant figures. "I don't think our Super League will live or die by London representation but having a strong side down there is certainly a market that we should be looking to tap into for multiple reasons like player and sponsorship pools. "Gary will do that. He's got Jason Demetriou and Mike Eccles there. With Gary's nous, they're in a very strong position to do something. "I am pleased that the Lord Caine panel can turn around now and they're immunised from any accusations of favouritism. That's a very important point. That's strong for the game. "Gary now is not quite back to square one but he's got a big job on his hands at London now."

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Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent
Oct 17
King Charles to become first British monarch to pray publicly with Pope in 500 years

The King and Queen will meet the new pontiff Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, his official residence, next Thursday during their trip to Vatican City. In a highly significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, the King and Queen and the Pope will attend a special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel celebrating the ongoing work towards unity and cooperation among different Christian churches. The decision for the King and Pope to pray together during the service will be the first time a monarch and the pontiff have joined together in this type of moment of reflection in the 500 years since the Reformation when, in 1534, King Henry VIII declared himself as head of the Church of England and broke from the papal authority of the Rome Catholic Church. In another historic step, the King will be made "Royal Confrater" of the Abbey of St Paul's Outside the Walls. The abbot of the community and the archpriest of the basilica wished to confer the title and received the Pope's approval to do so. To mark the occasion a special seat has been made decorated with the King's coat of arms. Read more:King Charles pays tribute to Pope FrancisKing and Queen meet Pope Francis at the Vatican The King will use it during the service, after which it will remain in the apse of the basilica for future use by His Majesty and his heirs and successors. English Kings had a particular link with The Papal Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls until the Reformation. It is also known as the Papal Basilica where reconciliation, ecumenism and relationships across the Christian faith are celebrated. A spokesperson for the Church of England said: "The royal confrater title, whilst it confers no duties or obligations on the King, and makes no changes whatsoever to the formal, constitutional and ecclesiastical position of His Majesty as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, it is a tribute to his majesty and his own work over many decades to find common ground between faiths and to bring people together." The trip comes during the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee year. Held traditionally every 25 years, "Pilgrims of Hope" is the theme of this jubilee. The visit will also reflect the joint commitment from both Pope Leo and the King to protect nature and their shared concern for the environment. The service at the Sistine Chapel will have the theme of "Care for Creation" and they will attend a meeting on sustainability. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office said: "At a time of growing instability and conflict, the UK's relationship with the Holy See is more important than ever. The Holy See is a key international actor. "We work with the Holy See to promote human dignity, to promote peace and combat climate change... so His Majesty's visit will strengthen the UK's relationship with this crucial and influential global partner." Read more on Sky News:Vatican must do more to help sexual abuse victimsPope Leo's revealing birthday interview Only in 1961 did Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch since the Reformation to make an official visit to the Holy See. In April of this year, a royal visit had to be cancelled due to the ill health of Pope Francis, but both the King and Queen did meet him privately while on a trip to Rome. It is understood Pope Leo and the King have been actively engaged in how this reorganised visit will look and the themes it will cover.

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No Writer
Oct 17
Ace Frehley, Kiss's original guitarist, dies aged 74

He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, in Morristown, New Jersey, his agent said. He had suffered a recent fall. A statement from the rocker's family said they were "completely devastated and heartbroken". New York-born Frehley was Kiss's guitarist when they started in 1973. The other members were Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss. Like his bandmates, Frehley took on a comic book-style persona on stage (he was known as "Spaceman") and captivated audiences with his elaborate makeup and smoke-filled guitar. The band's shows were known for fireworks, smoke, and eruptions of fake blood, while the stars sported platform boots, black wigs, and - of course - the iconic black and white face paint. Read more from Sky News:Sam Fender wins Mercury PrizeFirst digital ID launches today Especially popular in the mid-1970s, Kiss's hits include Rock And Roll All Nite and Detroit Rock City. They sold tens of millions of records and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. 'Irreplaceable' Frehey's family said they would "cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others". Criss posted a simple tribute on X, describing his shock. He added: "My friend... I love you!". A photograph of Frehley, smiling in his "Spaceman" makeup, accompanied the message. Meanwhile Stanley and Simmons described him as an "essential and irreplaceable rock soldier". Paying tribute, the duo said they were "devastated" by his death. Frehley's Kiss career first ended in 1982, before he returned for a reunion tour in 1996, staying on until 2002. He also released several solo albums. He is survived by his wife Jeanette and daughter Monique.

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Tim Baker, political reporter
Oct 17
The first digital ID launches today

No, this isn't the controversial "mandatory" right to work checks announced recently - more on that later - but it is part of the same programme for pretty much all forms of government identification to be accessible on your phone by the end of 2027. This will mean passports, driving licences, national insurance cards and many more being virtual instead of - or as well as - being stashed in a shoebox or under socks in a drawer. At an event at the Tower of London - chosen for its millennia-old juxtaposition with the digital revolution - Beefeaters showed off their shiny new cards and joked of using it to get discounted food. There was an occasional tech hiccup here and there with getting the cards downloaded, mostly due to dodgy internet, it seemed, but in general it was all smiles. The minister in charge of the rollout, Ian Murray MP, crowed of the benefits of having documents on your phone and how it will make life easier. "We all use our smartphones for everyday life," he explained. "So it's about making the relationship with the citizen easier and making their access to government services easier." Mr Murray said he is looking forward to the end of "having to continuously fill out my name, my address, my telephone number" and instead just scanning his phone. How will it work? Having all government documents accessible in an Apple or Google Wallet-style app is the end goal, and the solution is being built on similar secure technology that underpins storing payment cards on your phone. The work is being done in house by Government Digital Service, part of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, that houses the digitisation expertise in Whitehall. Any mention of digitisation of the personal information raises questions around security, but the government insists its solution is safe with a "federated" approach. To use the example of a veteran's ID, this would mean that the original data of who is a veteran, where they served, and all other relevant information would remain with the Ministry of Defence. Once the sign-in and verification with this data has been completed on a phone, this can then be used to prove someone is a veteran, and easily give them access to housing, mental health support, shopping discounts, museum entry and other benefits, the government says. What about other forms of ID? For driving licences, the data would stay with DVLA, passports with the passport office, and national insurance with the Department for Work and Pensions. Those who have worked on the creation of the software say this stops the creation of a single vault of everyone's personal data in one place. In order to get the card on your phone, you would need to use the phone's security - such as a face scan, fingerprint, or pin code. There is even talk that technology like contactless could be used with the government's version of the wallet to tap and verify things like age in an off-licence. The hope from government is that it can speed up tedious paper-based interactions, like house buying, passport control, and the right to work. It is here where the sticking point on this policy plan becomes apparent. Papers, please? Announcing "mandatory" digital ID last month, the prime minister made it clear this was about cracking down on immigration. Straightaway, concerns were raised about why a compulsory digital ID was needed, who would check it, and what for. Polling showed - especially among Tory and Reform voters - an opposition to this policy, when it is these people the immigration battle is being fought over. Tory MP and a stalwart opponent of government overreach David Davis said: "Digital ID gives the state the unchecked power to digitally strip citizens naked." He added: "Starmer's scheme will be even more risky as ransomware criminals, foreign states and other hackers will attack the strategic weak points in the OneLogin architecture." Read more:Do we need digital IDs?The countries where digital ID already exists If the government believes digitising identification is so beneficial, and such a win-win, why does it want to force people to use it rather than see the benefits and choose to use it? Mr Murray said the right to work ID will be mandatory as "it's mandatory already to be able to prove that you can work in the UK". He insists it will make the process for employees easier, and also make it easier for the Home Office to see which employers are not making checks - no more photocopying passports and scanning old phone bills. The government is adamant this is the only mandatory use case, with the suggestion even that the digital ID could be deleted once employment is confirmed. 👉Listen to Politics At Sam And Anne's on your podcast app👈 But the flip side is that once this can of worms is opened, this or a future government could change tack and would have the digital infrastructure to do what it wants. But Mr Murray said: "The principle here is to make the state and the citizen's relationship much easier - and the power of the data in the hands of the citizen."

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No Writer
Oct 16
Ricky Hatton cause of death confirmed at inquest just days after boxing legend's funeral

An inquest was opened into his death at South Manchester Coroners' Court with coroner Alison Mutch announcing the cause of death. It is understood the 46-year-old took his own life. She told the court Hatton was found unresponsive in his bedroom on September 14 by his manager and long-time friend Paul Speak. The court heard some details of the discovery of Hatton's body given by police coroner's officer Alison Catlow. The court heard Hatton was last seen by his family on September 12 when he appeared "well". But the day after he did not attend at an event as expected and on the morning of the 14th his manager, Mr Speak, arrived at his home to take him to Manchester Airport to catch a flight to Dubai for a press conference to officially announce his comeback fight. Hatton was found unresponsive. Hatton's death left his family heartbroken and his army of fans stunned. He was laid to rest on Friday, October 12, at Manchester Cathedral. Friends, family, and celebrities lined the streets to pay their respects as his procession passed significant landmarks in the city. Hatton, nicknamed 'The Hitman', held multiple world championships at super-lightweight and one at welterweight during a 15-year professional career. His stellar career included epic fights against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, a legendary triumph over Kostya Tszyu. A unique career Hatton held multiple world championships in the super-lightweight and welterweight divisions during his boxing career which spanned from 1997 to 2012. He built a passionate fanbase as he rose through the ranks and won the British super-lightweight title in 2000. His popularity reached across sport and beyond. In 2005, in one of the most memorable nights in British boxing history he dethroned the great Kostya Tszyu to become a world champion at the MEN Arena in his Manchester hometown, which saw him recognised as the best fighter in the division. He then beat Carlos Maussa to unify the IBF and WBA titles. Hatton made his welterweight debut the following year, claiming the WBA title by defeating Luis Collazo. After reclaiming the IBF super-lightweight belt in 2007, he brought a host of supporters over to Las Vegas when he took on another boxing great, in Floyd Mayweather. The American superstar handed Hatton the first defeat of his professional career. He took on the best of his era when he returned to Las Vegas to fight Manny Pacquiao in 2009. Hatton retired in 2011 but made a comeback in 2012, where he was beaten by Vyacheslav Senchenko. He was due to make a comeback later this year. If you are affected by these issues or want to talk, please contact the Samaritans on the free helpline 116 123, or visit the website www.samaritans.org

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