Catch up with all the latest news across your county with Abby Hook.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, good evening and welcome to Kent tonight, live on KMT.
00:29I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories on Monday the 5th of August.
00:35Troubled and sad, Medway Mosque left feeling unsettled after violent protests break out across the UK.
00:43Something that should have been dealt with a long time ago, I think it's years of neglecting or brushing aside Islamophobia.
00:52Shut doors and stop disaster, the warning to residents as Mira causes house fire in Rochester.
01:07Bringing Notting Hill to Medway, Culture Club hosts annual diversity carnival.
01:21Love will always triumph over hate.
01:34First tonight, members of a Gillingham mosque say they feel unsafe following a wave of far-right protests across the country.
01:41The widespread rioting and unrest has occurred up and down the UK, including Bristol, Rotherham and Liverpool, following the stabbing of three girls in Southport.
01:49Kent police say they will respond swiftly and robustly if any disorder occurs in the county.
01:55Mehima Abedin reports.
01:57Frustrated and sad is how members of a mosque in Medway are feeling after violent protests and riots in other parts of the UK.
02:04This comes after misinformation was spread online about the recent Southport attacks where three young girls were stabbed and lost their lives.
02:12While police are out in full force, the Prime Minister says criminal justice will be ramped up and is offering mosques greater protection.
02:19But here in Gillingham, some say it just isn't enough.
02:43Yeah, I think naturally when you see these things happen across the country, you do feel a little bit unsafe.
02:51None of our activities at the mosque have stopped. We continue to pray, we continue to come for congregation and do our activities.
02:59However, we have to be vigilant, we have to be careful and we have to be watchful because you never know. You never know what's going to happen.
03:09While mosques across the country are being granted extra safety measures, this mosque has had CCTV cameras installed from when it first opened.
03:17But despite this, its leaders say they still feel unsettled.
03:21This introduction of emergency security means mosques can now ask for rapid responses, something Kent community groups support.
03:28An attack on any place of worship, be it a church, be it a gurdwara, be it a mandir, be it a mosque, is just totally unacceptable.
03:36This is Great Britain 2024. We should not be in a situation where people, whichever faith, be it majority faith or minority faith, should be scared or go into their place of worship.
03:47So to see what's been happening in some of the northern towns, it is greatly upsetting and it is an issue of concern here in Kent as well.
03:54And that's why I think it's important that we get the right message out there and we support the police, we support our faith organisations,
04:03we support local businesses to ensure that what's happening in other parts of the country doesn't happen here.
04:09In a statement from Kent Police, a spokesperson said they are well prepared to respond swiftly and robustly to any incidents of disorder that may arise.
04:16The force is also engaging with communities to provide ongoing reassurance.
04:20These new measures are set to come into action across the country by this weekend.
04:24But in the meantime, both community and political leaders are reassuring the public that those who have acted violently will face the full force of the law.
04:32Mahima Abedin for KMTV in Gillingham.
04:35Mahima joins me in the studio now. Firstly, Mahima, this photo taken, one of the many circulating social media protesters at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham in South Yorkshire.
04:47Now, of course, this whole story, these riots, these protests that we're talking about, it began in Southport when three young girls were sadly stabbed.
04:55They lost their lives. It's been the misinformation and disinformation since that event on social media that's followed.
05:03That's really stirred up a lot of hatred and a lot of violence.
05:07The alleged perpetrator was wrongly said to be a migrant and a Muslim.
05:12Both of those are not true. But this misinformation and disinformation spread across the social media,
05:19sparking these huge far right protests in places like Rotherham, in Middlesbrough, Bolton, Weymouth, right across the country.
05:27Level of disorder and disturbance differing in different places.
05:32The scenes on social media showing things like golf balls, fence posts being thrown at police officers.
05:38Just some examples of some of that disorder that we're seeing.
05:41Tensions are running extremely high at the moment, Mahima.
05:45We had concerns from a mosque in Kent in your report today.
05:50But a similar rhetoric that you've heard today.
05:54Yes, Abby. So the mosque told me today that they're feeling sad.
05:57They're feeling like the hatred is being taken out on them.
06:00And that's due to all the misinformation that's being spread online, which you mentioned already.
06:05And as I was setting up my camera to film a piece to camera outside of the mosque, someone drove past.
06:10And as they were driving past, they shouted expletives about the mosque.
06:14They were beeping as they were driving by, screaming that this is England.
06:17They could clearly see I was filming.
06:19They saw I had a camera. They saw I was outside of the mosque.
06:22That didn't stop them.
06:23They carried on shouting what they said.
06:26I could see their number plate.
06:28They weren't afraid.
06:29They weren't fearful.
06:30And they continued with the language that they use and that type of behavior.
06:35And clearly me having a camera and filming didn't stop them.
06:37I could even see who they were.
06:40But it's really important to reiterate, Abby, that what you were saying there,
06:44this is a stark contrast to what we're seeing in Rotherham, in Bolton, for example.
06:49But it does reflect some of those similar far-right attitudes and languages that we're seeing being reported on, being used elsewhere in the country.
06:57And to give you an idea of what is happening, some of the key developments from over the past few days,
07:03at least 10 police officers were injured during a demonstration which turned into a riot at the Holiday Express Hotel in Rotherham,
07:10which you can see on the screen now.
07:12In Middlesbrough, burning wheelie bins were pushed towards officers.
07:17Around 300 people gathered to protect a mosque in the town.
07:20And police contained around 400 protesters from opposing sides who were gathered at Weymouth Seafront.
07:28And this is the first, I suppose, real challenge for our new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.
07:34He comes from a legal background.
07:36So how much is that going to play into his decision-making and what we already know about what he's decided?
07:42We heard a little bit in your report there.
07:44Well, Abby, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned what he calls far-right thuggery.
07:49He says that the criminal justice will be ramped up following an emergency response meeting with ministers and police chiefs.
07:56As we heard in my report, he announced emergency security will be offered to mosques at risk of violence
08:03and now a standing army of specialist officers to tackle violent protests.
08:08Those at the mosque today say that they want change, that this has been something that is ongoing and it's not new.
08:14And, yeah, they've been feeling like this for a long time.
08:17And a Kent MP and, in fact, Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, he's been responding to this as well, as we can imagine, on social media.
08:27Yes, so he's calling for the government to put an end to what he called on X abhorrent violence.
08:33He said it's plaguing our street after protesters set fire to the hotel, which is believed to have had asylum seekers inside.
08:41He wants the government to use all of the available resource to punish people.
08:44This, of course, is coming from his position as Shadow Security Minister.
08:49We have, of course, reached out to Tom today, but we're yet to hear from him.
08:53Mahima, thank you very much for those details.
08:57Next night, one family say they had a lucky escape after their home nearly burned down because of a vanity mirror placed too close to a window.
09:05The bedroom's curtains caught fire after the mirror reflected the sun onto them.
09:09The family and Kent Fire Service are now urging people to ensure they keep reflective surfaces away from windows or direct sunlight.
09:17Phil McDermott has this report.
09:19Summer has finally arrived, but with it, the people of Kent are being warned of the dangers of the sun in full force.
09:26We've seen cornfields catch alight in Herston, barbecues cause fires in Folkestone,
09:31and most recently, a small house fire was caused just from the sun shining on a mirror.
09:36Opened the door just to plume smoke, so closed the door shut, went down, closed all the other doors, went out the back,
09:44didn't take anything, we'd literally just, first of all, get out of the house.
09:48Caught the fire brigade and, yeah, in minutes they were here.
09:52I knew it was a danger, like when we were kids and we had, like, magnifying glasses and mirrors, you'd burn holes in leaves and stuff like that.
10:01So you know the danger of it.
10:04The light reflected from a small make-up mirror on a desk, hitting the curtains and causing them to catch.
10:09Totally irreparable, that's how I would describe the condition of the object behind me.
10:15The fire, caused by just this small vanity mirror, meant that the entire room had to be redecorated
10:21and anything damaged by the smoke or the fire had to be placed outside here to be thrown away,
10:26including a mattress, curtains, and even a TV set.
10:31While the objects in the room were ruined, the rest of the house was relatively unscathed,
10:35aside from some minor smoke damage, thanks to the bedroom door being closed.
10:40The fire crew sent two engines to the scene and hose jets were used to extinguish the flames on the third floor.
10:46The crews also managed to rescue the family cat, Tigger.
10:49During the warmer months the soil gets drier, meaning grass and wildfires tend to start more frequently,
10:55and Kent Fire and Rescue are urging people to keep especially safe during this summer heat.
11:00So we're asking for people to enjoy the summer period, but to remain safe and be responsible with what they're doing.
11:07So I would ask people to help us with that, so if you're a smoker and you're discarding smoking materials,
11:12that we look to discard those suitably and not discard those onto the ground.
11:17If you're having a barbecue, we'd request that you look at where you site the barbecue,
11:22so to make sure that it's not going to spread to any fencing, shrubbery, property, anything like that.
11:28Whether it's keeping reflective surfaces away from windows, disposing of cigarettes and litter properly,
11:32or something as simple as closing the door closest to your kitchen, there's many ways to stay safe in the heat.
11:38Finn McDermott for KMTV in Rochester.
11:41Time for a quick break now, but coming up, the Olympics.
11:44Can Kent keep striking gold?
11:46Bartholomew Hall catches up with Olympic champion and rower from Pembury, Emily Craig.
11:51See you in a minute.
12:16.
12:46.
13:16.
13:46.
14:16.
14:46.
14:47.
14:48.
15:13Hello and welcome back to Kentonite, live on KMTV.
15:16Now, a man has been charged after his car ploughed through the front window of the historic Watt Tyler pub in Dartford High Street.
15:23Richard Ojove, lands down the street in Hampshire, was taken to hospital for medical attention
15:28and was later arrested and charged with drink driving after his black Mini crashed into the front window of the pub.
15:34You can see the damage on the screen there.
15:36The 44-year-old was bailed and is expected to appear at Medway Magistrates Court on the 19th of September.
15:42Next tonight, a mother from Whitstable gave birth to her second daughter on the hard shoulder of the M2.
15:49Izzy Farrell and her partner Christian Guthrie welcomed their newborn daughter, Aura, into the world
15:54with Christian tying off the umbilical cord with his shoelace.
15:58And after just 13 hours after her first contraction, the family were actually back on the motorway, but on their way home this time.
16:05Izzy said it wasn't how they planned the birth to go, but they've got a great story to tell
16:10and you can see a happy, healthy baby at the end of it, and a couple of signs to remember too.
16:16Now to the Olympics, and it's been full steam ahead as the Games enter into their second full week
16:22and Kent watches on in anticipation with more gold medal opportunities to come for our athletes.
16:28With two already set to return to the county, our sports reporter Bartholomew is here
16:32and you've been speaking to one of them who's earned her place for sure.
16:36Absolutely, and as you say there, we're really lucky here in the county aren't we, to have two gold medalists.
16:41Obviously we spoke with Nathan Howes last week, this week we've been able to sit down and speak with Emily Craig.
16:48Still in Paris, still celebrating after that win on Friday, and it was a real emotional time for her.
16:54Anybody who might have caught her win on TV with her teammate Imogen Grant
17:00would have seen just how emotional she got when she was given that gold medal.
17:04The tears that came down, because with that, it's such a weighted moment for her.
17:08Three years ago at Tokyo 2020, she lost out, her and her partner missed out on a medal by just a tenth of a second.
17:16So going through those three years was such a monumental task for them,
17:20because not only was that hanging over their head, but they were winning everything they were doing.
17:24So it was kind of like, how have they not won the Olympic medal yet?
17:28That's the bittersweet theme that carries throughout the Olympics, we saw in the men's 100 metres as well.
17:34Of course, that was such a close one last night, lots of people watching on with that.
17:38We've had lots of success in rowing as well, for Team GB as a whole.
17:43We saw earlier in the games as well, that really close finish with the women's four against the Netherlands two.
17:49It's been an exciting game, everybody's been so enthralled with it.
17:52But for Emily and Imogen, they are now the perpetual champions in the women's lightweight double skulls,
17:58because the event's no longer going to be in the Olympics.
18:01So I spoke with Emily about how she feels about the event being removed,
18:04but at the same time, being able to have that title of the forever champions.
18:09It still feels quite a lot like a dream.
18:12Certainly, I mean, immediately afterwards, there was kind of no time to take stock and let it sink in.
18:20I think I had about two hours of sleep on Friday night, and most of which was spent lying there,
18:25being like, oh my God, it happened.
18:28But I think as the days go on, it's kind of sinking in a bit more, kind of relaxing into it,
18:33and really just appreciating how amazing the experience is,
18:38and how just incredible this entire Olympic experience has been.
18:42It was the culmination of three years of really hard work,
18:46and I think it's easy to look at the track record of being unbeaten and think that it was easy.
18:52But I mean, as a crew, we've had our ups and downs, even right up to that final.
19:00And we've both kind of come through some stuff behind the scenes, and I think handled it really well.
19:06So crossing the line was just, yeah, not so much relief,
19:12but just, yeah, almost disbelief that we actually managed to do it and pull it off.
19:17And yeah, it was incredible.
19:18Yeah, I think what was really, really helpful was coming back into a new program with new head coach, Andrew Randall.
19:25His training program has been pretty insane.
19:30There's been days where I've looked at it and been like, I can't do that.
19:34And then somehow, somehow you do do it and you get faster, you get stronger.
19:39I hope hundreds and thousands of people are inspired to get out on the water because rowing is a really incredible sport.
19:46For me, one of the best things about it is just the sense of community.
19:50And I think you get that at a club level and then even right up to being part of the squad, seeing the success.
19:57It's been incredible being part of this team.
19:59And from the moment the women's quad crossed the line and got that gold,
20:03all the way through to watching the women's eight get that bronze,
20:06it's just, yeah, it's been such a privilege to be a part of something that's been so historic.
20:12Incredible stuff there. And you can watch the rest of that interview on Invicta Sport just after the break.
20:17But onto the rest of today's sports news.
20:19And Kent Cricket's winning run in the One Day Cup came to an abrupt end as they lost by five wickets against Middlesex at Beckenham on Sunday.
20:26After being bowled out for 204 in less than 45 overs,
20:31Kent saw the visitors fly past the target set inside 32 overs with just five wickets lost.
20:36The result leaves Kent middle of the group A table with four wins under them and just as many points off the top spot.
20:43The Spitfires will next face Worcestershire on Wednesday.
20:47Interim head coach Mark Decker told the press afterwards it's important the team don't lose their momentum now.
20:53You know, you have this idea, look, I'd like to win our five games early and then everything's in the bag.
20:58But sport's not like that.
20:59You know, every other team's trying to win. They've got their agendas.
21:02You know, Middlesex upset us on our agenda today, which is absolutely fine.
21:07It's always easy after you win a game to get excited.
21:10But I think it's when you lose a game, can you keep that the same qualities that you speak about when you're winning?
21:17I think that that's absolutely key.
21:19We've got that emotional control win or lose as coaching staff and I suppose as players.
21:25Next up, Dover's ASPA team racer Jake Dixon says that it's a dream come true
21:30after winning the Moto2 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday.
21:34After starting in fifth place, Dixon moved up to second by the second lap.
21:39And after a dramatic final lap, Dixon was able to cross the chequered flag in first place
21:43by less than two tenths of a second to beat Spain's Aaron Canett.
21:47He currently stands on 78 points in the championship and is back in action in Austria on August the 16th.
21:55Over to some football now.
21:56Gillingham F.C.'s manager Mark Bonner has not ruled out the possibility of more new signings for the club.
22:01During the transfer window, the Gilles have added lots of attacking firepower up top
22:05with Marcus Wylie, Jacob Wakeling and Elliot Nevitt.
22:09But Bonner says that it is up to the owners if they want to bring in any more players before the window ends.
22:14Gillingham have now completed their pre-season and will begin their quest for promotion
22:18out of League Two at home against Carlisle on Saturday the 10th of August.
22:23And we'll have plenty more on the Gilles' last leg of the tournament,
22:26of the pre-season rather, in Invicta Sport after the break.
22:29A really interesting match against Woking.
22:31Lots to come. Bartholomew, thank you very much.
22:34Now let's take a very quick look at the weather.
22:43Well this evening is looking to be a clear evening this evening.
22:46Mild across the county, lows of 15 down in Tambridge Wells, highs of 17 elsewhere.
22:50Tomorrow morning, some sunshine staying dry, bringing in some cloud too.
22:54Highs of 24, lows of 20 in Dover.
22:56By the afternoon, warming up to 25, a little bit of wind too.
23:00Some sunshine and cloud.
23:02And here's your outlook for Kent too.
23:04Wednesday much of the same, Thursday cloudy, Friday 25.
23:08And finally this evening, Medway Culture Club have hosted their fourth annual carnival
23:12at Gillingham's Woodlands Youth Centre.
23:14The celebration, which promotes diversity, showcased parades, steel-pan bands
23:19and creative and colourful arts and crafts.
23:22But this year, the message was to give something back while bringing the carnival to Kent.
23:27The community raised £10,000 for the event,
23:30which was a great way to show support for the community.
23:33This year, the message was to give something back while bringing the carnival to Kent.
23:37The community raised money for Survivors of Hurricane Beryl,
23:40which has hit parts of the Caribbean last month.
23:43Well, Henry Luck was there.
23:45The Medway Culture Carnival brings the magic of the Caribbean to Kent,
23:50showcasing community spirit and heritage through parades, music, games and food.
23:57Organised by the volunteer-led Medway Culture Club,
24:01the team have the honour of being one of the Mayor of Medway's chosen charities this year.
24:07Events like this are very important to send a strong, positive message
24:12to the handful of people who want to hold the UK back.
24:16Over the last week, we've seen what hate can do,
24:20and that battling hate with hate never works.
24:24Democracy is precious, and we must do everything we can to protect it.
24:30Seeing all the children play together, have fun together,
24:34gives me hope for a brighter future where love will always triumph over hate.
24:41Money raised from the celebration will be going towards Survivors of Hurricane Beryl,
24:46which devastated parts of the Caribbean in July.
24:50We're also raising money today for the Hurricane Beryl relief,
24:55which is close to some of our hearts as our parents and our heritage lies in the Caribbean,
25:00and our hearts really go out to those who suffered that hurricane earlier on in July.
25:06Dozens of people came out to show their support
25:09and took part in two successful parades in the park opposite the centre.
25:14Luckily, it didn't rain this time.
25:17It's important that people recognise that there are different cultures,
25:21and we should be participating in all of the various events.
25:25There are lots of things to do. There's a holiday, there's food, there's park games.
25:30What else? What can I wish for more?
25:33Yeah, it's amazing. It's so good to see so many different cultures and backgrounds being celebrated,
25:39coming together across Medway. Yeah, so far so good.
25:42With its fifth anniversary coming up next year,
25:46there are hopes to transform the carnival into Medway's very own Notting Hill.
25:51Now it's time to enjoy a Caribbean staple, jerk chicken.
25:57Mmm. Delicious.
26:00Henry Luck for KMTV in Medway.
26:05Always a lovely annual celebration here in Medway.
26:08Well, you've been watching Kent Tonight live here on KMTV.
26:11There's of course more news made just for Kent throughout the evening,
26:14and Invictus Sport will be back after this very short break.
26:17But in the meantime, you can keep up to date with all your latest news across your county
26:21by logging on to our website. It's kmtv.co.uk.
26:24You can also keep us on all your social timelines on X, Instagram, TikTok.
26:28We're on them all, and on Facebook too.
26:30And if you think you have a story we should be covering, then please do get in touch.
26:33But don't go far. We have another brand new episode of Invictus Sport
26:37and some very special gold medalist guests on the programme.
26:41See you in a few minutes.
26:44INVICTUS SPORT
26:47INVICTUS SPORT
26:50INVICTUS SPORT
26:53INVICTUS SPORT
26:56INVICTUS SPORT
26:59INVICTUS SPORT
27:02INVICTUS SPORT
27:05INVICTUS SPORT
27:08INVICTUS SPORT
27:11INVICTUS SPORT
27:14INVICTUS SPORT
27:17INVICTUS SPORT
27:20INVICTUS SPORT
27:23INVICTUS SPORT
27:26INVICTUS SPORT
27:29INVICTUS SPORT
27:32INVICTUS SPORT
27:35INVICTUS SPORT