ITV Lunchtime News

The broadcast began with RAF Fairford, where the US Air Force withdrew all its bombers, with at least three planes landing in South Dakota yesterday and heavy aircraft seen taking off over the weekend; a Pentagon official said the move could not be confirmed in advance for security reasons, and the aircraft were redeployed amid reports of a new threat after a suspected terror plot eight days earlier, while Downing Street said the base was safe. Counter-terrorism police arrested a 25-year-old dual Iranian-UK national on suspicion of preparations of terrorism acts and released him on bail, making him the sixth man questioned after five men in their 20s from London were bailed last week; police are examining every angle, including whether the act was committed on behalf of another country, and the Prime Minister said there were strong indications Iran was linked, which Iran denies. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against Thames Valley Police to quash search warrants that led to his arrest; the former Duke of York was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office after Epstein files led to allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while UK trade envoy. Searches took place at Sandringham and Royal Lodge, he wants a judicial review arguing the warrants were not lawful, Thames Valley Police confirmed legal proceedings, and a High Court hearing is due Thursday, while he has denied wrongdoing.

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has been barred from entering Israel after party members voted by 1,022 to 813 to define Zionism as racist; Israel accused the Greens of legitimizing the destruction of the state with a clear anti-semitic text, the Chief Rabbi called the motion poisonous anti-semitism, and four of the five Green MPs publicly rejected it. At the Conservative Party Conference, the Shadow Chancellor was expected to set out economic policies including backing expansion of Heathrow and a third runway, while Kemi Badenoch sought to counter Reform UK and return the party to government, with the Tories polling behind Labour and Reform. Twelve people were arrested for offences including assaulting a police officer after a protest in Gosport over migrant arrivals on Sunday; four coaches reportedly carrying around 149 migrants were taken to a processing centre in Kent after a small boat crossed the English Channel and arrived in Hampshire, and more than 100 protesters gathered at the marina where there were scuffles, flares and pepper spray before the migrants left under heavy police escort. Spain's prime minister announced an early general election after congress voted against housing crisis measures, with protests over affordability and a snap election at the end of November, and local media reported a 15-year-old boy lost his hand during protests in France, where up to 500 schools remained closed in Paris over a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings.

The broadcast also examined the aftermath of the A66 wrong-way crash in which seven people died, including Cleveland Police officers Matthew Blades and Tom Clough and five young men; police have made 43 arrests and 14 charges in connection with the incident, which they say has significant links to serious organized crime involving feuding gangs, and a report looked at deprivation and unemployment in Middlesbrough, where Cleveland Police says it is struggling with crime and officers face hostility while receiving mutual aid from South Yorkshire. It was reported that money stolen through hacked social media accounts and emails rose by over 400% in the past year, to £6.3 million in the last financial year from £1.2 million in 2024 to 2025, and people were urged to use pass keys and biometrics; Jonny Stanton described his Instagram being hacked and used to scam followers with fake Oasis tickets, with people losing £400 to £500 each. Finally, April Jones, who was abandoned as a newborn in an East London phone box in 1994, was reunited with Jo Campbell, the man who found her and called 999, after they first reconnected 10 years ago; April set up a surprise fundraiser so Jo can retire early, and Jo, who had wanted to adopt her but was told he could not because he was not married, is described by April as having been a consistent father, with his children considered her brothers and sisters.