October 1, 2025 – Page 2

Bearcat spotted as police operation unfolds in manhunt for accused cop killer

A police operation is under way in a regional Victorian town as part of the continued manhunt for accused cop killer Dezi Freeman.

Victoria Police confirmed a number of police and specialist resources are currently in Benalla, located around 103 kilometres from Porepunkah, for a planned operation.

Bearcat and police officers were seen in Benalla and the nearby town of Goomalibee.

"There is no immediate risk to community safety and further information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so," a police spokesperson said.

"This forms part of the ongoing investigation in the Porepunkah area in the search for Desmond Freeman."

There has been no official sighting of Freeman since he allegedly gunned down police officers Neal Thompson, 59, and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 34, on August 26.

Police on Monday confirmed the number of officers on the ground in Porepunkah and surrounding regions had been scaled back since the shooting over a month ago.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said over 200 officers were still in the area, marking less than half the amount of authorities that were combing the area for Freeman weeks ago.

Bush provided an update on the hunt during a memorial for fallen officers in Melbourne, where he said police officers around the country are still "hurting".

"At the height we had nearly 500 officers up there conducting the search, investigating and providing reassurance to the community," Bush said.

"At the moment, we have in excess of 200 officers there.

"We will continue to rotate police officers through there, a) conducting searches, b) continuing the investigation and c) providing reassurance to the community who needs it."

Bush said police have so far searched 40-square-kilometre area by foot and air to find Freeman.

The month-long search has involved mineshafts, caves, huts and properties in Porepunkah and surrounding regions.

"It's extremely challenging. We have to often revisit things we've already searched to make sure we haven't missed anything," Bush added.

"And we will not give up until we find that person."

A $1 million reward for any information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible remains on offer.

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M25 closure after serious accident near Heathrow airport

Following a serious collision the #M25 clockwise is closed within J14 #Heathrow to allow @MPSRTPC @SurreyFRS & @SECAmbulance to work at scene Traffic is being diverted via the exit & entry slip roads in an "up & over" closure — Traffic is being diverted via the exit and entry slip roads (Picture: National Highways)

The M25 has closed clockwise following a serious crash between a car and a lorry cutting off access to Heathrow Airport.

All four lanes within J14 A3113 Airport Way were forced to close just before 5am.

A man has been taken to hospital after being rescued by firefighters.

It is expected they won’t reopen until midday.

The Metropolitan Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service are all at the scene.

Drivers are being diverted through exit sliproads, but queues remain as long as 60 minutes.

Surrey Fire and Rescue said: ‘The carriageway remains closed clockwise at junction 14 with motorists being diverted via the slip roads.

Following a serious collision the #M25 clockwise is closed within J14 #Heathrow to allow @MPSRTPC @SurreyFRS & @SECAmbulance to work at sceneTraffic is being diverted via the exit & entry slip roads in an "up & over" closure@HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/Z43Rzp4bwv

— National Highways: East (@HighwaysEAST) October 1, 2025

‘National Highways is providing traffic updates.

‘The Brigade was called at 0441 and firefighters from Hayes Fire Station, along with Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, attended the scene.

‘The Brigade left the scene by 0623, with the incident left in the care of the Metropolitan Police and National Highways.’

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'I wish I had died': Girl reveals suffering after truck crashes into school bus

A young girl has described wishing she had died instead of suffering a crippling foot injury, as a truck driver faced court for ploughing into her school bus.

"I am very glad I'm alive, but then none of my pain, or my suffering would be here," the girl, who cannot be identified, told a Melbourne court between tears.

"I'm so tired of it and I wish I had died."

The truck driver who caused her debilitating injuries did not face the girl, nor any of his 35 victims in court today, at a County Court pre-sentence hearing.

Brett Michael Russell, 63, appeared by video link from prison, crossing his arms and appearing emotionless as he pleaded guilty to 12 charges including negligently causing serious injury.

He was driving a prime mover truck towing two trailers – all of which had defective brakes – from northwest Victoria to Melbourne when he collided with the Loreto College Ballarat bus in 2022.

Russell, prosecutors say, knew all of the brakes were faulty but drove the truck anyway.

About 3.16am on September 21, the truck hurled into oncoming traffic and collided with the bus, which had 32 passengers on board including 27 school students, on the Western Freeway.

The group were on their way to Melbourne Airport for the trip of a lifetime to NASA camp in the US.

Russell's truck hit the back of the bus, which had slowed for traffic management and was pushed through a roadside barrier, down a steep embankment and then rolled several times.

Three passengers were ejected from the bus and the rest were trapped inside, with traffic management workers rushing to their rescue before emergency services arrived.

Russell pleaded guilty to 10 counts of negligently causing serious injury to seven students, whose ages ranged from 14 to 18, and three staff including Suzanne Fraser, 52, and Narelle Mulrooney, 49.

He also pleaded guilty to reckless conduct related to driving the B-double truck while knowing the truck and trailers' brakes were defective, placing the bus driver, Wayne Orr, who is yet to return to full-time work, and 21 other passengers in danger of serious injury.

Russell further admitted a 12th charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury relating to three roadside workers – Liam Ryan, Brendan Morris and Rodothea Kalisperis.

About 50 people are attending today's hearing, including victims and their loved ones, with many of them due to read out statements on how the crash impacted them.

A 15-year-old girl described in her darkest moments wishing she had died in the crash, so that she did not have to suffer from extreme pain in her leg and foot after undergoing several surgeries.

"I don't want a funky-looking leg, I want a normal leg," she told the court.

"I just want to be like everyone else."

Russell admitted to police when he was interviewed about the crash that he knew there was a risk in towing two trailers and driving a truck with defective brakes.

"Yes. And I still took the risk," he told police, prosecutor Jim Shaw told the court.

Shaw said Russell breached his duty of care by being criminally negligent and fell greatly short of the standard of care a reasonable person would have exercised in continuing to drive the truck.

"He knew that he would be driving on parts of the road which had steep descents that would be difficult to navigate with brakes that did not work," the prosecutor said.

"He also knew the risks to other road users if he were unable to stop the truck."

The pre-sentence hearing continues this afternoon.

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E-bike fires set to reach record highs in London after four killed – here’s why

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London is burning from e-bike fires caused by faulty batteries and chargers – and more people are at risk of being killed.

Some 165 fires involved the vehicles in 2025 up to September 28, averaging about 18 per month.

If this rate continues, London will surpass 200 incidents in a single year for the first time, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

Four people have died from e-bike fires in the capital, none of whom used or owned the vehicle.

Sofia Duarte, 21, was at her boyfriend’s flat on Old Kent Road after they finished a New Year’s Eve shift at a nightclub in 2024 when an e-bike near the building’s front door suddenly exploded while charging.

Photo of Sofia Duarte who died in a fire caused by an e-bike. See SWNS story SWMRebike. A heartbroken mother has begged people to beware of the dangers of e-bikes after her daughter died in fire caused by one of the modified vehicles. Sofia Duarte, 21, died on New Year?s Day after a converted e-bike battery burst into flames in the entrance of her flat, blocking the fire escape routes. Fire investigators found the bicycle had been converted into an e-bike and its lithium battery pack failed 'catastrophically', causing the blaze at Sofia's home in Bermondsey, south east London. So far this year on average, London Fire Brigade has been called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire once every two days. — Sofia Duarte died in a fire caused by an e-bike on New Year’s Day in London (Picture: London Fire Brigade/SWNS)

The E-bike that caused the fire at Old Kent Road. See SWNS story SWMRfire. The grieving mum of a model killed in a New Year's Day battery fire has made it her "only purpose" to use the tragedy to toughen up e-bike laws. Sofia Duarte, 21, died when a blaze caused by a converted e-bike battery ripped through a flat block in southeast London. She had been staying at her boyfriend's in Bermondsey and was awoken by a fire alarm, but couldn't find her way out of the building as the flames spread. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) says Portuguese-born Sofia was the first person to die in the city as a result of an e-bike fire. — The E-bike that caused the fire at Old Kent Road.

A second e-bike nearby then also exploded and the fire spread through the home, trapping her inside.

‘She was the first person to die in London in a fire caused by an e-bike in , and the pain has only gotten worse,’ family friend Alda Simoes told Metro.

‘Her mum is getting worse day-by-day. All the anniversaries and holidays which are being celebrated without her daughter, it is becoming too much.’

Why do e-bikes catch fire so easily?

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Fires involving lithium batteries – which are used for e-bikes and e-scooters – can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour, LFB said.

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Batteries, chargers and e-bike conversion kits bought from online marketplaces are at greater risk of malfunctioning because they have not been subject to the same level of regulation as high street shops, LFB added.

Most recently Eden Abera Siem, 30, died in hospital after a fire broke out at her home on Lordship Lane, Wood Green, on June 21 due to a faulty battery.

Mark Reece, an e-bike safety expert at Rev Monkey, told Metro: ‘The rise in fire incidents is largely tied to poorly manufactured or unregulated batteries, often found in off-brand, counterfeit bikes or heavily modified setups, that are flooding the UK streets.

‘E-bikes are the future, but only when safety is prioritised through buying from a legitimate, trusted e-bike supplier.’

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 Undated handout photo issued by London Fire Brigade (LFB) of an E-bike fire in Woolwich. Fire from e-bikes and e-scooters are on course to reach an all-time high in London this year, new analysis shows. LFB said it has recorded 165 fires involving the vehicles in 2025 up to September 28. That is an average of about 18 per month. Issue date: Wednesday October 1, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: LFB/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — The aftermath of an e-bike fire in Woolwich (Picture: LFB/PA Wire)

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 Undated handout photo issued by London Fire Brigade (LFB) of an E-bike fire in Harefield. Fire from e-bikes and e-scooters are on course to reach an all-time high in London this year, new analysis shows. LFB said it has recorded 165 fires involving the vehicles in 2025 up to September 28. That is an average of about 18 per month. Issue date: Wednesday October 1, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: LFB/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — The LFB said gig economy companies should do more to raise awareness about fire risks from e-bikes (Picture: LFB/PA Wire)

What can be done to help prevent e-bike fires?

A petition, created in tribute to Sofia Duarte by her mother Maria and family friend Alda Simoes, resulted in a ban on all non-foldable e-bikes on most of Transport for London’s services.

Ms Simoes said: ‘We had to channel our energy somehow. Sofia did not die in vain. Her death will prevent others.’

In February an e-bike exploded on a London Underground platform at Rayners Lane and in April last year an e-bike exploded at Sutton Station.

The LFB said gig economy companies should do more to raise awareness about fire risks from e-bikes.

It wrote to delivery companies Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo this week to ask them to share safety advice with their riders.

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 Undated handout photo issued by London Fire Brigade (LFB) of an E-bike fire damage. Fire from e-bikes and e-scooters are on course to reach an all-time high in London this year, new analysis shows. LFB said it has recorded 165 fires involving the vehicles in 2025 up to September 28. That is an average of about 18 per month. Issue date: Wednesday October 1, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: LFB/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Four people have died from e-bike fires in the capital, none of whom used or owned the vehicle (Picture: LFB/PA Wire)

In October last year the Department for Business and Trade launched a campaign calling on people to buy only safe electrical products from reputable sellers.

Pamela Oparaocha, LFB’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, said: ‘We continue to see the devastating consequences of e-bike and e-scooter fires in London.

‘Our thoughts are with the family of Eden as well as all those who have been impacted by fires in recent years.

‘Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are worryingly common in London.

‘Since the beginning of 2023, we have attended a fire, on average, every other day, and some of these fires have destroyed homes and claimed lives.’

How to choose and own a safe e-bike

Mark Reece, e-bike safety expert at Rev Monkey said: ‘Choosing a well-tested bike manufacturer and a legitimate seller is vital.

‘Bike fans can ensure their bike meets safety standards and that their bike is UK-tested by ensuring the bike is CE tested and contains a CE-marked aluminium tag on their delivered product before using.’

CE testing means the product has met relevant European health, safety, and environmental standards.

Brands which meet international safety standards on their batteries undergo a more rigorous testing procedure and quality control.

Using the original charger is also a simple way to reduce the risk of explosion.

Mr Reece said: ‘When buying an e-bike, look out for high-quality lithium-ion battery packs designed with multiple layers of protection against overcharging, short circuits, and thermal runaway.

‘Check the information about the Battery Management Systems (BMS), ensuring the battery operates within safe limits even under heavy use.

‘Like any electronic product, always use the original charger, inspect your device regularly, and avoid charging near flammable materials.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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'Deeply scared' woman interrupts treasurer's press conference with plea

A local resident interrupted Treasurer Jim Chalmers' press conference in Queensland to ask the government for help following a "horrific" attack on her home.

Chalmers was speaking at a media conference in the Brisbane suburb of Logan when a woman, later identified as Anoushka Arro, said she had a plea for the state's Minister for Housing Sam O'Connor.

"I recently have been the victim of an absolutely horrific, catastrophic event at my home, where the front gate was ripped off of my property onto the road," she said.

"I live in fear. I have emailed him. I have tried to get some sort of resolve for the situation I am living under.

"I have counsel who are now assisting [me] but I am not being given anything from the state government."

Arro, who previously ran as a Logan City Council candidate, claimed tenants of public housing on her street have been harassing her.

She told Chalmers she can't leave her home because she is so "deeply scared".

"I want something addressed. I am shaking because I am so fearful and scared," she added.

"I can't leave my home, this person has a network of hoons, who drive past my house."

Chalmers said he was sorry to hear the woman was going through a difficult time.

He asked for a private conversation to discuss the matter and said he would involve local MP for Nudgee Leanne Linard.

"What we'll arrange is, if we can have a private conversation and get your details, if Leanne (Linard) is your state member, we'll make sure that Leanne makes that representation to Minister O'Connor's office in the Crisafulli government, and we'll follow that up for you," he said.

"We're so sorry you are going through this very traumatic period and we will do what we can to represent you and represent your interests.

"Thank you for raising it with us."

After Chalmers responded to a question from a journalist, the woman was seen shaking and crying.

The treasurer was speaking in Brisbane about a pay bump for aged care workers.

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