Metropolitan Police

A London jury convicted comedian and actor Russell Brand, 51, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court on 5 Nov. The jury acquitted him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault after more than eight hours of deliberation over two days. The charges relate to incidents between 1999 and 2009. Judge Joel Bennathan rejected bail and remanded Brand in custody, and he will be sentenced on Monday, 9 Nov. Police say Brand remains under investigation for two other alleged rapes. Brand has denied the allegations.

Bomb threats hit at least 27 passenger flights across Europe on Thursday, 5 Nov, the second such wave this week. Airlines including Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus and LOT confirmed affected services. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome carrying 151 passengers and six crew was diverted to Évreux military air base in western France; all aboard are safe. Three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia made emergency landings in Bulgaria. Inspections so far have found no explosives or hazardous materials. More than 20 alerts were reported this week, with source and motive unknown.

Police in London detained either 139 or 325 demonstrators outside the U.S. Embassy on 31 Oct for expressing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action, according to differing reports. The protest, organised by Defend Our Juries, featured retirees and other participants holding signs opposing genocide. The U.K. banned the group in 2025, making support punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Police Scotland investigated a separate demonstration at the U.S. Consulate in Edinburgh but made no arrests. A Supreme Court hearing on the ban is scheduled for 4 Nov.