Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Five 20170101

The year long arts festival. And in half an hour, i will be looking back at the past 12 months for the royal family, dominated by the celebrations to mark the queens 90th birthday, thats review 2016 the royal year with me, daniela relph. Good evening and welcome to bbc news. A huge Police Operation is under way in istanbul to find a gunman who shot dead 39 people at a nightclub. The man opened fire at the reina club at around half past one in the morning local time. Dozens of injured remain in hospital. 15 foreigners from israel, saudi arabia and morocco were among the dead. Our turkey correspondent selin girit has sent this report. We are only seconds away from a new year. One of the most famous nightclubs in istanbul, reina, packed with a jubilant crowd, ready to welcome in the new year. Five, four, three, two. They are counting down to what they hope will be a fresh new start. But then this happens. A man armed with a Long Barrelled Weapon Opens Fire outside the venue. He kills a policeman and another civilian as he rushes his way in. The club immediately turns into the scene of a massacre, as the Attacker Fires on the people partying inside. Dozens are killed and wounded. Survivors still in shock of what they have been through. Translation i had my back turned. My husband suddenly told me to get on the floor. A man ran inside, two or three people started firing, and then there was this fog. I fainted at that moment until Special Forces took us out of there. They shot randomly. There were bodies lying on the floor. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and authorities did not name any suspects. This man was a Security Guard at the club last night. He said he heard gunfire and ran away. Everyone is nervous at the moment, he said. The attacker still remains at large. Translation the Security Forces say the assailant was alone, rather than there being many attackers. He was wearing a jacket and trousers when he opened fire, but there is separate information that he tried to leave wearing a different set of clothes. The Nightclub Area remains sealed off this morning. Heavily armed police block the street leading to reina club. Crime scene investigators were inside searching for evidence. This is as close as we can get to the scene of the attack that shook istanbul last night. In a span of 18 months, more than 500 people have been killed in this country in similar attacks. Now, civilians got hit on a night of hope and joy. This already feels like it is going to be yet another difficult year for this country. Turkey faces the Islamic State threat, a renewed conflict with the kurdish rebels in the south east and across the border in syria and iraq, and big cities like istanbulfeel increasingly vulnerable these days. Earlier, i spoke with irem koker from the bbcs turkish service. Recently, the Prime Minister has made a statement. And he said the gunman, he left his weapons at the scene, and fled by taking advantage of the chaotic situation. So he implied that the Turkish Police are looking for an unarmed attacker. Still we dont have any information about his identity. And what we know so far, its a single gunman. And he fled the scene, and the manhunt is still under way. And the motivations for this attack . What are the thoughts on that . We still dont know. But in local media, the turkish media, there are reports that the officials, the authorities, they are focusing on the potential of a so called Islamic State inspired attack. But they do not rule out al nusra or alqaeda connections as well. Its interesting you were saying to me that one dimension thats coming out in the Media Coverage as well is that there isnt a sense of the country coming together, united in condemnation of this, in the way there has been for other attacks like paris, berlin etc. The Turkish Society has been highly polarised. Before the new years, we had seen some campaigns by the conservatives urging people not to celebrate the new year, or christmas, because it is not compatible with the islamic values. But the seculars also, they celebrate the new years every year. So in that sense, some people, the conservatives, we see they blame, they blame those who went to this nightclub just to have fun, they say this attack happened because these people went there. And the seculars, or the other group, they say it is a result of an increasing conservatism in Turkish Society. So, are terrorists exploiting this division . Why are we seeing attacks happening like this in turkey . You know, turkey is located in one of the hotspots in the world. And its not only the islamic militants, which is a spill over from the syrian civil war, which is right next door. And its also, it has been a target of kurdish militants. So there are many groups that Target Turkey for various reasons. And it might be, it might be true to say they are exploiting this polarisation and these divisions between the Turkish Society. Friends and family have paid Tribute Toa12 friends and family have paid tribute to a 12 euros girl who was killed in a hit and run incident in greater manchester. Helina kotlarova. Seen on the left, was crossing the road Holding Hands with her 11 year old cousin when they were hit by a car last night in oldham. Her cousin, zaneta krokova, seen here on the right, is in a Critical Condition in hospital. Police want to trace the driver of a black volkswagen golf. A short while ago, the sister of the dead girl spoke to the bbc and recounted what she witnessed last night when her sister was struck. They went to the shop. And when they came back, they were crossing the road. They were holding their hands together. And when they were crossing the road, the car was, like, driving too fast and he just crashed. Smashed into them. Yeah. When we went there, we were running, she was on the floor and she had blood over her face. I was touching her, seeing if she was going to breathe or something, but she couldnt breathe or nothing. And ive seen herface. It was all bleeding. There was nothing to do. Its just hard to believe that shes gone. Because she was too young, you know. She still had her life. She liked dancing. Listening to songs, singing. Shes always singing. She likes spending time with the family. Thats what she does. Sto s to kotla rova. Earlier i spoke to our reporter danni hewson, and asked her for the latest updates. At the moment the police are saying very little about this investigation. We do understand that they have had a meeting in the last hour, and we are expecting some kind of update from them later on this afternoon. Obviously they have put out an appeal for information about the vw golf, and for the driver to come forward. And we have had a steady Police Presence here at the scene all day, with many people knocking on doors, asking for information about this incident last night. And what do we know about how 11 year old zaneta is doing in hospital . Well, we understand that she is in a Critical Condition, and we do understand that she is incredibly poorly indeed. Obviously this was a tragic incident that happened last night. We understand that the girls had just popped to the shop over the road to get some crisps. It is an incredibly busy road here. We have seen people dashing backwards and forwards, despite the fact that there is a crossing just a few yards up the road behind me. We do understand that they were crossing the road, that they had sisters and cousins with them who had crossed ahead of time, but that they had crossed separately, and obviously met with tragic circumstances. And what have people in the local area been saying to you . Well obviously weve already seen a great number of people coming to deliver floral tributes. Some lovely words about the family. Many people saying that theyjust cant believe that the 12 year old had lost her life, that she simply died far too young. Everybody is absolutely shocked by what happened here last night. Ahead of what was supposed to be a celebration, a new years eve party, heralding in 2017. Now ended in tragedy. Thank you, danni hewson in oldham. The queen missed the new years Day Church Service in sandringham this morning because of a lingering heavy cold. She was also absent from the Christmas Day service at her norfolk estate because she was unwell. Buckingham palace says the queen has been up and about in recent days, but is still recuperating, as our royal correspondent peter hunt reports. For a second time during the holiday season, the royals headed to church. For a second time, the queen was a notable absentee. Her 95 year old husband, whos also been ill, did attend. And was described by one observer as chipper. Protected from the rain, princess and said that her mother was ok. During these security conscious times, the windsors over christmas are an attraction for the dedicated. Who, despite the weather, gather outside the sandringham church. Once again, the 90 year old monarch was not on display. A little bit disappointed, because the queen wasnt there. But that is understandable at 90 years of age. Shes in the best place, and i wish her all the best for 2017. Obviously if shes not well then you dont want to see her come out in this weather, you know. At christmas, our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby some 2000 years ago. The queen, who recorded her Christmas Day message early in december, will not have taken the decision to miss church lightly. The supreme governor of the Church Of England has a deep personalfaith. But in her tenth decade, and on the advice of her doctor, the monarch is exercising caution in the face of a heavy cold shes had for nearly two weeks. The queen has been laid low and left feeling pretty miserable at the end of yet another significant year in her long reign. As well as celebrating her landmark birthday, shes started to acknowledge her advancing age and reduce her workload. Just last month, the queen severed her links to 25 organisations shed been patron of for decades. Palace officials insist the queen is up and about, and she hasnt been to hospital or had tests. As head of state, she continues to deal with the government documents she receives. The queen is clearly doing all she can to get rid of a lingering cold, rather than make it worse. Peter hunt, bbc news, buckingham palace. Five people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man died in a fall at flats in east sussex early this morning. The victim fell through a Utility Room Ceiling at a flat in st leonards on sea, Near Hastings in the early hours of the morning. Theresa may has called for 2017 to be a year of unity and opportunity following the Eu Referendum, which she says has exposed the divisions in britain. In her new year message, the Prime Minister said she would work to secure a brexit deal for everyone, whether theyd voted to leave or remain. We are no longer the 52 who voted leave and the 48 who voted remain, but one great union of people and nations, with a proud history and a bright future. Earlier, i spoke to our Political Correspondent chris mason and asked him how easy it would be for theresa may to bring the country together. Any Prime Minister is going to want to badge themselves as standing for unity, for being the personification of the country they lead. And yet on this subject of brexit, the theme that dominated her new years message and will dominate her time as Prime Minister, there are divisions everywhere you look. Theres divisions in society, the big numbers, the trade off between the 52 and 48 . Divisions geographically. The First Minister of scotland is going to be constantly making the argument that there was a very different result north of the border, as there was in northern ireland. There are divisions within the conservative party, and within the labour party as well. The shadow brexit secretary keir starmer is saying today that he thinks there does have to be some sort of Immigration Controls imposed as part of the deal. Jeremy corbyn has sounded much more liberal around immigration. From the Prime Ministers perspective, the real slog of the Nitty Gritty Of Brexit is what 2017 is going to be all about. The triggering of so called article 50 within the next couple of months. And then the whole business of a long, long, long negotiation. Shes optimistic there can be a good outcome to that, but it will take time. The continuing fight against terrorism is going to be another big story of 2017. The security minister ben wallace has been talking about so called Islamic State having an aspiration to use Chemical Weapons in the uk. We have been talking over new year about the enhanced security around the new year celebrations, thinking about those Lorry Attacks in nice and berlin particularly. But these chemical attacks, thats what ben wallace is talking about. Yes, he is saying that isis have an aspiration to use Chemical Weapons within the uk. He says there is no moral objection from them to the use of Chemical Weapons. He points to the arrest of members of a terror cell in morocco last year, who were in possession of toxic chemicals that could have been used as weapons, as evidence that that aspiration is there. Hes also very concerned about what he calls The Enemy Within that Terror Groups and foreign governments hiring people who work within government or businesses in the uk to try and undermine the uk from within. He also makes the point that as iss territory in the middle east shrinks, and that is seen by many of its enemies as a good thing, those britons who have gone out there to fight for is may want to return home, and could pose a real threat to us here if they manage to get back in. Chris mason. It is 16 minutes past five. The headlines on bbc news a manhunt is under way in turkey for the gunman responsible for killing at least 39 people in a packed istanbul nightclub. Police in oldham are looking for a hit and run driver who killed a 12 Year Old Girl and seriously injured her 11 year old cousin. The royal family have attended a new years Day Church Service in sandringham, but without the queen, who still has a heavy cold. The election of donald trump as the next president of the United States has thrown into doubt one of the obama administrations key Foreign Policy achievements the thaw with cuba. The Communist Run Island has slowly been opening up to the world since washington lifted strict travel and trade restrictions. Will grant reports from havana. When rock royalty the Rolling Stones played havana earlier this year, it was notjust a concert, it was history. What they achieved through music has been less easy for other parts of the uk economy, that is to break into cuba. While he was still in the job, Philip Hammond became the first uk Foreign Secretary to visit the island in an official capacity since the revolution in 1959. Now the chancellor of the exchequer, during the trip he signed a memorandum of understanding covering energy, finance and education and culture, Holding Talks with fidel castro. The great relationship is between cuba and United States, and the beginning of the thaw in the relationship, the beginning of a normalisation, making many things possible that have not been possible for decades. It makes Economic Development possible. Since that visit, britain has voted to leave the eu, as the reality of brexit beckons, uk companies are looking to latin america and the caribbean. Unilever, recently embroiled in a Brexit Argument over british Supermarket Prices cemented a deal on a £28 Million Investment outside havana. When the uk eventually leads the eu commits more common to find British Companies doing what unilever did, laying the first stone of a new factory on cuban soil. At the recent havana trade fair, the british products on display ranged from Financial Services to single malt whiskey. So will the future relationship with cuba remain fundamentally cultural or will bilateral trade begin to flourish . All of the above. You are right, cuba is not a huge market, an island of 11 Million People, a set of islands. We are a set of islands on the other side of the nation. There are some really unusual areas, those particular areas that fit. A jointly owned brazilian Cu Ban Country also broke ground on a cigarette factory. Brazil is a long standing partner for cheaper. If the United Kingdom hopes to compete with the likes of the South American Giant in a post brexit economy, it has a long way to go, both here and across the caribbean. Still, as the Communist Run Island slowly opens up, bilateral trade would be a start. In his new years speech, the north Korean Leader kimjong un said his country is in the final stages of developing long range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In a televised speech, he said north korea had soared as a Nuclear Power in 2016. Pyongyang has conducted two Nuclear Tests in the past year, triggering international sanctions. Reports from indonesia say at least 23 people have been killed after a ferry caught fire near the capital, jakarta. The vessel was carrying about 100 people to a Resort Island when the fire broke out. Its believed a short circuit on a Power Generator was responsible. The London Ambulance service says technical problems in the early hours of this morning meant staff in the control room were forced to log Emergency Calls by hand. The Computer Difficulties on what is usually the busiest night of the year meant that response times of hundreds of calls and treatment were delayed. Our Correspondentjon Ironmonger is at the London Ambulance Service Headquarters and has more details. Well, an investigation has been carried out into the cause of the technical problems which happened last night, as you say, from 12 30am. The Computer System is now back online, but it has been a troubled night, as you can imagine for staff working here. Who, in the face of great difficulty, had to cope with the huge amount of pressure, and inflated number of calls for members of the public. Im grateful to bejoined now by peter mckenna, who is the Deputy Director of operations here at London Ambulance service. Perhaps you can give us a better idea of the tackle what happened, peter . Im pleased to say that the service is up and running and has been running normally since 5 30am this morning. We did have some technical difficulties in the night, and we reverted back to using pen and paper. This is a system that our staff in the Control Rooms are well versed in and are trained in throughout the year. But it must have come as a shock to everybody working here when the Computer System suddenly went down, on what is historically the busiest night of the year for you. We had planned to have extra staff on duty. Knowing that it would be the busiest night of the year, we did have extra staff in. The staff are trained in dealing with issues such as this. We do fall back throughout the year and the running and pen and paper, and the staff are trained in dealing with that. Can the system work as effectively on pen and paper . Surely calls are lost in the process . It cant be as well organised as when it is on a computer. Obviously it will take longer to attend to some of these calls, but as always, we would prioritise our most seriously ill and critical patients to be seen first. Are you confident that all of the people, all of the Emergency Calls you received last night, all of the patients you attended to, received the best care, given the circumstances . We do have tests where we do move back to pen and paper. And the staff are trained in doing that. So the staff did do that overnight. Peter, tell me about what the mood was like in there when the Computer System went down . Was it a state of panic . The staff knew it was going to be a busy night. We had extra staff in to help us cope with that. And when the system would go down, we automatically move into a tried and tested system, and the staff automatically move over to working with pen and paper. Its not that long ago that weve got some staff in the room that that was the normal operating process. So there were some staff in the room that have worked in that system for many years. Just finally, its not the first time this Computer System has gone down. Is this a worry that it seems to happen a lot . We plan for all eventualities. One of the eventualities we do plan for is the system going down, which is why we automatically work and pen and paper. Jon ironmonger was talking to peter mckenna, Deputy Director of procedures for the London Ambulance service. Laws come into force today meaning that bankers, lawyers or advisers who help people evade tax will face much stiffer penalties. Anyone found guilty will be liable for the full amount of tax which went unpaid, or at least £3,000. Critics say that revenue and customs doesnt have the necessary resources to pursue offenders. From today, parents of babies born in some parts of scotland will receive a box of essentials, including clothes, nappies and books. The scottish governments scheme is being piloted for three months, before being extended to the rest of scotland in the summer. The box itself doubles up as a cot, and comes with a mattress and sheets. Baby boxes were introduced in finland in the 1930s and theyve been credited as part of the reason for a sharp fall in infant mortality rates. The archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, has urged people to use 2017 to heal divisions caused by the Eu Referendum. In his new year message, recorded in coventry, the leader of the Church Of England praised the efforts of refugees who have made their home in the uk. Our religious affairs correspondent, martin bashir, reports. Surrendering to the demands of television lighting, the archbishop of canterbury prepares to deliver his new years message in a familiar setting. Justin welby returned to coventry, the city where he started out as a clergyman. A city whose wartime suffering and forgiveness, he says, serves as an example to the nation. The story of this city says so much that is true about britain at its best about our courage, standing up to tyranny, how we stand alongside the suffering and defeated, how we stand for Human Dignity and hope. The archbishop visited a Drop In Centre for refugees, people he called a blessing to our way of life. And he drew his message to a close by focusing on an issue that has divided so many parts of the country. The Eu Referendum was a tough campaign, and it has left division. But i know that if we look at our roots, our history and our culture in the christian tradition, if we reach back into what is best in this country, we will find a path towards reconciling the differences that have divided us. From coventry to canterbury, the archbishop believes that looking back can only help us prepare for the future. Hull has started its year as the uk City Of Culture. £32 million has been spent on a year long programme. Eight city Centre Buildings are being turned into giant screens tonight to retail the citys history, and Colin Paterson is there for us. One of those screens is right behind me, that is the aquarium. It is summing up all of the people who have come and gone, that is the theme of that arrivals and departures scheme. Seven other screens around the city. Let me bring in two people who have come down for the fireworks, this is ron and elizabeth. How long have you lived in hull . 75 years. Some up what it being the City Of Culture means to you. It is so exciting. An believable. Unbelievable that we have got something of our own at long last. Why a long last . Because we are always at the end of the road, nobody thinks about hull, we cant even get the Road Extension everybody just shuts us cant even get the Road Extension everybodyjust shuts us off. The fireworks are taking place at 8. 17 pm toa fireworks are taking place at 8. 17 pm to a soundtrack of hulls greatest hit, and you have got here early and got the best seat in the house. Thats me absolutely in the front row. Couldnt be better. And for people who have never been to hull, you have spent 75 years here. Some up city. One of the most friendly places, and the people are so friendly places, and the people are so friendly. I spoke to a lady over there from america, and she has come to live here. She says she has tried most of yorkshire, and the rest of the country, and people here are so friendly. We are able to show some of the shots hit of what is going on in victoria square, another area where some of the most famous buildings of the city, the city hall there, the ferens art gallery, you can see the amazing light display. You seem really proud. Can see the amazing light display. You seem really proudlj can see the amazing light display. You seem really proud. I really am. We have struggled a little bit with tickets, we were not going to come because they said we havent got seats, and at the last minute, the council gave us tickets the seats, and we have got somewhere to come and we have got somewhere to come and sit. And finally, a Million People want to come to hull. Tell them why they should come. People want to come to hull. Tell them why they should comem people want to come to hull. Tell them why they should come. It is a welcome daughter everybody. We welcome daughter everybody. We welcome everybody now matter who they are, All Over The World come you are always welcome in hull. Ron and elizabeth have the best seats in the house, and the fireworks are at 8. 17 pm. Colin paterson, thank you very much. Lets now check out the very latest Weather Forecast with sarah keith lucas. It has been a mixed day with High Pressure dominating in the north west with dry weather, but we have a Weather Front lingering towards the south which has brought cloud and rain. Later this evening that will push away and we are left in clearer, colder conditions with the breeze coming in from the north north westerly direction. Some wintry showers in the far north. There could be slippery surfaces monday morning. As well as a widespread frost. In the north and north east on monday, still that breeze. It will feel colder than recently. The settled theme continues into the middle of the week and on tuesday and wednesday, mostly dry, some sunny spells. Hello