Plymouth gunman made YouTube 'Terminator' video before rampage


Soraya Ebrahimi
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The man who shot dead five people before killing himself in Britain's worst mass shooting for more than a decade likened himself to The Terminator in a YouTube video weeks before the massacre.

Jake Davison, 22, who according to his Facebook profile worked for a defence and security company, described himself as a socially isolated incel, or 'involuntary celibate'. He described his existence as "me against the world" while carrying a rock on his back.

Davison was named by police on Friday as the man behind the six-minute gun rampage that started in the Keyham district of Plymouth, south-west England. He entered a house where he shot a woman he knew in what senior police said was "domestically related".

The violence then spilt on to the street where he shot a "very young girl" and a male relative. Two other passers-by, a man and woman, were shot and injured before Davidson killed two other people on parkland, a man and a woman, chief constable Shaun Sawyer said.

He then turned the weapon on himself. The gun was described as a "pump-action shotgun" by witnesses and police revealed on Friday that Davison held a firearms licence.

The issue is likely to be scrutinised intensely after Mr Sawyer said the killer's mental health would be a focus of the investigation.

Police and MPs had swiftly ruled out terrorism as a motive for the shooting. "We believe we have an incident that's domestically related that has spilled into the street and seen several people in Plymouth lose their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstances," the head of the local force said.

Davison was originally from Phoenix, Arizona, according to his Facebook profile, in which he said he had worked for Babcock International since April.

In the video, with weight training equipment behind him, Davison described the plot of the Terminator movies where everything is rigged against you, there is no hope for humanity and technology produces "unstoppable killing machines" that cannot be beaten.

"Yet humanity still tries to fight to the end," he said. "I know it's a movie, but, you know, I like to think sometimes I'm a Terminator or something and despite reaching almost total system failure, he keeps trying to accomplish his mission.”

He spoke of being "beaten down by life" and said he feared he would never regain the drive and passion he once had for life. He expressed resentment at living in male-dominated environments with little interaction with women.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with the families and friends of the victims.

The injured man and woman were being treated in hospital. Mr Sawyer said they did not have life-threatening injuries.

The attack is the worst mass shooting in Britain since taxi driver Derrick Bird, 52, shot dead 12 people and injured 11 more in Cumbria in 2010. Bird, who killed himself after the shootings, had been worried about a tax investigation. He also had a firearms licence obtained legitimately.

On Thursday night, police responded with other emergency services, including air ambulance staff, to reports of gunshots in the neighbourhood near the city's docks. Plymouth, a city of 260,000 people, is home to the biggest naval base in western Europe, home to nuclear submarines and large warships.

Police asked people not to speculate or share pictures of the scene on social media.

Home Secretary Priti Patel called the incident shocking and said her thoughts were "with those affected".

"I have spoken to the chief constable and offered my full support," Ms Patel tweeted. "I urge everyone to remain calm, follow police advice and allow our emergency services to get on with their jobs."

British media said local residents reported hearing loud bangs and gunshots before police swamped the area.

One witness, Sharron, told the BBC she heard shouting followed by gunshots. "This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting," she said. "He ran from the house, shooting as he ran, and proceeded to shoot at a few people."

South Western Ambulance Service said it had responded to the incident with Hazardous Area Response Teams, air and ground ambulances, doctors and senior paramedics.

Luke Pollard, another local MP, said people were receiving treatment in hospital after the shooting.

"I'm afraid there's an awful lot of people who seem to be caught up in this shooting," he told Times Radio.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, said: "Tragedy has hit Keyham.

"I pay tribute to our emergency services who ran towards events we'd all run from."

Mass shootings are rare in Britain, which has some of the world's tightest gun laws after previous shootings and where most police officers are unarmed.

Semi-automatic handguns were banned after a 1987 mass shooting in Hungerford when 16 people were killed. More restrictions were introduced when gunman and former scout leader Thomas Hamilton killed 16 five and six-year-olds and their teacher at a school in Dunblane, Scotland, in 1996.



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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

January 24 – First T20, Lahore

January 25 – Second T20, Lahore

January 27 – Third T20, Lahore

February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi

April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi

April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi

AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD

1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details

2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet

3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details

4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure

5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs  (one-time passwords) with third parties

6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies

7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

FIGHT CARD

 

1.           Featherweight 66kg

Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2.           Lightweight 70kg

Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3.           Welterweight 77kg

Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4.           Lightweight 70kg

Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5.           Featherweight 66kg

Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6.           Catchweight 85kg

Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7.           Featherweight 66kg

Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8.           Catchweight 73kg

Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)

9.           Featherweight 66kg

Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10.         Catchweight 90kg

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

FA Cup fifth round draw

Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal 

THE SPECS

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8​​​​​​​

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 542bhp​​​​​​​

Torque: 680Nm​​​​​​​

Price: Dh465,071

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Results

6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.

7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.

8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

if you go

The flights

Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes. 

The hotels 

The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).

Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Updated: August 13, 2021, 3:36 PM