Results tagged “Tower Hamlets”

The successful conviction of terrorists from three UK cities who plotted to set off bombs in London involved a huge police operation of nearly 1,000 officers.

On Thursday, nine men were sentenced for their involvement in the case at Woolwich Crown Court, including two east Londoners.

A pair of east Londoners who planned to plant bombs in the London Stock Exchange were jailed for terrorism offences at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.

Muslim extremists Mohammed Chowdhury, 22, of Tower Hamlets and Shah Rahman, 28, from Newham were sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges last week.

By Lutfur Rahman

London's East End will play host to two great national and international events this year: the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and, of course, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Games will bring all sorts of new and hopefully lasting opportunities in their wake.

By Giles Broadbent

Taciturn executive mayor Lutfur Rahman's unfortunate timing continues. Each time he was asked a question at last week's Tower Hamlets Borough Council meeting he had his mouth full of the jellied fruits he received from his aunt over Christmas (for that, surely, is the only reason for his studied reluctance to speak).

Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets is one of three open spaces selected to be at the heart of London Live - the extravaganza celebrating the arrival of the Olympic Games in the capital.

It will join Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square in being transformed by event promoters Live Nation into giant fan parks with the sport screened live, free entertainment and activities to take part in.

Tower Hamlets bid to become a city received a high profile boost at a Parliamentary reception last night hosted by Limehouse and Poplar MP Jim Fitzpatrick.

The borough is seeking to be awarded city status as part of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year, and the event - held on the House of Commons terrace - celebrated its history and achievements.

There's some financial respite for residents of Tower Hamlets after Mayor Lutfur Rahman confirmed Council Tax is to be frozen for the third year in a row.

The freeze has yet to be ratified by the full Council and will be discussed over the coming months before going for a vote next spring.

Unemployment figures in parts of east London have risen by almost 16 per cent over the last year.

Figures released today showed the jobless totals in Newham have risen from 10,265 to 11,877 in the year to October, an increase of 15.7 per cent. In Tower Hamlets the figure rose to 11,486 from 10,147, a 13.2 per cent increase.

By Lutfur Rahman

One of the most short-sighted policies that the Conservative-led Government has pushed through has been the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Some £30 a week may not sound much to millionaire cabinet ministers, but it does to our young people, especially in Tower Hamlets.

A stop-over in the Tower of London and a visit to Maritime Greenwich will be just two of the key points on the London leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The 2012 Organising Committee has released details of the route the flame will take next summer.

Scrapping the Education Maintenance Grant was, "a mean spirited and short-sighted action by this government," according to Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman.

Yesterday he announced a new scheme to fill the gap felt by students in the poorest borough in the country.

Colleges in Tower Hamlets have seen a significant drop in student numbers since the Government scrapped the Education Maintenance Allowance earlier this year.

A study by the Association of Colleges found half of colleges in England have seen a reduction since the allowance - which paid out up to £30 to the poorest teenagers - was replaced with a new initiative.

Police in Tower Hamlets made 13 arrests from a morning of dawn raids on Wednesday.

Sniffer dogs from north London were brought in for the action, which began at 5.30am. It saw 14 warrants executed across the borough. It included eight simultaneous raids on a communal lodging at Whitechapel Road.

By Lutfur Rahman

Our borough, Tower Hamlets, has a record to be proud of when it comes to standards in local schools.

Pupils secured their best ever results this summer and some 62 per cent achieved five A* to C passes in Maths and English.

Police searching a suspected drug dealers' flat for evidence looked like they were out of luck.

That was until the brazen suspect, Nassir Ali, gave away the location of drugs while talking in Bengali to a friend in front of police - among which was a Bengali speaking officer.

Jim Fitzpatrick has made a heartfelt speech in the House of Commons for Tower Hamlets to be granted city status to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.

The MP for Poplar and Limehouse spoke in the House last night during a short debate on the borough's bid to be awarded the status.

A new free school for Wapping - which drew the support of Dame Helen Mirren - has been given the go-ahead.

Education secretary Michael Gove approved Wapping High School along with 54 other new institutions - including a sixth form college in Newham.

By Jim Fitzpatrick

Tower Hamlets' bid to achieve city status continues to gather pace.

Odds on the borough have tumbled from the opening 40/1 against, and we are now considered to be one of the top bids seeking to catch Her Majesty's attention when she decides next year in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee.

Plans have been announced for a new secondary school which aims to get children from one of the country's most underprivileged area's into top universities.

The East London Science School will open its doors as early as 2013 if it gets the go-ahead from the Government.

Drug dealers and violent criminals were among those targetted in a police operation in Tower Hamlets last week.

Officers teamed up with council workers and enforcement officers for the day of action on Thursday.