Metropolitan police begin interviews over lockdown Downing Street party investigation
March 22, 2022, 8:20 am

Metropolitan police begin interviews over lockdown Downing Street party investigation

Boris Johnson in a visit to one of England's prisons/Official Facebook page

The Pipa News reported, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday that police have begun interviewing witnesses as part of an investigation into alleged violations of lockdown rules at gatherings at the office and residence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

According to the repor, police are investigating 12 gatherings held in Downing Street after an internal investigation found Johnson’s staff enjoyed alcohol-fueled parties, with the British leader himself attending some events.

The Met said in a statement: “Detectives investigating allegations of COVID-19 violations in Downing Street and Whitehall have begun interviewing people as witnesses."

The report mentioned that police said more than 100 questionnaires were sent as part of the investigation, with the initial responses helping to identify further persons, who were now also sent questionnaires.

Boris Johnson with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Johnson's residence in Downing Stree (File photo: Official Facebook page)

Johnson is among those to receive a questionnaire about gatherings that took place when many people could not attend funerals or bid farewell to loved ones who died in hospital because of strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.

The revelations sparked widespread anger, and some politicians from the prime minister’s own party joined the opposition and called for him to leave.

Boris Johnson is taking charge after lockdown parties row

However, as the focus has shifted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some, such as Conservative leader Douglas Ross in Scotland, have withdrawn that call, saying the focus should be on the war.

The police said that it has not yet referred any person for a definite penalty notice, which will be issued to those who will be deemed to be violating the COVID rules.

UK police investigating alleged lockdown parties at Downing Street

It said the investigation was proceeding as quickly as possible but did not give any time frame for its completion.

Source: pipanews

US State Department considers sending Syrian fighters to war in Ukraine an 'unjustified' escalation Russia halts peace treaty talks and dialogue on joint economic activities with Japan

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”