victims

When the devastating floods washed through Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria in September 2024, Aisha Ahmed, a resident of Gwange community, and her family fled their house to a safer area along Bama Road in the Borno State capital. 

“It was my worst experience because my family and I thought the world had come to an end,” the 46-year-old recounted. “We couldn’t sleep well because we did not know if the water would rise again and meet us by morning.” 

Like Aisha, several other residents across Maiduguri fled; some were trapped in their homes, others died, shops, schools, and other facilities were shuttered, and roads were impassable. 

It’s been about eight months since the floods swept through the city. Aisha says the post-flood restoration efforts are “a sign that Maiduguri has bounced back.” The Borno State government and other development partners initiated a series of interventions aimed at restoring key infrastructure and providing relief to affected residents. 

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, over 414,000 people were affected across nine local government areas in the state, with 389,267 individuals displaced and 7,155 houses damaged. The flood’s impact was widespread, not only in urban Maiduguri but also in nearby rural communities. 

“It is now history. I can walk around Gwange with ease. The roads have been cleared, the drainage channels restored, and even the air feels different because there is movement and life has returned to normal. It’s like we all came back stronger,” she told HumAngle, adding that, “It’s not perfect yet, but this is a huge step forward. I am proud of how far we have come.”  

Several public landmarks and facilities that were damaged or rendered inaccessible due to the floods are now being restored. Roads that were once impassable due to erosion have since resurfaced. Temporary bridges have been installed in communities cut off during the flood. Public schools which were flooded or closed have reopened after rehabilitation work, allowing students to return to class.

For Adamu Isa, a bricklayer and father of five living in Simari, a community that was flooded, the memories of the flood are still fresh. His home, located close to a motorable path, was heavily affected. The flooding swept for more than a week in their area, destroying their walls, collapsing their outdoor toilet, and leaving the family displaced. 

“We could not save anything that night. We joined others to flee in the middle of the night. It was a dangerous journey while the volume of the water continued to increase,” he recounted. This video documentary captures a visual account of the city under water.

When news came that the government was distributing relief funds to flood victims, Adamu registered his name and bank account details but wasn’t sure he would be selected. Some months later, he received a text alert showing ₦100,000 deposited into his account. 

“It felt like a miracle. It was the first time I received anything like that from the government. Even though it wasn’t enough to rebuild everything, I used part of it to fix one room and clear the sewage from around the house,” he told HumAngle.

Adamu knows the money can’t restore everything the flood took. His house still bears the scars — a missing window shutter, a broken pit latrine, and walls that tell a story of a season they barely survived. But for him, the relief aid was not just money, it was recognition: “We are not forgotten. I feel lucky. My children are back in school. We sleep under a roof. Life is back now, and we thank God for that. At the end of the day, being alive is the most important thing.”

The state government-instituted Flood Relief Disbursement Committee says it received several relief materials and ₦28.9 billion in donations from well-wishers, including the federal government, Borno State and other state governments, corporate organisations, non-profits, and development partners such as the United Nations. Of this, over ₦18.08 billion was disbursed in cash to 101,330 households affected by the flood, according to spokesperson Dauda Iliya.

He added that ₦987 million was allocated to 7,716 traders whose goods and businesses were damaged in affected markets, as well as ₦313 million to 814 worship centres and ₦213 million to 267 private schools. Additionally, ₦89.4 million was disbursed to 1,788 youth volunteers who actively contributed to rescue and relief efforts during the disaster, and ₦12.5 million supported 22 private clinics that assisted with emergency medical care.

While some beneficiaries like Adamu confirmed receipt of funds, HumAngle found that many survivors continue to live in temporary shelters or with relatives, with some yet to receive any assistance. One of such residents is Musa Hussaini, who lives in Wade, a community along Dikwa Road in Maiduguri, one of the areas worst affected by the floods. He said officials documented victims nearby but never reached his neighbourhood.

“We waited for them to come, but they stopped just a few blocks away,” he told HumAngle. “Then we started hearing that people were getting credit alerts, but no one from our side received anything. We were left like that, just watching and hoping.”

Musa and his family fled as the waters rose, leaving everything behind. The floodwaters destroyed their belongings, and they remained displaced for weeks, sheltering by the roadside with other affected families.

“Every household in the area was displaced,” Musa said. “Life felt like it had come to an end. We thought we would never return to normal again. But we are grateful to God that things have been restored, and we are slowly rebuilding.”

Musa now supports his family by working as a tricycle rider to provide for his family.

“At least we are alive, and for that, we are thankful,” he sighed. 

Despite the experience of Wade residents and others, the relief disbursement committee announced in December 2024 that the process had concluded. In its final report, the committee stated that ₦4.45 billion remained from the total donations received. The committee, according to its chairperson, Baba Bukar Gujibawu, recommended that the balance be used for the rehabilitation of roads in flood-affected areas.

Residents and civil society groups, such as the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, have called for transparency and accountability in how the funds were managed and distributed, insisting that promised support should not get lost in bureaucracy but reach the communities still struggling to recover.

At the peak of the Maiduguri flooding, a HumAngle investigation uncovered that the disaster was due to years of neglect of the Alau Dam, a critical infrastructure designed to regulate water flow and provide irrigation and drinking water in the state. The disaster was triggered by the collapse of one of the dam’s gates, which overflowed and released massive volumes of water, washing through parts of the metropolis and sweeping into rural communities downstream. The damage was worsened by the lack of timely maintenance and the failure to hold the responsible authorities accountable.

Funds meant for its repairs were either mismanaged or misappropriated, according to the investigation. 

In response, the federal government in October 2024 pledged ₦80 billion to rehabilitate the Alau Dam and prevent future disasters. However, as of the time of filing this report, repair work has yet to begin.

As another rainy season begins, communities remain exposed. For survivors still living on the margins, the question isn’t just about what was lost, but whether they’ve truly been seen.

Eight people were injured in an attack on Sunday on a group of people in the United States city of Boulder, Colorado, who were campaigning for the release of captives held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza.

Police arrested a man who allegedly threw incendiary devices towards people. The FBI said it was investigating the attack as an “act of terror”.

In a social media post, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the attack as an anti-Semitic act.

Here is what we know so far:

What happened in Boulder, Colorado?

A group of people were walking in a “regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event” aimed at galvanising support for the release of captives held in Gaza when they were attacked, according to an official news release shared by the Boulder Police Department. The police were called at 1:36pm (10:36 GMT).

The news release said that witnesses saw the attacker using a makeshift flamethrower as he lobbed incendiary devices – meant to start fires – at the gathering.

Witness videos circulating on social media showed a shirtless man appearing to hold two glass bottles, which looked like Molotov cocktails.

What is a Molotov cocktail?

A Molotov cocktail is a very simple incendiary weapon. It comprises a bottle filled with a flammable liquid covered by a wick, which is lit on fire before the bottle is thrown at a target.

They are named after Vyacheslav Molotov, the foreign minister of the Soviet Union during World War II. In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, and the country experienced heavy bombing. Molotov insisted that the Soviet Union was not dropping bombs, only food parcels.

In response, the Finns threw handmade explosives towards Soviet tanks, sarcastically dubbing them “Molotov cocktails”.

Where did the attack happen?

The attack took place at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder that stretches four blocks. It is home to retail stores, art galleries and restaurants. The mall is a two-minute drive, or 1.1km (0.7 miles), from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

What was the event the victims were attending?

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser released a statement on Sunday, saying that the attack was “against a group that meets weekly on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of the hostages in Gaza”.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit focused on combating anti-Semitism – which was accused of double standards in January for defending a salute made by billionaire Elon Musk at an inauguration rally for US President Donald Trump – released a statement saying the event was part of an international campaign called “Run for Their Lives”.

The campaign involves weekly gatherings worldwide where Jewish community members run and walk in solidarity with the captives taken by Hamas and other Palestinian groups during their attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Run for Their Lives gatherings take place in 230 locations in 24 countries, including Brazil, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. Groups in multiple US states participate in this event and there are two locations in Colorado: one in Boulder and the other one in Denver’s Washington Park.

Armed Palestinian groups took about 251 captives from Israel on October 7. While some captives were returned in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, or rescued, others have died in captivity. Some 59 captives are believed to remain in captivity, and Israel believes that 35 of them have died.

Since October 7, Israeli military bombardment and other attacks have killed more than 61,700 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.

Who was the suspect and what did he say during the attack?

The Boulder attack suspect has been identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old man from El Paso County, according to the Boulder Police news release.

Soliman was also injured in the attack, though the nature of his injuries is unclear.

The release says that Soliman was medically evaluated at a hospital and then was booked in the Boulder County Jail for multiple charges. The release did not specify what exactly these charges were.

According to the news release, Soliman yelled, “Free Palestine” during the attack.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, claimed in a post on X that the Boulder attack was carried out by an “illegal alien”.

Without naming Soliman, Miller said the suspect had overstayed a tourist visa granted to him by the government of former US President Joe Biden. “In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit. Suicidal migration must be fully reversed,” Miller wrote.

Al Jazeera was not able to independently verify Soliman’s immigration status in the US.

What do we know about the victims?

Law enforcement officials said that eight people were injured. These include four women and four men, aged between 52 and 88.

The victims were taken to hospitals in the Denver metropolitan area.

How are authorities responding?

The Boulder Police Department called the FBI within minutes of the attack, the news release said. The FBI is investigating this as a terror attack.

“This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote in an X post. “We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it.”

FBI Director Kash Patel also wrote in an X post that his team was investigating the “targeted terror attack” and that FBI agents and law enforcement were at the scene already.

Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, wrote in an X post that the department was working on the situation with its “interagency partners”, including the FBI.

What is the latest on ground?

According to an update by the Boulder Police Department on X on Monday at 05:53 GMT, all roads in downtown Boulder have been reopened except for a block on Pearl Street, “which should be reopened in the next few hours”.

What have been the reactions?

“We will continue to ensure that justice is pursued swiftly, support is provided to victims and their communities and preventative action is taken to protect everyone’s safety,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek was quoted saying in the Boulder Police news release.

Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn acknowledged that many residents were scared, and had questions about the attack. “Boulder has recovered from acts of violence before and we will again recover. I urge this community to come together. Now is not the time to be divisive,” he was quoted saying in the same news release.

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar wrote on X on Monday: “Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado. This is pure Antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media.” He did not elaborate on what he meant by this.

US Senate Democratic Party Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X: “Tonight, a peaceful demonstration was targeted in a vile, antisemitic act of terror. Once again, Jews are left reeling from repeated acts of violence and terror.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X on Sunday: “We’re united in prayer for the victims of a targeted terror attack this afternoon in Boulder.”

We’re united in prayer for the victims of a targeted terror attack this afternoon in Boulder.

Terror has no place in our great country.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 1, 2025

Many Democrats have released online statements condemning the attack and describing it as anti-Semitic.

Less than two weeks after the horrific antisemitic attack at the Capitol Jewish Museum in DC—and after two relentless years of surging antisemitic attacks across the country—the Jewish community is once again shattered by pain and heartbreak. 

Tonight, a peaceful demonstration…

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 2, 2025

Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, wrote on X: “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community that once again appears to have been targeted with hate. We all have a responsibility to stop these antisemitic acts.”

Another terrible attack, this time in Boulder, Colorado. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community that once again appears to have been targeted with hate. We all have a responsibility to stop these antisemitic acts. https://t.co/KrAA3wwHPi

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 2, 2025

House Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, released a statement on X, saying: “Our heartfelt prayers are with all of our Jewish brothers and sisters impacted by this unconscionable act of terror, and we thank law enforcement for their swift response. Antisemitism has no place in our nation or anywhere throughout the world. It must be crushed. We stand with the Jewish community today and always.”

My statement on the Antisemitic Attack in Boulder, Colorado. pic.twitter.com/EUpdnl9M6K

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) June 1, 2025

Have similar events taken place recently?

On May 22, a man named Elias Rodriguez was charged after fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff workers in Washington, DC. He was charged with murdering foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

A car ploughed into a crowd of Liverpool fans on Monday evening, injuring 47 people, including four children. The incident took place during a Premier League victory parade through Liverpool’s city centre by the city’s official football team.

Here is what we know about the incident, victims, suspect and rescue efforts.

What happened?

Just after 6pm (17:00 GMT) on Monday, a car crashed into a crowd of Liverpool fans who were celebrating Liverpool’s victory in the Premier League football title.

The fans had gathered to catch a sight of the Liverpool football team, who had paraded the trophy through the area in an open-top bus moments before the incident. The car crash took place about 1 mile (1.6km) before the finishing point of the 10-mile (16km) parade.

Videos circulating on social media showed the car zigzag through the crowd of fans ostensibly clad in Liverpool FC merchandise. Several people were thrown into the air as they were hit by the car.

The Merseyside Police said they were called soon after the incident.

As the car came to a stop, angered members of the crowd swarmed towards it, smashing its windows. The police had to intervene to prevent them from getting to the driver.

Who was driving the car in Liverpool?

The police said they arrested a “53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area” who they believed was driving the car.

They have not released any additional details about the driver or his motivations yet.

Where in Liverpool did the crash take place?

The crash took place on Water Street, which is in the city centre and near the Strand. The street is home to historic buildings, including the office block, Oriel Chambers, built in 1864. Liverpool is located towards the northwest of England.

What do we know about the victims?

Dozens of people, including four children, were injured in the incident.

Out of the victims, 20 people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene, not requiring hospital treatment. Another 27 people were taken to a hospital by ambulance. Authorities said two of the people hospitalised, including one child, have sustained serious injuries.

Is the incident being treated as ‘terrorism’?

The police said the incident was not being treated as a “terrorism case”.

“We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism,” Jenny Sims, temporary deputy chief constable, told reporters.

“I would urge people not to speculate as to the motives behind this appalling incident and to allow Merseyside police to conduct their investigation,” Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said during a news conference late on Monday.

What action did the authorities take?

Late on Monday, police officer Sims told a media briefing that several people were treated at the scene and many were taken to hospital.

She added that the police force’s emergency services colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) were also present at the scene.

NWAS officer Dave Kitchin said ambulances were dispatched, as well as a hazardous area response team, an air ambulance, doctors and senior clinicians to the site.

“Our emergency ambulances took patients to our NHS colleagues at Royal Liverpool, Alder Hey, Arrowe Park and Aintree Hospitals,” Kitchin said, referring to the hospitals the injured were taken to.

Nick Searle, MFRS chief fire officer, told the news conference that, after learning about the incident, they promptly dispatched three fire engines to Water Street. “Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed people from beneath and passed them to our ambulance colleagues.”

Liverpool City Council leader Robinson told the news conference that the incident “cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day”.

“We are working closely with Merseyside Police to support their investigation, and with other relevant organisations to make sure those affected get the appropriate support,” he added.

What is the latest on the ground?

In an update on X on Monday evening, NWAS wrote that it had “cleared the scene following the incident in Liverpool”.

“Specialist officers have been put in place to support the injured and their families,” Sims said.

She requested people to refrain from sharing the “distressing footage” of the incident, adding that information, including video footage, can be submitted to the Major Incident Police Portal (MIPP).

“My fire crews will maintain a visible and reassuring presence in the coming days and weeks,” MFRS’s Searle said.

What are the reactions to the Liverpool crash?

“The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in an X post. “I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident.”

The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected.

I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident.

I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 26, 2025

Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured. Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action.”

Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured.

Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action.

This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together. https://t.co/ua4xSY2UjX

— Steve Rotheram (@MetroMayorSteve) May 26, 2025

Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in the United States were shot and killed on Wednesday night as they left a Jewish museum in Washington, DC, prompting outrage from US and Israeli officials.

A 30-year-old man from Chicago, Illinois, named as Elias Rodriguez, has been arrested in connection with the shooting, the police said. He is the only suspect.

President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as “horrible”, stating there was no place for “hatred” in the US. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by what had unfolded in the US capital.

“This is a despicable act of hatred, of anti-Semitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy,” he said.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, said federal authorities were investigating the attack and would bring its “depraved perpetrator” to justice.

Here is what we know so far:

What is known about the shooting?

Officers responded to multiple calls about a shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum at about 9:00pm on Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday).

The victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the museum, which is in the area of 3rd and F streets in Northwest, Washington, DC, close to an FBI field office and the US attorney general’s office, when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.

First responders found the victims unconscious and not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts, both were pronounced dead.

According to police, the suspect entered the museum after the shooting and was detained by security personnel at the event.

“Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence,” Smith said.

What do we know about the victims?

The two were named by the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.

Both were members of staff. The Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, told reporters the young staffers were a couple “about to be engaged”.

“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter revealed.

What do we know about the suspect, Elias Rodriguez?

The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois.

Reporting from close to the site of the shooting, Al Jazeera’s Heidi-Zhou Castro said the suspect was not previously on the radar of local authorities.

“He was not a known entity. There was no heightened alert prior to this happening,” she said.

What do we know about the suspect’s motive?

So far, the police have not confirmed any motive.

Speaking on Thursday, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, blamed a “toxic anti-Semitic incitement against Israel and Jews around the world” since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October, 2023.

When the suspect, Elias Rodriguez, was taken into custody, he began chanting: “Free, free Palestine,” Police Chief Smith said.

Mohamad Elmasry, professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said the attacks were “awful” and were rightfully being condemned regardless of political ideology.

He said: “You have the Trump administration, Israel and some of their supporters coming out and saying that this is an act of anti-Semitism … and that could be the case, that it is just an act of naked anti-Jewish hatred, which obviously should be condemned,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera.

“But it’s also possible that Mr Rodriguez carried this act of vigilante violence out against the State of Israel, or that he’s taking out his frustrations over the genocide [in Gaza] or Israel’s apartheid policies, on these embassy staffers. That’s an important distinction, because if that’s the motive, then it requires a different course of action.”

What has been the reaction to the shooting?

“These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” President Trump posted on social media early Thursday.

“Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God bless you all!”

Israeli officials also strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a “despicable act of hatred”. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said after the shooting: “We are witnessing the terrible price of anti-Semitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel.

“I have instructed to enhance security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world and to increase protection for state representatives,” Netanyahu said.

On Thursday, reactions and condolences poured in from other countries as well.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the shooting a “heinous act” in a post on X, adding that at the moment “we must assume there was an anti-Semitic motive.”

Kaya Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said: “Shocked by the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC. There is and should be no place in our societies for hatred, extremism, or antisemitism. I extend my condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Israel.”

France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said: “The murder of two members of the Israeli embassy near the Jewish Museum in Washington is an abhorrent act of antisemitic barbarity. Nothing can justify such violence. My thoughts go to their loved ones, their colleagues, and the State of Israel.”

In Ireland, the prime minister, Micheal Martin, said: “I strongly condemn the horrific gun attack that killed two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC last night. My deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of the couple, and the Israeli people. There can be absolutely no place for violence or hate.”

Antonio Tajani, the Italian Foreign Minister, said: “I stand with the State of Israel for the tragic murder of two young employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington. Scenes of terror and violence to be strongly condemned. antisemitism born of hatred against Jews must be stopped, the horrors of the past can never return.”

What will happen next?

Police Chief Smith said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community at present.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had been briefed on the shooting.

“While we’re working with [the Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families,” he wrote on X.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters her administration would not tolerate “violence or hate in our city”.

“We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism,” Bowser said.

The shooting comes as Israel has launched a new military campaign in Gaza to control all of the Strip, while continuing to impose an 11-week aid blockade that has been widely condemned.

Many world leaders, including allies, have demanded that Israel end the war and let aid into the war-ravaged territory or face punitive actions.

An Israeli air strike on the Musa bin Nusair School in Gaza City has killed at least a dozen Palestinians, including children and a pregnant woman. The school had been sheltering forcibly displaced families.

Fred and Rose West’s crimes were laid bare in Fred and Rose West: The Real Story, which delved into the horrific murders carried out by the evil couple

WARNING: This article includes details of sexual assault, which some readers may find distressing.

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, a recent addition to Netflix, has left viewers shocked with its chilling revelations about the infamous case.

The notorious serial killer couple managed to evade detection for years due to missed opportunities by various agencies that allowed them to slip under the radar.

It was only when police began investigating reports of Fred West sexually assaulting a child that the pair’s horrifying crimes were finally brought to light, revealing the gruesome secrets hidden within their family home at 25 Cromwell Street.

How many victims did Fred and Rose West claim?

During police questioning, Fred confessed to a minimum of 12 murders. Among his earliest victims were nanny Ann McFall, his first wife Catherine ‘Rena’ Costello, and their daughter Charmaine, reports Gloucestershire Live.

When police commenced excavations at 25 Cromwell Street, now infamously known as the ‘house of horrors’, they discovered the remains of nine women. Among the unearthed remains was Heather, Fred and Rose West’s daughter who had been missing since 1987 and was the first body to be discovered.

The other victims found at the property included Shirley Robinson, Alison Chambers, Thérèse Siegenthaler, Shirley Hubbard, Lucy Partington, Juanita Mott, Lynda Gough, and Carole Ann Cooper. Fred and Rose targeted vulnerable women, typically runaways or hitchhikers without any guardians.

The duo were jointly accused of murdering 10 individuals, but Fred took his own life in jail before he could stand trial. Rose was convicted for the murders of 10 young women and children, including her own daughter Heather and step-daughter Charmaine.

In 1995, she was given 10 life sentences, with former Home Secretary Jack Straw ruling that she should spend the rest of her days behind bars. Currently, Rose is incarcerated at HM Prison New Hall and continues to assert her innocence.

Who were Fred and Rose West’s victims?

Ann McFall – The nanny employed to care for Fred and Rena’s children is believed to be their first victim, having relocated from Glasgow to Gloucester. Her remains, along with those of her unborn child fathered by Fred, were discovered in a field in Kempley, near Fred’s birthplace of Much Marcle, Herefordshire.

Catherine ‘Rena’ Costello – Fred’s first wife and mother to Charmaine and Anne Marie. They wed in 1962, but she left Fred in 1969 amid allegations of sexual abuse and violence. Her remains were also found in a field in Kempley, close to where Ann McFall’s body was discovered.

Charmaine West – At just eight years old, Charmaine was killed by Rose while Fred was serving a prison sentence for stealing a vehicle tax disc and car tyres. Her remains were unearthed at the couple’s former residence at 25 Midland Road, Gloucester.

Lynda Gough – She vanished in 1973 after striking up a friendship with lodgers at 25 Cromwell Street. Tragically, she was found buried beneath a bathroom at the property.

Carole Ann Cooper – She was residing at a children’s home and had been visiting her grandmother over the weekend when she disappeared in 1973 after getting on a bus to return home. Despite police efforts, they were unable to locate her and her remains were discovered in the cellar of 25 Cromwell Street. The authorities believed Fred and Rose picked her up while she was hitchhiking.

Lucy Partington – She went missing in 1973 after leaving a friend’s house and it is believed that the couple picked her up while she was waiting for a bus to go home. Her remains were discovered in the cellar of 25 Cromwell Street.

Thérèse Siegenthaler – The Swiss-born student was studying and working in London. She vanished in 1974 while hitch-hiking to visit a friend in Ireland. A search by the Metropolitan Police proved fruitless and she was found in the cellar of 25 Cromwell Street.

Shirley Hubbard – At just 15, she was the youngest of the couple’s victims and was in care at the time of her disappearance. She was doing work experience at a shop and heading home afterwards in 1974, but was never seen again with police finding her remains in the cellar of the couple’s home.

Juanita Mott – She was thought to be travelling to Gloucester but vanished the day before a friend’s wedding in 1975. Despite her disappearance not being reported to the police, her family reached out to the Missing Persons Bureau and the media, but to no avail. She was discovered in the basement of 25 Cromwell Street.

Shirley Robinson – She lodged at 25 Cromwell Street and became pregnant with Fred’s baby. She was last seen alive eight months pregnant in 1978, with her body and that of her unborn child found buried in the garden.

Alison Chambers – She resided at a children’s home and was known to visit 25 Cromwell Street regularly. She vanished in 1979 and her remains were discovered in the garden of the property.

Heather West – The eldest daughter of Fred and Rose was killed when she was 1987. It is believed she was murdered for attempting to defend herself and others from her father’s advances, threatening to report the abuse to the police.

She is considered to be the couple’s final victim. Her body was interred under the patio, with Fred and Rose making a macabre joke about it, warning their other children they would meet a similar end if they misbehaved. This cruel jest was taken seriously by the police and led to the start of the horrifying discoveries at 25 Cromwell Street.