Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Are Travelling Home, Minister Says

 04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
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Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Are Travelling Home, Minister Says

 04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)

Two British members of parliament who were refused entry to Israel and briefly detained are travelling back to London, a British minister said on Sunday.

Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed from Britain's governing Labor Party visited as part of a parliamentary delegation and were barred because they were suspected of plans to "document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred", Sky News reported, citing the Israeli immigration ministry.

"They are on their way home now," Britain's deputy finance minister Darren Jones told BBC television.

"The way that my colleagues have been treated is unacceptable, as the foreign secretary has said."

Both MPs had flown to Israel from Luton on Saturday, Sky News said.

"I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement released late on Saturday.

"The UK government's focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza," he added.

Israel's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 



Explosion at Chemical Plant Near Spain’s Seville Leads to Warnings for Thousands

A picture taken in Seville on May 14, 2025 shows a large black cloud after a fire in a chemical distribution building that led authorities to ask nearly 80,000 residents to stay home. (AFP)
A picture taken in Seville on May 14, 2025 shows a large black cloud after a fire in a chemical distribution building that led authorities to ask nearly 80,000 residents to stay home. (AFP)
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Explosion at Chemical Plant Near Spain’s Seville Leads to Warnings for Thousands

A picture taken in Seville on May 14, 2025 shows a large black cloud after a fire in a chemical distribution building that led authorities to ask nearly 80,000 residents to stay home. (AFP)
A picture taken in Seville on May 14, 2025 shows a large black cloud after a fire in a chemical distribution building that led authorities to ask nearly 80,000 residents to stay home. (AFP)

An explosion at a chemical plant near the Spanish city of Seville sent up a huge pillar of smoke as authorities urged nearby residents to stay indoors, but no injuries were reported, emergency services said Wednesday.

Officials sent messages to around 80,000 residents recommending that they wear face masks or close their windows.

The explosion occurred midday in an industrial park in the municipality of Alcalá de Guadaíra, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) east of Seville’s city center.

Emergency services cleared personnel from the plant site.

Authorities have not said what chemicals are at the plant or who owns it.

Recent incidents Spain's industrial, electric and transport infrastructure has faced issues recently.

Over the weekend, a fire at a chemical factory in northeastern Spain forced emergency services to issue health warnings to 150,000 residents and stay-indoors orders for five nearby towns.

On April 28, a massive power outage hit Spain and Portugal. Authorities are still investigating but have ruled out a cyber attack or sabotage.

That was followed by major train disruption between Madrid and Seville, caused by thieves who took copper cabling from a trail line.