A hero police dog who was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017 has died following three years of “happy retirement”.
The sad news of PD Mojo’s death was confirmed on social media this morning.
In a statement to Twitter, the British Transport Police said: “We’re so sad to say the incredible RPD Mojo has passed away, following three happy years of retirement.
“He was the first dog on scene at the Manchester Arena attack and later honoured by Crufts for his bravery.
“We’ll never forget your service, Mojo – a true BTP legend”.
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We’re so sad to say the incredible RPD Mojo has passed away, following three happy years of retirement 🌈
He was the first dog on scene at the Manchester Arena attack and later honoured by Crufts for his bravery.
PD Mojo – who worked as part of the British Transport Police – was the first to arrive at the scene of the atrocity on 22nd May 2017, and worked throughout the night alongside his handler PC Phil Healy.
PD Mojo and PC Healy had just arrived home after an early shift, but returned to work after news came through of an explosion at the Ariana Grande concert.
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Mojo immediately started searching the concourse at Manchester Victoria train station upon his arrival to make sure the area was safe, and searched around injured victims to make sure the area was safe and that there were no further explosives.
The pair then moved into the Arena itself and the site of the explosion to check for any secondary devices so that other emergency teams could work in safety.
PDSA Press
PD Mojo was awarded a PDSA Order of Merit in 2018 for his devotion on duty.
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Speaking on the awarding of the animal OBE in 2018, PC Healy said: “There is no doubt that what Mojo experienced that night had a lasting effect on him, as it has all of us [and] his receiving the PDSA Order of Merit is a fitting way to recognise his actions.
“I am extremely proud of him”.
Jan McLoughlin – Director General at PDSA – also added at the time: “PD Mojo worked tirelessly through unimaginable scenes of destruction and utter chaos [and] his role on the night was to make others safe.
“His dedication to duty, despite clearly being distressed by what he saw, makes him a deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit”.
Today I say goodnight to my work partner, my loyal companion, my sounding board. You stood tall when I needed you most, at times I put all my trust in you and you never failed me. RPD Mojo stand down you served your time, rainbow bridge is ahead. Come-by x pic.twitter.com/lfdCzBrvco
Having worked for the force since he was 12-months-old, PD Mojo retired from British Transport Police duties in 2018 at aged eight, and despite suffering from stress-related alopecia in the aftermath of the bombing, he was said to have had a “happy” three years of retirement living with PC Healy before he died.
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Tributes to PD Mojo have since been pouring in on social media, with many expressing their kind words and praising his service.
PC Healy took to Twitter this morning to say: “Today I say goodnight to my work partner, my loyal companion, my sounding board. You stood tall when I needed you most, at times I put all my trust in you and you never failed me.
“RPD Mojo stand down you served your time, rainbow bridge is ahead”.
Rest in Peace, PD Mojo.
Featured Image – PDSA Press
UK News
Man United broadcaster FlexUTD responds after suffering ‘awful’ racist abuse on camera
Danny Jones
Manchester United content creator, YouTuber and digital presenter, FlexUTD, has shared a disappointed but defiant response following a racist incident captured during a video after the game this weekend.
Flex – real name Flex Alexander – is a familiar face among Man United fans and a well-known personality across the online English football culture, having previously worked with another popular fan channel in The United Stand before founding his own brand, United View.
Whilst recording his regular post-match analysis outside Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, the social media influencer was interrupted by a woman and fellow United supporter.
After seemingly giving someone a quick shout-out, she then proceeds to wander out of frame before appearing to utter a racial slur off-camera in the form of an offensive twist on the fan base’s famous anti-Glazer chant.
Credit: United View (via YouTube)
In the video shared to the official YouTube channel, he is visibly stunned by the racist outburst and members of the crew behind the camera can also be heard asking, “Did you just see what I think you said?”, adding “There’s always one or two.”
The identity of the female United fan is still unknown and although her face remains blurred for legal reasons, Flex himself did come out on social media to ask people to “find this woman” in order for the club to identify her and the authorities to punish her accordingly.
Still taken aback by the racial slur, Flex simply goes on to describe the off-hand abuse as “crazy” before insisting that the moment will be staying the full edit so as not to let the incident go unnoticed.
Ever since the video was released, other Reds, football fans and content creators alike have been sharing their support online.
One person wrote, “It’s 2024 and we’re still seeing people saying racist things and they think they can get away with it. Hope Flex gets justice for this.”, while another tagged the club and added: “Can’t be having these type of fans enter the stadium.”
Flex has since responded online in a separate video, thanking people for their heartfelt messages, but despite assuring that he has a “thick skin”, he quite rightly went on to add that people of colour shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of intolerable behaviour and he is simply “tired”.
Disgraceful. Hope your ok @FlexUTD we are all united together ❤️
Retired striker and former United coach Benni McCarthy also reached out online to offer some kind words, writing: “Hi mate, hope you [are] ok. That was absolutely unnecessary and you shouldn’t have to deal with such behaviour. Stay strong bro and behind you all the way.”
The club themselves are yet to issue a statement regarding the incident but with both current players and former staff responding, it likely won’t be long before the individual is identified and issued with a ban. United had to deal with similar incidents regarding racism and homophobia last season.
It goes without saying that we condemn discrimination in all its forms; our thoughts go out to Flex and everyone else affected by the incident and hope the incident is dealt with swiftly. The beautiful game is for everyone and there’s no room for racism in any walk of life. #KickItOut.
You can watch Flex’s full video addressing the situation, in which he urged people to “stay strong, keep fighting” and “stick together”, down below:
FlexUTD’s full response following the appalling racist incident on 4/11/2024.
Featured Images — United We Stand (via YouTube)/FlexUTD (via X)
UK News
Northern Rail confess that they still use fax machines to contact train crews
Danny Jones
In a quite staggering moment for the public transport sector, Northern Rail has confessed that it still uses fax machines to communicate with train crews across the network.
Nope, not an April Fool’s but, rather fittingly, it is Halloween and this is pretty scary stuff to hear in 2024.
Yes, as unbelievable as it might sound, part of the reason that Northern trains have been so poorly run in recent years, leading Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham to call an emergency meeting this past Wednesday, is because they still rely on faxes to communicate between train crews.
The alarming revelation was made public after the transcript from Burnham’s and the Northern mayors’ meeting with the Rail North Committee was shared online, in which one official said that many problems arise “because the tools we use to get information and messages to our crew rely on faxes, amazingly.”
Three decades of privatisation have left our water and rail industries in a sorry state.
A simply flabbergasting statement of admission from the rail network which had come under even more fire than ever of late following swathes of trains being cancelled across the region.
Burnham had already called out the company for delivering an “embarrassing” and “part-time service” but things have only got worse since he called the meeting itself.
On Thursday night, yet more trains were cancelled – some even mid-journey between the likes of Manchester and Sheffield, with passengers finding out before conductors in some instances (members of The Hoot and The Sheff team can vouch for that) – causing even more bedlam at the station boards.
Another local based in Gatley, Stockport who spoke to us following last night’s “laughable” service told us how they had to make alternative arrangements to get home after their next 10 trains were cancelled.
Naturally, the Bee Network pioneer wasted no time in calling for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Department for Transport to intervene as, at present, the state of trains in the North as a whole is simply untenable.
Please @AndyBurnhamGM would you ask about @northernassist staffing levels and recruitment as I’m concerned there simply isn’t enough staff to operate anywhere near the advertised timetable even if RDW is resolved.
It very much feels like an ‘if you don’t laugh you’ll cry situation’ but commuters have been stuck with these simply unnaceptbale conditions for far too long.
Other details from the meeting included that not only do Northern employees still train crew members to communicate over their rotas or to book time off via fax machines, but that despite assuring they want to get rid of them they state it can’t be simply replaced due to current reliance and union rules.
It’s claimed that the rail firm has so far been unable to successfully update the network-wide communication system because of the legacy agreements that remain between Northern train drivers and their union ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen).
Elsewhere, with the Labour Party having announced a number of cuts, tax increases and other financial changes as part of their first budget in 14 years, Burnham has at least managed to secure Greater Manchester’s locally-controlled £2 bus fare while most of the country are set to lose it.
Emily Sergeant -
19th May 2021 
