A British volunteer with the Kurds in Syria has described chaotic scenes on the border of Turkey on Wednesday as civilians fled a Turkish military offensive launch.

Lizzie Irvine, from south-east Scotland, spoke to the Telegraph from the town of Ras al-Ayn, which has become the focus of the Turkish assault on Kurdish-held northern Syria.

"Since 4pm, artillery shells have been falling on the city of Hasakah. There’s smoke, columns of smoke rising above the city," the 30-year-old, who is a part of Women Defend Rojava campaign, said by phone. Rojava is the name Kurds have given to their autonomous territory in north-east Syria.

At least five civilians and three Kurdish fighters were reportedly killed…

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The Wongs had always been a close-knit family.

But a brooding disagreement over Hong Kong’s worst political crisis in decades erupted in a bitter argument at a relative’s funeral in August saw father and son angrily throw tea at each other. 

Brian, a 37-year-old teacher and the family’s eldest son, was among the shocked onlookers as a table was overturned when the two men could no longer contain their emotions over the city’s fractured politics. “I’ve never seen my father so angry,” he said. 

The pro-democracy movement, now entering its fifth month, has taken a heavy toll on Hong Kong families as the middle ground between the city’s polarised political camps narrows, causing personal rifts that…

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An Iranian beauty queen is seeking asylum in the Philippines, fearing for her life after Tehran demanded her extradition for a crime she claims she did not commit. 

Bahareh Zare Bahari, who represented Iran at the 2018 Miss Intercontinental pageant in Manila, and who has studied dental medicine in the Philippines since 2014, has been held for six days at the country’s Ninoy Aquino airport after Iran slapped an Interpol Red Notice on her for alleged assault. 

In a series of messages, the distraught Ms Bahari told the Telegraph that the case was a “big lie,” adding that she believed she was being targeted for her political activism and outspoken support of women’s rights. If she was deported to Iran, “they will kill me,” she said. 

Markk Perete, undersecretary at the Philippine department of justice, said that “the only reason she was held at the airport –  and we really don’t call it detention –  it is really restraining her from entering the Philippine territory, is only because of that Red Notice issued against her.”

He added that the request had been made “presumably on account of a pending criminal case against her in Iran, and this case was filed by an Iranian national against her in relation to an assault that happened presumably here in the Philippines.”

However, Mr Perete said that the Philippines was unaware of this allegation, and that an earlier accusation of commercial fraud against her had been dismissed. 

There were no criminal cases pending against Ms Bahari, he confirmed. “We don’t have any cause for refusing her entry for violation of our laws.”

Ms Bahari’s asylum plea is now being considered by the justice department, with the help of a lawyer. 

Meanwhile, the dental student is confined to Terminal 3’s transit area awaiting her fate. “There is no updating, no information about the reason why [they] keep me here so long,” she said. 

She believes her political statement at the pageant – waving a poster of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince, and one of the foremost critics of Iran’s Islamic government – made her enemies in Tehran. 

Mr Pahlavi’s name has been invoked by some Iranian groups who have called for a return of the monarchy to deal with corruption and poor economic conditions.

“I used his photo on stage to be [the] voice of my people because all news and media are ignoring my people,” she said. 

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called for “a fair and impartial hearing of her claim” in Manila. 

“It’s absolutely critical the Philippines provides Bahareh Zare Bahari with support, including access to legal counsel, to compile and file her asylum application,” said Phil Robertson, HRW deputy Asia director. 

“While waiting for the details to become clear, there should be no action under Iran’s Interpol red notice, especially since under Interpol rules a red notice is null and void if the person named in the notice is found to be a refugee fleeing from the state that issued it.”

A British backpacker had his right foot bitten off by a shark as he was attacked while snorkeling at a chain of popular tourist islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Alistair Raddon, 28, of Southampton, was attacked with Danny Maggs, 22, of Plymouth, who was also left with severe lacerations to his leg. Both were airlifted to hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

Medics said the pair  joked with them about England’s 40-16 victory over Australia in the rugby world cup over the course of the flight.

The attack happened at 10.17am while the pair were swimming in the ocean off Hook Island, part of Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands, which is a popular spot for tourists.

Both men were participating in a snorkelling boat tour when the attack happened and were playing and thrashing in the water at the time, according to medics.

Grant Bollington, a member of the helicopter crew which flew the pair to hospital, told the Queensland Times:  "Alistair said they were wrestling in the water. He thought his mate grabbed him really hard by the leg and turned around and saw blood in the water."

The attack was the latest in a series in the Whitsunday Islands. Mr Raddon and Mr Maggs were on a day cruise when the attack happened at Hook Passage, about 10km from the site of another fatal shark attack last November.

A Mackay Base Hospital spokesperson told The Telegraph that the two men had undergone surgery this afternoon and are now in a stable condition.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) confirmed the call for help came in at 10.22am local time, and that the men were initially treated on board their cruise boat by two paramedics who happened to be on board as guests.

The two tourists were said to be "wrestling in the water" when attacked. QAS manager Tracey Eastwick said it is believed the shark attacked one man first, then returned and attacked the other man.

“The international paramedics … applied tourniquets to both patients and continued treatment on board until they reached Abell Point Marina, where they met two of our frontline crews there,” she told a media conference.

She added that the pair were in "good spirits" and discussing the rugby world cup during the journey to hospital. 

The cruise company involved, ZigZag Whitsundays, said that it had suspended tours.

Mr Mugg’s family, from Plymstock in Devon, said they were not ready to discuss the horrific attack.

But his friend and former boss Jamie Dart, owner of JD plumbing and heating ltd, said he had been in contact with Danny after hearing about his ordeal this morning.

Mr Dart said: "He worked for me for two years and became a qualified engineer. He then went travelling for what was meant to be just a year. But he will have been out there for two years this Christmas and just loved it.

"I heard the news on my way to work and knew he was around that area. I just though – there is no way it could be him. Then someone called me to break the news. I got goosebumps when I heard. My first thoughts were for his mum and dad and I contacted them shortly afterwards and they updated me on what happened."

There have been three fatal shark attacks off the coast of Queensland since 2006. There have been numerous shark attacks in the Whitsunday Island group in recent years. A woman and child were believed to have been mauled by a shark in January, while a man died of his injuries and a 12-year-old girl lost a leg in two separate attacks last year.

#RACQ #CQRescue arriving at Mackay Base Hospital at 12.40pm with two patients on board after a Shark attack in the Whitsundays. pic.twitter.com/UJy46tYEIi

— RACQ CQ Rescue (@cq_rescue) October 29, 2019

In September this year a ‘catch and remove’ shark protection programme was removed from 27 beaches in Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, an area which includes the site of the attack, following a court ruling.

The ‘catch and remove’ program was killing the sharks, and was challenged in the courts by the Humane Society International.

A tribunal found that killing the sharks did not improve swimmer safety. The Queensland government also recently lost its battle for the right to use nets and drum lines to catch and kill sharks.

Dr Simon J Allen from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol told The Telegraph last month that there is a distinct lack of evidence that lethal or even sub-lethal shark control programs are effective in minimising risk to swimmers of a negative interaction with a shark.

The 2020 US presidential election is on a knife edge according to new polling of battleground states that shows Donald Trump performing much better than expected.

Mr Trump, the US president, may be way behind possible Democrat candidates in polls of the whole of America but a different picture emerges when focussing on the swing states. 

Surveys for The New York Times looked at the six states that Mr Trump won most narrowly in the 2016 election – Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. 

On average across those states Mr Trump trails Joe Biden, the former US vice president seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, by just a single percentage point, according to CNN analysis. 

The signs are even more encouraging for the president against other possible contenders, with Mr Trump beating Bernie Sanders by one point and Elizabeth Warren by three points.

The numbers, which are much better for Mr Trump than in nation-wide surveys, suggests that in the places that will define who wins the 2020 campaign he is in good shape. 

They will also add credence to the line being pushed by the Biden camp that their candidate is best placed to take on Mr Trump given his moderate politics and Pennsylvanian roots. 

Mr Sanders and Ms Warren, the senators for Vermont and Massachusetts respectively, have both outlined a left-wing policy platform unlike anything presented by recent Democratic presidential nominees. 

Their visions – including government-funded healthcare for all and action to tackle Wall Street excess – have energised some Democrats but left others warning it could put off moderate voters. 

Mr Trump already appears to be laying the groundwork for a re-election campaign that will compare his record to the “radical socialists” who he claims now lead the Democratic Party. The vote is on November 3, 2020. 

The poll numbers suggest that the impeachment inquiry, which has been running for more than a month now and is backed by most Americans, has not fatally dented Mr Trump’s hopes of re-election. 

Yesterday the Democrat-controlled committee leading the inquiry released transcripts of behind-closed-doors testimony from two key witnesses in the Ukraine scandal, which revolves around Mr Trump’s attempts to get the country to investigate Mr Biden. 

Accounts from Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, and Michael McKinley, a top State Department official, provided more detail into the saga that triggered the process of removing him from office. 

Ms Yovanovitch, who was ousted from her role, said she believed she was the victim of a conservative smear campaign which was in part pushed by Mr Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. 

Mr McKinley said that he lobbied inside the State Department for a public statement of support for Ms Yovanovitch to be issued but one was not issued. 

Mr Trump has defended his actions, arguing that he was justified in pushing for an investigation into Mr Biden because there was “corruption” to be uncovered. Mr Biden has always denied any wrongdoing. 

On Monday, a US federal appeals court ruled that Mr Trump’s tax returns can be turned over to New York prosecutors by his personal accountant.

Mr Trump has long opposed the release of his tax returns. His lawyers are expected to appeal, meaning a final decision would be made by the Supreme Court. 

ITASCA COUNTY, MN — Authorities in central Minnesota say an evacuation alert sent out Wednesday morning was an error. The alert came from Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and officials said the false alarm led to confusion and concern.

Homeland Security tests its alert system weekly; but on Wednesday, the message was publicly distributed by mistake. Making matters worse, the part of the message that says “this is a test” was cut off, according to authorities.

“There is no need to evacuate,” the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office said. “They had a glitch in their system. HSEM is aware of the mistake.”

One person wrote on the sheriff’s Facebook page that they “stopped in the process to driving my child to school” as a result of the alert. “Yikes”

The false evacuation alert was also sent in error to portions of St. Louis County.

According to Homeland Security, the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system “is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones.”

It’s only a matter of time before the new coronavirus spreads to communities across the United States, a top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official warned Tuesday.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, told reporters in a conference call the question is no longer if the coronavirus, now officially called COVID-19, will spread across the United States but when that will happen.

Communities, schools and businesses should begin preparing now for “the expectation that this could be bad,” Messonnier said.

“I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to everyday life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now,” she said. “You should think about what you would do for child care if schools or day cares closed.”

Globally, at least 80,000 people have been infected and 2,700 people have died from the new coronavirus, creating a global pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. It is spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.

The CDC said Monday that 53 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the United States. Three dozen of the patients are among passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined for weeks off the coast of Japan; three patients were infected in Wuhan, China, the center of the outbreak, and the others contracted the virus while traveling abroad.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a news conference Monday the “sudden increase in new cases” outside of China is “deeply concerning.”

Flu Versus The New Coronavirus

The symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to seasonal influenza, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Both are infectious respiratory illnesses, but they’re caused by different viruses.

Both cause fever, cough, body aches and fatigue, and can result in pneumonia. Both illnesses can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea. Both can be spread from person to person by sneezing, coughing or talking.

Related: Easy Ways To Avoid Getting Sick This Season

Common good-health practices such as frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home from work or school during the course of the illness can help control the spread of both illnesses.

Neither responds to antibiotic treatment, but both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Both illnesses can be severe enough to require hospitalization.

But there are some distinct differences between the two:

Flu is caused by several different types of viruses, while COVID-19 is caused by the new coronavirus, which is also called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

Johns Hopkins says there is some evidence COVID-19 could be airborne, “meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others even after the ill person is no longer near.”

GEORGIA — Severe storms and tornadoes took a deadly toll on northwest Georgia late Sunday and early Monday morning, with six people confirmed dead, according to media and public safety reports. Gov. Brian Kemp declared a statewide state of emergency Monday, following the severe storm damage across Georgia.

“We are praying for those who lost loved ones overnight and the families dealing with severe storm damage,” he said in a news release.

According to the Murray County Fire Department, five people were killed near Ridgeview Lane in Chatsworth, and several others were reported injured. The identities of the victims haven’t been released.

A man died early Monday morning in Cartersville when a tree fell on his bedroom, according to reports from multiple media outlets. His death is one of at least six reported in Georgia as severe weather tore through the Southeast late on Easter Sunday night, killing at least 18 throughout the region.

Several tornadoes are believed to have hit the area. Overnight, there were 40 tornado warnings issued across the state.

He said he’s working with state agencies and private partners to help people rebuild and recover from the damages.

The governor’s office said that as of Monday morning, 177,000 Georgians were without power. By 7:50 p.m. the number of outages stood at 30,267 statewide.

Kemp tweeted his condolences.

“This morning, several communities are grappling with serious storm damage, and I ask everyone to lift them up in prayer,” Kemp wrote. “Our hearts go out to the loved ones and friends of those we lost.”

Murray County Fire Chief Dewayne Bain told WAGA that the damage occurred around two mobile home parks. Adults from three separate homes died. Twenty-three people have been transported to the hospital for injuries, and four people are unaccounted for, Bain said.

Trees in the area were down and roads were blocked due to the storm. Murray County is about 90 miles northwest of Atlanta.

In Fulton County, a tornado was confirmed around 2:30 a.m. Monday near College Park and East Point, according to the National Weather Service. Trees fell onto cars and damaged property in the area.

In Upson County, winds were so strong that a house landed in the middle of Highway 74.

According to Georgia Power’s outage map, more than 150,000 people lost power in the state as of Monday morning. Restoration times varied.

A hazardous weather outlook had been issued Sunday for much of Georgia due to an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service had said that “environmental conditions indicate a possible severe weather outbreak for the forecast area.”

LOS ANGELES, CA — Wednesday marked the deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak in California, with the epicenter of the outbreak in Los Angeles. In all, 115 people died statewide from COVID-19 over the last day, and 68 of the fatal cases were clustered in Los Angeles County, officials said Thursday.

It’s a sign that California is not out the woods yet, said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who indicated that he would not lift the statewide shutdown orders in the face of mounting pressure to loosen restrictions. By Thursday, more than 1,500 Californians had died from the new coronavirus. Still, even as coronavirus cases spike in Los Angeles County, neighboring regions are lifting some restrictions.

Ventura, Orange, and Riverside counties began lifting some local coronavirus-related restrictions, namely golf course, park and beach closures. The approach is a stark contrast to Los Angeles, where health officials are urging restless residents to stay the course. According to the Los Angeles County public health director, an average of 44 people have died from COVID-19 in the county each day since April 12, making it the leading cause of death in Los Angeles County. On average, five people a day die from the flu each day during flu season in the county, while 31 per day die of coronary heart disease.

On Thursday, Los Angeles County reported another 1,081 cases of COVID-19, bringing the overall total to 17,508.

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“I wish I could prescribe a specific date to say, well, we can turn up the light switch and go back to normalcy,” Newsom told the Los Angeles Times. “We have tried to make it crystal clear that there is no light switch. And there is no date in terms of our capacity to provide the kind of clarity that I know so many of you demand and deserve.”

Earlier this week, county health and USC researchers released a study based on antibody testing that found as many as 5.6 percent of the county’s adult population had already been infected with coronavirus by early April. According to researchers, between 221,000 and 442,000 adults were already infected by early April. Based on those estimates, as many as 1 in 20 LA County adults have already been infected, most of whom hadn’t been tested or hospitalized for COVID-19, the diseases caused by the coronavirus. That’s 28 to 55 times higher than the 7,994 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the county by the time of the study in early April.

SEE ALSO

Hundreds Of Thousands In LA Infected With Coronavirus: StudyOutbreak At Tinseltown’s Nursing Home Claims Another LegendBanks Accused Of Rigging Aid Program Against Small BusinessesLA To List Restaurants With Coronavirus Outbreaks As Cases Spike

Despite the spike in cases, California has largely been able to avoid a worst-case scenario for the outbreak. The nation’s earliest shutdown orders have helped California hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients so far. Newly released epidemiological models show that California and Los Angeles should have enough hospital and ICU beds under the current stay-at-home orders.

“These numbers are a stark reminder for all of us of the importance of slowing the spread of COVID-19, because in slowing the spread we have the opportunity, each and every one of us, to save a life,” Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County’s public health director told the Times.

Included in LA county’s more than 17,000 cases are 100 homeless people, the majority of them due to an outbreak that remains under investigation at the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Ferrer said the county is still awaiting some test results from the facility, but officials said earlier this week that at least 56 people had tested positive, and one staff member has died.

A total of 286 institutional settings — including nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, shelters, jails and prisons — have had at least one case. Those institutions have accounted for a total of 3,343 cases, and 310 deaths, representing 39% of all coronavirus fatalities in the county. The vast majority of those deaths were residents of skilled nursing facilities, where testing is being ramped up this week to include all residents and staff regardless of whether they are showing any symptoms.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday night that testing will now be offered to all front-line workers — such as health care workers, grocery and pharmacy workers, firefighters and police officers — regardless of whether they were symptomatic. The 30-plus testing sites across the county had previously been restricted to people who were showing some type of symptoms.

Ferrer said more than 98,000 people have been tested to date across the county, with about 14% of them testing positive. She again encouraged people to get tested if they are showing symptoms, even if they might be afraid of learning the results.

“I know many people are scared of getting their results,” she said. “They’re worried that they won’t be able to manage if they’re found to be positive and need to isolate. But the county family is here to help you.”

Responding to reports that a pair of cats in New York and some animals in Hong Kong and Belgium had tested positive for the virus, Ferrer said cases in households pets are “fairly rare.” She said people who have tested positive for the virus or are in isolation with symptoms should avoid contact with pets. Other people, she said, should try to maintain basic hygiene.

“If you have pets, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands before and after you’ve been around any animals,” she said.

UPDATE: Atilis Gym reopened for a third straight day at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The crowd is reportedly smaller than it was on Tuesday. Read more here: NJ Gym Reportedly Opens For Third Straight Day Despite Murphy Warnings

BELLMAWR, NJ — A South Jersey gym that made national headlines when it reopened in violation of the governor’s executive order Monday reopened again Tuesday morning. And for the second straight day, the owners were issued a citation for reopening, according to the Bellmawr Police Department.

A gym member was also arrested as he left Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, and other members were warned they could be ticketed if they didn’t peacefully disperse.

The owners were charged with a violation of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order, Bellmawr Police Chief William Walsh said Tuesday morning. The police department had no further comment on the gathering. Calls to the gym by Patch on Tuesday morning were met with a busy signal.

News 12 posted footage on Twitter of the gym member’s arrest as he was leaving the gym Tuesday afternoon.

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That gym member returned to the parking lot a short time later, saying he was handcuffed after he refused to give his name to police. He told reporters he was issued citations for violating the executive order and obstruction.

The owners have warned members they could be arrested if they don’t identify themselves to police as they leave the gym, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Owner Frank Trumbetti had previously told members to “prepare to be arrested,” according to Fox 29.

The Law Offices of Jef Henniger has offered to represent for free gym members at Atilis Gym who get arrested in connection with violating the governor’s executive order.

“Unfortunately, at least one arrest was made today at Atilis Gym,” the law office said in a statement. “We continue to stand by to assist gym employees or members that get arrested today. If any protesters get arrested or cited, we can discuss the case with them as well. There is no need for a GoFundMe page because if we take the case, it will be pro bono. We will not take any money from anyone that was arrested today. We will either accept the case or we won’t, although we hope to be able to accept as many people as possible if there are multiple arrests.”

Speaking during a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Col. Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said the Bellmawr Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office are looking into additional charges against patrons.

“Prosecutors offices and local law enforcement are the first lines of attack,” Murphy said during the news conference, adding that the state was not “there yet” on reopening gyms. “It’s indoors, it’s close, physical activity. We’re concerned about it.”

Callahan said the state has been fairly even-handed across the board when it comes to businesses violating the executive order. Barbershops, massage parlors and other businesses have all been cited multiple times before eventually being shut down.

The owners could be fined up to $2,000, but owners Ian Smith and Trumbetti told 6ABC they plan to take the matter to court. An online fundraiser was also launched to help the gym raise money to pay for its court costs. It had raised over $24,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to NBC 10, police also told the crowd they were in violation of the governor’s order and were told to get in their cars. Smith and Trumbetti urged the crowd to listen to police, saying they are not the enemy. The scene and the aftermath were captured by NBC 10.

After being issued the citation, Trumbetti told the news station, “I will not close my doors again unless I am behind bars and unable to unlock the door. I guarantee you this door will be open every single day.”

Here is how the scene was portrayed by various media outlets:

On Tuesday, the owners were issued a disorderly persons summons for violating the portion of Murphy’s stay-at-home order that states all recreation and entertainment businesses must remain closed as long as the order is in effect, police said. The order was issued in March in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Members were given warnings, but Murphy said they would face a different reality if they returned on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear what the governor meant. Read more here: Gov. Murphy Warns Gym After It Reopens, Defying NJ Orders

After being issued the summons, Trumbetti told nj.com, “I’m not worried about jail.” He said the owners made a conscious decision to fight for the cause for everybody.

Camden County Freeholder Louis Cappelli Jr. has weighed in on the reopening of the gym, located in his county.

“Arbitrarily opening a nonessential business is breaking the law,” Cappelli said. “Having rallies with congregations of people close together without masks is putting people at risk to spread the virus. These capricious actions undermine the work we have all done and the progress we have made over the last two months.”

He acknowledged the incident has raised some good points as it relates to reopening businesses.

“There have been insightful ideas about progress with social distancing and protections that could be put in place for individual business owners to assimilate into the new normal we live in, but ultimately this is no way to advocate these ideas,” Cappelli said.

The gym’s mission first became known last week when Smith told Tucker Carlson on Fox News that he would defy the governor’s orders. If the state shut his gym down, he said, he would just reopen. Read more here: South Jersey Gym To Reopen In Defiance Of Coronavirus Orders

The owners announced the gym would reopen and follow social distancing guidelines and safety precautions, including taking the temperatures of members who wished to enter and denying access to anyone with a fever of 100.4 or higher. Capacity would also be limited to 44 people at a time.

Monday’s reopening drew a large crowd that broke out into chants throughout the gathering. Protesters wore shirts calling Murphy a “tyrant,” while a sign that appeared to be set up by the owners outside the gym read, “Let’s work together Mr. Murphy. Together we can do this.”

Read more: South Jersey Gym Reopens In Defiance Of Gov, Murphy’s Orders

Later, a Bellmawr police officer drew cheers from the large crowd that gathered to support the gym. He didn’t mention any summons that had been issued when he spoke just before 11 a.m.

“We are, and we’re only here for everybody’s safety today,” the officer said. “We planned for the worst, hoped for the best, and it seems like that’s what we have out here today. Formally, you are all in violation of the executive order.

“On that note, have a good day, everybody be safe,” the officer said.

Bellmawr police have not publicly addressed the incident. Bellmawr Mayor Charles J. Sauter III told the Philadelphia Inquirer he was “proud of the manner in which the Bellmawr Police Department conducted themselves this morning, as well as the respect shown toward our police officers by the general public.”

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