The World Cup is finally underway, and our reporter Zak Garner-Purkis was in Mexico City for the opening game between the host nation and South Africa. He joined hordes of fans crossing the US border from El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, wearing his Mexico shirt and a sombrero. As he stepped over the footbridge, he was bombarded with safety warnings. Ciudad Juarez has been ranked the murder capital of the world, and while violence has decreased, it remains the 14th most dangerous city globally due to cartels smuggling drugs to the USA. Our man was undeterred and joined fans shouting Viva Mexico! He provided an entertaining account and video away from the football itself, and more importantly, he survived to tell the tale.
D-Day Coverage
Our coverage of the D-Day ceremony in Normandy was truly exceptional. Chief reporter Giles Sheldrick and photographer Jonathan Buckmaster secured access to the last few remaining veterans, including an exclusive interview with 100-year-old veteran Paul Terry. Paul returned to Sword Beach for the first time in 82 years to remember his fallen colleagues. In a highly emotional moment, the hero threw a poppy wreath into the sea as a tribute. Jonathan donned waders to capture the brilliant image, which graced our front page. The subsequent interview was written by Giles for a piece that formed part of our unrivalled eight-page coverage. It may be the last time our D-Day heroes make it to Normandy, so we were determined to cover it extensively. The story of heroism which secured our freedoms must be passed on to future generations.
Migrant Camp Investigation
Investigations editor Zak Garner-Purkis and video producer Dan Dove travelled to Dunkirk, northern France, to investigate migrant camps. They found drugs being sold openly, people smugglers operating openly, and even a stall selling life jackets. The brazen operation was taking place in plain sight with little intervention from French authorities. The camp clearly fostered dangerous small boat attempts across the Channel. Zak used an undercover reporter to infiltrate the camp and speak to a migrant determined to cross and join a criminal gang in Britain to fight and stab. It was a brilliant piece of investigative work that produced a series of stories and an excellent Express Reports documentary.
Belfast Protests
Conor Wilson headed to Belfast to cover demonstrations after a brutal knife attack. He reported on widespread disorder for express.co.uk and the newspaper, witnessing burning cars and smashed windows on the Shankill Road. He and photographer Phil Harris worked in volatile conditions; Phil was verbally threatened after protestors spotted his camera and had to leave. Conor ploughed on alone but was followed by an ominous group in a van. He wisely left the area and hid as the gang continued to look for him. Undaunted, he filed a live video report while crouched down, giving a detailed account for the live blog. Conor's determined efforts yielded a compelling firsthand account of tension and violence. His Army background proved useful as he sensed danger and backed off to ensure safety, continuing filming once in a safer area.
Madeleine McCann Suspect
Richard Ashmore got an exclusive on Madeleine McCann disappearance suspect Christian Brueckner through his German police contacts. Richard visited Kiel to try to speak to Brueckner and was tipped off that a German court ordered his 24/7 police surveillance to end. The paedophile will soon be free to roam the streets without supervision, wearing only an ankle tag. A parent involved in protest groups said, To say I'm astonished and outraged is an understatement. This is the guy who has previous, a high-risk repeat offender who has played cat and mouse with the police.
