An 18-year-old driver accused of crashing into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters has reportedly been placed at risk of a revenge attack after a relative of one of the injured spectators allegedly arranged a “hit” through outlaw motorcycle gang associates.

Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe was granted bail on Friday, six days after the crash injured 10 people, including children, as thousands gathered to see off the Knights before the NRL grand final.

The teenager’s safety has reportedly become a major concern for authorities amid claims that a family member of one of the injured fans has connections to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.

Police were allegedly alerted to a serious threat within hours of Samarasinghe’s arrest, raising fears he could be attacked while in custody.

“It’s a family member of one of the people who got hurt,” a source familiar with the investigation told the Daily Mail on Friday.

“We heard he had put out a hit on the kid through his bikie mates. Police have to take that kind of information very seriously.

“He was immediately placed on a high-risk prisoner list and transferred from Newcastle to Sydney.”

Asked about the alleged threat against Samarasinghe, a NSW Police spokesperson said: “No comment will be provided at this time as the matter is before the court.”

Samarasinghe, who faces nine charges over the incident, was released from the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater on Friday. His bail conditions include a night-time curfew, daily reporting to police and a total ban on driving.

The court heard that additional charges may be laid. Judge Trevor Khan described the crash as “extraordinary”.

“It’s serious. People have sustained very serious injuries,” he said.

“It was a day where there was red and blue jumpers everywhere all along the roads. Thousands of people [were] along the roads.

“Thousands use this roadway and I’ve got to say none of them end up having spun out off the roadway.”

The court was told Samarasinghe had previously been caught driving more than 10km/h above the speed limit while holding a provisional licence. He was also detected speeding on two other occasions.

His lawyer argued that Samarasinghe would be vulnerable in custody because he is young and had reportedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Judge Khan rejected the evidence as “weak” and questioned the basis on which the diagnosis had been made.

‘An accredited mental health social worker who has not said how they came to the conclusion that he has PTSD, that seems pretty light,’ he said.

‘I’m not giving it much weight. How have they come to this conclusion? 

‘I have to say your client is 18, not been in jail before… if he is not suffering stress, I don’t know when he would.’

Despite his reservations about the medical evidence, Judge Khan said it was not the court’s role to use bail as a form of punishment.

‘My job is not to reflect community outrage,’ he said.

Samarasinghe was released on strict bail conditions into the care of his mother Nicola ‘Nik’ Bambrick in Sydney.

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He is not allowed out between 8pm and 7am and must always be accompanied by at least one of his parents during the day.

Samarasinghe was ordered to surrender his passport and report to police daily, and is banned from entering an international airport, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and driving.

Judge Khan added: ‘Is there any other passports? I know you can’t draw conclusion based from a name, but people do.’

His lawyer confirmed that the accused was born in Australia, was Australian and only had an Australian passport.

The teenager appeared before Newcastle Local Court via video link in a neck brace, although his barrister, Chun-Yuan Shieh, declined to answer questions from waiting reporters about why he was wearing it. 

A five-year-old girl and a man, 67, were both critically injured in the crash, but their conditions later improved to serious but stable.

Six of the 10 people injured in the incident have been discharged, but four remain in hospital.

The Daily Mail understands Samarasinghe became overwhelmed with emotion during his initial police interview after learning that a young girl was among those fighting for life following the crash.

‘He was informed that one of the people rushed to hospital was a young child and, at that stage, she was in a critical condition,’ the source said.

‘He broke down sobbing when he heard that, and he was genuinely remorseful.’

The alleged bikie threat emerged as the teenager and his family became the targets of an extraordinary wave of online abuse after social media users identified him through his BMW’s distinctive personalised number plate ‘INDIKA’.

Within hours of the crash, his name, photographs and personal information had been circulated online, along with details identifying relatives and friends.

‘People found his TikTok accounts and there were a lot of public threats to his safety and his mates too,’ the source said.

It comes after the Mail revealed exclusive details about Samarasinghe’s background as a privately educated eastern suburbs teen with successful, multicultural parents.

Samarasinghe, who attended the prestigious Catholic boys’ school Waverley College, was known on the quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac where he lives in a $4million home for two things: his gold BMW with personalised number plates and the noise it made.

He has lived on one of the prettiest streets in Randwick, in Sydney’s east, with his designer-loving mum and younger brother Cassius for almost five years.

His mother Nik, a NSW Government service designer who works for the Australian Digital Health Agency, bought her semi-detached four-bedroom home with her sons’ father, Sunil Samarasinghe, in early 2022.

Sunil, who is originally from the UK and is the Head of Technology at the Woolworths Group, lives at a different address in the eastern suburbs, at Woollahra.

On since-deleted social media accounts, Samarasinghe appeared to have a carefree life clubbing with friends and travelling overseas with his mother and brother, most recently visiting Japan.

Soon after getting his licence, Samarasinghe started driving the 2006 gold BMW convertible with the registration plate ‘INDIKA’, which he parked on his home street.

According to different neighbours, the vehicle was ‘noisy’, as though it lacked conventional soundproofing devices such as a muffler or exhaust baffle.

‘He said, “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Like, he didn’t refuse to listen, he wasn’t rude or arrogant, he was quite polite.’

Another resident, however, said they hadn’t seen Samarasinghe speeding the car in the street, adding that he, his mother and brother were ‘nice people, good neighbours’, and that Indika was often seen ‘in his school uniform, parking the car across the street’. 

Samarasinghe went to Waverley College through to Year 10, and is believed to have changed to a different school after that.  

He was reported as having his licence suspended in February this year.

Both his mother and father declined to speak with the Mail, with Nicola Bambrick telling us: ‘I have been told not to say anything.’

When the red P-plater was arrested last Saturday and his distinctive vehicle was shown in media coverage, many of his neighbours were in shock.

One said, ‘I’m sorry for the people who were hurt. I feel for all sides in this.’

Spanish police have rescued 25 vulnerable women who were allegedly forced into prostitution by a human trafficking gang accused of bringing them to Ibiza with promises of non-existent jobs.

After arriving in Spain, the young women—most of them from Venezuela—allegedly had their cash and personal belongings taken from them. They were also told they owed the criminal group €5,000 (£4,236), which they had to repay.

The victims, aged between 18 and 25, were allegedly coerced into prostitution and forced to take part in trafficking and money-laundering activities, according to the Civil Guard.

Police launched a major rescue operation on Monday, freeing all 25 women from captivity and arresting four people suspected of involvement in the gang.

Spanish police said yesterday: ‘The Civil Guard has freed 25 women, arrested four people and dismantled a criminal organisation based on the island of Ibiza dedicated to human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

‘Those arrested are suspected of forced prostitution, drug trafficking and money laundering.

‘The operation, named Gecaroni, concluded on October 5 and was led by Judicial Police officers from the Crimes Against Persons Area of the Civil Guard in the Balearic Islands.

‘The criminal organisation offered fake hospitality and manicure jobs to women, mainly Venezuelans aged between 18 and 25, who came from particularly vulnerable backgrounds.

‘Using these false offers, the gang persuaded the women to travel to Spain.

‘After they arrived, members of the network collected them from the airport and confiscated some of their belongings and the money they had brought with them.

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‘They were then taken to properties connected to the organisation and told they had built up a debt of around €5,000, which they had to repay by providing sexual services.’

Investigators said the women were allegedly kept under strict control and required to remain available to provide the services demanded of them.

The gang allegedly exploited the women’s irregular immigration status to create fear and stop them from seeking medical care, contacting police or accessing other support services, the Civil Guard said.

During four raids in Ibiza, officers discovered surveillance and video-monitoring systems allegedly used by the gang to track the women’s movements.

Police also seized almost €120,000 (£102,000) in cash, believed to be proceeds from sexual exploitation and drug trafficking, along with several electronic devices and surveillance equipment.

According to the Civil Guard, the syndicate contacted clients through messaging apps and assigned the women to specific locations in Ibiza’s Platja d’en Bossa entertainment district.

From there, they would be taken to clients’ homes. 

Investigators also found that the organisation made money from selling customers ‘sexual enhancers’ as well as narcotics. 

This money paid for some members of the gang to rent luxury homes and vehicles, allowing them to ‘maintain a high standard of living’, according to the Civil Guard. 

Police also said they believe they have uncovered a ‘network and the possible use of companies linked to (the gang’s leader to launder the profits from illicit activities’.

The Greens may be unable to revise their “Zionism is Racism” policy for another two years, despite leader Zack Polanski saying he wants it changed.

Mr Polanski has been under mounting pressure to calm the backlash over the policy, which was approved at the party’s conference in Brighton last weekend.

On Friday, a chastened Mr Polanski said he wanted the position changed at the “earliest opportunity”. Critics argue the policy implies the destruction of the Israeli state.

His comments came as he fought to retain his leadership after Labour humiliatingly defeated the Greens in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election. Fresh polling also showed that his popularity had fallen further following the latest turmoil.

However, questions have emerged over how soon the policy could be amended under the party’s rules.

The Greens’ Standing Orders Committee will decide whether a new motion can be debated at the party’s spring conference in Leeds in March.

However, the rules indicate that a proposal should be rejected if it “significantly amends the principles passed in a policy motion or voting paper less than one year and nine months previously”, according to the Telegraph.

If that interpretation is applied, the policy could not be changed until the autumn conference in 2028.

Party sources told the Daily Mail that there were too many “variables” to say “definitely” when the policy might be revised.

A Green spokesman said: “We’re a democratic party. Any member can submit a motion to change existing party policy, to be voted on by the membership.

“It is up to our Standing Orders Committee to rule motions going to conference in or out of order according to our constitution.”

Speaking to the media after Friday’s by-election result, Mr Polanski said he was “absolutely” intending to remain as party leader.

He also defended his decision to leave the conference and abstain from the vote on the Zionism motion, which critics have condemned as anti-Semitic.

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Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, said he had been campaigning in “one of the most important elections in our recent history”, adding that voters had wanted to see him on the ground.

Asked whether he supported the motion, Mr Polanski told Sky News: “I would have supported the motion as amended. It wasn’t amended, so no.”

He continued: “Ultimately, I agree with the substance of the motion. Where I disagree is the idea the Green Party should be deciding what the future of the region looks like.”

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Polanski repeatedly declined to say whether he believed Israel should continue to exist. “What I want is to see a safe space for Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.

He added: “At the earliest possible opportunity, I do want, at a conference motion, to see us go back to a process where Israelis and Palestinians decide the future of their region.”

‘Now, that’s up to members because we’re a grassroots party.’

One of the five Green MPs, Ellie Chowns, said yesterday there had been a ‘lack of leadership’ from Mr Polanski on the Zionism motion.

She warned the party must ensure it was not ‘vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists’. The motion passed at the Brighton conference with around 1,000 members voting in favour and some 800 against – suggesting on a very small proportion of activists participated.

Ms Chowns told the BBC: ‘I think it is clear that if we have policy, such significant and damaging policy, made by a vote of just 0.4 per cent of our members, that something isn’t working in our structures and our policy-making process.

‘And I don’t think that policy ‘Zionism as racism’ represents the views of the large majority of Green Party members, nor of people in the country.

‘And I do think that it’s a problem that this has come to dominate the conversation about the Green Party over the past week.’

Asked if there were ‘extremists and racists’ entering the Greens that needed to be dealt with, she said: ‘I don’t know if there are extremists and racists in my party, but I want to make sure that my party isn’t vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists.

‘I want to make sure that my party’s policies represent the views of the majority of members of the Green Party who absolutely are not that sort of person at all.’

Opinium research released this weekend found Mr Polanski’s personal ratings fell another seven points over the past week, to a net score of minus 29. 

That makes him the most unpopular main party leader, behind Nigel Farage. 

A man who was fatally mauled at a Yorkshire zoo is believed to have made a hand signal meaning “bad” in an apparent attempt to deter the tiger shortly after entering its enclosure.

The unidentified man died on Saturday afternoon after climbing into the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, where he was attacked by Altai, a 30-stone Siberian tiger.

Emergency crews, including two ambulances and a helicopter, were called to the park at about 1.35pm. Despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering severe injuries.

The man, thought to have been in his 20s, was filmed being circled by Altai before the tiger pawed at his back and shook him violently.

During the attack, footage appears to show the man raising a clenched fist and wagging his little finger at the tiger. The gesture prompted speculation that he was trying to communicate using Makaton.

Makaton is a communication system separate from British Sign Language. It combines hand signs, symbols, pictures and speech, and is commonly used by people who have difficulty expressing themselves.

Social media users on X quickly suggested the gesture had a specific meaning. One wrote that the man appeared to be “using Makaton there” by pointing his little finger with a clenched fist to signify “bad”.

Another user agreed, saying: “He’s using Makaton signs in the video, ie sticking his pinky up which means ‘bad’.” A third said the man’s “mannerisms and hand signals” appeared consistent with the communication system.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed on Sunday that Altai would not be put down following the fatal incident.

“Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger,” the park said in an updated statement.

“We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.”

“We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident.”

The development came as video shared online appeared to show the man asking fellow visitors to take a photograph of him with the tiger shortly before the fatal attack.

In a clip posted to X, the man can be heard saying: “Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?” In the background, Altai is lying beneath a shaded tree and playing with a fallen branch.

A woman agrees to take the picture, saying “yeah”, before the recording goes quiet and the man thanks her.

He then asks her for “one more” photograph three times before thanking her again, saying: “Thank you, lady.”

It was only minutes later witnesses watched in horror as the man then climbed into the enclosure, where he was heard crying ‘no, no’ as the tiger launched his attack. 

In further footage, a woman’s voice can be heard saying: ‘I tried to stop him’, while zoo keepers raced to the scene armed with gas-powered acoustic guns, firing five loud, shotgun-like blasts close to the predator in an attempt to drive Altai off.

A witness told The Mail on Sunday the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to ‘psyche himself up’ by performing a ‘dance’ in the spectator area before climbing the fence.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service sent two road ambulances plus an air ambulance. Paramedics with blood transfusion kits were seen desperately trying to save the victim, but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed he had died from his injuries.

Keepers were later seen wrapping black plastic sheeting around a section of the enclosure to shield it from view.

Police said they received reports at 1.35pm of a man entering the enclosure. A statement said: ‘The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.

‘Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.’

Officers urged people not to share footage of the attack.

The tiger was uninjured and remained in its enclosure, the force added, saying there was no wider risk to the public. 

The park, near Doncaster, said it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what happened.

The attraction was evacuated after the attack and will remain shut today. One witness praised staff for remaining calm during the incident.

Altai arrived at the park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born.

A Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesman said on Saturday night: ‘We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure. 

‘Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services attended the scene.

‘We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.’

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land Of The Tigers area opening in 2011. 

It is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Siberian tigers, an endangered species with around 500 left in the wild. Photos show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.

The attack comes only four months after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile pit by a man in Cambridgeshire.

Were YOU at Yorkshire Wildlife Park? Email caitlin.leng@dailymail.co.uk