Oncast News · Washington

Police Open Prince Andrew Epstein Inquiry

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

Police Scotland opened an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Balmoral Castle after receiving “information.” The force says inquiries are at a very early stage. The Daily Express first reported the matter, saying it relates to claims women were trafficked to the king's private estate. Earlier this year, US Department of Justice files included images appearing to show Epstein and Maxwell on a shooting trip at Balmoral in 1999. In February, Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office; he was released on bail pending further investigation. He has repeatedly denied committing crimes.

The investigation follows the wider release of Epstein-related files and fresh information received by Police Scotland. Several UK police forces are examining the documents, and this is part of a broader reopening of scrutiny around Andrew's long-tainted association with Epstein.

A migrant boat that departed Gambia reached El Hierro in Spain's Canary Islands early Friday; two men were found dead, a baby was airlifted in critical condition, and 110 survivors were brought ashore.

Police Scotland confirmed it opened an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time at Balmoral with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The force said inquiries are at a very early stage. Joke/personal comment, not a factual claim. Political opinion about the Republican Party; no checkable factual assertion. Figurative/opinion comment, not a factual claim. Opinion/insult, not a checkable factual claim.

Al Jazeera reports Omani authorities rescued 25 people from a burning oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran said it had halted three oil tankers attempting to use unauthorized routes.

Al Jazeera reports North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for “absolute superiority” in drone capabilities.

Police Scotland confirmed an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

Police Scotland confirmed it opened an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time at Balmoral with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The force said inquiries are at a very early stage. Joke/personal comment, not a factual claim. Political opinion about the Republican Party; no checkable factual assertion. Figurative/opinion comment, not a factual claim. Opinion/insult, not a checkable factual claim.

Police in Scotland have opened an investigation into the time the former Prince Andrew spent with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, at the king’s Balmoral estate. Read more https://t.co/Eyk9mxWomM https://t.co/uoovCgWuwA

Original post · Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/30/police-in-scotland-launch-andrew-and-epstein-royal-castle-investigation), [theguardian.com](https://ww

VERIFIED TRUE

Al Jazeera reports Omani authorities rescued 25 people from a burning oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran said it had halted three oil tankers attempting to use unauthorized routes.

Oman rescues 25 from burning oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz - Incident comes as Iran says three oil tankers were halted while attempting to use 'unauthorised routes' to cross Hormuz.

Original post · Al Jazeera

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/30/oman-rescues-25-from-burning-oil-tanker-in-strait-of-hormuz?trafficsource=rss) NAMES: Strait of Hormuz

VERIFIED TRUE

Police Scotland confirmed an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein and Maxwell at Balmoral; the inquiry is at a very early stage.

Police in Scotland launch Andrew and Epstein royal castle investigation - Media reports say the inquiries are related to claims that women were trafficked to the king’s Balmoral estate.

Original post · Al Jazeera

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/30/police-in-scotland-launch-andrew-and-epstein-royal-castle-investigation), [theguardian.com](https://ww

VERIFIED TRUE

Al Jazeera reports Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized Max Dowman for a red card in a cup loss at Fleetwood, warning him against treating it like “Disneyland.”

Arsenal boss Arteta fires ‘Disneyland’ warning at Dowman after red card - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he blasted Max Dowman for red card in shock cup loss at Fleetwood.

Original post · Al Jazeera

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/30/arsenal-boss-arteta-fires-disneyland-warning-at-dowman-after-red-card?trafficsource=rss) NAMES: Mike

Sources

What the hosts said

BPolice Scotland has opened an investigation into Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Balmoral.
BAndrew is the king's younger brother. Balmoral is the royal family's private estate in Scotland.
BMaxwell is a convicted sex trafficker, Epstein a convicted sex offender before he died.
BAl Jazeera English just posted it on X. The force says it received information, and the inquiries are at a very early stage.
BThe Guardian reports detectives are looking at claims women were trafficked there in 1999.
BAndrew has denied wrongdoing. He was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
BArrested, released on bail, not charged. That's a legal distinction that matters.
BBut US Justice Department files showed Epstein and Maxwell on a shooting trip at Balmoral.
BSo the association is documented. The question is whether it proves a crime now.
BIt proves this should never have been brushed off as palace embarrassment. Those are trafficking allegations.
BAnd it's overdue. But police saying early stage means exactly that.
BThen why did the royal family keep him close for years after Epstein's first conviction?
BMaybe a family protects its own, but that's not a crime. We're not convicting him for bad judgment.
BNo, we're investigating whether his guests were used to traffic women. That's completely different.
BAnd victims should be at the center. Police Scotland says the inquiries are evidence-led.
BI'll give you that. But after Epstein died, many wondered if anyone would be held accountable.
BIf this inquiry is real, not another royal cycle, then good. I'll wait for charges.
BThe deeper issue is that the Epstein files appear to have prompted UK police to reopen it.
BExactly. Scrutiny from outside did what the institution would not.
BNow to the same ugliness on the water tonight.
BOn X, Reuters reports two dead after a migrant boat reached Spain's El Hierro.
BA baby is critically ill. More than a hundred survivors were brought ashore.
BThe boat left Gambia. That crossing is brutal.
BSpain handles rescue and medical care. But the smugglers still profit.
BWhat border? The boat reached a Spanish island, not a wall.
BThe sea collected the toll. Harsher enforcement hasn't stopped the boats.
BSo legal routes and real screening. That's the direction.
BAnd right now a baby is fighting for life. That's the policy debate in one image.
BOn X, Joseph Ford Cotto posted that the Trump-era Republican Party is heading in the right direction on immigration.
BHe says politics is about moving in the right direction, not demanding purity on every detail.
BDirection matters. Policy can't save everyone, but it can change numbers.
BFor the family watching a helicopter lift their child, direction is an abstraction.
BOh, come on. That's not an argument. It's a feeling.
BNo, it's the human cost of years of direction talk with no legal entry for Gambians.
BBecause Europe can't agree. Spain rescues, Morocco returns, smugglers keep sailing.
BExactly. So maybe the victory lap on direction is premature while the sea is full of bodies.
BFine. Direction without result is hollow. But this boat left Gambia, not Washington.
BNo one blamed Washington for the boat. I said no side has fixed the route.
BThen fix it. I'll focus on the rescue, not the slogan.
BMeanwhile, North Korea's Kim Jong Un wants absolute superiority in drones.
BAl Jazeera reports it. That phrase should keep Pentagon planners awake.
BReports say the regime has flown drones into South Korean airspace. Now it wants better ones.
BDrones are cheap, disposable, and hard to defend against.
BAnd Pyongyang is said to share missile tech too. That could close the gap.
BWe'll watch it. For now, two stories about human life, and one about a man who wants machines to win.

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