Aaron Walawalkar

A joint investigation by Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates has found that 12 universities paid a private company, led by ex-military intelligence officials, to profile academics and scan social media use by students. Al Jazeera’s @N_Linhhh explains.

AJ Exclusive: Twelve UK universities paid a private firm run by former military intelligence officials to 'spy' on student protesters and academics, including those who have expressed solidarity with Palestine, it can be revealed aje.news/30ic1p

‘British universities paid security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestine students’ WTAF! aje.news/30ic1p

Tomorrow’s Herald on Sunday front page. #tomorrowspaperstoday

Repeated failings at migrant hotel where asylum seeker killed himself exposed Dedicated reporting into the death of Victor Pereira Vargas at a Home Office asylum hotel from @libertyhq @AaronWala published with @Independent independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

Great work from our team @itsjoshmilton and the amazing Liberty Investigates @AaronWala and @HarrietClugston to pull it all together and to be recognised in one of the most prestigious awards in journalism is class.

Our journalism has been nominated for the @PrivateEyeNews Paul Foot Award Congrats to @HarrietClugston @AaronWala and @IzzyLosseff for such a great team and such an important piece

From the carer’s allowance scandal to an investigation into British universities’ harsh measures against pro-Palestinian protests on campus... The shortlist for the 2025 Paul Foot Award for Investigative Journalism has been announced!  The winner, who will receive a prize of £8,000, will be announced by Ian Hislop on May 20. Shortlist: private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-award

Our @AaronWala and @HarrietClugston have been shortlisted for the @PrivateEyeNews Paul Foot Award for their work uncovering the inside story of a crackdown on student Gaza activism at UK universities. A thread on their reports with @MetroUK, @SkyNews and @guardian 🧵

How are pro-Palestinian student protests being policed? Our investigation has found instances of universities reporting protesters to police, starting dozens of disciplinaries, and in some instances universities collaborating with private surveillance firms. Watch my report here with @IzzyLosseff and @AaronWala

NEW Today we publish our latest investigation with @SkyNews revealing the extent of disciplinary actions universities have taken over pro-Palestine protests - and the level of collaboration between unis, the police and even private intelligence firms🧵1/ news.sky.com/story/new-evid…

NEW A coroner has demanded action to prevent further suicides in immigration detention, criticising a detention centre operator for not letting a mother hug her distraught son before he took his life. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

The report, obtained by @LInvestigates @AaronWala who have been following this case closely, was sent to the home secretary, NHS England and Mitie. More here: independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

Maria, Frank's mother, said: “I was desperate to just give him a hug as I believed this was a way to bring him back to reality." The coroner has also criticised the failure of the detention centre GP to make a report about Frank's suicide attempts.

A coroner has criticised a detention centre operator for not letting a mother hug her distraught son before he took his life. In a prevention of future deaths report, a coroner has raised concerns about why Frank Ospina's mother was only able to see him through a glass screen.

Today is my last day at @openDemocracy. It has been an incredible six years or so, full of investigations, reports, information tribunals, prizes and nominations, speeches and events (as well as sparking a parliamentary inquiry and organising a major FOI conference).

Immigration detainee died after Home Office centre’s ‘multiple failings’ 🔴 Frank Ospina, a Colombian national, lay undiscovered for at least two hours on 26 March last year trib.al/mYchaDF

Migrants held at a Home Office detention centre faced a month-long wait for mental health assessments at the time one man took his own life. Read our report below libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/migra… 🧵1/5 CW: suicide

This week LI has been reporting from this tragic inquest into the death of Frank Ospina, who died after spending three weeks in a privately-run Home Office immigration removal centre. He was on twice-hourly observations at the time following self harm/suicide attempts.

A vulnerable man put on suicide watch in a Home Office immigration removal centre may have lain undiscovered for hours after taking his own life, an inquest into his death has heard. 1/4 libertyinvestigates.org.uk/articles/man-o…