Alice Gross: Body Found In Hunt For Suspect

Police hunting for a Latvian man suspected of murdering teenager Alice Gross have found a body in dense woodland.

Convicted killer Arnis Zalkalns is the prime suspect in the disappearance of the 14-year-old, who was found dead in the River Brent on Tuesday, following an extensive search.

An area of Boston Manor Park in west London has been cordoned off - a mile from where Alice's body was discovered.

Zalkalns was named the prime suspect after Alice went missing

In a statement the Metropolitan Police said: "We can confirm that officers working on the Alice Gross murder investigation, in their continued widening search have today (Saturday) found the body of a man in dense woodland in Boston Manor Park.

"More details will be released as appropriate."

Video: CCTV Footage Shows Alice Suspect

Zalkalns was filmed cycling along the same route behind Alice on the day she failed to return to her home in Hanwell on 28 August.

He was reported as missing just days later.

The 41-year-old worked at a building site in Isleworth, west London, and is thought to have come to the UK in 2007.

Authorities faced criticism for apparently holding no record of his conviction for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife Rudite to death in Latvia.

It also emerged Zalkalns was arrested in London on suspicion of indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2009, but was never charged.

Video: Alice Gross Police Statement

Police had warned he "clearly poses a risk to the public" and urged anyone who saw him not to approach him.

Alice was last seen on CCTV walking along the Grand Union Canal towards Hanwell at 4.26pm on August 28.

Her disappearance sparked a huge police search - the Met's largest since the 7/7 bombings.

Hundreds of officers from several forces around the country were involved in the investigation, while the RAF was also drafted in to help identify new search areas.

She was found dead more than five weeks after disappearing.

Video: Alice Gross Suspect's Home Searched

Launching a murder hunt, police said  "significant efforts" were taken to conceal her body in the water.

A post-mortem examination on the schoolgirl was inconclusive and further tests are to be carried out to find out how she died.

Zalkalns had not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone since September 3, nor had he returned home to his partner and young child.

He also left behind his passport.

Forensic officers searched his semi-detached house in Ealing, as part of their investigation.

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarkson: Falklands Row Mob Attack 'Terrifying'

Jeremy Clarkson has told how he and his Top Gear crew were attacked by an angry crowd armed with rocks and pickaxe handles - saying it was "the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in".

The 54-year-old was in Argentina filming a special for his TV show when his team had to abandon their cars on the roadside as they were pelted with stones.

The violence was sparked by Clarkson driving a Porsche with the registration plate H982 FKL, which some interpreted as a dig over the Falklands conflict of 1982.

A mob rounded on Clarkson and fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May near the southern city of Ushuaia and tried to attack them with pickaxe handles while yelling "burn their cars".

Clarkson said his car's number plate was pure coincidence

Clarkson told The Sun: "I've been to Iraq and Afghanistan, but this was the most terrifying thing I've ever been involved in.

"There were hundreds of them. They were hurling rocks and bricks at our cars. This is not just some kind of jolly Top Gear jape - this was deadly serious."

BBC bosses said the number plate was a coincidence and was not chosen deliberately, but it led to protests in Argentina, including a demonstration by war veterans outside the team's hotel.

Clarkson said someone could have been killed during the attack after returning to the UK on Saturday morning.

In a series of Tweets, he said: "All TG crew now safely out of Argentina. I just got back to UK.

"The number plate WAS a coincidence. When it was pointed out to us, we changed it.

"And these war veterans we upset. Mostly they were in their 20s. Do the maths.

"They threw us out for the political capital. Thousands chased crew to border. Someone could have been killed.

"This was not a jolly jape that went awry. For once, we did nothing wrong."

Top Gear's executive producer Andy Wilman said: "Top Gear production purchased three cars for a forthcoming programme; to suggest that this car was either chosen for its number plate, or that an alternative number plate was substituted for the original, is completely untrue."

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beheading Devastates Aid Worker's Home Town

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent, in Eccles 

News of the murder of Alan Henning has shocked those who live in his home town of Eccles in Greater Manchester.

The 47-year-old worked as a taxi driver here before deciding to join an aid convoy to Syria last Christmas.

Vigils had been held for Mr Henning in churches, mosques and community centres over the past two weeks.

The Rt Rev David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, said the "brutality" of the Islamic State would unite the community.

Alan Henning worked as a tax driver before joining an aid convoy to Syria

"In his life Alan Henning united people across the boundaries of nationality and faith.

"He did so both through his humanitarian actions and by the love that drove him on.

Video: Shock At Murder Of Alan Henning

"That his tragic death continues to unite people across Britain and beyond is demonstrated today by the range of people and organisations paying him tribute.

"To ISIS we say 'You no longer have the power to shock us, now you just sicken us.

"Your brutality, against any who don't share your narrow, perverted world view, doesn't undermine our determination, it stiffens our resolve.

Video: PM Pledges 'All Assets' Against IS

"Your destiny is not to be a force in human history, merely one of its sad footnotes'."

Orlando Napolitano, 68, who runs a cafe in Salford, where Mr Henning was a regular has spoken of his shock at his friend's murder.

"He was just a nice guy. I will never forget him," he told Sky News.

Video: UK Muslims 'Disgusted'

Local Pastor Bill Green, from the Gateway Community Church, had led some of the vigils.

He told Sky News: "Eccles is waking up to horrific news. People will be devastated. It's a close-knit community especially where Alan and his family live and I'd like to send my sympathies to Barbara and family at this time.

"The people of this town never lost hope we always thought there was a chance that he might come back and we came together and prayed that would happen. It hasn't happened."

Video: Al Qaeda Could Not Free Henning

Yellow ribbons adorned lamposts and railings across the town in a symbol of hope for Mr Henning.

Just days ago his wife Barbara made an emotional plea to the Islamic State for her husband's safe return.

1/6

1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

   Alan Henning, 47, was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. Friends gave him the nickname "gadget" due to his love of technology

2. He was married for 23 years and he had a teenage son and daughter

3. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

4. Mr Henning saw the plight of Syrian people and volunteered with a Muslim charity. He had been to the region at least three times

5. He drove life-saving medical equipment from the UK to Syria in old ambulances. He left in December 2013 to make the 4,000-mile trip

6. He was kidnapped by IS in Syria by masked men. He may have been held in Ad Dana near Aleppo, then Raqqa

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

American Hostage Parents Issue Video Plea

By Sky News US Team

The parents of American hostage Abdul-Rahman Kassig, formerly known as Peter, have issued a video plea asking for his safe return.

Mr Kassig appeared at the end of a clip posted online on Friday that showed the killing of British aid worker Alan Henning by an Islamic State militant.

Ed and Paula Kassig pleaded with their son's captors to let him go in a video statement released on Saturday.

Mr Kassig converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman

"We implore those who are holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go," Mr Kassig's father said.

Mrs Kassig, speaking directly to her son, added: "Most of all, know that we love you, and our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so we can hug you again and then set you free to continue the life you have chosen, the life of service to those in greatest need."

Video: IS Threatens To Kill US Hostage

Ed Kassig said his son, who founded an organisation that provides aid to Syrians impacted by the country's civil war "grew to love and admire the Syrian people and felt at home there".

Peter Kassig changed his name to Abdul-Rahman after years of humanitarian work in the region "culminated in him embracing Islam", his father added.

A family spokesperson previously said that Mr Kassig's faith "has provided him comfort during his long captivity".

The 26-year-old Indiana native and Iraq War veteran was captured by IS militants on 1 October 2013 while en route to Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.

Video: UK Muslims 'Disgusted'

At the end of the video showing Mr Henning's murder, an IS militant spoke directly to President Barack Obama as he threatened to kill Mr Kassig next.

He said: "Obama, you have started your aerial bombardment in Sham. So it's only right we continue to strike the necks of your people."

In the plea for his son's release, Mr Kassig said: "We asked our government to change its actions, but like our son, we have no more control over the US government than you have over the break of dawn."

On Friday, Mr Obama condemned Mr Henning's "brutal" murder, saying that the US would bring those responsible to justice.

Video: 'IS Call To Send Ground Troops'

Four IS hostages - two Americans and two Britons - have been killed since the US-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria began on 8 August.

An estimated 15 to 20 hostages are still being held by the extremist group, according to the AP news agency.

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Muslims Say Beheadings Are An Insult To Islam

Muslims have condemned the murder of aid worker Alan Henning, branding it a "cowardly and criminal act".

In a strongly worded statement, the Muslims of the North Of England said Mr Henning had been a "local and national hero" and called for justice to be carried out on his killers.

Muslim leaders said the beheading of Mr Henning had been carried out on the eve of the "great day of mercy" (Eid Al-Adha) in the Islamic calendar, which set the terrorists apart from ordinary Muslims.

Alan Henning's widow, Barbara

And they condemned the way in which the jihadists had toyed with the family's emotions.

"The killing of Alan Henning was a cowardly and criminal act of appalling brutality by a group who do not represent Islam at all and in fact are an insult to the Islamic faith," they said in a statement.

1/6

1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

   Alan Henning, 47, was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. Friends gave him the nickname "gadget" due to his love of technology

2. He was married for 23 years and he had a teenage son and daughter

3. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

4. Mr Henning saw the plight of Syrian people and volunteered with a Muslim charity. He had been to the region at least three times

5. He drove life-saving medical equipment from the UK to Syria in old ambulances. He left in December 2013 to make the 4,000-mile trip

6. He was kidnapped by IS in Syria by masked men. He may have been held in Ad Dana near Aleppo, then Raqqa

"The killing of Alan Henning marks the beginning of the end of this group. We now call for justice to be carried out on the killers of Alan Henning."

Speaking to Sky News, Naved Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of Britain, said there were "very clear distinctions" between the jihadists and ordinary Muslims.

He said that what had sickened people most was the "way in which they were toying with the family. Giving them a glimmer of hope".

Video: Latest Analysis: Sky's Joey Jones

Mr Siddiqi said Muslim leaders were still trying to understand why young Muslims were travelling out to Syria and Iraq to join Islamic State fighters.

He said he thought a great number were expecting to find "some sort of utopia" and only by questioning them on their return could the Muslim community understand why those born and brought up in Britain were seeking to join the terrorists.

Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "This reported murder is a despicable and offensive act, coming as it does on the eve of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha.

Video: Eccles Pastor: 'It's Gut-wrenching'

"It is quite clear that the murderers of Alan Henning have no regard for Islam, or for the Muslims around the world who pleaded for his life.

"Alan was a friend of Muslims, and he will be mourned by Muslims.

"In this period of Hajj and this festival of Eid, Muslims remember the mercy of God and the emphasis God places on human life.

Video: Alan Henning Beheaded In IS Video

"Alan Henning's murderers have clearly gone against that spirit of Islam. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Sara Khan of Inspire, an anti-extremist campaign group of British Muslim women, said: "The only thing that the killing of Alan has achieved is greater revulsion for ISIS and the fact that more people from across our world, within our communities, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, are united in their stance against their barbarity and inhumanity."

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hong Kong Protesters Get Ultimatum On Demos

Hong Kong's leader has issued a stark warning to protesters, telling them they have until Monday to clear key roads on the island.

In a statement, chief executive Leung Chun-ying said the government and the police would take all action necessary to restore order and allow the territory's seven million citizens "to resume their normal work and life".

The ultimatum came after campaigners postponed talks with the government over political reforms, following violent street clashes between pro-democracy protesters and opposition groups.

Police arrested 19 people, including suspected triad gang members.

Demonstrators make their views known with a protest sculpture and road sign

At least 12 people, including six police officers, were injured during the scuffles.

The authorities have been accused of turning a blind eye to the violence or even using hired thugs to stir up trouble, although this was angrily denied by Hong Kong's security chief.

Video: Hong Kong Talks Called Off

Amnesty International issued a statement criticising the police for "(failing) in their duty to protect hundreds of peaceful pro-democracy protesters from attacks by counter demonstrators".

And Democrat lawmaker James To said: "The government has used organised, orchestrated forces and even triad gangs in an attempt to disperse citizens."

But Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said: "These accusations are made up and are very excessive."

Video: Hong Kong Protesters Clash

The standoff is the biggest challenge to Beijing's authority since it took over the former British colony in 1997, with tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists occupying the streets in the packed Mong Kok and Causeway Bay districts.

Setting a Monday deadline for the protesters to disperse, Mr Leung said: "The government and the police have the responsibility and resolution to take all actions necessary to resume social order and let the government and all seven million citizens resume their normal work and life."

Protest sites remained tense with fears of further attacks by opposition groups.

1/7

1. Gallery: Hong Kong Clashes As Sit-In Drags On

   Pro-democracy protesters gather outside the government offices in Hong Kong

2. The umbrella has become a symbol of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement

3. An anti-protester shouts at pro-democracy demonstrators in an occupied area of Hong Kong

4. Pro-democracy campaigners, mainly students, stand firm

5. Many of the anti-protesters are angry they have not been able to go to work during the protests

6. Police officers try to get a man to let go of a fence guarded by pro-democracy demonstrators

7. The protests are about to enter their second week

The protesters have been in the streets since 26 September, pledging to preserve Hong Kong's Western-style legal system and civil liberties.

They want the Chinese government to reverse a decision requiring all candidates in the first election for Hong Kong's leader in 2017 to be approved by a mostly pro-Beijing committee.

The demonstrators are calling for open nominations.

Video: Protest Talks Buy Time In Hong Kong

China has accused democracy campaigners of destabilising the city and have said they were "daydreaming" over the prospect of change.

Video: How Protesters Use Social Media

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Even Al Qaeda Tried To Free Alan Henning

A filmmaker, who was involved in the early negotiations to free Alan Henning, has told Sky News how even al Qaeda thought holding him hostage was "not a good idea".

The terrorist group sent a member to bargain with the Islamic State fighters holding him but failed to secure his release.

The al Qaeda member, who was sent to bargain with the Manchester taxi driver's captors, said the jihadists were "difficult" and "tough".

Delivering aid to the suffering in Syria. Pic: Cage

Bilal Abdul Kareem told how Mr Henning, who was helping to make an aid delivery in Syria, was captured just an hour after arriving in al-Dana, around 30 minutes from the Turkish border, on Boxing Day.

He said Islamic State fighters had arrived in the town and detained all of those in the convoy but quickly released the Muslim members, holding only Mr Henning.

Video: Cameron Condemns Henning Murder

Mr Kareem said when Mr Henning was first taken he was set to be released later that day or even the next but when that did not happen people started to worry.

Then the jihadists claimed the 47-year-old, father-of-two as their prisoner and said they were planning to exchange him for people in British custody.

Mr Kareem said: "They had a course of action that they were going to take and nobody was going to be able to talk them out of it.

Video: PM Pledges 'All Assets' Against IS

"Even al Qaeda affiliates al Nusra went there to talk to them because nobody outside of ISIS thought this was a good idea, nobody thought that it was OK to do this, none of the other groups were doing that, nobody thought it was a good idea.

"When the al Qaeda representative went to go down and try to talk to them he returned, his face was different, he said something to the effect these guys are really being difficult, really being tough but they did say that they were going to release him.

"Everybody was anticipating that but that never happened."

Video: UK Muslims 'Disgusted'

On Friday the terrorists posted a video of Mr Henning's killing. In it he is pictured kneeling in front of a masked man, who speaks with a British accent and is believed to be the man responsible for previous beheadings.

The man makes a direct appeal to David Cameron saying: "The blood of David Haines was on your hands, Cameron. Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands of the British Parliament."

Muslim leaders have condemned the beheading on the eve of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha, which represents a day of mercy, and said they want to see justice done.

Video: Eccles Pastor: 'It's Gut-wrenching'

As the community of Eccles mourned, Mr Cameron said Britain would use all of its assets to destroy Islamic State.

:: Full coverage now on Sky News – watch Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

Video: Shock At Murder Of Alan Henning

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Six-Month-Old Baby Mauled To Death By Dog

A baby girl has died and a relative has been injured in a dog attack at a home in Northamptonshire.

Police said emergency services were called to an address in Daventry at around 10.30pm on Friday night after receiving reports that the baby, who was in the care of a relative, had been attacked.

Paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service attempted to resuscitate the six-month-old baby girl, but were unsuccessful.

She was taken to Northampton General Hospital where she was confirmed dead.

Phil Morris, spokesperson for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Although our staff did everything possible, tragically, the baby did not survive her injuries.

"This was a very distressing incident and we offer our deepest sympathies to the family."

A relative in the home was injured in the attack, sustaining multiple bite wounds as she attempted to intervene to save the little girl.

Northamptonshire Police have not yet confirmed the breed of the dog, which was destroyed at the scene.

They say tests will be carried out by experts early next week to determine the breed.

Detective Sergeant Gary Baker, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a deeply distressing and tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family who have been left devastated by the events of last night.

"Incidents such as these are extremely rare in this country, but that will be of little comfort to the relatives of this tragically young victim.

"The family have requested that they be left to grieve at this difficult time."

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lib Dems Pledge £1bn In Extra NHS Funding

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

The Lib Dems have pledged an extra £1bn of real-term funding for the NHS up to 2018, after policies linked to the health service dominated both the Labour and Conservative conferences.

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News the offer was a manifesto commitment.

But he also said Lib Dems would start putting pressure on the Tories to provide funds to the NHS as early as this December to prepare for pressures through the winter.

"Our funding commitment is for the next Parliament, but as responsible stewards of the NHS we have a duty to ensure that any short term pressures for 2015/16 within the health service are dealt with properly at the Autumn Statement," he said in a statement.

It comes as the party prepares to hit out at the Conservatives at its annual conference in Glasgow.

Video: Lib Dem Stance on New Runway

Senior Lib Dems say they plan to highlight how the Conservatives are hammering the poor with a "scorched earth policy".

They will claim "compassionate Conservatism" is dead.

The week is likely to also focus on the possibility of future coalitions.

Video: Nick Clegg U-Turn Over Airports

One aim will be to avoid a repeat of tuition fees, under which the party's credibility was hit hard.

One area of concern is aviation policy, with both a Labour and Conservative-led Government after 2015 likely to demand an extra runway in the south-east.

That is something the Lib Dems have been against, but Mr Clegg has said the time has come to debate the possibility.

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alan Henning's Family 'Numb With Grief'

The family of Alan Henning have paid tribute to a "decent, caring human being" after he was murdered by Islamic State (IS), saying they are devastated.

In a statement they thanked those who campaigned for his release, saying they had comfort "knowing how many people stood beside us in hoping for the best".

"There are few words to describe how we feel at this moment. Myself, Lucy and Adam, and all of Alan's family and friends are numb with grief," the statement said.

Support from the Government, Foreign Office and Greater Manchester Police "meant that we were able to get through the most awful of times", the family said.

The statement went on to add: "His interest was in the welfare of others.

Video: 'Tactics Will Change' In IS Battle

"He will be remembered for this and we as a family are extremely proud of him and what he achieved and the people he helped."

David Cameron earlier vowed to do "everything we can" to "hunt down" Mr Henning's killers.

Mr Cameron had met officials from the Foreign Office, intelligence agencies and the military at Chequers, his official country residence.

Video: British Jihadi's Message To Cameron

The PM said: "We will use all the assets we have as we have been up to now to try and find these hostages, to try and help these hostages, to help their families and do everything we can to defeat this organisation which is utterly ruthless, senseless and barbaric in the way it treats people."

Mr Cameron also paid tribute to Mr Henning, the second Briton to be beheaded by IS, for his "kindness, peacefulness and gentleness".

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "We will do everything we can to support the efforts of the Government to bring those guilty of this terrible act to justice."

Video: Henning 'Handed Death Sentence'

A video lasting one minute and 11 seconds and titled Another Message To America And Its Allies, was posted on YouTube on Friday.

It shows Mr Henning, a taxi-driver who was captured on an aid mission in Syria in December 2013, kneeling in front of a knife-wielding militant in a desert setting before being beheaded in front of the camera.

Mr Henning, who is dressed in red, says: "I am Alan Henning. Because of our Parliament's decision to attack the Islamic State, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision."

Video: Imam Condemns Alan Henning's Murder

The masked killer, who speaks with a British accent and is believed to be the man responsible for previous beheadings, makes a direct statement to Mr Cameron: "The blood of David Haines was on your hands, Cameron. Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands of the British Parliament."

Last week MPs voted to join the US-led coalition and take part in airstrikes against IS fighters in Iraq.

At the end of the video another hostage, a former US soldier turned charity worker believed to be Peter Edward Kassig, is paraded in front of the cameras. The militant in the video says Mr Kassig will be the next victim.

Video: Shock At Murder Of Alan Henning

The UK Muslim community condemned Mr Henning's murder, which came on the eve of the Islamic festival Eid Al-Adha.

Leaders said it was a "cowardly and criminal act" and called for action to be taken to bring the terrorists to justice.

A second new video emerged on Friday which purports to show a British IS fighter - 27-year-old Omar Hussein from High Wycombe - calling on Western governments to send ground troops to fight IS militants.

Video: Al Qaeda Could Not Free Henning

:: Full coverage now on Sky News – watch Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

Video: Terry Waite: Beheading 'Tragic'

00.57 | 0 komentar | Read More