Brit Held Over Threats To Kill 200 US Students

Detectives have arrested a British man in connection with alleged threats to shoot dead 200 children at a US school.

Sky Tyne and Wear reported Northumbria Police arrested Reece Elliott, 24, from South Shields, on suspicion of making threats to kill on Friday.

An anonymous post made on Wednesday on a Facebook memorial page set up for a deceased student threatened a mass killing spree, saying: "I'm gonna kill hopefully at least 200 before I kill myself."

Elliott was being held at South Shields police station and will be questioned by the force's major incident team.

Homeland Security in the US has been informed, and the threats led schools in Warren County, Tennessee, to tighten security.

Some reports said as many as 3,000 students did not attend classes the next day.

The post said: "My father has three guns. I'm planning on killing him first and putting him in a dumpster. Then I'm taking the motor and I'm going in fast.

"I'm gonna kill hopefully at least 200 before I kill myself."

On Friday, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Kristin Helm said its Cyber Crime agents are helping in the investigation and the source of the post had not been identified.

It is not yet known whether any potential prosecution will be brought in England or the US, or both.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "At 2.12pm on Friday February 8, police received notification that a man had posted threatening information on Facebook."

"A 24-year-old man from South Shields has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and is currently in custody.

"The message is believed to have been posted on Wednesday. There is nothing to suggest it posed any physical threat to any school either here or in America."

Bobby Cox, Director of Warren County Schools in Tennessee, said: "As most of you are aware we received notice of violent threats directed at Warren County High School late Wednesday evening, February 6.

"We put an action plan together with the local authorities to ensure the safety of our schools and our campuses across the system.

"We wanted to make sure that we had all the facts before we sent a mass message out via our calling system to you.

"Currently the Sheriff's Department is working with the TBI and Homeland Security to trace down the person who posted this message.

"We have increased the presence of Police and Sheriff's Deputies in our schools today and tomorrow and all schools will limit access into each building to ensure the safety of our staff and students."

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported police officers were posted to 11 schools in the area.

In December, gunman Adam Lanza killed 27 when he opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 60 miles from New York.

He died at the scene and the body of his mother, Nancy Lanza, was found at his family home. She had been shot in the face.

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Aldi Frozen Ready Meals 100% Horsemeat

Who's In Charge Of Keeping Food Safe?

Updated: 1:38pm UK, Friday 08 February 2013

There are a number of different agencies responsible for food labelling and safety in the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for food standards legislation in England that is principally non-safety, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors standards that are safety based.

Food Standards Agency:

The FSA, a non-ministerial government department, is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food.

This includes food safety and hygiene, labelling for safety and allergies and food law enforcement.

It aims to:

1) make sure foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat

2) ensure imported food is safe to eat

3) make sure food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests in relation to food

4) give consumers the information and understanding they need to make informed choices about where and what they eat

5) make sure regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks

6) ensure enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health.

In the wake of the horsemeat scandal the FSA announced it is demanding a more comprehensive testing programme from food businesses.

Chief executive Catherine Brown said: 'Following our investigations into Findus products, the FSA is now requiring a more robust response from the food industry in order to demonstrate that the food it sells and serves is what it says it is on the label.

"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."

There are separate FSAs for Scotland, Wales and the Irish Republic.

Defra:

In July 2010 food labelling was transferred from the FSA to Defra.

Food standards legislation sets out specific requirements for the labelling, composition and, in some cases, safety parameters for specific high value foodstuffs which are potentially at risk of being misleadingly substituted with lower quality alternatives.

The legislation makes sure consumers are not misled as to the nature of food products when it is sold to them.

It also makes the playing field level for food producers, so they have established standards they can work to when producing well known or traditional foodstuffs.

Most legislation on food standards is developed in Europe, with full involvement from UK Government officials.

Secondary legislation is then used to either implement the requirements or put in place enforcement powers, depending on the nature of the European legislation

Meat:

For a range of meat products there is legislation setting out specific compositional and labelling requirements.

The rules set out minimum meat content requirements for certain meat products sold using reserved descriptions such as sausages, burgers, corned beef, meat pies, pasties, etc.

In addition, there are very specific labelling rules for certain meat products that look like a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat.

Where any added water over certain limits as well as any added ingredients of different animal species to the rest of the meat must be mentioned in the name of the food.

Department of Health:

The DoH takes the lead on nutrition labelling police in England.

In October 2012 it announced proposals for front-of-pack nutrition labelling that displays how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories foods contain.

This is colour-coded and shows a guideline daily amount.

The advertising of food is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

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Findus Beef Lasagne Meals 100% Horsemeat

Tests on Findus beef lasagne have revealed that some of the ready meals were made entirely from horsemeat.

Findus analysed 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.

There is no evidence to suggest the horsemeat found in the Findus beef lasagne is a food safety risk, the FSA said.

However, the agency has ordered urgent tests on the lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone. Meat from animals treated with "bute" is not allowed to enter the food chain in Britain as it may pose a risk to human health.

All food companies have been told to test their beef products, with the FSA saying it was "highly likely" that criminal activity was to blame for the contamination.

Consumers who have purchased the ready meals - produced by French food supplier Comigel on behalf of Findus - have been advised by the FSA not to eat them and return them to the shop they were bought from.

Retail giant Tesco and discount chain Aldi have already withdrawn a range of ready meals produced by Comigel over fears they contained contaminated meat.

Findus UK has already started a full recall of its lasagne products. It withdrew its 320g, 360g and 500g lasagne meals from supermarket shelves as a precautionary measure earlier this week.

It came after Comigel alerted Findus and Aldi that their products "do not conform to specification".

It advised them to remove Findus beef lasagne and Aldi's Today's Special frozen beef lasagne and Today's Special frozen spaghetti bolognese.

Shoppers who have bought the product can get a full refund, says Findus

Findus UK apologised to customers "for any inconvenience caused" - and said anyone who bought the affected lasagne products could get a full refund.

A spokesman said: "We understand this is a very sensitive subject for consumers and we would like to reassure you we have reacted immediately. We do not believe this to be a food safety issue.

"We are confident that we have fully resolved this supply chain issue. Fully compliant beef lasagne will be in stores again soon."

Tesco also decided to withdraw its Everyday Value spaghetti bolognese, which is produced at the same Comigel site.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are aware of the results of the Findus tests and we will of course assist Findus with their recall process.

"Tests on our frozen Everyday Value spaghetti bolognese product are ongoing under our new DNA testing programme. We will inform our customers of the results as soon as possible."

The FSA, Defra and the Department of Health are working with businesses and trade bodies to enforce food safety and assess whether there are significant levels of improperly described meat in a whole series of processed beef products in the UK, including supplies to schools and hospitals.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: "The presence of unauthorised ingredients cannot be tolerated ... the responsibility and for the safety and authenticity of food lies with those who produce it, and who sell or provide it to the final consumer."

Labour has accused ministers of being "asleep on the job" and has called for a police investigation into what it believes is fraud.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said she was "shocked and appalled" by the latest revelations.

She told Sky News: "The time has come for government ministers to pull their heads out of the sand and to take some swift action.

"We have had three weeks of damaging revelations about what is happening in the meat industry ... there is evidence that criminal gangs are involved in this, and frankly I cannot believe that the Government hasn't called in the police to investigate this in the UK.

"I don't see how we get to the bottom of it without getting in specialist teams and working out who is behind this fraud and why it is happening."

People must have confidence that the food they buy is properly labelled, legal and safe to eat, she added.

Anyone who has purchased a Findus beef lasagne can call the firm's UK customer care line on 0800 132584, those in the Republic of Ireland, 1800 800500, or email careline@findus.co.uk for a full refund.

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Two Dead After Police Chase Ends In Car Crash

Two people have died following a police chase and road traffic accident involving six vehicles in Greater Manchester.

Police were originally called to reports of an aggravated burglary taking place at a house in Farnworth where a red Audi was stolen.

The stolen vehicle was spotted a few minutes later by a police patrol car which gave chase for a short while before officers lost sight of it.

At least once vehicle exploded in flames (pic: @Mr_Billyonaire)

A few minutes later police received reports that the Audi had collided with parked cars in Leigh Road, Boothstown, Salford, and that the vehicle had exploded in flames.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers attended the scene with firefighters from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and two people were pronounced dead at the scene."

A number of homes on Leigh Road were also damaged during the collision.

Police said they had been working with fire crews to ensure the properties affected were "made safe".

They said inquiries were ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

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Michael Gove In U-Turn On Plan To Scrap GCSEs

Education Secretary Michael Gove has been forced to abandon his flagship plan to scrap GCSEs and replace them with a new English Baccalaureate.

The move was said to follow pressure from within the coalition from the Liberal Democrats and criticism from MPs across the political spectrum.

Last week the cross-party Commons Education Committee said the Government had "not proved its case" that GCSEs should be abolished in key academic subjects.

Labour said that it was a "humiliating climbdown" for Mr Gove, one of the most high-profile members of the Cabinet.

He will go before the Commons later to set out alternative GCSE reforms - reducing the role played by course work.

He had originally wanted to introduce the new EBacc certificate in England in the five core academic areas of English, maths, science, languages and humanities - history or geography.

Each of the core subjects would have been handed to a single examination board - a move he argued was essential to prevent boards "dumbing down" standards to attract more schools.

However, according to reports in The Independent and The Daily Telegraph, officials warned the plan could fall foul of EU procurement rules.

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said Mr Gove should have listened to warnings that the scheme would not work.

"This is a humiliating climbdown from Michael Gove," he said.

"It shows why he should have listened to business leaders, headteachers and experts in the first place and not come up with a plan on the back of an envelope.

"Pupils and parents need certainty now. Michael Gove must now make clear whether he will abandon his narrow, out of date plans altogether or merely try to delay them.

"He needs to go back to the drawing board and develop a curriculum and exam system that meets our future challenges as a country.

"Labour wants to work with the Government to forge a long term consensus on exam and curriculum reform. We would welcome cross party talks."

A Department for Education source said: "We do not comment on leaks. Mr Gove will make a statement to the House tomorrow."

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'Neglected' Pensioner's Death Investigated

Police are investigating the death of a pensioner who was left without care in her own home for nine days.

Gloria Foster, 81, was found suffering from dehydration and starvation after going without the four daily visits she was supposed to have.

She had been receiving help in her own home in Banstead, Surrey, from Carefirst24. But Surrey County Council became responsible for her care after a number of its workers were arrested last month following a UK Border Agency (UKBA) raid.

Surrey Police said officers are now looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident after Mrs Foster died in hospital on Monday.

Ms Foster was found starving at her home in Banstead, Surrey

Sky News reporter Charlotte Lomas-Farley said Ms Foster, who had no family, had been receiving care for four years and had deteriorated rapidly.

She said: "Neighbours who knew Gloria well said they're deeply shocked at the news of her death.

"They said she was a quiet lady who kept herself to herself but was also independent as she could be."

A police spokesman said: "Concerns surrounding Gloria's care were raised to Surrey Police at the end of January by staff at the hospital where she died on Monday, February 4, and officers are now looking into the circumstances surrounding her death.

"The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board has also been convened and they are conducting a parallel investigation."

A spokesman for UKBA said it met local authorities ahead of the raid to warn them of what they were going to do so they could arrange alternative care for the company's clients.

Its officers arrested six people, including a Mauritian man and a Filipino man and woman, on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to assist foreign nationals at Carefirst24's headquarters in Upper Mulgrave Road, Sutton, on January 15 and at a separate south London address the day before.

All those arrested were later bailed until various dates in April.

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Stafford Hospital Report To Change Face Of NHS

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

A landmark report published into the Stafford Hospital scandal could change the face of healthcare in Britain.

Fundamental reforms will be called for by Robert Francis QC who has led an investigation into why as many as 400 to 1,200 more people died than would have been expected between 2005 and 2008.

The failure of the regulatory bodies has come under particular scrutiny. In 2007, Stafford was given a good rating from the Healthcare Commission, whose job it was to monitor the quality of care.

It will be the fifth major investigation into needless deaths and "appalling standards of care" at Stafford, but the first to be public and independent.

A previous report by Mr Francis noted "shocking" systemic failures of hospital care in Mid Staffordshire.

Patients were routinely neglected, humiliated and in pain as the trust focused on cost-cutting and reaching government targets.

Five investigations have taken place into hospital deaths

The fight for this latest inquiry was led by Julie Bailey who began the Cure The NHS campaign after her mother died in 2007 in what she called a chaotic ward. People were left in soiled sheets and dehydrated patients drank from vases.

She said of the Francis report: "This is about making sure that this is never allowed to happen again. This is about making sure every hospital is safe.

"This is about people knowing that if they put their loved ones in hospital they are safe and that the hospital is not dangerously out of control."

The death of Deb Hazeldine's 67-year-old mother Ellen is one shocking example of what was happening at Stafford.

"I will never get over it," said Ms Hazeldine who admits that she still struggles to cope more than six years after her loss.

Alan Nash died after his bowel was perforated

Her mother, who was being treated for cancer, contracted c-difficile and MRSA in Stafford.

"She died of C-diff. When she died we had a call from the undertaker that stated that mum had so many hospital infections she had to be buried in a sealed body bag because she would contaminate the ground she went into," said Ms Hazeldine.

Stafford Hospital continues to be plagued by complaints. In March 2010, 61-year-old Alan Nash walked into the hospital for a routine colonoscopy. But Alan's bowel was perforated and he died the same day.

His daughter Marie Hillman said: "We felt that all eyes would be on Stafford so there would not be any mistakes. Obviously it is one of the biggest regrets I have that we talked him into going."

His wife Jenny Nash said: "I did hear. It was just like somebody had been punched in the stomach where you get that gasp, if you like. It was quite loud. I think that's when they actually perforated it."

Ellen Hazeldine died from a superbug at the hospital

Ms Hillman added: "A nurse said to me, you will probably find that this happened at home, this happened before he came in. And I thought there is no way this happened at home."

She maintains that they have still not had an apology. The hospital has not accepted that it breached any duty of care in the case of Mr Nash.

Mr Francis will urge sweeping changes across the whole of the NHS today.

There is likely to be the threat of fines or even closure for hospitals found to have covered up mistakes by doctors and nurses.

The role and make-up of regulatory bodies will be reassessed, better training schemes will be introduced and patients and their families will be given a stronger voice.

The charity Action Against Medical Accidents has already said that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt should accept Mr Francis' recommendations in full, saying they should include minimum ward staffing levels and regulation of heat care assistants.

The Royal College of Nursing has expressed serious concerns that nursing numbers and low morale has put the service under enormous strain.

A number of individuals may face criticism in the report. Martin Yeates was chief executive of the Mid-Staffs Trust at the height of the scandal. He left with a big pay-off "by mutual agreement".

The now NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson was with the local regional health authority for some of the time.

Campaigners and nursing organisations believe the Stafford scandal is part of a wider problem.

Everyone will hope that the report will be the catalyst for major changes.

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Families Of Victims Speak Of Stafford Neglect

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

The families of three patients that died at Stafford Hospital have spoken of the neglect and failings there.

It was March 2010 when 61-year-old Alan Nash walked into Stafford Hospital for a routine colonoscopy.

Inquiries were already underway into a scandal, which suggested that between 2005 and 2008 up to 1,200 patients may have died needlessly.

As a result the Nash family believed the standards of care would be high. But Mr Nash's bowel was perforated and he died the same day.

His daughter Marie Hillman said: "We felt that all eyes would be on Stafford Hospital so there would not be any mistakes. Obviously it is one of the biggest regrets I have that we talked him into going."

Alan Nash with his family

His wife Jenny Nash: "I don't exactly know where the room is where they do the colonoscopy. But I was just sitting in the waiting room and it is not a big area anyway.

"I did hear. It was just like somebody had been punched in the stomach where you get that gasp, if you like and it was quite loud. I think that is when they actually perforated it."

Ms Hillman said: "He had gone into hospital for a routine diagnosis. It was just like a nightmare. A nurse said to me, you will probably find that this happened at home. This happened before he came in.

"And I thought there is no way. Dad walked into the hospital, there is no way this happened at home."

The family thought that they were trying to blame Mr Nash and "pass the buck".

His wife said: "I wasn't with him at the time I was outside. I didn't know he was going to die."

Ms Hillman maintains that there has been no apology at all.

Doreen Duff died at the hospital in 2008

She said: "We would like more answers. We would like reassurance that steps have been put in place that would prevent this from happening to somebody else. But we haven't had that as of today."

In the case, the hospital did not accept that it had breached its duty of care.

Doreen Duff had already suffered a stroke before she moved to Stafford and came under the care of the local hospital.

She developed asthma and other complications and used the Accident and Emergency on a number of occasions before she was admitted. Doreen was 64 when she died in 2008.

Her husband James Duff said: "The A&E department was just chaotic. You couldn't get a doctor. If you did see one they would go off once they had seen you and they wouldn't come back until they had time again. Short staffed, rude, very, very dirty.

Ellen Hazeldine died from a superbug at the hospital

"At one time she was discharged from A&E and was back in A&E within an hour. She suffered more strokes and was eventually paralysed from the neck down and couldn't speak.

"When Doreen went in she was quite a bubbly person and had quite a good quality of life. She had lost the use of her left side but she had still got all the right side and she was as bright as a button.

"When she came out she was paralysed from the neck down, couldn't speak and everything had just gone. That was just because of the care she received in Stafford Hospital, a lack of care. Not giving her medication, not given the proper fluids and left in a bed that is wet, in your own faeces.

"After what we have all been through, the relatives of these, the care still isn't as it should be. They are still getting complaints coming through."

Deb Hazeldine suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of her 67-year-old mother Ellen's death from the hospital superbug c-difficile at Stafford Hospital.

"I will never get over it," said Ms Hazeldine who admits that she still struggles to cope more than six years after her loss.

Deb Hazeldine is still reeling from her mother Ellen's death at Stafford

She said: "My mum was diagnosed with bone cancer in March of 2006. She had some aggressive chemotherapy and unfortunately she suffered a fall at home.

"She didn't sustain any injuries at that point and she was taken into mid-staffs where she was told she would need physio and rehabilitation just to get her back on her feet."

Her mother was put onto an open ward despite a family request for her to have a side room or an isolation wing.

"She very quickly contacted c-diff and MRSA. She died from c-diff. She was sitting in a bed in a ward and I was sitting opposite her. We were chatting and faeces fell and covered half of the floor. Obviously it was at visiting time and other people were looking across. My mum just started to quietly cry.

"She was mortified that she was in this state. I looking for a nurse and pressed the buzzer and after about five minutes nobody came.

"I got down on my hands and knees and I started to clean it. I couldn't let my mum sit there like that. 

"When she died we had a call from the undertakers that stated that mum had so many hospital infections that the hospital said she had to be buried in a sealed body bag because she would contaminate the ground she went into.

"Even now we are hearing of complaints that there is lack of support on the wards, these families are still raising the same concerns as I was raising six years ago, of having to go in and support their loved ones.

"I don't understand that six years on, I really don't understand that."

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Tories Head For Same Sex Marriage Vote Revolt

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Tory MPs will plunge deeper into civil war later when the party splits over David Cameron's plans to allow gay marriage.

More than 100 Conservative MPs are expected to defy the Prime Minister in a vote on the bitterly controversial Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

Although the Bill will get a second reading with Labour and Liberal Democrat support, it is possible that more than half the Tories' 305 MPs could vote against it.

That would be hugely damaging for the Prime Minister, coming amid a febrile atmosphere of plotting against him and claims that hundreds of Tory activists are deserting the party in protest.

Equalities minister Maria Miller has pledged a 'fair approach' to marriage

All three major parties have allowed a free vote on the Bill. Around 20 Labour MPs, a few Lib Dems and the Democratic Unionist Party's MPs are also expected to vote against.

But the Tories are potentially even more divided on gay marriage than they are on Europe, with party activists as well as Conservative MPs publicly clashing over the proposals to allow same sex couples to marry.

At least two members of the Cabinet, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones, are expected to vote against the proposals and two more, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, may abstain.

And in a bizarre twist ahead of the vote, gay Tory activist and pundit Iain Dale has claimed that the Conservative MPs threatening to vote against the Bill include several "closet-case gays" including "two supposedly heterosexual MPs who I know to be conducting gay affairs".

Tory activist Iain Dale claims several 'closet gays' will vote against bill

But in a defiant warning to the Bill's opponents, Equalities minister Maria Miller said on the eve of the debate: "What I will not be doing is stopping the legislation moving forward.

"It's important we have a fair approach to marriage. Simply being gay is not a good enough reason not to have that available."

She went on: "Conservative governments have done things for generations which are progressive, all the way back to the position the party had on the slave trade. I think it is a natural progression for marriage, something that has evolved over centuries anyway."

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling also spoke out in favour of the Bill, telling gay magazine Attitude: "Changing a law has never automatically changed someone's opinion or belief, but a change in law can result in a more supportive and protective environment.

"The Government's proposals on the recognition of gay marriage are a sensible next step in that evolution. They make it clear that the attitudes of today's generations are very different to those of the past.

"Of course we need to protect the right of the individual to have a conscience and of religious institutions to follow their own path. But that does not mean that the state has to do the same."

And in a fightback against activists who oppose the Bill, the Conservative Party's most senior volunteer, Paul Swaddle, president of the National Convention, was one of more than 50 senior figures who signed a letter backing the reforms.

The Bill would allow couples to convert civil-partnerships into marriage

"By opposing gay marriage outright, we risk alienating the voters we will need in 2015," the letter said. "To win, the Conservative Party must mount a broad appeal. We urge our MPs to listen to the wider views of their electorate as they decide how to vote."

But Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh broke ranks and declared that he intended to vote against gay marriage, insisting there was a "good liberal case" against the move.

In an open letter to constituents, he said his fundamental objection was that the legislation "achieves none of its objectives and weakens the link between marriage and the family".

"It is my view that the benefits of the gay marriage proposal over and above civil partnership legislation are marginal and the risks considerable," the Roman Catholic MP said.

"It draws government (the state) into a whole new series of debatable judgments and rulings on sexual, personal and religious behaviour.

"Far from being permissive in effect, it could herald the advent of ever more arbitrary prescription as we forget why the state legislates at all in this deeply personal aspect of life."

Labour's Ed Miliband and Ed Balls will vote in favour of the bill

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he would "proudly" vote in favour and would actively urge his MPs to join him in making "an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain".

And shadow chancellor Ed Balls admitted he admired the Prime Minister for proposing same sex marriage.

"I think it's brave and he's divided his party in quite a deep way," Mr Balls told ITV's Agenda. "It's not clear why from a Conservative Party point of view he's chosen to do this.

"The economy's in a mess, we need a jobs plan and he's chosen this issue. But in 50 years time we'll look back and say, 'Did we really have a debate where we said your sexuality will decide whether you could get married or not?"'

Speaking just hours before the debate, Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities, said: "As more and more Conservative MPs come out against equal marriage, the important issue of equality and respect for same sex relationships must not get lost in the debate on Tory internecine warfare.

"Couples who love each other and want to make a long term commitment should be able to get married whatever their gender or sexuality. Marriage should be reason to celebrate not discriminate."

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Alabama Hostage Siege Ends As Boy Saved

A boy who was held hostage for a week is safe and his captor is dead after FBI agents stormed an underground bunker in Alabama.

Officials said the raid went ahead after negotiations with 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes deteriorated and he was seen with a gun.

Fearing the child was in imminent danger, agents entered the bunker to rescue the five-year-old. It was not immediately clear how Dykes died.

Officials break the news to gathered media

The boy was taken to hospital nearby. Officials have said the child has Asperger's syndrome.

Dykes had been accused of snatching the boy from a school bus last week after killing the driver, Charles Poland.

Before the news conference, an ambulance that had been parked near the scene could be seen driving away. However, it was not clear if anyone was inside, and the vehicle did not have its sirens or emergency lights on.

Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter-mile from where Dykes was holed up, said he heard a boom followed by a gunshot.

Officials had been sending food and medicine to Dykes and the boy in the bunker.

The scene of the hostage drama

Neighbours described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.

Government records and interviews with neighbours indicate that Dykes joined the Navy, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

He had some scrapes with the law in Florida, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanour was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.

He returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbours.

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Blackpool Stab Death: Man Charged With Murder

A man has been charged with the murder of a Blackpool teenager whose body was found stabbed and burned.

David Minto, 22, of Blackpool, will appear before the town's magistrates' court on Monday accused of killing 16-year-old Sasha Marsden.

A post-mortem examination found the teenager's body was set on fire after she had died from stab wounds to the head and face.

It comes after police issued a statement on behalf of the teenager's family.

Her parents, Jayne and Gary Marsden, said: "No words can express how we feel.

The alley where Sasha's body was discovered

"Our beautiful daughter has been taken from us. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, great granddaughter, auntie, niece, cousin and girlfriend. She was very much loved and her loss has left a huge gap in all our lives, a gap that can never be filled.

"Sasha was your typical teenager, a fun-loving girl who enjoyed spending time with her friends and boyfriend, with her parents being last on the list unless she wanted something or needed a lift somewhere.

"We would ask that we be left alone in private to allow us to come to terms with losing our beautiful precious daughter."

Sasha's brother Mark Brett, 24, said: "She was my little sister and I was so proud of her going to college to do her child care course. She will be missed by all her family and friends."

Her sister, 21-year-old Katie Brett, said: "She is a gorgeous little lady and knows how to make an impression and when you meet her. You would never forget her.

The 16-year-old was described as "cheeky and friendly"

"She was an expert wind up merchant and although you might be annoyed with her, you couldn't stay mad with her for long."

Sasha's oldest sister, Gemma Aitchison, 26, said: "Cheeky, friendly and stubborn are all things that make Sasha as special as she is and make her overcome anything. She is a beautiful sister and a wonderful and caring aunty too."

And her brother Thomas Nicholl, 21, said: "Sasha was an adorable little sister and was never afraid to put her opinions across no matter what the situation was.

"She always knew how to make us smile, especially after winding us up. She gave the most amazing cuddles and we will miss her so much."

Sasha, whose body was discovered in an alley, was in the first year of a childcare course at Blackpool and The Fylde College and lived with her parents in nearby Staining.

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Undercover Police 'Stole' Dead Children's IDs

Undercover police officers working for the Metropolitan Police assumed the identities of dead children and were issued fake passports in their names, it has been claimed.

Britain's largest police force allegedly carried out the practice for three decades without consulting or informing the children's parents.

According to a report in The Guardian, officers would scan national birth and death records to find the identities to use for undercover work infiltrating protest groups.

The newspaper claimed the technique was adopted to lend credibility to officers working undercover and provide them with a back story while spying. It said some officers had used the identities for 10 years.

It is claimed as many as 80 officers used such identities between 1968 and 1994.

Scotland Yard said a formal complaint had been made but that the Metropolitan police would not "currently" authorise such a system.

One officer told the newspaper that he felt like he was "stomping on the grave" of the four-year-old boy whose identity he adopted.

He said: "A part of me was thinking about how I would feel if someone was taking the names and details of my dead son for something like this."

Keith Vaz said the practice would "distress" families of the dead children

Another told how he had adopted the identity of an eight-year-old boy who died from leukaemia in 1968.

Another third officer, who used the identity of a child car crash victim, said he was conscious the parents would "still be grief-stricken" but argued his actions could be justified because they were for the "greater good".

The officers worked for the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), which was apparently disbanded in 2008.

Keith Vaz, the chairman of parliament's home affairs select committee, which will hear evidence about undercover policing on Tuesday, said he was shocked at the "gruesome" practice.

He told the Guardian: "It will only cause enormous distress to families who will discover what has happened concerning the identities of their dead children."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A formal complaint has been received which is being investigated by the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) and we appreciate the concerns that have been raised.

"The DPS inquiry is taking place in conjunction with Operation Herne's investigation into the wider issue of past arrangements for undercover identities used by Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) officers.

"We can confirm that the practice referred to in the complaint is not something that would currently be authorised in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)."

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Blackpool Stab Death: Teen 'Received Threat'

A 16-year-old girl whose body was found burning in an alley had recently received a death threat via email, a friend of the teen has told Sky News.

Sasha Marsden's body was set on fire after she had died from stab wounds to the head and face, a post-mortem examination has found.

But her friend, Stephanie Kyle, told Sky News of a threat received by Sasha - which she said she had also informed police about.

"She got an email saying her time was going to come very soon," she said.

"Obviously this happened, and she's gone and ... we don't know why."

Police released this image of Sasha

Police cordoned off the area in South Shore, Blackpool, after her body was discovered at 9pm on Thursday.

A 22-year-old man was arrested nearby and police have been granted a further 36 hours to question him.

A woman aged 20 was also held but later released without charge.

The teenager was on a childcare course at college

A police spokesman said: "Following the death of Sasha Marsden, a Home Office post-mortem examination has been carried out and has found that Sasha died as a result of receiving significant stab wounds to the head and face.

"It also showed that attempts were made to set the body on fire and this was after Sasha had died.

"The results have been shared with the family, and specially trained officers are continuing to support them."

On Friday, specialist crime scene investigators carried out forensic searches of the alley behind Kirby Road and at the Grafton House bed-and-breakfast hotel on the same road, which is a few streets off the Promenade.

The crime scene in Blackpool has been cordoned off by police

Carl Evans, owner of the nearby Kimber Guest House, told Sky News he spotted the fire when he walked out into his back garden on Thursday evening.

"I heard the alarms going and saw the smoke, but I thought it was just someone burning rubbish," he said.

He added that some residents had attempted to put out the flames before realising it was a body on fire.

"The lass two doors up said someone seemed to have put something out - like a mannequin - but it turned out to be the body of a 16-year-old girl."

Sasha was in the first year of a childcare course at Blackpool and The Fylde College and lived with her parents in nearby Staining.

In a tribute to her, Mandy Pritchard, head of the college's school for society, health and childhood, said she was "a friendly, considerate individual who cared about her fellow students".

Numerous tributes were paid to the youngster on a Facebook page set up in her memory.

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Pimlico Murder: Eight More Arrests

Detectives investigating the murder of teenager Hani Abou El Kheir in central London, have arrested a further eight people.

Scotland Yard said four men are being held on suspicion of murder and one man and three women on suspicion of assisting an offender. They are in custody at various police stations.

Hani, 16, was found stabbed to death in Pimlico after an attack by a group of people believed to have been wielding knives and swords.

Last Sunday at 6.50pm, officers were called to reports of a youth stabbed near Lupus Street.

When they arrived, they found Hani who was taken to King's College Hospital but later died.

A post-mortem found he died from multiple stab wounds.

The latest arrests bring the total number arrested to nine.

On Thursday a 20-year-old man was arrested in north London on suspicion of murder and bailed until late March.

Police believe that at least 10 youths were involved in the incident and are keeping an open mind on the motive.

Later today, detectives will return to the scene of Hani's murder to appeal to people living in the area for help with their inquiries.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information should contact the incident room on 0208 345 3715. if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More follows...

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