Emwazi Was Peculiar And Violent, Says Ex-Pupil

Laptop Found In Search For Missing Teenager

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 22.55

A discarded laptop has been discovered during the search for missing 16-year-old Rebecca Watts, friends and family say.

The discovery came as more than 100 friends and family took part in a search across Bristol, where the teenager was last seen over a week ago.

Police said she left her home in Crown Hill, in the St George area of the city, on 19 February with her phone, laptop and tablet computer.

She did not tell her friends or family where she was going, or take extra clothes.

The laptop, a grey Toshiba, has been handed to investigators.

The teenager, described as shy, was reported missing by her family at 4pm on February 20.

John Galsworthy, Becky's paternal grandfather, said the family were trying to remain strong as the search intensifies.

Mr Galsworthy said: "We are broadening the search. There are groups separate to ours who are going out using their own initiative, going wherever necessary to try and find her.

"We are continuing in the hope there may be something discovered today. We want everyone to keep their eyes and ears open."

Police divers have searched a lake in St George's Park, close to the youngster's home.

Dogs and mounted officers have been involved in the hunt and officers from neighbouring force areas have also been drafted in to help.

The detective leading the hunt has said Rebecca's disappearance was "totally out of character".

Detective Inspector Richard Ocone said: "She has not taken anything that would suggest she was going to stay away for a long period of time."

Her father, Darren Galsworthy, has suggested on his Facebook page he fears his daughter may have been attacked.

He appealed to any wives or girlfriends who have washed any blood from their loved ones' clothes that cannot be explained to get in touch with police.

Police previously said there was "nothing to suggest" that Becky had come to harm, despite the fears of the girl's father.

A social media campaign using the hashtag #FindBecky has also gathered momentum.

Becky is described as 5ft 4in and slim, with long, bright red hair and was wearing a dark navy blue Puffa jacket with fabric sleeves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Cameron 'Sickened' By Boris Nemtsov Killing

David Cameron has condemned the killing of Russia's former deputy prime minister Boris Nemstov as "despicable" and "callous".

The Prime Minister added the Russian people had been deprived of a champion of their rights and that Mr Nemtsov was greatly admired in Britain, not least by Margaret Thatcher.

"I am shocked and sickened by the callous murder of Boris Nemtsov as he walked in the heart Moscow last night," he said.

"This despicable act must be fully, rapidly and transparently investigated, and those responsible brought to justice."

The 55-year-old, who was a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, died after being shot four times by an unidentified attacker in a passing car in Moscow during the early hours of Saturday.

According to colleagues, he was working on a report which apparently included concrete evidence that Russia was directly involved in the separatist movement which erupted in Ukraine last year.

At the time of the attack, Mr Nemtsov was walking along a bridge with a Ukrainian woman, who was not injured.

She is now being questioned by police.

Investigators say the killing was the work of one or more gunmen who shot at Mr Nemtsov seven or eight times.

The politician had received death threats on social media, but no steps were taken by the police to offer him protection, according to his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov.

Russia's investigative committee are pursuing several lines of enquiry, including an Islamist extremist attack and links to the Ukraine crisis.

A senior opposition politician, Mr Nemtsov was an outspoken detractor of Mr Putin's administration - and had planned to attend an "anti-crisis march" through the capital on Sunday.

The economist had said in an interview with Russian media: "Every time I called (my mother), she laments: 'When are you going to stop scolding Putin? He will kill you!'"

Mr Putin has condemned the death, which he said looked like a "contract killing" - adding that he will personally oversee the investigation into the shooting.

In a message to Mr Nemtsov's mother, he said: "Everything will be done so that the organisers and perpetrators of a vile and cynical murder get the punishment they deserve."

Meanwhile, the White House has demanded that the investigation is "prompt, impartial and transparent".

President Obama, who met Mr Nemtsov in 2009, described him as a "tireless advocate" for the rights of Russian citizens, and cited his work in fighting corruption.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted: "Boris Nemtsov was an outstanding individual and a man of principle. This is how we will remember him."

Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, tweeted: "Devastated to hear of the brutal murder of my long-time opposition colleague Boris Nemtsov. Shot four times, once for each child he leaves."

The political activist added: "Politkovskaya was gunned down. MH17 was shot out of the sky. Now Boris is dead.

"As always, Kremlin will blame opposition, or CIA, whatever."

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Boy, 15, Stabbed To Death While Cycling

A 15-year-old boy has died after suffering a single stab wound while cycling in north London.

Police were called just after 7.30pm on Friday to reports of a male collapsed in Caledonian Road, near the junction with Twyford Street, Islington.

Officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been named as Alan Cartwright. Next of kin are understood to have been informed.

Tributes and flowers have been left at the scene.

One mourner wrote: "So sad. Such a young life taken so young."

Someone, writing on Twitter, said: "So sad that another Islington kid taken so soon. Thinking of your family at this sad time."

Another added: "Devastated isn't the word! RIP Alan."

Former EastEnders actor Brooke Kinsella, whose 16-year-old brother Ben was knifed to death in north London in 2008, added: "Another young boy lost to knife crime, another family destroyed. Sickening, cowardly, senseless culture. Heart is weary #PutDownYourKnives"

Police said it is believed that the boy was riding north on Caledonian Road with friends before the incident happened.

The group was attacked close to the junction with Copenhagen Street by three males who had been walking south.

The victim suffered a stab wound but managed to continue cycling further up Caledonian Road before collapsing.

Two other members of the group had their bicycles stolen.

The suspects left the scene, making off south down Caledonian Road. No other injuries were reported.

Detectives say they are keeping an open mind as to the motive for the attack.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones appealed for anyone who saw anything to get in touch.

He said: "Caledonian Road would have been very busy at the time of the incident and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack, or may have any information as to who is responsible, to come forward and speak to police."

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Emwazi Was Peculiar And Violent, Says Ex-Pupil

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Mohammed Emwazi - the Londoner unmasked as Islamic State militant "Jihadi John" - seemed peculiar and violent as a youngster, says an ex-pupil who was at school with him.

The man, who does not want to be named, also told Sky News that Emwazi "got into some fights", smoked but there was nothing in his secondary school that could have left him radicalised.

However, he said there was potential for him to be groomed because he kept himself to himself and did not make eye contact.

There has been widespread shock at Quintin Kynaston academy following Emwazi's apparent involvement in a series of IS videos which show the gruesome beheadings of Western aid workers and journalists.

The former pupil said there was nothing to suggest Emwazi was religious during his teenage years. He was also quiet and always wore a baseball cap.

"There was something peculiar about him in that he was violent but he wasn't someone who was loud who talked in a provocative way," the ex-classmate said. "There were others who were going around bullying."

The fellow pupil at the north-west London academy believes the IS militant's education beyond high school may be responsible for his transformation into a cold-blooded killer.

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Gallery: Jihadi John's University Academic Record

Mohammed Emwazi, aka Jihadi John, studied a computing course at university. Sky News has exclusively obtained his student record

His file shows mostly middling academic grades for his course modules. He graduated with a lower second (2.2) degree

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Emwazi is believed to be the British-accented man who has appeared in Islamic State beheading videos

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Pictures have also emerged of Emwazi from his school yearbook in 1996

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The 27-year-old went to St Mary Magdalene Church of England school in Maida Vale, west London

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"It wasn't like university where you'd have speakers coming over from certain societies to give talks," said the classmate, who was two years older than Emwazi.

"I suppose there was potential for him to be groomed, that is a possibility. But at the time, at secondary school, he was like any of us."

Emwazi, 26, went on to study at the University of Westminster between 2006 and 2009 - finishing his computer programming degree.

In the same year, he was reportedly questioned by an MI5 officer in Amsterdam, accused of attempting to travel to Somalia to join a terror group.

It comes as a former reviewer of UK terrorism legislation told Sky News that Emwazi could have been subject to tougher security measures if it had not been for government mistakes.

Lord Carlile said: "Had control orders been in place, in my review there is a realistic prospect that Mohammed Emwazi and at least two of his associates would have been the subject of control orders with a compulsory relocation.

"If that had been the case he would not have done what he has done in recent times."

The unnamed classmate, who has watched some of the videos, continued: "Something has gone wrong somewhere - whether in the UK, or when he went abroad.

"It's a shame that we, or the Government, weren't able to stop it, or to even notice it.

"I presume he's got some anger to vent out, or he's enjoying the fame. He seems to be confident in what he is doing - it's not like what I saw when he was younger."

One of Emwazi's secondary school teachers told BBC Newsnight that Emwazi had received anger management therapy - and at the time, appeared to be a "success story" in overcoming the problem and going on to achieve good grades.

Since his identity was revealed, Quintin Kynaston has released a statement saying it was "shocked and sickened" that one of their alumni has become involved in terrorism.

MI5 has reportedly questioned Emwazi's former teachers following on from his identification.

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Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Februari 2015 | 22.55

Former glam rocker Gary Glitter has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of a string of historical sex attacks on three schoolgirls.

The 70-year-old, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was convicted of one count of attempted rape, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and four counts of indecent assault.

One of his victims included a girl who was less than 10 years old when he crept into her bed and tried to rape her in 1975.

Glitter, who denied all the charges, also attacked two girls, aged 12 and 13, after inviting them backstage to his dressing room, and isolating them from their mothers.

Sky's Enda Brady, at London's Southwark Crown Court, said Glitter showed no reaction as his sentence was handed down and he was led from the dock.

As he arrived at the court earlier, he waved at two friends in the public gallery.

The former chart topper was at the height of his fame when he preyed on the youngsters.

Glitter's lawyer told the court their client is "a very different man now".

However, Judge Alistair McCreath, who remanded the disgraced star in custody after the verdicts last month, told him his offences were "truly appalling".

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Gallery: Gary Glitter Through The Years

British singer Paul Gadd, who later found fame as the glam rock star Gary Glitter, performing in an earlier incarnation as Paul Raven with the Twilights at the Black Cat Club in Woolwich in 1964

Gary Glitter in London in January 1973

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Naming Of 'Jihadi John' Splits Victims' Families

The family of Steven Sotloff, the US journalist beheaded in an Islamic State video, have said they have "full faith" that his alleged killer "Jihadi John" will be brought to justice - a day after he was identified as a Londoner called Mohammed Emwazi.

Speaking to Sky News, the family's spokesman Barak Barfi said: "They hope that he will be caught by American intelligence officials, brought to trial in the United States, and convicted for the crime of beheading their son.

"There's going to be no closure until these people are brought to justice. This is just one step in a long path. The Taliban were toppled in Afghanistan, al Qaeda was eradicated in Afghanistan, and we believe that one day, Islamic State's end will come.

"When that comes, people like Jihadi John will have nowhere to run."

Since the 27-year-old was unmasked as the frontman of IS, reaction from the families of the Western hostages killed in cold blood has been mixed.

The mother of James Foley, the first US journalist murdered by the militant group, has said she forgives "Jihadi John" - and described Emwazi's apparent involvement with the terror organisation as "an ongoing tragedy".

Diane Foley told The Times: "It saddens me, his continued hatred. He felt wronged, now we hate him - now that just prolongs the hatred. We need to end it."

Loved ones of David Haines, the British aid worker believed to have died at the hands of Emwazi, are also divided on what would bring closure to victims' families.

Whereas his wife, Dragana, told the BBC that Emwazi's death was "the last thing I would want for someone like him", Mr Haines' daughter, Bethany, told ITV News that she would only feel closure "once there's a bullet between his eyes".

Scrutiny is mounting over claims that Emwazi, a graduate from the University of Westminster, was already known to MI5 before he joined the ranks of IS in 2013.

But Mr Barfi, speaking to Sky News on behalf of the Sotloffs, rejected claims that British intelligence services had "dropped the ball".

He added: "The British have long been vigilant and have stopped a number of plans. This is not a replay of the Kouachi brothers, who were responsible for the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

"This is a completely different situation, and British intelligence has done as much as it could have, given the constraints of the democratic environment it works in."

Sir Menzies Campbell has said the Intelligence and Security Committee will likely seek answers about what information had been held on Emwazi - but this process will not take place until after the General Election.

According to Asim Qureshi, a director of the CAGE campaign group, Emwazi had been continually harassed by security agencies before he joined IS - and described the now-infamous militant as "extremely kind and gentle" and "the most beautiful young man".

Both Scotland Yard and Downing Street have refused to confirm reports of Emwazi's identity.

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PM Defends MI5 After 'Jihadi John' Named

David Cameron says Britain will do "everything we can" to bring terrorists to justice after Londoner Mohammed Emwazi was identified as the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John".

The Prime Minister also expressed his support for Britain's security services as questions were raised about whether appropriate actions were taken to stop Emwazi from travelling to Syria.

Speaking at an event in Cardiff, Mr Cameron defended MI5 and praised the service for its "dedicated and courageous" work protecting Britain.

"They are having to make incredibly difficult judgements, and I think basically they make very good judgements on our behalf," he said.

"I think while we are in the middle of this vast effort to make sure British citizens are safe, the most important thing is to get behind them."

The security agency has been criticised for its handling of Emwazi's case. The 27-year-old travelled to Syria in 2013, several years after MI5's first contact with the militant.

In 2009 he was reportedly questioned by an MI5 officer in Amsterdam who accused him of attempting to travel to Somalia to join a terror group.

Asim Qureshi, a director of the CAGE campaign group, has claimed Emwazi was harassed by the security agency over the following years as agents tried to recruit him as an informant.

Sir Menzies Campbell, a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee, has indicated that the parliamentary committee is likely to seek answers from MI5 over what information they held on "Jihadi John".

The families of Western hostages killed by Islamic State have expressed mixed reactions to the identification of Emwazi.

A spokesman for relatives of Steven Sotloff, the US journalist beheaded in an Islamic State video, says they have "full faith" that Emwazi will eventually face justice.

While refusing to address specific cases, Mr Cameron said the security services and the police would do "everything" to bring those who commit "appalling and heinous crimes" to justice.

He described Britain's security services as "incredibly impressive, hard-working and dedicated".

"I'm satisfied we have in place the right ways of scrutinising the work that these extraordinary men and women do on our behalf," Mr Cameron said.

"Even in the last few months their dedication and work has saved us from plots on the streets of the United Kingdom that could have done immense damage.

"So I think it is a moment to stand up and thank them for the work they do on our behalf."

Speaking to Sky News, the executive director of the Human Security Centre, an independent foreign policy think tank, criticised CAGE for suggesting that Emwazi was radicalised as a consequence of his contact with MI5.

"This narrative was put forward by CAGE, which is often described as a human rights organisation, or a civil liberty organisation, but which is actually a pro-Islamist organisation," she said.

"They have a long record of supporting terrorists and of apologising for their actions."

Meanwhile Boris Johnson has told Sky News of his concern about youth being "sucked into" Islamist ideologies in London and across the country.

Mr Johnson was speaking to First News readers and contributors from Sky News' Stand Up Be Counted campaign.

Asked whether people should feel safe in Britain, Mr Johnson said: "We should feel safe in this country. (The) police are doing a great job... and we're a safe society.

"But... we do have a problem with terrorism, with young people who are just being driven into an ideology that in my view is leading them into dangerous and criminal, catastrophic behaviour."

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Eight People Dead In Rural Missouri Gun Spree

By Sky News US Team

Eight people are dead after a gun spree in a small community in the US state of Missouri.

Those killed in the attack early on Friday in Tyrone include the apparent shooter.

He is a 36-year-old man who had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Texas County Sheriff's Sgt Jeff Kinder.

Police found two people dead after responding to an emergency call from a girl at a home in Tyrone.

Investigators discovered five other victims killed and one wounded in three other homes in the community.

Police found an elderly female dead of natural causes at another home.

The suspected gunman was found dead in a vehicle in Shannon County.

Authorities have not named the victims or the gunman.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is due to hold a news conference shortly.

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Jimmy Savile: What The Official Reports Say

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Februari 2015 | 22.55

Sixteen new reports have been published following investigations into Jimmy Savile's sexual abuse during his work at various hospitals.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital (Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHST)

:: An 18-year-old patient was molested in her bed after Savile climbed into her room through a window in 1973. The report says when she told nursing staff what had happened, it appeared to be an open secret that Savile was a "sex pest".

:: An 11-year-old was raped by Savile and left hysterical and crying. A nurse came in and told her to be quiet and that Savile would not do such a dreadful thing and he raised a great deal of money for the hospital. The girl told her father and he made a formal complaint. Savile did not come near the girl again but her father decided that, due to her ill health and not wishing to distress her further, the complaint should be dropped. The girl's father has since died.

:: Between 1973 and 1975 a boy aged between nine and 11 and other children were invited to Savile's porters' office where they were given sweets. The boy was told off for eating all the sweets. Savile put the boy across his knee, pulled down his trousers and underwear, groped and spanked him. The boy said Savile's secretary had seen this happen on one of about ten occasions but had just turned around and walked out. He also told his headmaster, who "laughed it off".

:: A 15-year-old patient was invited by Savile to his room for a hot drink in 1977 but then began questioning her about her sexual experience and stripped her and had sex with her. The girl never told anyone what had happened and, while Savile had given her his phone number and she tried to contact him in London, she never saw him again.

:: A 12-year-old girl was admitted in 1977 when she was raped by a hospital porter who she described as a white-haired man with a gold chain and white coat and smoking a cigar. She told a nurse that "the porter hurt me, down here". She was told not to say anything otherwise she (the nurse) would get into trouble. It was only a few years later that she realised who her attacker had been.

Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHST)

:: A 14-year-old boy was groped on a ward in 1994, before being told by Savile: 'I bet you feel better after that'.

:: A man aged 28 was also groped while lying on a trolley waiting for an x-ray in 1988. He described Savile as having been dressed like a member of the medical staff. He told nobody about what Savile had done because he was too embarrassed.

:: A student nurse, aged 21, was assaulted in a cupboard in 1981. "In a state of shock she turned around and on immediately doing so another student nurse came into the linen cupboard at which point he laughed and said goodbye. The nurse also claims she was warned against a 'pink haired man' hanging round mortuary, in or around 1981, but the report could not confirm it was Savile.

Rampton Hospital (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHST)

:: Savile parked his motorhome on grounds and would use it for having consensual sex with nurses.

:: One man said that Savile had sat him on his knee and moved his hand to his 'nether region'.

Crawley Hospital (Sussex Community NHST)

:: No evidence found of sexual abuse. Anecdotal accounts but no record of Savile visiting hospital or any association with hospital.

Birch Hill Hospital Rochdale (Pennine Acute NHST)

:: Investigated one allegation made by a man who was a patient there as a child in 1965. Report found he was abused, but on balance of probabilities not by Savile.

Scott House Hospital Rochdale (Calderstones NHS FT)

:: No evidence found

Bethlem Royal Hospital (South London and Maudsley NHS FT)

:: The report was unable to substantiate report that Savile touched teenage girl's breast during visit

Shenley Hospital (Central and NW London NHST)

:: In 1981 a teenaged athlete who did a fun run for charity and had photos taken with Savile said he sexually assaulted her and a friend. The report found there was "no reason to doubt" this.

West Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHST)

:: No evidence found

St Martin's Hospital Canterbury (Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust)

:: An allegation that male patient abused by Savile in 1969 was dismissed

Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS FT)

:: Allegation made but no evidence to substantiate it. The complainant would not be interviewed.

Meanwood Park Hospital (Leeds and York Partnership NHS FT)

:: Report finds that nurses working at Mencap nursery were told not to let Jimmy Savile anywhere near children.

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Savile: Missed Chance To Stop Decades Of Abuse

Sex predator Jimmy Savile could have been stopped from carrying out his depraved abuse decades earlier, an inquiry has found.

A report into a catalogue of sex attacks by the disgraced presenter at Stoke Mandeville Hospital revealed staff knew of 10 allegations against him but failed to act.

And investigators said if a formal complaint against Savile back in 1977 over the rape and abuse of an 11-year-old girl had been properly handled, the celebrity DJ probably would have been caught at the time.

The report was among a series published into the abuse carried out by Savile at hospitals across the country, where he preyed on children as young as five and seriously ill patients.

There were even claims Savile had sex with dead bodies in the mortuary at Stoke Mandeville, in a chilling echo of previous allegations against him at Leeds General Infirmary.

While the inquiry found no proof of this, it found evidence Savile had unsupervised access to the morgue.

So far more than 170 people have made abuse claims against Savile, covering a period from 1954 to just before his death in 2011.

And it has been warned many aspects of the Savile scandal could be repeated in the future.

One wide-ranging report taking in all the NHS investigations found the access given to Savile to dozens of hospitals gave him the "opportunity to commit sexual abuses on a grand scale for nearly 50 years."

And its author, Kate Lampard, told Sky News: "There are still risks and weaknesses in the arrangements in hospitals for keeping people safe."

His status as a celebrity and fundraiser was "enhanced by the endorsement and encouragement he received from politicians, senior civil servants and NHS managers".

As a result, staff were reluctant to challenge Savile or report him, Ms Lampard said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised to the victims, and also criticised government ministers at the time who he said failed to ask "hard questions" about Savile.

He told MPs: "Never again must the power of money or celebrity blind us to repeated clear signals that some extremely vulnerable people were being abused.

"People were either too dazzled or too intimidated by the nation's favourite celebrity to confront the evil predator we now know he was."

He said there should have been a stronger incentive on staff to report abuse claims, and highlighted a consultation on proposals to introduce a mandatory duty on NHS workers to act.

He would be accepting 13 recommendations in principle that were made in Ms Lampard's report.

But Mr Hunt said he would not accept the proposal for all NHS volunteers to go through enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

The Stoke Mandeville report revealed Savile abused at least 60 people connected with the hospital over more than 20 years, including patients, staff and visitors.

The offences ranged from groping and molesting through to rape.

His victims there included children as young as eight and vulnerable patients.

Those staff who complained about Savile's behaviour, were "severely reprimanded".

Dr Androulla Johnstone, who wrote the Stoke Mandeville report, told a press conference Savile was an "opportunistic predator who on occasion could also show a high degree of premeditation" when planning attacks.

She said: "The individuals to whom these incidents were reported failed in their duty to protect.

"Consequentially, no intelligence about Savile's behaviour was gathered over the years and no action was taken.

"Whilst witnesses told us it was an open secret within the hospital that Savile was a lecher and general nuisance, none stated that they knew about his sexual abuse activities."

Lawyer Liz Dux, who represents many of the Stoke Mandeville victims, said it "beggars belief" the report found no evidence of senior staff being aware of the abuse.

But Dr Johnstone rejected claims of a "cover-up" by staff, and said Savile's behaviour went unchallenged due to a "general disbelief".

Savile, who received a knighthood in 1990, died in 2011 and so never faced justice for his crimes.

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Behind The Twisted Appeal Of Jihadi John

He has been Islamic State's poster boy of horror.

Once dubbed 'Jihadi John', Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Briton from northwest London, has been named by friends and associates allegedly as the death cult's best known murderer.

Sadly, and dangerously, such notoriety serves the purpose of the movement he has joined - demonstrating a sense of invincibility as a purging 'saint' for the cause.

Emwazi, if he is ever formally identified as the infamous killer, appears to closely fit and serves the psychological profile which has driven much of Islamic State's appeal.

Experts speak of three important characteristics which drive the appeal of IS.

There is the notion of "cognitive closure". Islamic State's uncompromising theologically driven world perspective in a world of "unsettling, anxiety inducing uncertainties" offers men and women, especially those in the West who are from immigrant backgrounds and may feel alienated, an end to the "cravings for coherence and closure", according to Professor Arie Kruglanski, from the University of Maryland.

Writing on the E-International Relations website Prof Kruglanski, a leading authority on the minds of terrorists, observed that fundamentalism offers people a "world of good versus evil, saints versus sinners, order versus chaos; a pure universe in black and white admitting no shades of grey. A fundamentalist ideology… offers a future that is predictable and controllable.

"Such a perspective holds particular fascination for confused youths in transitional stages of their lives, who drift like rudderless ships and find themselves torn by conflicting cultural demands."

Emwazi, a computer science graduate from Westminster University, appears to have been restless.

He is reported to have been arrested in Tanzania on suspicion of links to al Shabab in Somalia nine years ago. He complained of being interviewed and "threatened" by MI5.

He sought work in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia but grew up in the gang-blighted parts of Queen's Park in northwest London.

Jihadi ideology removes uncertainty and provides a sense of superiority - so much so that those who do not share its tenets are deemed worthy only of obliteration.

Another appeal of IS is that it offers followers a chance at being significant.

Emzawi, or Jihadi John, is seen as a hero by himself, his comrades and internet groupies attracted to his brand of bullying machismo.

The message from him is "you too can be a world player, bring war and bloodshed in return for worldly recognition, and end to the 'humiliation' and rewards in heaven following 'martyrdom'.

This "denotes the supreme importance to humans of being noticed, mattering, and deserving honour and esteem", Prof Kruglanski writes.

In recent months, the base instincts of young men and women are also forming part of the IS appeal.

Sex is selling their agenda. Young fighters are promised a bride, sex slaves or captured women, while their groupies are lured to Syria by internet images of handsome armed men and the promise of an Islamic life in the arms of a hero.

IS has seen recruitment leap from 10,000 to more than 40,000, with 12,000 foreign fighters of whom at least 3,000 hail from Europe.

Emwazi is a magnet for IS recruits.

His appeal will only end, says Prof Kruglanski, with "ignominy, an unglamorous death in the desert with no one to care".

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Reports Identify IS Militant 'Jihadi John'

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The Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John" has been identified as a Londoner called Mohammed Emwazi.

Emwazi was born in Kuwait and comes from a well-to-do family, according to the Washington Post.

He grew up in northwest London and graduated from the University of Westminster with a degree in computer programming.

Aged 27, he is believed to have travelled to Syria in 2012 and to have joined Islamic State (IS) later.

A close friend of Emwazi told the newspaper: "I have no doubt that Mohammed is Jihadi John. He was like a brother to me... I am sure it is him."

A representative of the British advocacy group CAGE who had been in contact with Emwazi before he left for Syria also said he believed he was "Jihadi John".

"There was an extremely strong resemblance," research director Asim Qureshi said after watching a video of him beheading a hostage.

He later described Emwazi as "extremely kind, extremely gentle... and the most humble young person that I ever knew".

Emwazi rose to notoriety last August in an IS video in which he killed American journalist James Foley.

Since then he has appeared in a series of videos documenting the gruesome murders of other hostages, including British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines.

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Gallery: Profile Of Alan Henning

Alan Henning, 47, was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. Friends gave him the nickname "gadget" due to his love of technology. The British aid worker was murdered by Islamic State militants in Syria.

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

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He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

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

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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

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In each, he taunts audiences and is dressed all in black, with a balaclava covering his face. He wears a holster under his left arm.

The Washington Post claims Emwazi started to radicalise after a planned safari in Tanzania following his graduation was brought to an abrupt end when he was detained on arrival in Dar es Salaam and deported.

He is said to have told friends he was flown to Amsterdam where an officer from MI5 accused him of trying to reach Somalia, where the militant group al Shabab operates.

Shortly afterward, Emwazi moved to his native Kuwait, where he landed a job working for a computer firm.

He returned to London twice, the second time to finalise his wedding plans to a woman in Kuwait, but was prevented from going back after being detained by counter-terrorism officials.

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Gallery: Profile Of David Haines

David Haines was born in Holderness, East Yorkshire in 1970. He was raised in Scotland, where his parents still live

He studied at Perth Academy. After school he worked for Royal Mail before becoming an RAF engineer

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Downing Street declined to confirm or deny if Emwazi's name was known to the intelligence and security services.

Asked if David Cameron was concerned about him being identified, a spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister would be concerned about information being put into the public domain at any time that might jeopardise ongoing police or security investigations or the safety of British citizens."

A spokesperson for the University of Westminster said: ""A Mohammed Emwazi left the University six years ago. If these allegations are true, we are shocked and sickened by the news."

A statement from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London said: "We believe that the identity and name published by the Washington Post and now in the public realm to be accurate and correct."

The statement added: "This demonstrates what we have long said about radicalisation, that it is not something driven by poverty or social deprivation. Ideology clearly plays a big role in motivating some men to participate in jihadist causes."

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Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 Februari 2015 | 22.55

Police have released photographs of seven men they wish to identify following alleged racist chanting at London's St Pancras International station last week.

British Transport Police (BTP) say the images were captured at 8pm last Wednesday, the day after Chelsea's Champions league match in Paris.

Officers believe the men had returned to London following the match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

A member of the public reported being "disgusted" by the men's chanting and reported their behaviour to police.

Detective Sergeant Steven Graysmark said: "I want anyone who knows the men in the photographs to come forward.

"I believe the seven, thought to be Chelsea fans, can help us with the investigation.

"Do you know any of the men in the images? If so, please contact BTP."

A similar incident was reported on the Paris Metro shortly before the Chelsea match on 17 February.

On Friday the club suspended five people after video emerged of a commuter being pushed on the Paris Metro.

The commuter, Sylla Souleymane, appeared to be stopped from getting on an underground train by fans.

The fans were also heard in the video chanting "we're racist and that's the way we like it".

The club said the fans had been suspended from its Stamford Bridge ground and that they would be banned for life if there was "sufficient evidence of their involvement".

Mr Souleymane said last week that he thinks those who abused him in Paris should be jailed for their actions.

The 33-year-old told Le Parisien newspaper: "These people, these English fans, must be found, punished and must be locked up.

"What happened should not go unpunished."

He said he thought Chelsea and PSG should face sanctions because it was "also their fault".

:: Anyone with information can contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iran Stages Attack On Mock US Warship In Gulf

Iran has staged a series of military drills, including a simulated attack on a US aircraft carrier, on one of the most strategic stretches of water in the Gulf.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard launched the display of naval and air exercises near the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

Video on Iranian TV showed the deployment of fast boats and missiles against a replica of an American carrier - something not seen before in military drills.

Other exercises included the shooting down of a drone and planting undersea mines.

The unit's navy chief Admiral Ali Fadavi said: "American aircraft carriers are very big ammunition depots," explaining that a direct hit could create huge secondary explosions.

Chief Commander General Mohammed Ali Jafari explained that the exercise - dubbed Great Prophet 9 - sent a "message" to "extraterritorial enemies", in reference to the United States.

The television footage also panned across a banner showing the words: "If the Americans are ready to be buried at the bottom of the waters of the Persian Gulf, so be it."

But a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain downplayed the threat, saying he was "confident of our naval forces' ability to defend themselves".

Commander Kevin Stephens added: "It seems they've attempted to destroy the equivalent of a Hollywood movie set."

The US is currently in negotiations with Iran over a potential nuclear deal, alongside Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.

Tehran has always denied Western claims that it intends to develop atomic bombs.

Talks are due to resume in Geneva next week after a meeting between Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Sarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday.

A framework agreement between the two sides is hoped for before the end of March with all eyes on a final deal by 30 June.

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Claudia Lawrence: Father Hits Out At Liars

The father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has said it is "dreadful" that people may have been lying to police investigating her disappearance almost six years ago.

Officers have been carrying out a detailed search of an alleyway at the rear of Miss Lawrence's terraced home in York, and Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, who is leading the inquiry, has said he was sure people have lied to his officers.

Peter Lawrence commented: "I heard that and it's obviously absolutely dreadful that anyone would do that.

"We know that people lie to the police but in a case like this that involves Claudia's disappearance and everyone can see what it's done to the family... come on."

Miss Lawrence was 35 when she went missing and her family are preparing to mark what would have been her 41st birthday on Friday.

She was last seen on Wednesday 18 March 2009 and was reported missing by her father two days later after she failed to turn up for work at York University.

North Yorkshire Police began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence's house in the Heworth area of the city.

On Wednesday the alley behind the house was cordoned off as specialist officers conducted a fingertip search. An officer with a dog was also involved in the operation.

Mr Malyn, who is head of the force's major crime unit, said: "We still don't know if Claudia left for work on the morning of Thursday March 19 or whether something happened overnight within her house.

"If the latter is the case, the person or persons responsible, in my view, would have used the rear alleyway as the front door leads on to a busy main road. This is why this specific piece of information needs to be fully investigated."

Officers have also been conducting house-to-house inquiries in the area and speaking to people who have since moved away, as well as checking all possible CCTV image have been obtained.

Last year a 60-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of killing Miss Lawrence but was later released without charge.

A 47-year-old man remains on bail on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Charges For Glasgow Bin Lorry Tragedy Driver

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

The driver of a bin lorry that crashed in Glasgow - killing six people - will not face any charges, Sky News has learned.

A decision has also been made not to charge Glasgow City Council, which owned the vehicle involved in the tragedy, although a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held.

Scotland's prosecuting body, the Crown Office, has been studying a police report into the tragedy which occurred on 22 December.

The incident saw the vehicle career out of control down one of Glasgow's busiest streets and collided with pedestrians.

Six people lost their lives and a number of others were injured. Those who died included three members of the same family, 18 year-old Erin McQuade and her grandparents Jack and Lorraine Sweeney.

Stephanie Tait, a 29-year-old primary school teacher, from Riddrie, Glasgow, Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, from Glasgow, were also killed.

In Scotland, a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is held when there is deemed to be sufficient public interest in establishing the facts surrounding a death.

It is held before a Sheriff who, ultimately, issues a determination. Witnesses are compelled to attend.

It is possible for charges to be laid on the basis of evidence given during an FAI.

Inquiries will look at all the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, which happened when the bin lorry driver, 58-year-old Harry Clarke, collapsed at the steering wheel.

The vehicle headed erratically along Glasgow's Queen Street at a speed of just over 20mph.

Two crew members in the rear of the driver's cab made desperate attempts to rouse him but were hampered by a safety rail separating the front and back of the cab.

Following the crash, Mr Clarke tested negative for drink-driving.

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cash For Access: Rifkind Steps Down As MP

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 Februari 2015 | 22.55

Sir Malcolm Rifkind has announced he is to step down at the General Election after cash for access revelations.

The Tory MP has also resigned from his role as chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) after pressure over the lobbying scandal intensified.

Sir Malcolm, who became an MP in 1974, said it was unfair to friends and colleagues in Kensington for him to continue to remain the candidate for the General Election, but added the allegations against him were "contemptible".

He dismissed suggestions he had been pushed to step down from the ISC by Number 10, saying: "Downing Street don't have that power."

And he said it was only for four weeks as the committee will stop sitting when Parliament is dissolved ahead of the election next month.

He said: "This is entirely my personal decision.

"I have had no such requests from my constituency association but I believe that it is the right and proper action to take.

"As regards the allegations of Channel 4 and the Daily Telegraph I find them contemptible and will not comment further at this time.

"Although I will retire from Parliament I shall continue my public and political life and am much looking forward to doing so over the years to come."

The MP for Kensington had been due at the regular ISC meeting this morning, but admitted that the committee could be "distracted or affected by controversy" and that it would be better for him to step down.

Moments before he announced his resignation, Sir Malcolm was involved in a testy exchange with a Sky News reporter during which he told him to "mind his own business" and accused him of being "childish".

Sir Malcolm tried to laugh off the episode in an exchange with a woman on the other side of the road who shouted back: "You won't be doing that again will you."

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Gallery: Rifkind's 40-Year Politics Career

Sir Malcolm Rifkind's political career has spanned 40 years. He became and MP in 1974 and was prominent in both Margaret Thatcher and John Major's Governments.

October 1986: Malcolm Rifkind, at the Conservative Conference at Blackpool

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22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dozens Hurt In Los Angeles Commuter Train Crash

By Sky News US Team

Dozens of passengers have been injured after a Southern California commuter train collided with a truck.

Three cars on the Metrolink train derailed and overturned after the collision just before 6am local time.

Fire and rescue crews converged on the crash site in Ventura County, about 65 miles (104km) northwest of Los Angeles.

At least 30 people were being treated, according to local media reports.

The severity of their injuries was not immediately known.

Aerial footage from local television stations showed paramedics treating passengers on tarps that had been laid out on a nearby road.

Oxnard police Sergeant Denise Shadinger said the struck vehicle was engulfed in flames when first responders arrived.

The train was bound for Los Angeles from Ventura County, according to Metrolink's website.

More follows...

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alan Barnes' Attacker Told 'Jail Is Likely'

A man has pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob Alan Barnes, the disabled pensioner who received £330,000 in donations after being left too scared to return home after the attack.

Richard Gatiss was using legal highs at the time of the incident - and was refused bail at a previous hearing for his own safety.

The 25-year-old told Mr Barnes, who is visually impaired and weighs less than six stone, to "hand over your money" - but the victim said he had none. Gatiss ran from the scene when the 67-year-old shouted for help.

Mr Barnes, who has disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant, broke his collarbone when he was pushed over by Gatiss while putting out his wheelie bin on 25 January.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Jamie Adams, defending, said: "He wishes me to say at this stage that he is shocked, horrified and deeply ashamed of what he did. He has not stopped thinking about Mr Barnes since this awful deed.

"Necessarily, he is segregated in prison because of the way people feel about him."

Gatiss was warned by Judge Paul Sloan QC that a prison term is likely when he is sentenced at a later date.

Following the attack, an online fundraising page was set up by Katie Cutler, a beautician who was left upset after reading about the mugging in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Her campaign went viral, and more than £330,000 was pledged to Mr Barnes in a matter of days.

On the page, she wrote: "I was so upset that anyone could target a disabled pensioner and be so cruel.

"We can't take away what has happened but with a little donation we can make the future a prettier one and help towards the cost of his new home. Thank you all."

Mr Barnes is a well-known figure in his local area and is renowned for being able to quickly calculate how many days old someone is from their date of birth.

After receiving the cheque, he said: "It is just absolutely like a fairy story. You might read about it in a book, but it has come true. It is hard to find the words really - it was just a total, total surprise."

22.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Green Leader Gives 'Excruciating' Interview

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The leader of the Green Party has conceded that a radio interview to launch her election campaign was "excruciating".

Natalie Bennett told Sky News' Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones she suffered a "mind blank" during an LBC interview that soon had her trending on Twitter.

Interviewer Nick Ferrari described his one-on-one with Ms Bennett as "one of the worst interviews ever by a political leader".

The broadcast was peppered with awkward pauses and stuttering.

The Australian-born politician struggled to answer basic questions about how her party would fund the building of 500,000 new council houses.

She said: "Right, well, that's, erm ... you've got a total cost ... erm ... that we're ... that will be spelt out in our manifesto."

Mr Ferrari replied: "So you don't know?"

"No. Well ... er."

At one point Ms Bennett blamed the difficulties she was having on a "huge cold".

Many people responded to the interview on Twitter.

Political commentator Owen Jones wrote: "Unbearably awful interview. Green supporters will be exasperated that a great political opportunity has been trashed."

The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire added: "Greens should abandon TV debates after this @natalieben solar collapse with @NickFerrariLBC. Painful."

The interview was followed by a news conference to launch the party's General Election campaign.

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Gallery: Social Media Response To 'Excruciating' Interview by Natalie Bennettt

Sky News' Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones

LBC host and interviewer Nick Ferrari

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Daily Telegraph sketch writer Michael Deacon

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Political commentator Owen Jones

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The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire

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Joey Jones asked Ms Bennett if she felt she had let down her party - only for Jenny Jones, a Green member of the London Assembly, to step in.

"She's not going to answer that, okay?" said Ms Jones.

"Yes, I will," said Ms Bennett.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no," said Ms Jones.

But thanking the peer for her "kind attempt to protect me", Ms Bennett conceded: "It was absolutely excruciating in the studio.

"All I can say is occasionally one just has a mind blank, that happens.

"I've been presenting the Green Party's policies up and down the country.

"I've been delighted to do that.

"I'm delighted with the response they get and I'm delighted to have the backing of all 54,000 Green Party members."

In later interviews and on Twitter Ms Bennett apologised to party members.

And she told Sky News' Dermot Murnaghan she did not fear for her position as party leader.

"The answer is to face up to one's faults, one's mistakes, and move on.

"My colleagues have been very supportive and sympathetic."

Despite the embarrassment, Joey Jones thinks all is not lost for the Greens.

"It's very difficult from her point of view, but I would make one point: ultimately, people who are inclined to vote Green, and there are a lot more of them than we've seen in the past, are not doing so because they think their sums add up.

"They're voting on principle and some are voting as a protest, and they may well do that no matter how many bad interviews Natalie Bennett has in her locker."

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