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Alice Gross Police Search Is Largest Since 7/7

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 20 September 2014 | 23.17

By Tom Parmenter, Sky Correspondent

The search for missing teenager Alice Gross is now the biggest deployment of Metropolitan Police search assets since the 7/7 terror attacks in London.

The 14-year-old from Hanwell, west London, has been missing for 24 days and police continue to make new appeals for information.

Detectives revealed this week they are also searching for Latvian national Arnis Zalkans, 41, who disappeared from his home in nearby Ealing on September 3 - a week after Alice disappeared.

The 41-year-old was jailed in his native country in the late 1990s for murdering his wife and burying her in a forest following a dispute about her sexuality.

Alice Gross Police are also hunting for Arnis Zalkalns who disappeared at the same time

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

Search teams, including dogs and divers, have been deployed across west London looking for Alice, and police say the search area is being widened.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, said: "I would like to thank the local community who have shown great support to the search effort and police investigation so far.

"Our officers are working through the weekend - carrying on those searches. We will not stop our hunt for Alice. Whilst we have already seized many hundreds of hours of CCTV we still need the public's help.

"If you are a shop owner, have CCTV at your home, or were out filming in the areas of Ealing and Hanwell and have footage from the afternoon of Thursday 28 August when Alice was last seen, and right up to the 3 September when Arnis Zalkalns was last seen, then please get in touch with us.

"Save the footage, call into our incident room on 020 8358 0100, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

CCTV of suspect in murder of Alice Gross, Arnis Zalkalns Zalkalns was seen on CCTV cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal

Some 630 officers from eight police forces have been involved in the hunt. They have searched 25sq km of open land and 5.5km of canals and rivers.

On Friday night, police searched a former home of Zalkalns in Hanwell.

The owner of the house, Radoslav Andric, said he last saw Zalkalns at the rental property two days before Alice went missing on August 28.

Mr Andric said the Latvian builder moved out more than a year ago, but had returned to see friends.

Police have recovered the suspect's red Trek bicycle from the property.

Forensic officers have also searched Zalkalns' semi-detached house in Ealing, where armed officers have been seen standing guard.

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

He was seen on CCTV footage cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal 15 minutes after the last sighting of Alice.

Detectives believe he is likely to have seen Alice as they were both going north along the canal towpath.


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Miliband: More Important Things Than Devo Max

Ed Miliband has side-stepped the issue of constitutional change, saying the issue matters - but is not the priority for most voters.

Prime Minister David Cameron says all parts of the UK should have more powers after the independence referendum in Scotland, but Mr Miliband says the process is being rushed.

His comments come after former prime minister Gordon Brown said he was "utterly convinced" powers for Scotland would be delivered following the No vote.

But speaking ahead of the Labour Party conference in Manchester, Mr Miliband said: "The last few months have been about keeping our country together. The next eight months will be about how we can change our country together.

"Right across Britain, people are yearning for change. Constitutional change matters.

Scotland has decided Scots voted to remain part of the UK by 55% to 45%

"But we all know something else matters even more. Our country doesn't work for everyday working people and only works for a privileged few at the top. And we've got to change it."

It followed the earlier speech by Mr Brown, whose intervention in the campaign has been credited with helping to secure a No vote, and who insisted the timetable for devolution he set out two weeks ago was on track.

A resolution on more powers will be signed by him and the three main party leaders in the House of Commons on Monday, he told a news conference in Dunfermline, Scotland.

The civil service is already working on the plans, which will be published "by the end of October," he added.

He said the timetable was a "way of bringing people together" and "this is time for Scotland to unite".

Prime Minister David Cameron Reacts To The Scottish Referendum Decision David Cameron is to sign the new powers proposals on Monday

"These are men who have been promise makers and they will not be promise breakers. I will ensure that as a promise keeper that these promises that have been made will be upheld.

"We will lock in today the promises that have been made and why the timetable we set out will be delivered."

He said the laws that will form the Scotland Bill, and eventually the Scotland Act, will be ready by Burns Day (January 25).

Mr Brown also praised Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, who dramatically quit on Friday night after the country turned out in record numbers to reject a break from the UK by 55% to 45%.

Mr Salmond was a "fierce and formidable opponent" but people owed him a "debt of gratitude" for what he had done for Scotland, he said.

The outcome of the referendum vote saw 2,001,926 opting for the No camp, with 1,617,989 voting Yes to independence.

The Yes campaign won majorities in four areas, including Dundee and Glasgow.

Six people were arrested in Glasgow city centre on Friday night as police separated rival union and independence supporters.

Hundreds of people crowded into George Square, with a chorus of Rule Britannia countered by the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland.


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Devolution Wranglings Could End In Stalemate

Devo Max: What New Powers Can Scotland Have?

Updated: 4:18pm UK, Friday 19 September 2014

David Cameron has pledged new powers for Scotland that some have said amount to Devo Max. However, it's not quite as clear cut as that.

What is Devo Max?

Scottish Parliament basically gets power over everything - apart from defence and foreign affairs. Maximum devolution.

Is that on offer?

No it's not, although some say David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have come close to that.

What powers does Scotland already have?

It makes its own laws on health, education, law and order, environment, social services, housing, local government, tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and some areas of transport. It can also raise or lower its income tax by 3p, but has not used this power.

What does Westminster have control of?

Defence, social security, immigration, benefits, foreign policy, employment, broadcasting, trade and industry, nuclear energy, oil, gas and electricity, consumer affairs and the constitution.

What powers will be given away in this quasi Devo Max deal?

It is not entirely clear. More power over setting income tax is definitely on the agenda, and control of housing benefits too. Holyrood is unlikely to get control over the oil take or corporation tax.

Under Gordon Brown's 12-point plan, giveaways include power over borrowing, job creation, social care and employment rights. The Scottish Parliament will also be confirmed as permanent, binding future governments to ensure its continued existence.

But what about England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Well, Mr Cameron has also promised more powers for Wales and Northern Ireland and to listen to the "millions of voices of England". He has promised to address the problem of "English votes for English laws" or the West Lothian question as it is also called. 

At the moment Scotland's 59 MPs can vote on matters that affect all of the UK but English MPs cannot vote on Scottish matters where powers have been devolved to Holyrood. 

With the promise of new powers for Scotland's Parliament, it has led to calls of "unfair" and for England to get more powers and the Prime Minister has said he will deliver. A sort of devolution revolution, if you will. 

Leader of the House of Commons William Hague is in charge of drawing up these plans but do expect that the Lib Dems and Labour will have rival versions. No cross-party consensus has been reached as with devolved powers for Scotland.

Make no mistake, it's a major shake-up - and yes, it will be an election issue.

So when is all this going to happen?

Gordon Brown has tabled a House of Commons debate over his planned 12-point power giveaway and the timetable for its delivery in mid-October.

There intention is that a new draft law to be drawn up by January 25 (Burns Night). Alex Salmond has agreed to talks to thrash out the details of these new powers but he will clearly be trying to get as close to delivering Devo Max as he can - having lost the battle for independence. It will not be passed until after the General Election in May but as there is a cross-party agreement theoretically, this should not provide a problem.

But the plans for England, Wales and Scotland do not have to work to the same timetable. They could be far more contentious as the parties are unlikely to agree on plans. Any English votes for English laws will put Labour at a distinct disadvantage as it effectively loses 40 MPs if its Scottish politicians are not included.

In addition, English MPs may be reluctant to allow new powers for Scotland to go through when they don't know "what's in it for them". 

In short, this could get messy and take a very long time.


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UK Hostage Murder Threat 'Against Sharia'

A group of Muslim scholars has made a direct appeal to Islamic State (IS) militants to release British hostage Alan Henning.

In a video message posted online, the men told the 47-year-old's captors that killing him would be against Islamic law.

Mr Henning, a taxi driver from Salford, was delivering aid in Syria when he was captured in December near the town of al Dana.

Shaykh Haitham al Haddad, a qadi or judge in the Sharia council in London, said: "This is to confirm that executing this man is totally haram (sinful), is impermissible, prohibited according to Sharia for a number of reasons."

Ustadh Abu Eesa, director at Prophetic Guidance in Manchester, said Mr Henning had joined a Muslim charity convoy because he "passionately believes in helping the most needy".

He said: "No matter what our differences, no matter how differently we see the world, what there is no doubt about is that the killing of an innocent man is not permitted in the religion of Allah.

"It is not permissible whatsoever to harm a person who believes that he is safe among the people he is working with. This safety must be honoured."

Alan Henning Mr Henning, 47, had driven an ambulance to Syria to deliver aid

A third scholar, Imam Shakeel Begg from the Lewisham Islamic Centre, said Mr Henning was innocent.

He added: "Whatever your grievance, whatever your cause, this man is innocent."

It comes after more than 100 Muslim leaders signed a statement pleading for IS to release Mr Henning and branding them "monsters" for the murder of fellow hostage David Haines.

In a letter in the Independent newspaper, they said: "We, the undersigned British Muslim Imams, organisations and individuals, wish to express our horror and revulsion at the senseless murder of David Haines and the threat to the life of our fellow British citizen, Alan Henning."

Mr Henning appeared at the end of a video released by IS militants last Saturday in which Mr Haines was beheaded. The video contained a threat that he would be killed next.

Separate video footage - filmed before his capture - showed him saying it was "all worthwhile" to ensure aid got to where it was most needed in Syria.


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Dad Who Bit Baby Pleads Guilty To Her Murder

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

A father who shook and beat his baby daughter to death has admitted the murder during his trial at the Old Bailey.

Lithuanian Aurimas Medvedevas, 23, had previously denied killing nine-week-old Aukse on September 5 last year.

The child's mother, Dzesika Urbikaite, had just had her first day back at work after maternity leave when she returned to their  home on Clifton Avenue, Peterborough, to find her baby dead in a cot.

Medvedevas initially claimed she had accidentally fallen out of bed.

Supt Jon Hutchinson, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "This was a shocking, brutal crime in which a baby girl who was only nine weeks old was murdered by a person who should have been looking after her. 

"He used such violence that the post-mortem examination concluded her injuries were consistent with having been in a car crash or dropped from a one-storey building.

"He then cruelly failed to seek the medical assistance that may well have saved her life."

Clifton Avenue, Peterborough. The attack took place on Clifton Avenue in Peterborough

As well as cuts and bruises, the post mortem revealed that Aukse had two bite marks on her head.

She had suffered significant internal injuries including a deep cut to the liver, five rib fractures, and bleeding on the brain and eyes indicating that she had been shaken.

An examination of one of the bite marks showed it matched the defendant's teeth imprint, the court heard.

Medvedevas changed his plea to guilty two days into the trial.

Judge Timothy Pontius told the jury that they had heard his "clear and voluntary confession of guilt".

He told them: "This is a distressing case and a tragic one. You are relieved of the burden of listening to that evidence."

Medvedevas is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey in Central London on Friday September 26.


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NHS Staff Asked To Help Africa's Ebola Fight

NHS staff are being encouraged to volunteer to help with the deadly ebola virus outbreak which is continuing to spread across West Africa.

The Department of Health's chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said doctors, nurses and paramedics are among the medical staff who are needed to help contribute towards efforts to tackle the crisis.

In a letter to health service staff, Dame Sally says those who wish to help should contact the UK International Emergency Medical Register, set up to respond to large-scale international emergencies. 

British officials recently announced they were setting up a treatment centre in Kerrytown, Sierra Leone, following a direct request for help from the World Health Organisation and Sierra Leone.

The 62-bed facility will treat victims of the disease, including local and international health workers and volunteers.

Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies arrives at a Cobra meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond to discuss the current ebola outbreak. Dame Sally Davies has appealed for NHS volunteers in a written letter

The Government is working with the charity Save The Children to determine how the centre will be run once it has been fully set up, Dame Sally said.

"The UK has been at the forefront of responding to the epidemic," Dame Sally wrote.

"It is acknowledged that the key to combating this epidemic is supporting in-country front line health workers and underpinning a fractured health system in Sierra Leone.

"The UK's aim is to provide the very best life-saving health service under the most challenging conditions."

The letter also urges staff to check their organisation's leave policy and states that initial help is required from those with past experience but as the situation develops those with more generic skills will be welcomed.

The West Africa outbreak has so far killed more than 2,600 people and infected around twice as many since March.


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Unwanted Horses In Fly Grazing 'Crisis'

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Reporter

The number of horses suffering because of illegal fly grazing is rising in England, animal welfare charities say.

The practice involves leaving horses on someone else's land unlawfully, without their permission.

A report, released in conjunction with a number of charities including Blue Cross, reveals at least 3,000 horses are being fly grazed.

RSPCA superintendent John Grant says it's becoming worse, partly in response to the declining horse meat market.

RSPCA superintendent John Grant RSPCA superintendent John Grant says the situation is getting worse

"The equine market has dropped. When there used to be a bit of a meat trade, people could move them on, but at the moment people are giving colts to each other. It means there's nowhere for them to go so they just dump them on whatever grazing's available."

It has been described as a "crisis" with not enough re-homing centres to cope with the influx of abandoned horses.

Vicky Alford, from the Blue Cross centre in Burford in Oxfordshire, says many fly grazing horses are severely neglected, and some have to be put down.

"We see them in pretty poor conditions, in some cases, really quite emaciated. We see worm burdens on these horses, lice, and if horses are quite skinny then the rain can pool and puddle on their backs which can lead to some really nasty sores."

Fly tipping horses crisis Some fly grazing horses have to be put down because they are so neglected

The problem has become expensive for landowners, local authorities, and enforcement agencies.

Charities are calling for new powers, like those used in Wales, giving more control to local authorities for earlier intervention.

Lee Hackett, director of policy at the British Horse Society, says there have been positive ongoing talks with the Government:

"If we don't get this legislation through things will continue to get worse. One thing I think is really important is last year we had a mild winter, if this winter is harsh we could be in real trouble, so to be honest this legislation not going through is not an option."

Parliament will debate possible changes in October.

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) says it is working to bring in additional enforcement measures.


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Two Britons Missing After Hurricane In Mexico

Two Britons have disappeared off the coast of Mexico following a hurricane.

The pair, believed to be Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood, were reported missing on Friday after their yacht overturned in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

They are reportedly a couple from Wolverhampton and London.

Mexican marines and sailors are taking part in a search operation.

Mexico

Mr Whitehouse is believed to be a scuba instructor living in the city of La Paz.

The pair were believed to be living on their yacht in La Paz for around a year.

A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office said: "We are in touch with the local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the families at this difficult time."

People look at the destruction after Hurricane Odile The hurricane left a trail of destruction

The British Embassy in Mexico has advised UK nationals in Baja California and Baja California Sur, the areas affected by the hurricane, to leave through Los Cabos International Airport.

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit last Sunday, causing the evacuation of around 18,000 tourists.

The hurricane affected power and water supplies, as well as phone services, triggering widespread looting.

Power has been restored to around one-fifth of people in the resort cities of Los Cabos, with 200 electricity workers dispatched to the area.


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Thai Murders: Hannah DNA Matches Asian Men

DNA taken from the body of murdered British tourist Hannah Witheridge matches that of two Asian men, Thai police say.

Officers also said they do not know if the killer is still on the island of Koh Tao, where she and David Miller, 24, were found murdered.

Sky News has obtained video of Ms Witheridge filmed in the hours before she was killed.

In the exclusive footage, she is seen on CCTV walking between bars with a group of friends.

Ms Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, suffered severe head wounds and Mr Miller died from blows to the head and drowning, post-mortem examinations showed.

Koh Tao

Their bodies were found in a rocky area of Sairee beach on Monday.

A garden hoe with Ms Witheridge's blood on it was discovered nearby, and investigators are searching for a blunt metal object used on Mr Miller.

Sky's Jonathan Samuels, on Koh Tao (Turtle Island), said: "Today the head of Thailand's police flew to the island by helicopter - really a sense of how seriously now the Thai authorities are taking this investigation.

"He confirmed that two men's DNA that was found on Hannah's body have been analysed and he has confirmed those two samples are from two Asian men.

"Of course they have no idea at the moment, as far as we understand, who these two men may be.

"They have questioned many people on the island, but so far they tell us they have no firm suspects."

Hannah Witheridge CCTV Ms Witheridge is seen leaving a bar with friends

DNA on a cigarette butt has been matched to semen found on Ms Witheridge, and officers say the cigarette was smoked by more than one person.

Police Colonel Kissana said officers have still not come up with the exact number of suspects, and confirmed they are looking for both male and female suspects.

He said reports that the FBI are involved in the investigation were incorrect, but confirmed they have British assistance.

A cash reward worth about £4,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the killers, he added.

Meanwhile, two British brothers who were questioned by police have been told they are free to return home to Jersey.

Christopher and James Ware, childhood friends of Mr Miller, were spoken to by officers but were never detained or named as suspects.

A group of Burmese migrants who were interviewed by police after bloodstains were found on their clothes have also been eliminated from police inquiries.


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Woman's Road-Rage Attack Caught On CCTV

CCTV footage of a woman's vicious road-rage attack has been released by police, who are appealing for witnesses.

The victim of the assault is seen walking along Wellington Road in Birmingham's Handsworth Wood when her attacker grabs her around the neck and hurls her into a table outside a grocery store.

She is then pulled to her feet before being thrown to the ground once again, as bystanders look on.

Police say the victim had earlier asked the other woman to move the VW Tournan she was in as it was blocking her vehicle, only for her attacker to verbally abuse her in response.

Following the assault, officers say the woman spotted the victim making a note of her vehicle registration and attacked her again.

The woman being sought by police is described as white, in her early 20s, with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and wearing a black vest top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

The 44-year-old victim suffered a head injury and bruising following the assault, which took place at around 1pm on July 30.

PC Geraldine Sprigg, from West Midlands Police, said: "This was an unprovoked and violent attack on a woman who had asked the driver to move her car, which was blocking the road.

"The assault took place in the middle of the day and we are asking for anyone who saw the incident or who recognises the woman driver to contact us. The woman assaulted suffered pain and discomfort following the attack and may have lost consciousness for a short time."

Anyone with information is asked to call police at Birmingham West and Central on 101 or Crimestoppers, confidentially, on 0800 555111.


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