Saturday's National Newspaper Front Pages

THE PAPERS' TOP STORIES

:: Daily Telegraph

A video apparently showing the beheading of British hostage Alan Henning has been released on the internet.

:: The Times

The paper examines the details of the video showing the brutal murder of the 47-year-old former taxi driver from Greater Manchester.

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1. Gallery: Saturday's Newspaper Front Pages

   The Daily Telegraph leads on the murder of British hostage Alan Henning.

2. Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to "do all we can to hunt down these murderers and bring them to justice", the Times reports.

3. Mr Henning was a former taxi driver from Greater Manchester who left his job to travel to Syria to take help to victims of its civil war, the Daily Mirror says.

4. Since his capture, Mr Henning's friends, family and colleagues made repeated calls for him to be released.

5. The i also covers the "brutal murder" of the 47-year-old aid volunteer.

6. The Daily Express focuses on an appeal by 81-year-old Paul Cantlie for Islamic State militants to spare his son, John, who they are holding hostage.

7. Speaking from his hospital bed after a throat operation, Paul Cantlie said he could not think of a "greater joy than seeing my dear son released and allowed to return home to us".

8. The Daily Mail leads on a pledge by David Cameron to look into how the prime suspect wanted in connection with the murder of schoolgirl Alice Gross was allowed into Britain.

11. FT Weekend looks at changes for how pay day lenders operate.

:: Daily Mirror

The footage shows the knifeman dressed in black in a desert setting. He speaks with a British accent and is believed to be the man responsible for previous beheadings.

:: The Independent

A Liberal Democrat minister has accused senior Conservatives of blocking reports on measures to tackle drug abuse.

:: i

The crime and prevention minister's intervention centres on allegations that two Home Office reports setting out plans to tackle addiction and combat the popularity of legal highs have been "suppressed".

:: The Sun

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson tells how he fled Argentina after he and his team were set upon by rock-hurling thugs screaming: "Burn them."

:: Daily Express

A plea is made by the seriously ill father of John Cantlie from his hospital bed where he is recovering from an operation for throat cancer.

:: Daily Mail

David Cameron is to look into how Arnis Zalkalns, the prime suspect wanted in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Alice Gross, was allowed into Britain.

:: Financial Times

Almost all pay day lenders will be forced out of business by changes in the law.

:: Watch the Press Preview on Sky News every evening at 10.30pm and 11.30pm. Saturday's reviewers are Sunday Times business editor Dominic O'Connell and Cosmopolitan editor Louise Court.

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Alan Henning's Family 'Numb With Grief'

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Henning 'Handed Death Sentence'

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

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

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

Video: Imam Condemns Alan Henning's Murder

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

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

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

Video: Shock At Murder Of Alan Henning

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

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

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

Video: Al Qaeda Could Not Free Henning

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

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

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

Video: Terry Waite: Beheading 'Tragic'

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

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

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

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1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

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

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

3. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

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

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

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

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Muslims Say Beheadings Are An Insult To Islam

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

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

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

Alan Henning's widow, Barbara

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

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

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1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

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

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

3. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Latest Analysis: Sky's Joey Jones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Alan Henning Beheaded In IS Video

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

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

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Teen Jailed For Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend

A jealous teenager who murdered his pregnant girlfriend has been jailed for life.

Aston Robinson, 18, will serve a minimum of 14 years in prison for strangling Kayleigh-Anne Palmer at his parents' home in Cheltenham.

Robinson showed no emotion as the unanimous verdict was returned by the jury, some of whom were weeping.

Robinson left his 16-year-old girlfriend - who was 24 weeks pregnant - on the floor of his parents' home, in her school uniform.

Robinson murdered Kayleigh-Anne with a tartan scarf

He then locked the house and headed to a nearby bookmakers to check on a £20 bet.

Kayleigh-Anne, known as Kay to friends, died in hospital three days later after doctors induced the birth of her daughter, who also did not survive.

Robinson later admitted he had punched his girlfriend and wrapped a tartan scarf around her neck in a bid to make her "be quiet".

He attacked her after she asked "how would you like it if I met boys?".

While awaiting trial in prison, Robinson wrote two letters to Kay's distraught mother, Helen Bage.

Kayleigh-Anne was left lying on the floor of the lounge

He described himself as "single forever me" after the death, and used the phrase "lol" - short for laugh out loud.

Robinson, of Humber Road, Cheltenham, was convicted of Kay's murder following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

A jury found him not guilty of child destruction.

Judge Neil Ford QC, the Recorder of Bristol, sentenced Robinson to life and said he would spend a minimum of 14 years behind bars.

The jury was told Robinson used both hands to pull the scarf tight around Kay's neck for at least 15 to 30 seconds at around midday.

Aston Robinson wrote two letters to the mother of his victim

His sister Michaela arrived at their parents' home a short time later and Robinson double bolted the front door to prevent her from gaining entry.

He fled on a borrowed BMX bike.

CCTV images showed Robinson checking a £20 bet, believed to have been made on a horse.

At the same time, paramedics battled to save Kay and her unborn child.

Kay was later taken to hospital but never regained consciousness and the heartbeat of her baby, named Lily-Rose, stopped the following day, on April 3.

Doctors induced labour and Kay, who had been in a relationship with Robinson for 14 months, was pronounced dead on April 5.

In the first letter written from his prison cell to Kay's mother, Robinson said: "I am so sorry for your loss, my loss as well, lost a daughter as well.

"I've lost everything that mattered to me."

He added, in a second: "I was hoping that after I waked up and after my jail sentence I would go back into Kay's arms but God took her away in peace, away from my accusations and controlling behaviour.

"All that because I loved and adored her."

The jury heard Robinson had been abusive to Kay throughout their relationship and punched her in the stomach when she informed him she had missed a period.

"He said 'this will stop you having a baby'," Christopher Quinlan QC, prosecuting, said.

A pathologist found 20 separate injuries to her body, from bruising to her cheek and arms and legs to ligature marks from one side of her neck to the other.

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Beheading Devastates Aid Worker's Home Town

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent, in Eccles 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Shock At Murder Of Alan Henning

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

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

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

Video: PM Pledges 'All Assets' Against IS

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

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

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

Video: UK Muslims 'Disgusted'

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

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

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

Video: Al Qaeda Could Not Free Henning

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

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

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1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

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

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

3. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

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

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

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

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Lib Dems Pledge £1bn In Extra NHS Funding

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Lib Dem Stance on New Runway

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

They will claim "compassionate Conservatism" is dead.

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

Video: Nick Clegg U-Turn Over Airports

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

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

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

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Pair In Court Over Thailand Beach Murders

Two men have appeared in court charged with murdering British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in Thailand.

Police say the Burmese workers, named Win and Saw, have admitted killing the pair on Koh Tao beach - claiming they were jealous.

The handcuffed suspects, who are also charged with rape and robbery, appeared before a judge on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui on Saturday.

Win was forced to play the guitar as part of the reconstruction

They were remanded in custody for a further 12 days and could face the death penalty if convicted.

On Friday, the pair wore crash helmets and police vests to protect them from angry locals as they were paraded by officers in a bizarre reconstruction of the crime.

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1. Gallery: Thai Murders Accused At Crime Scene

   Two workers from Burma (wearing helmets and handcuffs), suspected of killing two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao last month, stand near Thai police officers where the bodies of the tourists were found

2. The pair have admitted to killing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in southern Thailand

3. Actors were used in the staging of the reconstruction

4. One of the suspects wields a mock weapon

5. The case has threatened to further damage the country's already bruised tourism sector

6. The victims' bodies were discovered on a beach on the island of Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, on 15 September, close to where they were staying. Continue through for more pictures

At one point Win was told to play the guitar as part of the reconstruction before acting out the murders of Mr Miller, 24, and Miss Witheridge, 23, on Sairee beach.

He also held a dustpan to represent the garden hoe allegedly used in the killings on 15 September.

Mr Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Miss Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds.

Thai National police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said: "The suspects saw them kissing and were aroused, so they attacked and got rid of the man and proceeded to rape the female victim.

Video: Thai Murder Suspects Paraded

"There was clear evidence: forensic evidence, (testimony from) witnesses and other evidence, as well as closed-circuit television footage."

Provincial police chief Kiattipong Khaosamang said Win, 21, and Saw, 23, have also admitted raping Miss Witheridge.

A third Burmese man is being questioned on suspicion of involvement.

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Man Stabbed 15 Times By Stone-Throwing Gang

A man was stabbed 15 times in the body and head after chasing a gang of youths throwing stones at his house.

Police are treating the attack on the 22-year-old in Bury, Greater Manchester, as attempted murder.

The victim is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The assault happened after a group started to throw stones at the window outside a house on Kingfisher Drive, at around 1.30am on Saturday, 4 October.

The man walked outside and asked them to stop before he was hit with a stick.

He went back inside but stones continued to be thrown, and he returned to remonstrate with them before giving chase.

When they reached a footpath at the back of Kingfisher Drive, the group turned on him and he was stabbed multiple times.

His attackers ran off before police were called.

Four teenagers - two 15-year-olds, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old - have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in police custody for questioning.

Detective Sergeant Lawrence Dixon said: "When the man confronted the group and gave chase, he was set upon and stabbed numerous times.

"His injuries are serious and he is lucky to be alive.

"Due to the severity of this attack, we are treating it as attempted murder and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact us.

"Although we have made arrests, we are still investigating and asking for information.

"Obviously the local community will be deeply upset by what has happened but we have stepped up patrols in the area and are dedicated to finding out who is responsible."

Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Six-Month-Old Baby Mauled To Death By Dog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Alice Gross: Body Found In Hunt For Suspect

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

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

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

Forensics officers are at the scene in Boston Manor Park

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

He was reported as missing just days later.

Video: CCTV Footage Shows Alice Suspect

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

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

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

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

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

Video: Alice Gross Police Statement

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

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

She was found dead more than five weeks after disappearing.

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

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

Video: Alice Gross Suspect's Home Searched

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

He also left behind his passport.

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

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