Five members of an elite police gun crime unit have been sacked for "inappropriate behaviour".

The photo was discovered during a professional standards investigation
An investigation into their conduct led to the discovery of a photograph which appeared to show the officers fooling around during a raid on a suspect's home.
The group were dismissed after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
All five constables worked within Merseyside Police's Matrix team which targets drug-related gang and gun crime in the region.
A sergeant who was part of the unit was fired in May as a result of the inquiry.
The sergeant and two constables are currently on police bail amid allegations that items removed during police searches appeared on eBay.
Deputy Chief Constable Bernard Lawson said: "We expect the highest standards from our officers and these officers fell far short of that expectation.
"As a force we believe it is important to take swift and decisive action when officers are found to have fallen short of the standards we expect and in this case we have done just that."
The Matrix unit helped target the gangs associated with the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones who was shot dead in Croxteth in August 2007

London mayor says relationship between John Yates and Neil Wallis raises questions but refuses to be drawn on whether David Cameron should resign

London mayor Boris Johnson has refused to be drawn on whether David Cameron should resign over the appointment of Andy Coulson, following the departure of Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates after the discovery that Coulson's former deputy Neil Wallis was employed by the Met.

At a press conference following the resignation of the Met assistant commissioner Yates, Johnson said: "I'm not here to discuss government appointments, I'm here to talk about events in the Metropolitan police service. Those questions you must direct to government."

Pressed on the fact that the prime minister's decision to call a public inquiry did put him in charge, Johnson retorted uneasily: "This is a matter you must frankly direct to Number 10 Downing Street, and I suggest you ask them."

The London mayor insisted five days ago that Yates should remain in the assistant commissioner post to continue his valuable work in counter-terrorism.

Asked what Yates had done wrong since to warrant his sudden departure, Johnson admitted he didn't know the exact details that led to Yates' suspension by the MPA's sub committee because "I wasn't there".

But he said more questions had been asked about the relationship about John Yates and Neil Wallis which the MPA felt needed to be looked into.

He confirmed that the deputy commissioner, Tim Godwin, would run Scotland Yard until Stephenson's replacement is appointed.

"Whatever mistakes may have been made at any level in the police service, now is the time to clear them up," said Johnson. "Now is the time to get to the bottom of all these questions and give a new commissioner plenty of time to get his or her feet under the desk, build on the outstanding work of these two men and make London ever safer in the run-up to the Olympic Games."

Johnson denied that there had been a failure of political leadership over the affair pointing out that the original investigation began in 2006 – two years before he ousted Ken Livingston to be elected London mayor.

He said the "64 million dollar question" was whether the relationship between the Met and Neil Wallis deterred the police from investigating things properly in the first place. "I have absolutely no reason to think … that was the case, but that's why we need to establish these inquiries."

He denied that he had exercised poor judgement both in previously claiming that the allegations that surfaced in the Guardian and the New York Times in 2009 were "codswallop" and a "political put-up job" by the Labour party, and for his recent defence of Rupert Murdoch after it first emerged that the phone of murder victim Millie Dowler's phone was hacked.

The London mayor reiterated that the answer he gave to the London assembly back in 2009, was based on "what I knew then".

 

Now FOUR police chiefs face inquiry as PM is forced to call emergency session on phone hacking

David Cameron is today facing the greatest crisis of his premiership as he prepares to fly back from an official visit to South Africa for an emergency session of Parliament on phone hacking.

The prime minister's government was plunged into fresh turmoil as it emerged four senior police chiefs will be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

In a dramatic day of developments, the news came just hours after Assistant Commissioner John Yates 'of the Yard' became the second police chief to quit in just a day.

His resignation came the morning after Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson fell on his sword, taking a brutal swipe at Mr Cameron as he went.

Forced out by his links to Neil Wallis, the police chief suggested employing the former News of the World executive as an adviser was less controversial than the Prime Minister's hiring of NotW former editor Andy Coulson.

'Under Mr Coulson, Mr Wallis had not resigned from the News of the World or, to the best of my

Failure to take phone hacking seriously ends in resignation of Met assistant commissioner who handled string of big cases

When he appeared before an angry home affairs select committee last week, John Yates admitted that his decision not to reopen the phone-hacking investigation two years ago had been, in his own words, a poor one.

Two days earlier the Metropolitan police assistant commissioner had been a little more forthright, confiding in a Sunday newspaper that the choice had been "pretty crap".

That repeated underestimation of the severity of the News of the World saga has not only embarrassed the Met and cost the commissioner his job, it has proved to be the miscalculation that undid another of the Met's most respected officers.

Until the phone-hacking scandal erupted, Yates's three decades at Scotland Yard had been comparatively free of blemish.

Born in Liverpool in 1959 and educated at Marlborough and King's College London, Yates joined the Met in 1981 and spent time in uniform before rising through the hierarchy.

He was a popular figure among rank-and-file officers as well as being close to Sir Paul Stephenson, and was regarded as a safe pair of hands for his management of a string of high-profile cases.

In 2002 he took charge of the case of the former royal butler Paul Burrell, who was accused of the theft of Princess Diana's possessions. The trial eventually collapsed following an intervention by the Queen.

He travelled to Brazil to meet the parents of Jean Charles de Menezes, the electrician shot dead by police in July 2005 at Stockwell underground station after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.

As head of the special inquiry squad, nicknamed the "celebrity squad", Yates handled a series of sensitive cases, notably the conviction for perjury of the novelist and former Conservative party chairman Lord Archer, the investigation of the television presenter John Leslie over claims of rape and the Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? fraud case.

In 2006 he was appointed assistant commissioner, then took over from Bob Quick as head of counter-terrorism in 2009 following an embarrassing security breach.

But it was the tortuous and futile investigation into the Labour "cash-for-honours" allegations that thrust him most prominently into the limelight.

The 16-month inquiry ended in July 2007 with no charges brought.

Senior Labour figures said Yates and his officers – who carried out a dawn swoop on the Downing Street aide Ruth Turner and arrested Tony Blair's friend and envoy Lord Levy – had been heavy-handed. Yates insisted he had simply been following the evidence and also noted that his officers had at times received "less than full co-operation" from those allegedly involved.

Those remarks were echoed last week when Yates appeared before the select committee to explain why he had chosen not to reopen the News of the World phone-hacking investigation in 2009 after the Guardian claimed hundreds of voice messages had been hacked.

"It is a matter of great concern that, for whatever reason, the News of the World appears to have failed to co-operate in the way that we now know they should have with the relevant police inquiries up until January of this year," he said.

"They have only recently supplied information and evidence that would clearly have had a significant impact on the decisions that I took in 2009 had it been provided to us."

Had he been in possession of such evidence two years ago, said Yates, "I would have made different decisions."

His testimony did not impress the committee. During the hearing MPs passed notes to the chair containing one-word descriptions of Yates's evidence.

Some wrote "evasive" but when Yates finished, the committee's chair, Keith Vaz, said he and his colleagues had found his evidence "unconvincing".

Even so, Yates continued to struggle against what was fast becoming inevitable.

Asked by Vaz if he had considered his position, Yates told him: "If you are suggesting that I should resign for what the News of the World has done, I think that is probably unfair."

Pressed again on whether he thought he would keep his job, Yates insisted it was "not a resignation matter".

But the fatal blow to Yates of the Yard's career was dealt on Sunday when Sir Paul Stephenson resigned, leaving his friend and subordinate – the Met's public face of the phone-hacking inquiry – with no choice.

 

Gordon Brown has been left 'shocked' by the way his family's personal details have been obtained through alleged 'criminality' and 'unethical means'

 

Gordon Brown has been left 'shocked' by the way his family's personal details have been obtained through alleged 'criminality' and 'unethical means', his office said last night.

It has been claimed the former prime minister was targeted by The Sun and the Sunday Times.

The two newspapers allegedly accessed details from his legal file, his Abbey National bank account and his baby son's medical records.


Rebekah Brooks, left, phoned Gordon Brown, right, to tell him that The Sun had obtained his four-month-old son's medical records


Family portrait: Gordon Brown with wife Sarah and sons John and baby Fraser, when he was Chancellor

Mr Brown's spokeswoman said: 'Gordon Brown has now been informed of the scale of intrusion into his family's life.

'The family has been shocked by the level of criminality and the unethical means by which personal details have been obtained.

 
.
'Smoking gun' emails reveal News of the World bribes to police FOUR YEARS ago
Somebody's trying to nobble our hacking inquiry, say police after it's leaked that protection officer was paid for details on Queen and Philip
Prince Charles and Camilla may have been targeted by phone hacker Mulcaire
'This went right to the top, Rebekah Brooks should take responsibility and quit': Milly Dowler family say NI chief exec should go
Murdoch's News Corp steps up bid for BSkyB bid in dramatic twist - now it wants Sky News included too

Under-pressure Met chiefs to claim failed phone hacking investigation was down to mistakes not a conspiracy
'The matter is in police hands. The police have confirmed Mr Brown is on Glenn Mulcaire's list.

'And some time ago Mr Brown passed all relevant evidence he had to the police.'

On Twitter, Mr Brown's wife Sarah wrote: 'So sad to learn all I am about my family's privacy - it is very personal and really hurtful if all true.'


Meet and greet: Three years ago it was all smiles as the then prime minister Gordon Brown met Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth (left), Baroness Amos (centre) and Rebekah Wade (now Brooks) during a reception for women in business at 10 Downing Street


Intrusion: Gordon Brown has been shocked by the 'unethical' way that News International obtained details of his baby son's medical records


Concerned: Brooks reads a copy of The Times newspaper as she leaves News International building in Wapping, London yesterday

A former aide to Mr Brown questioned how The Sun, when News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was editor, obtained details of his son Fraser's cystic fibrosis.

David Muir, one of Mr Brown's most senior advisers at No 10, said: 'They were contacted by Rebekah Brooks, who told them that they had information that Fraser had cystic fibrosis, which was a matter that they, the family, were just getting their heads around at the time and dealing with.

'And you've got to remember this is just after they had suffered the bereavement with Jennifer (the Browns' first child, who died soon after she was born) as well.


Media mogul: News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch holds a copy of The Sun as he is driven away from his flat in central London yesterday


Working it out: Rupert Murdoch returns later to his London apartment with his personal trainer


In the spotlight: Elisabeth Murdoch, the CEO of production company Shine Limited, leaves her father's home in Westminster last night

'They didn't know how Rebekah came across this information and now, what's come to light, it was obtained by what appeared to be illegal methods.'

Last night Sky News quoted News International sources as being 'comfortable' that stories reported by The Sun about Mr Brown's children were obtained via legitimate means.

A News International spokesman said: 'We note the allegations made today concerning the reporting of matters relating to Gordon Brown.


Gordon Brown's wife Sarah took to Twitter to talk about the claims

'So that we can investigate these matters further, we ask that all information concerning these allegations is provided to us.'

But the Guardian said there was evidence that a private investigator used a serving police officer to trawl the police national computer for information about him.

That investigator also targeted another Labour MP who was the subject of hostile inquiries by the News of the World, but it is not confirmed whether News International was specifically involved in trawling police computers for information on Brown.

Friends of the former Prime Minister and his family said Brooks's call in October 2006 had caused them immense distress.

Mr Brown was outraged and wanted to issue a pre-emptive statement, BBC Newsnight political editor Michael Crick told Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.

Rebekah Brooks was so worried that such as statement would ruin a Sun 'exclusive' that she called Damian McBride, one of Gordon Brown's closest lieutenants, and got 'quite heavy', according to Crick.

The leak, which appears to be a blatant breach of the Data Protection Act, came five years after a story about the Browns' first child revealed she had suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Only a small team of medical specialists had been aware of the girl's condition before her death on January 6, 2002.

The new revelations also included allegations that his bank details and legal file were also accessed by News International.

In dramatic new developments, the News of the World's stablemate the Sunday Times has also been drawn into the hacking row.

A 'blagger' working for the paper apparently posed as the former Prime Minister on six occasions to obtain details from an Abbey National account.

The politician's lawyers, Allen & Overy, were also tricked into handing over confidential information by a conman working for the Sunday Times, the Guardian revealed.

The Sun also obtained details from Mr Brown's son's medical record and published a story about them, it was claimed.

Abbey National carried out an internal investigation and discovered that in January 2000 - when Gordon Brown was Chancellor - someone pretended six times to be the high-profile politician.

They rang the Bradford call centre and were able to get details from his account. Despite the investigation, the bank never worked out who was responsible.

Gunman kills seven in Michigan

A gunman killed seven people, including two children, in two homes in western Michigan today and then led police on a high-speed chase before taking three hostages, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as Rodrick Dantzler, released one of the hostages after police surrounded a house in Grand Rapids where he had sought refuge.

"He has released one of the hostages that he was holding. There is a 53-year-old woman who lived at the house who has been released," Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said.

"We are hoping to continue negotiating with him," he added, "and have him surrender."

Earlier it was thought there were two adult hostages, a man and woman, but another adult woman was hiding in the home and was discovered, Mr Belk said.

The standoff followed the discovery of the bodies of five adults and two children in two separate locations in the city, setting off a manhunt that involved police helicopters, state police and local sheriff's deputies.

Police spotted Dantzler in a car shortly after the discoveries and began a pursuit that led through downtown Grand Rapids, police spokesman Sergeant Jon Wu said.

Dantzler fired at the officers several times during the chase and police returned fire. Two bystanders were wounded during the chase.

Investigators do not know the motive for the killings but believe that the suspect had relationships with at least one person at each location, Mr Belk said.

The hostages were believed to be strangers to Dantzler.

 

emails are believed to show that large amounts were paid under false names to mask the officers' identities.

All the emails are thought to relate to the period after Andy Coulson became editor in 2003.

The Met is now trying to track down the officers who took bungs. It is believed just a handful of cops accepted the payments - but that some pocketed more than £100,000.

Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has launched an investigation into the payments, to run separately from the Operation Weeting probe into phone hacking.

Sir Paul said: "Anyone identified of wrongdoing can expect the full weight of disciplinary measures, and, if appropriate, action in the criminal courts."

Top lawyer Michael Mansfield QC warned the cops could face severe prison sentences if convicted over the payments.

He said: "I have seen similar incidents attract four, five or even six years - but this case is sufficiently serious that it could be even longer. It is unprecedented."

THE crisis at the News of the World deepened after Scotland Yard said evidence showed the paper paid out more than £100,000 in illegal bungs to bent police officers.

THE crisis at the News of the World deepened after Scotland Yard said evidence showed the paper paid out more than £100,000 in illegal bungs to bent police officers.

The payments were first revealed in emails that News International handed over to police earlier this year.

Reports yesterday claimed the money was paid to cops in sensitive positions, including officers in the Met's royal protection squad and detectives working on murder investigations.

police officer is in a "serious condition" after being stabbed on a street in south London

A police officer is in a "serious condition" after being stabbed on a street in south London, Scotland Yard said on Friday.
The plain-clothed officer was on patrol with colleagues in Bute Road, Waddon, when he was attacked by one a group of men they stopped.
Three 18-year-old men were arrested and are being held at separate south London police stations, following the incident which happened at about 9.45pm on Thursday.
"The officer injured is a male PC based on Croydon borough. He is aged in his 30s," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.
"He was on a proactive, plain clothes patrol with colleagues in the area and had stopped a group of male teenagers in Bute Road when the suspect -- one of the teenagers -- stabbed him."
The officer was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital. His injuries are said to be serious but not life-threatening.

THE brother of murdered Claire Morris told last night how he held her killer's hand as they stood over her grave.

Peter Morris told how Malcolm Webster was chief mourner as they laid to rest the woman he'd murdered in a staged road crash.
He revealed: "On my right side was Malcolm and I had a very firm grasp of his hand.

"He was actually squeezing my hand displaying the emotions that I was feeling as well - we were both in tears.
"At the time, I was holding the hand of my sister's husband - that's how I perceived it.
"In reality, I was holding the hand of her murderer."
Peter, 48, said his sister's death finally hit him when her coffin was placed on his shoulder to be carried to her final resting place.
At remote Tarves Cemetery in Aberdeenshire, as Claire's coffin was lowered into her grave, Peter couldn't hold back his emotions any longer.
He said: "It was as if I'd been hit by a 10-tonne bus.
"All the family members had a cord. Malcolm Webster was right next to me and on his other side was my mother.
"I certainly remember holding Malcolm's hand very tightly.
"He was wearing a neck brace, which was rubbish because he hadn't done anything to his neck.
"In my own personal depth of grief and emotion - something I rarely show in public - Webster was crying floods of tears as well.
"My heart and my sympathy went out to him. It was such a poignant moment, and for that reason I was one of those who never doubted the crash story.
"That moment convinced me that this person was suffering equally, if not more as her husband."
Peter told how he believed his sister had died in a tragic accident until three years ago when he received a call from police.
The married father-of-four said: "In my own mind, Malcolm had lost his wife in an accident.
"I had no comprehension that someone could put on that level of emotion in such a situation."
The court heard Webster's deception described in court as "an Oscar-winning performance".
Fourteen years later, Peter found it hard to believe it when police claimed his sister may have been murdered by her husband.
He said: "I had such firmly embedded memories and recollections of that time. I just thought it was impossible and that something was not right with their reopened investigation."
On Claire's tombstone, Webster had stonemasons inscribe a declaration of love from Shakespeare's Merchant Of Venice.
It reads: "For she is wise, if I can judge of her, and fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, and true she is, as she hath proved herself, and therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true, shall she be placed in my constant soul."
But Claire's brother blasted: "The words on that headstone represent a lie.
"And I genuinely believe in my heart that Claire will not rest in peace until that lie is rectified.
"That headstone is full of lies right across it starting with 'Loving thought of my dear wife'.
"Malcolm Webster premeditated my sister's murder from the time he started courting her. So the idea that she was a 'dear wife' to him is a fallacy beyond imagination.
"The next part that offends me is 'Claire J Webster'.
"She took his name in marriage, I accept that, but the marriage was designed towards murder.
"What I'd like to happen is that the headstone carries her maiden name, Claire J Morris.
"And the last line about 'my constant soul' was a line Malcolm put down there. He planned to murder his wife. To then claim she was constantly in his soul is ludicrous - it's devious.
"It's the epitome of all the lies he told and it's represented on that headstone."
But Peter said he would never remove his sister's remains from her beloved Scotland.
"She loved the climate, she had a very fond affection for Scotland.
Probably she'd planned to move here all her life so I know she's happy here.
"What I want is the truth to be put on her headstone, who she was, and that person is Claire Morris NOT Claire Webster.
"I want the reflections of her family and friends to be on that headstone and not just for myself and my family but so that in 100 years' time when we are gone the truth will still be here - not a lie.
"That's very important to me. "I'd feel then that my darling sister would be able to rest in peace."
Peter is convinced that had he not been caught, his brother-in-law could have become a serial killer like Dr Harold Shipman.
He said: "I believe he is still dangerous. Even when the case was reopened he was still grooming a woman called Ann."
Police visited Ann Hancock, who was having a relationship with Webster in the south of England, to warn her of their suspicions.
Peter said: "While he was living with Ann he had plans to go on some medical course which was to do with suicide and assisted death.
"One can only imagine the consequences - how he could have perverted going on that course to killing people, and then saying they'd wanted it to happen.
"The potential for a serial killer is enormous."
During the trial it emerged Webster had the inquiry report on killer Dr Harold Shipman stored on his computer.
Claire met Webster in February 1991 at a nurses party in London and fell in love almost immediately.
Next day, he bought her flowers and chocolates and, according to Claire's mum Elizabeth Morris her daughter was "smitten".
Peter said: "Primarily I was pleased for her. When she met Malcolm he was the first and only guy she ever genuinely fell in love with."
Mrs Morris, 85, was unable to attend court to give evidence.
Peter said: "Justice for Claire is a big thing for mum. She has asked me to say that Claire was a very happy and full-of-life person.
"And that she greatly misses Claire who was her best friend."
Peter paid tribute to Felicity Drumm for helping to nail his sister's killer.
He said: "If Webster hadn't done what he did in New Zealand we wouldn't be where we are now.
"Felicity has been the most precious witness in this whole trial. I have an enormous amount of respect for her.
"She told me her primary objective was to get justice for Claire."

Holder Hammered on Hill Over 'Gunwalker' Scandal

Appearing today before the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder got grilled about the "gunwalker" controversy in which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is accused of allowing guns to get into the hands of criminals in Mexico.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) used asked Holder when first knew about the controversial Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) operation known as "Fast and Furious." Though documents indicate Fast and Furious was started in 2009, Holder told Congress he only learned of it a "few weeks" ago.

 

Two Russian prosecutors suspected of protecting underground casinos have been put on the federal wanted list

Two Russian prosecutors suspected of protecting underground casinos have been put on the federal wanted list, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Thursday.
Moscow Region prosecutor Alexander Mokhov, his deputy Alexander Ignatenko, legal proceedings chief Dmitry Urumov and two city prosecutors were fired in late April for breaching an oath of office by reportedly hushing up the illegal gambling operations.
Ignatenko and Eduard Kaplun, a former city prosecutor of Klin in the Moscow Region, have been put on the federal wanted list, investigators said during court proceedings on the case on Thursday.
Russian Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin confirmed the information without giving any further details.
In a crackdown in February, illegal casino owner Ivan Nazarov, his assistants, and three policemen who guarded the illegal business were accused of fraud and are in police custody until August 15 during investigations. The case has sparked a high-profile conflict between the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General's Office.

1999 to 2007, Avi Yanai and his accomplices sold hundreds of women for prostitution to Israel, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

An Israeli citizen was sentenced yesterday to 18 years in prison by the Moscow military court, for organizing a vast network of sex trafficking. According to the court, from 1999 to 2007, when most of the network's agents were arrested, Avi Yanai and his accomplices sold hundreds of women for prostitution to Israel, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. The minimal official estimate stands at 129 women, but some of the states still investigating the network put the number at several hundred. The women were lured from Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan.

Aside from Yanai, 83 people were arrested across Europe, 14 of them in Russia. The network is suspected to have produced tens of millions of dollars in profits for its operators, and some of the women trafficked may have been murdered by the Albanian mafia.

 

Five teenage boys have been arrested in connection with the scrapyard fire that closed the M1 in both directions for several days.

A blaze under an elevated section of the motorway in Mill Hill, north London, saw lanes closed between junctions 1 and 4, on 15 April.

The fire caused widespread disruption, with a seven-mile stretch affected.

The five boys arrested are aged between 14 and 17, the Metropolitan Police said.

They were arrested in a series of raids across Barnet and Harrow, in north London, on Wednesday morning.

They are being held in connection with the M1 fire and two other blazes in Moat Mount Open Space, Mill Hill.

The other two fires took place between 14 and 15 April and between 15 and 16 April.

Det Ch Insp Mark Roycroft said: "Although we are pursuing a number of active leads into these fires we would still ask that anyone who has any information about these crimes contact Barnet police.

"Your information could be invaluable to the investigation and bringing those responsible to justice."

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said the blaze beneath the M1 appeared to have been started deliberately.

criminal justice system was "not fit for purpose".

Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell said the outcome of the long-running investigation was "wholly regrettable" after family members angrily said the criminal justice system was "not fit for purpose".
He said: "This current investigation has identified, ever more clearly, how the initial inquiry failed the family and wider public. It is quite apparent that police corruption was a debilitating factor in that investigation."
The detective said corruption during the initial inquiry was "wholly unacceptable".
"Within this formidable and complex murder inquiry, it is deeply regrettable that it has not proved possible to guarantee to the court that all the relevant material has been presented to ensure a fair trial," Det Chief Supt Campbell said.
"On behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service I sincerely apologise to Daniel Morgan's family and it is with considerable regret that a trial cannot proceed.

Terence Brown, 47, compiled CDs with instructions on how to make electronic detonators, homemade poisons, and tips on assassination missions.

Terence Brown, 47, compiled CDs with instructions on how to make electronic detonators, homemade poisons, and tips on assassination missions.
The discs included tens of thousands of pages of information with topics including “how to make a letter bomb” and “how to enter countries illegally.”
One section had a instruction on how to make a thermite bomb with the introduction: "Thermite is nasty s**t."
The discs used the title of the Anarchist Cookbook, originally published in America in the 1970s, but Brown collated extra content, put it onto CDs and marketed it on a website, Winchester Crown Court heard.
He set up a website called http://www.anarchist-cookbook.com, which has since been shut down, where buyers could send cash or use a credit card to pay for the discs.
The CDs claimed they were "for educational use only” and a statement added: “Do not attempt any activities contained in these CD-Roms. Many are illegal and dangerous."
Under the terms and conditions, the website said that anyone who was a member of a terrorist organisation should not order the discs.
But Brown made no checks on who was buying the discs, accepted cash and would destroy the order to safeguard buyers' anonymity, the court was told.
He claimed he was only interested in making money, that the information was freely available on the internet and that he had no sympathy with terrorists.
But he sold several thousand of the CD-Roms across the world in yearly editions between 2003 and 2008 for $35 (£24) each, later producing a double-CD limited edition set.
Parmjit Cheema, prosecuting, told the jury that Brown made money by producing and selling computer discs from his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire that went all over the world.
She added: “The discs he painstakingly produced and sold contained a vast collection of material downloaded from the internet, of which substantial parts could be of practical use to anyone planning or committing a terrorist attack."
Miss Cheema said that the discs were being sold against the background of the September 11 attacks of 2001, the Bali bombings in 2002, the Madrid train bombs in 2004 and the July 7 bombings in 2005.
"He was putting out his product in that environment for anyone to buy," the barrister said.
Brown was convicted of seven counts of collecting information that could have been used to prepare or commit acts of terrorism, two counts of selling and distributing the information and a further count under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
He closed his eyes as the first guilty verdict was delivered by the foreman after less than four hours of deliberations.
The court heard that Brown had previously served a jail term for counterfeiting software.

Drug gang members see sentences cut - Edinburgh Evening News

Drug gang members see sentences cut - Edinburgh Evening News: "Flamboyant ex-boxer James Carlin, 24, is serving a nine-year sentence after being found guilty of being a kingpin in a cocaine supply racket.

A trial heard how he had spent thousands of pounds on designer goods, expensive watches and exotic holidays until detectives posing as criminals infiltrated his gang.

The operation led, directly or indirectly, to the seizure of drugs with a street value estimated at more than £200,000.

Earlier, a number of Carlin's underlings, including his brother Terence, had admitted drugs charges and had been given sentences ranging from three years to five years and three months.

But at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh their lawyers protested, claiming that the parts they had played had been exaggerated.
Judge Lady Paton, sitting with Lord Philip, agreed and yesterday announced reduced sentences for six of the seven who had appealed.

Terence Carlin, 22, Andrew McQueenie, 22, James Young, 25, Darren Sutherland, 26, James Hunter, 20, and James Arthur, 22, all saw their sentences cut."

going after the rude boys and the bad boys and the bling culture Life for convicted gang leaders | The Trinidad Guardian

Life for convicted gang leaders | The Trinidad Guardian: "Life in jail for convicted gang leaders. That’s the sentence under the Government’s anti-gang legislation designed to clamp down on the 110 gangs which now exist in T&T, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday. Ramlogan spoke about the situation in piloting the legislation in the Lower House. “We’re going after the rude boys and the bad boys and the bling culture,” he said. Ramlogan said gang members buy fancy cellphones and cars and lead women astray to join them in crime with their “bling” lifestyle.
The bill featuring big fines plus jail terms and wide powers for police requires a three-fifths special majority vote for passage. A number of Government and Opposition members were absent yesterday. Debate continues tomorrow. Ramlogan said the bill was a flagship in the Government’s artillery of legislation against rising crime. “...A daily diet of death, despair and destruction are seen on the front pages of the newspapers every day...urgent surgical attention is required,” he added. Saying gangs deal in drugs, gun-running, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, assault and rape, Ramlogan noted that former National Security minister Martin Joseph once said T&T had 66 gangs and 500 violent members who would “be hunted down.”"

Police smash Coffs crime gang | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast | Coffs Coast Advocate

Police smash Coffs crime gang | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast | Coffs Coast Advocate: "WAR medals, antique jewellery and drugs have been seized in a major crackdown on criminal activity in Coffs Harbour.
Police say the seizures, and arrests of three people, have broken the back of a network allegedly responsible for a wave of break, enter and steal offences on the Coffs Coast.
“We believe these are significant arrests by the Target Action Group and Coffs Harbour detectives,” said Coffs/Clarence crime manager, Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay.
Extensive investigations and a tip-off led police to two homes in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday and yesterday.
The officers hit the jackpot in the raids, uncovering eight surfboards, more than 80 pieces of jewellery, five war medals, a pushbike and electronics equipment, including cameras.
Police said some of the jewellery was antique and some had precious stones, including opals.
Officers also seized more than 150 ecstasy tablets, and a large amount of cannabis and LSD.
A Coffs Harbour man, 27, and a Coffs Harbour woman, 22, were arrested and were last night helping police with their inquiries."

three gangs have struck deals to fly drugs to West Africa and from there to Europe,

three gangs have struck deals to fly drugs to West Africa and from there to Europe, according to US prosecutors.

"The sky's the limit," one Sierra Leone trafficker boasted to a Drug Enforcement Administration informant, according to court documents.

Most of the cocaine flown to Africa is bound for Europe, where demand has been rising over the last decade. South American gangs are turning to aircraft because European navies have been intercepting more boat shipments along the African coast, trafficking experts say.

Police in Italy have seized more than a ton of pure cocaine worth

Police in Italy have seized more than a ton of pure cocaine worth as much as $340 million from a shipping container carrying farm equipment from Brazil.

Police in the city of Gioia Tauro, near the southwestern tip of Italy, were tipped off about the 2,200-pound load by officials from Britain’s Serious Organised Crime Agency.



Rome's Carabinieri, the country’s national police, said it was the largest drug seizure in Italy in 15 years.

Salvatore Cagnazzo, the commander in charge of the investigation, said at a press conference in Rome that the cocaine had been stashed in the cavity of some tractors stored in the shipping container, Sky News reported.

Gioia Tauro is a port city in the region of Calabria, home to the notorious 'Ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, which has been expanding its grip on drug trafficking in Europe.

Cagnazzo said Italian officials believe that the cocaine came from Colombian drug cartels with ties to the 'Ndrangheta.

The size of the shipment signaled that Gioia Tauro had developed into a major hub for drug traffickers from South America and Asia, the BBC reported.

"It was a historical seizure. One of the biggest ever in Italy," said Giancarlo Capaldo of the anti-mafia investigative team in Rome that made the bust. No suspects have been identified by investigators, who believe that Colombian drug traffickers may be involved.

"We hope it is the beginning of the uncovering of an international drug ring," Capaldo said.

Keira Knightley left shaken after burglars ransack her £1.3m flat in London | Mail Online

Keira Knightley left shaken after burglars ransack her £1.3m flat in London | Mail Online: "Fiercely private Keira Knightley was left shaken after her London home was ransacked by burglars.
The Atonement star's £1.3million central London flat was broken into by thieves, who went through her belongings and stole two laptops worth £2,000.Detectives are concerned the thieves may try to sell personal contents from the computers."

Croatian court convicts 6 people for the 2008 killing of a well-known journalist | Markets | Market News | Canadian Business Online

Croatian court convicts 6 people for the 2008 killing of a well-known journalist | Markets | Market News | Canadian Business Online: "Six alleged members of a crime gang were convicted on Wednesday of conspiring to assassinate of a well-known journalist and a fellow worker — killings in downtown Zagreb that shocked Croatia as it was recovering from a war.
A prosecutor said the car bombing that killed Ivo Pukanic, editor-in-chief of a political weekly Nacional, and his marketing director, Niko Franjic, may have been motivated by Pukanic's writing about organized crime.
The Zagreb district court sentenced the main suspect, Zeljko Milovanovic — who was tried in absentia — to the maximum 40 years in prison. The court ruled that Milovanovic planted the bomb that exploded under Pukanic's car on Oct. 23, 2008.
The five other defendants were sentenced to 15 to 33 years in prison."

Israel's deputy PM cancels UK trip fearing 'war crimes' arrest | Mail Online

Israel's deputy PM cancels UK trip fearing 'war crimes' arrest | Mail Online: "Israel's deputy prime minister Dan Meridor was forced to cancel a visit to London this week following warnings he could be arrested for alleged war crimes.Mr Meridor, the Israeli minister for intelligence and atomic energy, pulled out of an event in London on Monday night after the British Foreign Office and Ministry of Justice warned him he could face an arrest warrant from pro-Palestinian activists.The incident is an embarrassment for Foreign Secretary William Hague, who was due to arrive in Israel tonight for talks with president Shimon Peres.Mr Meridor, 63, is the latest high-profile Israeli politician to cancel a visit to London because of concerns about possible arrest."

IDF intelligence chief: Israel's next war will see heavy casualties - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

IDF intelligence chief: Israel's next war will see heavy casualties - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: "final meeting at the Knesset, outgoing Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin warned on Tuesday that Israel's next war would be fought on several fronts - causing far heavier damage and casualties than other recent conflicts.
Israel was currently enjoying a period of relative quiet, Yadlin said. But its enemies were rearming and now posed the greatest threat to the country since the 1970s. A new war would be far deadlier than Israel's last two, relatively short, conficts in Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2008"

Fugitive search turns up nothing | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Fugitive search turns up nothing | freep.com | Detroit Free Press: "Serbian authorities conducted another unsuccessful hunt for Europe's most-wanted war crimes fugitive Tuesday, pledging to meet a European Union demand to arrest Ratko Mladic.Heavily armed special policemen sealed off a mountain tourism center in central Serbia and searched a restaurant and an apartment in the capital, Belgrade.Bruno Vekaric, Serbia's deputy war crimes prosecutor, said the action focused on finding clues that could lead to the arrest of the wartime Bosnian Serb army commander who has been evading justice since 1995, when a United Nations tribunal indicted him with genocide."

Church minister tells of past crime

The Press Association: Church minister tells of past crime: "Scottish church minister has revealed how he found religion from his prison cell after killing a school friend.
Reverend Keith Johnston, of Dalkeith Baptist Church in Midlothian, said he turned to Christianity when in jail for the stabbing of a classmate when he was 16.
Rev Johnston spent five years behind bars for killing Steven Hughes in Bonnyrigg in 1990."

The Associated Press: Gunman shoots dead Frenchman in Yemen

The Associated Press: Gunman shoots dead Frenchman in Yemen: "Yemeni security official says that a gunman shot and killed the French manager of Austrian oil and gas company OMV outside the capital.
The official said the attacker was believed to be a security guard at the company's compound outside San'a, but the motive was not immediately known.
The Frenchman died shortly after being transferred to a hospital for treatment, he added.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
The shooting took place the same day a British diplomatic motorcade was attacked in the capital."

Bout’s defense fight to delay extradition - RT Top Stories

Bout’s defense fight to delay extradition - RT Top Stories: "Thai court ruling clears the way for Viktor’s Bout possible extradition to the US, his relatives and lawyers fear for his life and say they will file an appeal that is likely to delay the process.
Earlier a Thai court has denied an application for the extradition of Russian citizen Viktor Bout to the United States within the second criminal case against him.
The court cited that the documents submitted by the United States were insufficient to continue proceedings and ruled not to extradite Bout to the USA.
This, however, paves way for his extradition within the first case, which has been stalled due to the second set of charges being considered"

several lions attacked their trainers at a Ukraine circus have been caught on camera and posted on the internet.

shocking moments when several lions attacked their trainers at a Ukraine circus have been caught on camera and posted on the internet.

In scenes reminiscent more of a gladiatorial contest than a circus, lion tamer Oleksie Pinko is shown attempting to keep a lion at a distance, using a rod, in an arena in the city of Lviv.

At the start of the video Pinko is already visibly limping, having already been attacked by a lion, but as he continues to jab the animal, it lunges.

A voice from the crowd appears to reassure another as the audience grows increasingly concerned, moments before the lion attacks again and is joined by another of the five adult males.

Amid loud screams from the audience and roars from the lions, three other animal trainers then attempt to put off the animals with rods.

But as the scenes continue, the trainers are rounded up by the lions while two further trainers outside the arena attempt to stop the fight, one with water cannon.