Man Charged With Murder Of Beheaded Woman

A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 82-year-old Palmira Silva who was beheaded in north London.

Nicholas Salvador, of Gilda Avenue, Enfield, north London, is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court later today, Scotland Yard said.

He faces a further charge of assault on a police officer.

Salvador had been taken to hospital and remained under police guard before being questioned by officers and charged.

Ms Silva was found collapsed in a back garden in Nightingale Road, Edmonton on Thursday before being pronounced dead at the scene.

The house in the busy street where Ms Silva's body was found became the scene of a major police operation after officers were called to the area.

Metropolitan Police officers said after the operation that there were no signs of a link to terrorism.

Tributes have been paid to the elderly woman of Italian descent who ran a nearby cafe.

Dilek Solma, 19, who works next door, said: "I'm so upset. She was a very smiley lady, always had a smile on her face, and loved the community."

Another shop worker Raj Thangavelselvaraj, 50, said: "She was a nice lady, she was a good lady to everyone. It's very sad."

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'Cowardly' Chemical Attacks Double Over Six Years

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

The number of chemical attacks against individuals has almost doubled in the past six years as evidence grows that criminals are using acid as a cheap but devastating weapon.

Four weeks ago, Wayne Ingold was collecting his post when two young men started banging at the communal front door of his flat in Witham, Essex.

When he opened it, they squirted liquid in his face from a drinks bottle. It was acid.

"I just panicked and the pain was just unbelievable and was getting worse by the second and I thought, 'This is acid'," he said.

"My face was turning yellow or it seemed to be and I didn't want to put water on it as I didn't know how it would affect it."

In fact, that was exactly what he should have done and when the paramedics arrived, they stood him in the shower for 25 minutes. But significant damage had already been done.

It is thought the attack on Mr Ingold was a case of mistaken identity

His face, neck, shoulder and arm were severely burnt, and Mr Ingold, a former wedding photographer, needed skin grafts.

He has barely slept in the past month and has been told the physical scars will remain for life.

But it is thought that this was a case of mistaken identity.

Mr Ingold, 56, said: "It's a coward's way because they know they can do it quickly and run ... because they don't think they are going to get caught."

The attackers are yet to be tracked down.

In the past six years, assaults using corrosive substances that resulted in hospital treatment have nearly doubled in England from 71 to 130, according to NHS figures.

David Barnes says the attacks can have far-reaching psychological effects

The Crown Prosecution Service has also revealed that offences involving the throwing or sending of dangerous substances ending up in court quadrupled in the past year - although the figures are still small.

It is believed that in many cases, police are never informed.

David Barnes is a consultant plastic surgeon at St Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where Mr Ingold was treated.

He said the damage can be caused not only by acid, but also by alkalis.

"You can lose your sight which is absolutely devastating. With regards to the skin, they can cause quite deep burns and often require surgery and that can have quite far-reaching psychological effects."

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Witness: Suspect 'Was Fighting' With Police

Woman Found Beheaded In Back Garden Named

Updated: 9:29pm UK, Thursday 04 September 2014

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 82-year-old woman was beheaded in broad daylight in a suburban back garden.

Palmira Silva, a widow believed to be of Italian descent, was found at an address in Edmonton, north London just after 1pm after police received reports of a man with a knife in Nightingale Road.

Other potential victims escaped in what appears to be a random attack, Sky sources say.

Police say they do not believe there is a terrorist motive but have not confirmed if Ms Silva, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was beheaded.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "They haven't confirmed that the woman has been beheaded, refusing at this stage to discuss the injuries she's suffered.

"But we are on very good sources reporting the fact that the woman was found decapitated and police are certainly not telling us that we're wrong in doing that."

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area as police arrived and he was seen attacking a car.

The first report police received said a man was attacking an animal, a cat or a dog.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, described seeing a man brandishing a machete and shouting about cats.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was cornered in a house by officers after moving through a number of back gardens.

Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford said: "Officers who attended the scene have evacuated a number of those people from those premises to make them safe.

"During that period they distracted the man from carrying out any further attacks."

An attempted attack on two people at another address in Nightingale Road is also being investigated. Police say they believe they were able to get out of the house without being injured.

One witness has told Sky News a man was "fighting" with police.

The suspect was detained by firearms officers and taser stun guns were fired.

One officer was injured during the arrest and is believed to have suffered a broken wrist.

The man was injured in the arrest and is being treated in hospital, where he is under guard.

Police will then determine whether he can be interviewed.

A weapon has been recovered but police have not revealed what it was.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, who is leading the investigation, described it as a "a highly visible attack in broad daylight".

He said: "I can understand why this may cause people concern, however we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else at this stage."

Residents are still waiting to be allowed back into their homes and the road remains cordoned off as forensic officers continue their work.

Ms Silva's next of kin have been informed.

A neighbour who knew her said she was "such a sweet lady" who went to work every day in a nearby cafe.

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Woman Found Beheaded In Back Garden Named

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 82-year-old woman was beheaded in broad daylight in a suburban back garden.

Palmira Silva, a widow believed to be of Italian descent, was found at an address in Edmonton, north London just after 1pm after police received reports of a man with a knife in Nightingale Road.

Other potential victims escaped in what appears to be a random attack, Sky sources say.

Police and ambulance crews are at the scene. Pic: redbutdred

Police say they do not believe there is a terrorist motive but have not confirmed if Ms Silva, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was beheaded.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "They haven't confirmed that the woman has been beheaded, refusing at this stage to discuss the injuries she's suffered.

"But we are on very good sources reporting the fact that the woman was found decapitated and police are certainly not telling us that we're wrong in doing that."

Police officers at the scene of the stabbing

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area as police arrived and he was seen attacking a car.

The first report police received said a man was attacking an animal, a cat or a dog.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, described seeing a man brandishing a machete and shouting about cats.

Sky sources say it was a random attack

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was cornered in a house by officers after moving through a number of back gardens.

Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford said: "Officers who attended the scene have evacuated a number of those people from those premises to make them safe.

"During that period they distracted the man from carrying out any further attacks."

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area

An attempted attack on two people at another address in Nightingale Road is also being investigated. Police say they believe they were able to get out of the house without being injured.

One witness has told Sky News a man was "fighting" with police.

The suspect was detained by firearms officers and taser stun guns were fired.

It is not known what weapon was used

One officer was injured during the arrest and is believed to have suffered a broken wrist.

The man was injured in the arrest and is being treated in hospital, where he is under guard.

Police will then determine whether he can be interviewed.

A police officer was injured as the man was arrested

A weapon has been recovered but police have not revealed what it was.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, who is leading the investigation, described it as a "a highly visible attack in broad daylight".

He said: "I can understand why this may cause people concern, however we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else at this stage."

Police described the incident as a "highly visible attack"

Residents are still waiting to be allowed back into their homes and the road remains cordoned off as forensic officers continue their work.

Ms Silva's next of kin have been informed.

A neighbour who knew her said she was "such a sweet lady" who went to work every day in a nearby cafe.

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Murder Hunt After Woman's Body Found In Field

Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman was found in a field in the New Forest.

Hampshire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team (HMIT) said police were called to the field on Lyndhurst Road in the village of Beaulieu at 4.42pm on Tuesday after the body was discovered.

It is thought the woman was tending to her horse prior to her death.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, who is leading the investigation said: "We are treating the discovery of a woman's body in Beaulieu as murder.

"I am unable at this time to provide any further information regarding the victim until all of the family has been informed and formal identification has taken place."

A Home Office forensic pathologist is carrying out the post-mortem examination.

Det Supt Barton said police patrols have been stepped up in the area near where the body was found.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Lyndhurst Road on Tuesday between 2pm and 5pm to come forward.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) on 101 or via the website quoting Operation Biscotti.

Alternatively they can contact charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.

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Police Asking Victims To 'Investigate Own Crimes'

Hard-pressed police forces are "encouraging" victims of high-volume crimes to carry out their own investigations, a policing watchdog has warned.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said the "emerging trend" was identified in an investigation into 43 forces in England and Wales.

In a report summarising its findings, HMIC said its inspectors had witnessed call-handlers asking victims of offences like vehicle crime and "burglaries of properties other than dwellings" to assess the likelihood of the crime being solved.

It said some forces asked victims whether there was any CCTV footage of the area, any potential fingerprint evidence and whether the victim knew if there were any witnesses to the crime. 

In some cases victims were asked to interview their neighbours and to search for their property on second-hand sales websites.

"HMIC finds this expectation by these forces that the victim should investigate his own crime both surprising and a matter of material concern," the report said.

"The police have been given powers and resources to investigate crime by the public, and there should be no expectation on the part of it."

Inspector of Constabulary Roger Baker, who led the inspection, said overall police forces have "done a good job in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour".

Some high-volume crimes are 'on the verge of being decriminalised'

However he said the emerging trend suggested many officers have essentially "given up" on investigating high-volume crimes.

"It's more a mindset, that we no longer deal with these things," he said.

"Effectively what's happened is a number of crimes are on the verge of being decriminalised.

"So it's not the fault of the individual staff, it's a mindset thing that's crept in to policing to say 'we've almost given up'."

The report, named 'Core Business: an inspection into crime prevention, police attendance and the use of police time,' investigated a number of aspects of modern policing, including response to calls, quality of investigation and the use of technology.

Among its findings, HMIC said some forces were losing track of suspects and wanted persons as their systems for actively pursuing them were not up to scratch.

It also identified a policing "postcode lottery", saying attendance rates at crime scenes varied widely between police forces.

In the year to November 30, 2013, for example, 100% of crimes in Cleveland were attended by a police officer.

In Warkwickshire, however, that figure stood at just 39%.

The report also criticised the use of technology in policing across the board as "inadequate."

Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey said: "The HMIC report provides damning evidence that the decisions made by this Tory-led government are hitting the public ever harder with victims being let down and, extraordinarily, some even being asked to investigate their own crime.

"Theresa May has cut more police officers than any other country in Europe. With 16,000 gone, the thin blue line is being stretched ever thinner."

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Nato Summit: Ukraine Crisis To Top The Agenda

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

World leaders will begin arriving in the UK today ahead of the start of a two-day Nato summit in Wales tomorrow.

Some 61 heads of state are expected to gather at The Celtic Manor Resort outside Newport, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine set to top the agenda of discussions.

Leaders will be joined by officials from the European Union, the UN, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

A further 5,000 delegates are expected to gather to discuss the future of the Nato alliance.

Speaking at Downing Street ahead of the summit, David Cameron has condemned the ongoing violence in Ukraine, describing it as "disgraceful".

He told an audience of international delegates in London on Tuesday night: "What's happening in the Ukraine right now is disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

Mr Cameron has described the violence in Ukraine as "disgraceful"

"Members of Nato want and deserve real reassurance that our Article V commitments are rock solid."

He said he wanted the upcoming conference to demonstrate a "very clear, unified and strong message" about the importance of Nato globally.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has also warned that Nato must show it still has the political will to fight back in the event of a Russian attack on any member states.

Western nations have repeatedly accused Russia of intervening militarily in the conflict in Ukraine. The claims have been denied by Moscow.

Mr Hammond said: "For Nato to maintain its credibility in the future, we have to demonstrate that we maintain the political will to act to defend ourselves and our interests.

"We have to be clear that we have not lost the appetite to intervene when our interests or our obligations require us to do so.

Mr Obama will travel to Wales after a visit to the Baltic states today

"If we lack, or are perceived to lack, the political will to respond - and to do so quickly - the credibility of that commitment to collective defence will be undermined, and the very fabric of this, most successful of alliances, will unravel.

"So we have to be clear with Russia, in particular, that while we support a political resolution to the situation in eastern Ukraine, there is a red line around Nato member states themselves that cannot be crossed."

Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is set to create a high-readiness force in Eastern Europe as a bulwark against potential Russian aggression.

Mr Rasmussen said the unit would be a spearhead that could be deployed at very short notice to help Nato members defend themselves against any threat.

The murder of another US journalist by Islamic State militants will also feature in bilateral discussions between Western allies at the summit.

US President Barack Obama will head to Wales after a visit to the Baltic States.

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Ashya King's Parents To Be Reunited With Son

The parents of Ashya King will be reunited with their son later today following their release from a Spanish jail last night.

The five-year-old boy's father says they are "relieved" to be free and are looking forward to seeing their son again.

"We are completely relieved. Thank you so much for your support," Brett King said.

"We are going as soon as possible to see my son. We have been dying to see his face for so long."

Their release follows a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop the case against them.

The Kings' oldest son Danny, who is in the coastal town of Malaga where Ashya is being treated, said he was "shocked" when he learned they were free.

Ashya King's father Brett is driven away after being freed from custody

"We have been waiting so long for this moment," he told Sky News.

"I just want to thank everyone who spoke out in favour of my parents, especially Nick Clegg and David Cameron."

Another brother, Naveed, said on Facebook: "BREAKING NEWS: My parents are now free! SPREAD THE WORD! WOW THIS IS AMAZING! SO OVERJOYED! WOW!"

Danny said Ashya was comfortable at the Materno-Infantil hospital, but he was the only English child there and the only one without a family member constantly by his side.

An international arrest warrant was issued after Mr and Mrs King took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital, where he was being treated for a brain tumour.

They were detained on Saturday near Malaga and taken to Madrid, where they were kept in separate jails, pending an extradition hearing.

Ashya with his mother Naghemeh

Their release came after the CPS announced it was seeking to withdraw the arrest warrant and would be taking no further action against them.

In a statement the CPS said: "We are now in the process of communicating this decision to the Spanish Authorities so that they can be reunited with their son as soon as possible."

The move was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said: "It's important this little boy gets treatment and the love of his family."

Earlier Mr Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg joined the mounting calls for Ashya to be reunited with his parents.

An online petition started by Ethan Dallas, 16, a friend of Ashya's brother Naveed, had attracted nearly 200,000 signatures at 5pm on Tuesday.

Mr and Mrs King, from Portsmouth, took Ashya out of the country so he could receive alternative proton beam therapy in the Czech capital Prague.

They were apparently planning to sell their apartment near Malaga to pay for the treatment.

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Scottish Referendum: No Vote's Lead Narrows

The No vote's lead ahead of the Scottish Referendum has narrowed to just six points, according to a new poll.

The YouGov poll suggests support for Scottish independence has risen eight points over the past month.

The six-point lead for the No camp is down from 14 points in mid-August, and 22 points from early last month, excluding undecided voters.

The poll found that 53% of those questioned planned to vote No, while 47% would back Yes.

The poll found that 53% of those questioned planned to vote No

Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, said the poll showed the Yes campaign has gained momentum.

"This breakthrough poll shows that Yes has the big momentum - it's an all-time high for Yes support in a YouGov survey so far, and an eight-point swing from No to Yes in just three weeks.

"We only need another three-point swing to achieve a Yes for Scotland on September 18."

The latest poll for The Sun and The Times questioned 1,063 respondents between August 28 and September 1.

Better Together Campaign Director Blair McDougall said: "We need the silent majority who back a No vote to do their bit.

Scottish voters are due to go to the polls on September 18

"Whether it's voting on the day, knocking on doors, making phone calls or speaking to friends and family, the silent majority should feel confident in speaking up.

"We will not be complacent for one second and will do everything we can to secure the brightest future for Scotland within the UK.

"The nationalists talk as if they are winning, but the truth is this is yet another poll showing the campaign for Scotland to stay in the UK in the lead.

"We speak for the majority of Scots, but this poll confirms that if people want Scotland to stay in the UK then they need to vote for it."

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Boris Island Airport Plan Set To Be Rejected

Boris Johnson's proposal for a new four-runway airport to be built in the Thames Estuary is expected to be officially rejected today.

The decision by the Whitehall-appointed Airports Commission will leave just three options on the table for airport expansion in London.

There are two additional runway plans for Heathrow, and one at Gatwick. The commission is due to make its final report to MPs in summer 2015.

The commission last year short-listed the Heathrow and Gatwick options, and said it would examine the estuary option.

It has since published reports showing the possible environmental cost of the estuary plan, which was dubbed Boris Island.

Mr Johnson's chief aviation adviser Daniel Moylan said: "We strongly suspect that the Airports Commission has decided not to short-list the estuary option.

"If so, it will be a sadly short-sighted decision but far from the end of the process.

An artist's impression of Heathrow with a third runway

"Airports policy has been stalled for nearly five decades, ricocheting like a billiard ball between Heathrow and Gatwick.

"We have one opportunity to break out of that but it seems the commission has taken us back to the same old, failed choice.

"But the final decision will lie with the Government and a key question now is whether the commission will play much of a role in that."

Mr Johnson has announced he will be seeking election as a Conservative at Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2015 General Election.

The constituency borders on Heathrow and contains many people who depend on the west London airport for their livelihood.

John Steward, chairman of Heathrow residents' group Hacan, which opposes an extra runway at Heathrow, said: "I don't expect that this will mean that Boris Johnson or his supporters will give up on the idea of a brand new airport.

"The idea of an island airport is likely to be floating around for some time yet.

"Mr Johnson remains an implacable opponent of a third runway at Heathrow and has reservations about the value of a second runway at Gatwick."

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Sky Poll: Young Not Engaged In Politics

By Faisal Islam, Political Editor

Almost half of young people in Britain are not engaged in politics, feel their voices are not heard and do not believe that politicians are addressing their needs, a Sky News poll has found.

The Survation poll was commissioned as part of the launch of Stand Up Be Counted, a brand new digital platform designed by Sky News to give young people a voice.

The survey appears to show widespread apathy and indifference towards politics among those aged 24 and below.

Click here to visit the Stand Up Be Counted site

Some of those who have shared their views on the Stand Up Be Counted site

Forty-nine percent of 16-24 year olds questioned know neither the name nor party of their local MP, the survey found.

And 47% said none of party leaders David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband or Nigel Farage best exemplify the qualities they want in their political leaders.

(L-R) Ed Miliband, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage

For example, of those questioned, more than a quarter (26%) said they were not engaged with politics and had no interest in becoming more involved.

Seventeen percent said they were not engaged in politics but would like to become more so.

Just 8% said they were fully engaged with the political process.

In total 39% expressed an interest in becoming more engaged in politics while 50% said they had no interest in becoming more engaged.

The poll also showed the frustration and lack of faith many young people have in politics.

Asked if they felt their voices were heard in society, 44% said they were not listened to despite trying to express concerns or beliefs.

Forty-two percent said they did not try to make themselves heard. And just 12% felt that they were being listened to.

Forty-five percent of those questioned said they had "not very much" confidence that politicians will address the issues that matter most.

And only 31% said they trusted government to address their needs and concerns.

The three attributes named by those polled as most desirable in politicians were honesty, being in touch with ordinary people and the ability to make tough decisions.

Asked to reveal the first word that comes to mind when thinking of politics 9% said "lies" or "liars", 8% said "boring" and 7% referred to "corruption".

MPs have faced recent criticism for rowdy displays at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions sessions.

And 53% of those questioned said they would be more likely to listen to politicians if they behaved better at PMQs. Forty-three percent said it showed politicians displaying passion.

The poll also shows that mainstream media is viewed with suspicion by young people.

Eight out of 10 of those surveyed said they did not believe that traditional media (newspapers, radio and TV) portrayed them accurately.

Instead social media such as Facebook and Twitter are more trusted to accurately reflect their views and concerns according to 46%.

:: Survation polled 1,004 16-24 year olds on behalf of Sky News between August 21 and 26, 2014.

:: Stand Up website: www.skynews.com/standupbecounted

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Head Of Sky News On Stand Up Be Counted

Today Sky News is launching an ambitious new campaign, Stand Up Be Counted.

:: Click here to visit the site

The project sees us launch a dynamic digital platform where young people aged between 16 and 25 can talk about the issues that affect them.

Anything from personal reflections on their lives, to their frustrations around the stereotypes the media turns them into, to their optimism about the future.

According to a Sky News poll, almost half of the young people in Britain are not engaged in politics, feel their voices are not heard and don't believe that politicians are addressing their needs.

That makes for depressing reading.

We, the media, are partly to blame, often portraying young people as stereotypes, the victims or the agitators.

Indeed only 18% of young people say that traditional media is the best platform to reflect their views and concerns. I am determined to change this.

Some of the results from the poll

This is why we are launching Stand Up Be Counted.

Not only is it a place where young people can share their thoughts but it also means that we can help amplify their voices and make them a genuine part of our Sky News content.

We would like thousands of young people across the country, from every constituency, to share their thoughts with us, as they already do on their social networks.

Within just a few seconds video, blogs and comments can be uploaded and shared with fellow Stand Ups on our platform and across social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Google+, WhatsApp and Kik.

I am 52, it's been a while since I was considered young, but when I talk to younger people now I am always bowled over about how creative, how deep thinking, and how motivated they are.

They just feel, quite rightly, disengaged from the Westminster bubble which decide the direction in what our country heads.

Some of the young people who have shared their views on the site

Likewise news organisations like Sky need to up their game, and help explain how policy decisions directly affect the lives of young people, and how they can influence those decisions via voting. We just need to avoid doing it in a preachy, patronising way.

There is a danger that young people could be sidelined, becoming so disengaged that they lose their voice - not necessarily amongst their peers - but with the establishment who contribute to shaping their future.

Long gone are the days of young people being seen and not heard, we need to do all we can to ensure their voices are received loud and clear, ensure they stand up and are counted.

:: Stand Up website: www.skynews.com/standupbecounted

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Muslim Leaders Issue Fatwa Against IS Britons

Muslim leaders have reportedly issued a fatwa condemning Britons who fight for extremists in Iraq and Syria.

The fatwa, which The Sunday Times newspaper said had been issued by imams, is the strongest denunciation yet by the Muslim community of UK citizens who join Islamic State militants

It comes as former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown accused Conservative ministers of "kneejerk" responses to the terrorism threat from extremists.

The Government has raised the terror threat to Britain from "substantial" to "severe", although Home Secretary Theresa May said there was no evidence to suggest an attack was "imminent".

A number of Britons are known to have joined Islamic State militants

Issued by a learned Muslim scholar, a fatwa is an edict that may concern any aspect of Islamic life.

Technically it cannot be revoked and dies only with the person it is imposed on.

The Sunday Times reports that six senior Islamic scholars have endorsed the fatwa, describing Britons allied to Islamic State cells as "heretics".

According to the newspaper, the fatwa says Muslims have a "moral obligation" to help those in war-torn Syria and Iraq, but that they should do so "without betraying their own societies".

The term fatwa rose to prominence in the West in 1989 after the author Salman Rushdie was forced into hiding after having a "death fatwa" issued against him.

Lord Ashdown said the terror threat should be countered 'without panic'

It was imposed by Ayatollah Khomeni, then Supreme Leader of Iran, who said Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses, had "insulted" Islam.

Meanwhile, Lord Ashdown argues in an article for The Observer that the current terror threat to the UK is one "one we have faced before and one we know how to deal with - effectively, without panic and without a whole new range of executive powers which could endanger our liberties".

"Indeed, when it comes to facing threats, it was surely far more difficult to cope with IRA terrorists slipping across the Irish Sea than it is to stop jihadis returning from Iraq," he writes.

He says Prime Minister David Cameron had initially seemed to be keen to avoid rushed response.

But he argues Tory ministers had recently "indulged in a spasm of kneejerking which would have made even St Vitus feel concerned".

"And Labour, frightened as always when it comes to liberty and security, capitulates to the demand," he writes.

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Ashya's Parents Held After Missing Boy Found

The parents of Ashya King, who was taken out of hospital against medical advice, have been arrested after being found with their son in Spain.

Police say officers in the Malaga area pulled over the family's car at 9pm UK time and found the five-year-old and his parents inside.

The boy from Portsmouth, who underwent "extensive surgery" during an operation on his brain tumour seven days ago, has been taken to hospital.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead of Hampshire Constabulary said his parents, Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, were in custody after being arrested on a European arrest warrant.

"We don't have many details on Ashya's condition at this point in time but what we do know is that he was showing no visible signs of distress," he said.

"There are no winners in this situation. I've said all along that this must be a terribly distressing time for Ashya's family and I stand by that now."

He added that it was too soon to say when Ashya would come back to the UK but said Southampton General Hospital had been contacted so they can liaise with doctors taking care of him in Spain.

"Ashya's brothers and sisters were not in the vehicle," he said.

"We have located them. They're all okay, they're fine. They are actually in a hotel about 10 miles away."

He said a team of Hampshire police officers would now be travelling to Spain to continue the investigation.

French media had picked up the story after Ashya was taken from hospital

It came as footage emerged on video-sharing website YouTube in which Ashya's father, a Jehovah's Witness, insists they had taken him from hospital to seek a cancer treatment not available on the NHS.

"We were much disturbed today to find that his face is all over the internet and newspapers and we've been labelled as kidnappers, putting his life at risk, neglect," he says.

"There's been a lot of talk about this machine. As you see, it's all plugged in. We've got loads of these feeds here, we've got iron supplements and we've got Calpol.

"As you can see, there's nothing wrong with him. He's very happy actually, since we took him out of hospital. He's been smiling a lot more, he's been very much interacting with us.

"But I just wanted to say very quickly why we took him out of the hospital.

"The surgeon did a wonderful job on his head that took out the brain tumour, completely they reckon. But straight away afterwards he went into what's called posterior fossa syndrome, which means very limited moving or talking or doing anything."

He said he had spoken to specialists after Ashya's surgery and had requested proton beam treatment, which was not available on the NHS.

"Proton beam is so much better for children with brain cancer," he said.

"We pleaded with them for proton beam treatment. They looked at me straight in the face and said with his cancer - which is called medulloblastoma - it would have no benefit whatsoever.

"I went straight back to my room and looked it up and the American sites and French sites and Switzerland sites where they have proton beam said the opposite, it would be very beneficial for him."

Mr King also urged police to call off "this ridiculous chase".

"We're not neglecting our son, he's in perfectly good health," he said.

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions on religious grounds but are open to other medical procedures.

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