Police Will Consider Bradford City Fire Claims

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

West Yorkshire Police says it will consider any new evidence relating to the deaths of 56 people in the 1985 Bradford City fire, following the publication of new allegations about the tragedy.

A new book alleges the Valley Parade disaster was one of nine major fires at companies or premises linked to the club's then chairman, Stafford Heginbotham.

It also claims the chairman, who died in 1995, was in deep financial difficulties prior to the fire and received total insurance payouts from the nine fires equivalent to £27m.

Author Martin Fletcher, who lost five members of his family in the fire, does not make any direct allegation about Mr Heginbotham's history of fires, but questions why they were not examined at the time.

The jury at the inquest in 1985 delivered a verdict of misadventure

"Could any man really be as unlucky as Heginbotham had been?" he asks.

In a statement West Yorkshire Police said: "Should any evidence come to light which was not available to Her Majesty's Coroner at the original inquest, then we will consider it and take appropriate action."

Sir Oliver Popplewell conducted a public inquiry into the fire and found it was caused by a dropped cigarette which ignited rubbish that had been allowed to accumulate, despite several warnings, beneath a wooden stand.

Sir Oliver, who was not made aware of Mr Heginbotham's link to previous fires in 1985, told Sky News that while they were "a remarkable coincidence" it did not change his original judgement that it was an "accident exacerbated by negligence".

"If we had been aware of these fires at the time of course they would have demanded further investigation, but I am not sure what they would have revealed," Sir Oliver said.

The fire claimed 56 lives

"In terms of the facts it was one of the more straightforward inquiries.

"The police compiled witness statements and there was no evidence of anything untoward. There was no suggestion or evidence of arson at my inquiry or subsequent civil prosecutions."

Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, deputy leader of Bradford City council at the time of the tragedy, says he knew Mr Heginbotham "flew by the seat of his pants" in terms of the club's finances, but remains convinced by Popplewell's conclusion

"Stafford Heginbotham was one of those football club chairmen of which there were many at the time who flew by the seat of his pants," he said.

"I was deputy leader of the city council at the time and he did fly by the seat of his pants when it came to paying the bill for the police and so on.

"But I think the inquiry was very thorough at the time and I don't think there needs to be another because of this.

"I do not believe there was any sort of cover-up and in fact the inquiry led to a lot of recommendations on stadiums that together with the Taylor Report came up with the right answers for football."

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Police Trained To Spot 'Paedophile Tattoos'

Police have been getting training to spot tattoos, books and even clothing that could indicate someone is a paedophile.

Four hundred Durham officers were taught specialist skills developed by Texas police and Dr Joe Sullivan, an expert who has worked on the Madeleine McCann case.

They learnt about behavioural signs that could signal a potential child abuser and prompt the need for further questioning.

Dr Sullivan said he did not want to give more details to the public but that his knowledge had come from interviewing thousands of paedophiles.

"I have learned from that they have had to say, what are the key indicators that someone who may not have that level of knowledge may not pick up on.

"This training is about targeting frontline staff who are not working in the arena of child sexual exploitation."

It is the first time UK police have taken part in the Intervene to Protect a Child programme and it is hoped it will help them spot warning signs – even if the case is not originally flagged as child abuse.

PCSO Adam Grundy, 28, put his new skills to use just two weeks after the training, protecting a five-year-old girl.

He became concerned when he spotted a condom and a Viagra pill at the property of a man in his 80s during a routine call.

Mr Grundy said: "This guy was being very evasive with me when normally he would engage. He was very stand-offish and wanted me to leave.

"His personality had completely changed and that was something I referred back to in my training."

The training has also been completed by another 160 workers including teachers, fire officers and health workers.

"We are giving them the confidence to recognise, if people wear certain clothing, if people have certain tattoos, if people behave in a certain way, that might be an indication," said Durham's chief constable, Mike Barton.

"When you add these things together, that should give them the confidence to a frontline member of staff to do a bit more digging."

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Karen Buckley: Police Search Glasgow Park

Dozens of police officers and a helicopter have been scouring a Glasgow park for clues on the disappearance of missing student Karen Buckley.

The entrance to Dawsholm Park was cordoned off after the 24-year-old's handbag was found there.

Ms Buckley went missing in the early hours of Sunday after leaving the house of a man she met on a night out.

Officers have been searching through undergrowth for clues

The man, who is not currently a suspect, told officers she had left at 4am but the Irish student has not been seen since.

It is believed she was planning to walk back to her flat in Hill Street.

Video: Student Last Seen At Man's Home

Her parents, who have flown from Ireland to help with the search, said it was typical for her not to use taxis.

Ms Buckley spent Saturday night with friends at Glasgow's Sanctuary nightclub on Dumbarton Road.

She told them at around 1am she was going to the toilet, but failed to return and left her jacket behind.

CCTV spotted her leaving the club with the man, whose identity has not yet been revealed.

Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr said: "We've traced the man she was with in Dorchester Avenue. He believes he was intimate with her at his flat consensually in the early hours of Sunday.

"From what we can see, she does not appear to be under duress, there's no signs of a struggle or reluctance on her part to leave the club.

"However, that does not mean that something untoward has happened to her at a later stage."

The parents of Ms Buckley, who studies occupational therapy and is originally from Cork, said they were "desperate" for the public's help.

"We just want Karen home safely, we are desperate. She is our only daughter, we love her dearly," said her mother, Marian.

"If anybody has any information please come forward, we would dearly appreciate it."

Ms Buckley's father, John, said: "If anybody is holding Karen, if anybody knows anything of her, please return her. Please let's have her back. We love her to bits."

Det Supt Kerr said Ms Buckley was widely travelled and was "aware of how to take care of herself".

Police also want to find out more about a grey car seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen, north of Glasgow, between 11am and 3pm on Monday.

Det Supt Kerr said: "The activity of this grey car on the Monday is something that we're a wee bit concerned about.

"This car has been seen at various locations on these roads and I want to know why."

Ms Buckley is between 5ft and 5ft 2in with brown eyes and dark hair which has long black curly extensions in it.

She was last seen wearing a black jumpsuit, red high-heeled shoes and carrying a black handbag.

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'Third' Of GPs Thinking Of Quitting Before 2020

A third of GPs are thinking about retiring from general practice in the next five years, according to a survey of thousands of doctors.

Nearly four in 10 (37%) said their workload was too much to deal with, while 53% said it was tough but generally manageable.

Two-thirds (68%) also told the British Medical Association (BMA) that they experienced significant work-related stress, but insisted they could deal with it.

Just one in six said they were unable to handle the stress of their job.

The BMA survey questioned 15,560 GPs and also found one in five trainees (19%) was already thinking about writing off work in the UK in favour of a job abroad.

Video: GPs launch recruitment film

The doctors' association said it raised doubts over political promises to dramatically boost GP numbers over the next five years.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA GP committee chair, said the survey painted a bleak picture of frustrated GPs facing "burnout" and swamped by "pointless paperwork".

"In this climate, it is absurd that in the recent leaders' debate, political parties were attempting to outbid each other on the number of GPs they could magically produce in the next parliament," said Dr Nagpaul.

The head of the Royal College of GPs went further and said the pressures on GPs posed a "genuine danger to patient safety".

Video: 7-Day Week GP Service Explained

Dr Maureen Baker said: "Highly trained and experienced GPs are leaving the profession in growing numbers because of the intense and increasing pressures that we are facing, and not enough medical students are entering general practice to replace them.

"This is a genuine danger to patient safety - and to the wellbeing of hardworking family doctors and our teams."

"We simply don't have enough GPs to cope with the increasing demand of our growing and ageing population," added Dr Baker.

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Sterling Faces Warning Over Laughing Gas Claim

Liverpool star Raheem Sterling could face a stern talking-to about his actions off the pitch after a video appeared to show him inhaling laughing gas.

The club's manager, Brendan Rodgers, said it was not the behaviour of a top sportsman and that it would be dealt with "internally".

"For me it is something that when you are a professional sportsperson at the top level of the game, I don't think it is something you should be doing. It is as simple as that," said Rodgers.

The 20-year-old has also played 14 times for England

"But I will speak to him on it, to see what he says on it. As you can imagine, I have only seen this today."

The 20-year-old, who scored during Monday's 2-0 win over Newcastle, is pictured on the front of today's Sun, inhaling what it says is nitrous oxide.

Video: Rodgers: I'll Speak To Sterling

The paper claims the video shows him seemingly passing out after taking a hit of the gas, used by some as a legal high and nicknamed "hippie crack".

The controversy comes amid uncertainty over the player's future at the club - he recently rejected a new £100,000-a-week contract.

Rodgers added: "We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football. I know he is.

"He very much is focused on his football and improving as a player.

"As I have said before, young players make mistakes. As long as they learn from them, that is what is important."

Jamaica-born Sterling has 14 senior England caps after making his debut in November 2012.

Drug information site Frank says laughing gas - which is not illegal - can make people feel "euphoric and relaxed".

However it warns it also carries a risk of death due to lack of oxygen.

The Sun story comes after the Daily Mirror published a picture at the weekend apparently showing Sterling smoking a shisha pipe.

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'Syria-Bound' Brit Waheed Ahmed Back In UK

A British man detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria with eight members of his family is thought to be back in Britain after being deported.

The rest of the group are expected to be flown back later today.

Waheed Ahmed - the son of Rochdale councillor Shakil Ahmed – is understood to have flown from Dalaman into Birmingham, according to Sky sources.

A video on Sunday showed Mr Ahmed apparently leaving a Turkish police station and being put on a coach.

Waheed Ahmed had changed over the last year, according to a family friend

Mr Ahmed, 21, was with his aunt, two cousins and one of their wives when they were stopped in Turkey, near the Syrian border on 1 April. They had four children with them.

Most of the group flew from Manchester on 27 March but Mr Ahmed joined them three days later on a flight from Birmingham.

Video: Neighbour On 'Syria-Bound' Brits

There were reportedly concerns about his behaviour in the months before he was arrested.

Mohammed Shafiq, who is a friend of Shakil Ahmed, said of Waheed: "There were concerns in the last six months to a year about a change in his behaviour.

"And a change in his attitude towards various different issues."

He also told Sky News: "That was causing concern for people in the community and his family."

Other family members detained include Zareeda Bi, 47, Maboob Yasin, 22, Habib Yasin, 24, Samia Bi, 22, and youngsters aged one, three, eight and 11.

Police are trying to establish their reason for travelling to the Syrian border.

The Foreign Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

Officers have searched at least five homes in the Manchester area, including that of the Labour councillor.

Cllr Ahmed said he thought his son had been in Birmingham on a work placement when he discovered he had been detained in Turkey.

He has described him as a "good Muslim" and said his son's "loyalties belong to Britain".

"If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities," said Mr Ahmed.

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Boy Who Died Skiing 'Was Daring Little Boy'

The family of a boy who died on a ski holiday in the Alps have described him as "daring outgoing determined little boy".

Carwyn Scott-Howell, from Wales, was also described as a "very competent skier and snowboarder".

The boy died when he fell around 160ft from a cliff edge after losing his way in the Alpine resort of Flaine on Friday.

In a statement released through the Foreign Office, his family said: "Carwyn was an adorable caring person who gave so much love.

"Very daring outgoing determined little boy who's handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment. Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky.

The ski resort of Flaine, in France. Pic: Dan Kamminga

"Carwyn was a very competent skier and snowboarder who had started skiing at the age of three and spent several weeks each year skiing. We had spent the most happy ski holiday together in the French ski resort of Flaine."

The statement went on to explain how the family became separated on their last run of the day on Friday afternoon.

"The family were all enjoying their last ski run over the small jumps and bumps at the side of the slope together, when Carwyn's sister lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead," it said.

"The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts. The family would like to thank all their friends and family for their support at this time and the vast help from the British Consulate.

The alpine resort of Flaine, in France

"The family now ask for time to grieve in private."

The family have a farm in the village of Talybont-on-Usk in the Brecon Beacons, where Carwyn's parents Ceri and Rhys run an award-winning produce business and rent holiday cottages.

Liam Fitzpatrick, an independent county councillor for the village, said the community was "in absolute shock".

"He was seven years old, it's horrendous. A tragic, tragic accident," he said.

Carwyn had started skiing at the age of three. Pic: Facebook

"We just can't comprehend it.

"It's a small village and everyone knows each other, especially his parents who are well-known because of their business.

"There will be massive support here for them when they come back. The community will be ready to assist in any way it possible can.

"It's impossible to know what they are going through at the moment."

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Jail Threat As 'Revenge Porn' Law Comes In

Sharing sexually explicit images without consent carries a potential two-year jail sentence from today, as a new 'revenge porn' law comes into force.

The measure targets people who share images or video without permission and with the intention of causing distress.

They are often posted by an ex-partner and sometimes accompanied by personal details, such as a social media profile.

The new law includes uploading to the internet, sending by text, email or messaging platforms, as well as simply showing someone a physical or electronic image.

The Crown Prosecution Service says it "covers images that show the genitals but also anything that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual, so this could be a picture of someone who is engaged in sexual behaviour or posing in a sexually provocative way".

Campaigners hope it will dramatically reduce the number of cases of revenge porn and make it easier to get justice for victims.

Previously, a mix of existing laws, such as the Communications Act and the Protection from Harassment Act, were used to prosecute offenders.

Children as young as 11 have been victims, according to the police.

Calls for a bespoke law gathered momentum after recent high-profile leaks of intimate celebrity images featuring the likes of Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Campaigner Hannah Thompson, 22, called the changes a "huge step forward".

She said: "I was a victim of revenge porn, and I spent months agonising over it and believing that it was my fault.

"This new law, along with the advice helpline, empowers victims and clearly displays that they are not at fault."

There were 149 allegations of revenge porn in the two and a half years to September 2014, according to eight police forces in England and Wales with data on it.

The vast majority were women but only six incidents ended with any kind of police caution or charge.

Other laws coming in under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act include increasing the maximum jail term for online trolls to two years, and making it illegal to possess extreme pornography that depicts rape.

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Aintree Racegoer 'Knocked OAP To The Ground'

Police are investigating after a video emerged appearing to show a Grand National racegoer deliberately knocking over an elderly man.

The video is believed to have been made outside the racecourse in Aintree where around 150,000 people attended the event.

In the footage, a racegoer walks along the pavement before knocking into the victim, who then falls to the ground.

Onlookers are heard gasping and seen rushing to the pensioner's aid before an ambulance is called.

The video appears to have been made by a friend of the racegoer and he shouts "text bomb" and "is there any need?" just moments before the incident, as he sniggers from behind his phone.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said officers are treating the incident as an assault and appealed for help in finding the victim.

"Merseyside Police has been made aware of a video showing a man shoulder-barging another, older man, over in a road near to the Aintree racecourse," he said.

"The incident is being treated as assault and officers are speaking to several people believed to have further information that could help the investigation.

"Inquiries are also being carried out to establish exactly when and where the incident occurred and checks are being made with local hospitals to see if further information can be found out about the victim and what his condition is now.

"We are grateful to the people who reported this video to us and we will endeavour to update them once further enquiries by officers have been made. "We would continue to welcome any information from anyone who witnessed the incident itself on 101. "

Earlier, police said the annual race had seen no arrests over its three-day course, thanking the public for making the event such a "safe and enjoyable occasion".

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British Boy Killed In Alps Ski Fall 'Was Lost'

A British boy who died in a skiing accident while on a family holiday in the French Alps was skiing alone at his own request, according to reports.

The seven-year-old fell around 160ft from a cliff to his death in the alpine resort of Flaine on Friday.

He had been skiing with his mother, brother and sister but is understood to have asked to ski the day's final descent on his own.

His family became worried after he failed to reach the bottom of the slopes, prompting a search which ended when his body was discovered around three-and-a-half hours later.

The alpine resort of Flaine, in France

Michel Ollagnon, an officer with the Bonneville mountain rescue service, said the boy's body was spotted off his expected course by rescuers in a helicopter on Friday evening.

Police chief Patrick Poirot, the head of the mountain rescue division in the nearby town of Annecy, was quoted in the Daily Mirror saying: "Specialists are at the scene to try and determine exactly what happened and understand every element that led to this tragedy.

"Hypothetically we think that, after losing his parents, the little boy didn't know where to go and skied in the wrong direction.

"He's just seven-years-old. He left the marked ski slope and probably skied to the top of a cliff.

"He then stopped, removed his skis, walked a little way and then fell.

"He fell 50 metres."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they were aware of the death and are providing consular assistance.

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One Dead As Stolen Ambulance Collides With Bus

The driver of a stolen ambulance has been killed after the vehicle crashed into a double-decker bus near York, according to Sky sources.

The person driving the ambulance - who police believe was not a paramedic or a member of ambulance staff - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the bus and five of its 16 passengers were taken to hospital after the collision on the A64, near the Flaxton junction, about 8.30pm.

Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Another person, travelling in a Toyota Yaris with one other, was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Motorists have been asked to stay away from the area.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted: "The A64 at #York, near the Flaxton junction, is closed in both directions due to a serious collision. Please avoid the area."

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the crash or saw either of the vehicles beforehand to contact police and quote reference number 556 of 10 April.

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Jewel Heist: Victims' Anger As Alarm Ignored

The Metropolitan Police has come under fire after it emerged officers initially failed to go to the scene of the Hatton Garden jewel heist despite a burglar alarm going off.

A security firm had contacted the force about an intruder alert at the safe deposit company shortly after midnight on Good Friday.

But the call was graded in a way that meant officers did not consider it worthy of a response.

And it was not until Tuesday morning, following the four-day bank holiday Easter weekend, that the raid - one of Britain's biggest - was discovered.

The Met is now investigating why the force did not respond to the alarm activated as the heist was thought to be getting under way.

Video: Raid: How Thieves Gained Entry

Police insisted it was too early to say if the handling of the call about the alert would have had an impact on the outcome.

But the revelations have led to anger from potential victims who spoke of their shock that the police "just weren't there".

Millions of pounds worth of gems were thought to have been stolen in the raid in London's jewellery district.

Michael Miller, from Knightsbridge, who may have lost £50,000 in uninsured jewellery, said: "I am just so shocked and disappointed to hear the police didn't answer that alarm.

"I mean before, we thought maybe the police didn't even know about that but now we know that they knew something was wrong.

Video: Ex-Detective On Jewel Heist

"This completely changes things, the knowledge that something could have been done.

"The police pride themselves on being somewhere in a couple of minutes, but on this occasion they just weren't there."

A store owner near the scene, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's just shocking that someone didn't answer that call that come in when the alarm went off.

"You think what on earth isn't a high priority call if it's isn't a safe deposit alarm going off in there.

"I know they're investigating but really what is the good of that when the damage is done. There are people who will have lost their livelihoods because of this."

Video: Jewel Heist Drilling Explained

Scotland Yard said: "The call was recorded and transferred to the police's CAD (computer aided despatch) system. A grade was applied to the call that meant that no police response was deemed to be required.

"We are now investigating why this grade was applied to the call. This investigation is being carried out locally."

Those behind the raid disabled a communal lift shaft and climbed down to the basement before using power tools to drill through a two-metre wall into the vault.

Once inside, they ransacked a total of 72 safety deposit boxes, although five were empty at the time.

A further 11 were due to be "drilled out" due to non-payment of fees, meaning detectives are attempting to contact a total of 56 box holders.

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Ex-Met Chief Investigated Over Lawrence Claims

Former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens is being investigated over claims he failed to disclose information to the Macpherson inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder probe.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it was investigating the peer following a referral from the London force.

The probe was launched by the watchdog after a complaint by the murdered teenager's father Neville Lawrence last October.

The Met said the complaint was in relation to Lord Stevens' role when he was deputy commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry 17 years ago.

Sky' crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The accusation is when he was deputy commissioner in 1998 he had told Lord Macpherson in the course of his inquiry that no officer or former officer involved in giving evidence to that inquiry had been under investigation for corruption."

Brunt added he spoken to someone very close to Lord Stevens and he was "very angry he was subject to this investigation".

The Macpherson Inquiry into Scotland Yard's handling of the killing of the black teenager found evidence of "institutional racism" within the Met.

Stephen Lawrence was aged 18 when he was killed at a bus stop in 1993

Imran Khan, the solicitor for Stephen's mother Doreen, told Sky News: "Corruption was a very important issue as far as the inquiry was concerned.

"There was suspicion that the reason that suspects were not arrested as they should have been in time was because there was concern there was corruption amongst the police and suspects involved."

He added: "Had information come to the inquiry at that time, which led to those questions being answered, then it may be that Sir William Macpherson would have come to the conclusion that corruption played a part in the failure of the investigation as well as institutional racism."

Mr Lawrence reportedly asked the IPCC to examine whether senior officers provide "full, frank and truthful" information to the inquiry.

He also requested the IPCC look into claims that hundreds of files on past major police corruption probes were shredded, it was reported.

A complaint has been made by Stephen Lawrence's father Neville

Mr Lawrence told Channel 4 News: "I'm glad that they're actually doing what they were supposed to do because this is not the first time that we've asked them to look into it and they've come back with a negative result.

"I'm hoping that this time they're going to come back this time with a result that can help us to get further into the truth of what was happening during the investigation into Stephen's death."

Sky's Martin Brunt said a source close to Lord Stevens pointed out that an inquiry into similar accusations three years ago - the so-called Ellison Inquiry - had effectively cleared Lord Stevens of the allegations.

Stephen Lawrence was 18 when he was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

A Met Police statement said: "Following the receipt of a public complaint in relation to Lord John Stevens, former Commissioner, the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Tuesday, 4 November 2014.

"The complaint has been made in relation to Lord Stevens' role as the then Deputy Commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry.

"This issue was raised in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review by Mark Ellison QC, published on 6 March, where he concluded there were defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the Inquiry."

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Pollution Alert As Britain Set For Hottest Day

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

The elderly and people with health problems have been warned to avoid strenuous activity because of harmful levels of air pollution expected to blanket parts of the UK.

The warning comes as forecasters say Britain could enjoy the hottest day of the year so far, with parts of eastern England predicted to reach highs of 22C (71.6F).

Eastern, central and southern England are forecast to be affected by "high" pollution today.

Parts of East Sussex and West Kent are expected to reach "very high" levels, according to the Government's UK-Air monitoring service.

Air pollution maps released by Defra

The high levels are due to domestic soot particulates, combined with dirty air from the Continent and some Saharan dust.

With the fine, settled weather conditions the pollution will be trapped over the UK for several hours.

Video: The Latest Weather Forecast

Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of the air pollution group at Public Health England, said: "While most people will not be affected by short term peaks of air pollution, some individuals, particularly those with existing heart or lung conditions, may experience increased symptoms."

Dr Vadoulakis said in areas with very high pollution levels people should reduce physical exertion if they develop a cough or sore throat.

He added: "Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people should avoid strenuous physical activity.

1/10

1. Gallery: Top Ten UK Cities For Air Pollution

   Nottingham is joint top of the list, with a PM10 level of 25. The WHO say most cities across the world are failing to meet safe levels for outdoor pollution

Thurrock is also joint top with a level of 25.

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Terrorism Officers Investigate Death Of Preacher

Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command are investigating the death of a Syrian preacher in north-west London.

Abdul Hadi Arwani, 48, was found in his Volkswagen Passat in Wembley with a gunshot wound to the chest on Tuesday morning.

Mr Arwani, a British national born in Syria, was living in west London and was a preacher at the An-Noor Mosque in Acton.

Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command unit have taken the lead in the investigation because of their "expertise in the management of investigations with international dimensions and an established liaison network abroad", Scotland Yard said in a statement.

Mr Arwani was found in Greenhill on Tuesday morning

The force said: "The investigation remains in its very early stages and officers remain open-minded about the motive."

A post-mortem examination into Mr Arwani's death will take place on Thursday. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

Mr Arwani is said to be a staunch critic of the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria. His is reported to have six children.

His son Morhaf Arwani, 20, said: "We are at a loss to understand what is behind this. At the moment we know as much as you do."

An-Noor Mosque has previously hosted the son of radical preacher Abu Hamza, and was the location for the November 2013 escape of terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, who dressed himself in a burka.

A statement posted on the wall at the mosque said: "We have with great sadness heard of the unfortunate death of Shaykh Abdulhadi Arwani who was the former Imam of the An Noor Cultural and Community Centre who served from 2005 to 2011.

"He will be sadly missed."

Mr Arwani is thought to have fled Syria as a teenager in 1982 after surviving the Hama massacre. He is believed to have attended protests against Assad outside the Syrian embassy in 2012.

:: Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Footballers May Be Among Jewel Heist Victims

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Some of the UK's top footballers could be among the victims of the Hatton Garden safe deposit raid.

Jewellers who store gems at the diamond centre in Holborn, central London, do commission work for a number of Premier League stars, a source told Sky News.

They work on high-priced orders for wives and girlfriends and for the footballers themselves.

"Players have almost unlimited spending power and love to outdo each other with extravagant purchases, especially where jewellery is concerned," said the source.

"It's only natural they would go to the renowned craftsmen of Hatton Garden to place their orders."

Video: Raid: How Thieves Gained Entry

The players affected are likely to play for the top London clubs, but it is thought stars of other clubs visit the dozens of jewellers in Hatton Garden when they are playing or partying in London.

Flying squad detectives said up to 70 safe deposit boxes were broken open, but they had not informed the victims because forensic work was still going on.

:: More on Europe's most notorious jewel heists

The raiders are believed to have broken into the building through the roof and abseiled down a lift shaft.

Video: Raid: 'Shock To The Trade'

Heavy cutting equipment was then used get into a vault, believed to be reinforced with thick metal and concrete doors, up to 2ft thick.

The stolen jewellery and precious stones, which could be worth millions of pounds, will already be out of the country, former Flying Squad chief Barry Phillips believes.

He described the heist as "sophisticated" and "highly organised" and said it would have been carried out by a "professional team".

Questions have been raised about security at the premises amid reports guards responded to an alarm on Friday, but left without checking inside.

Video: Raid: 'What's Going On?'

Safe deposit box owner Gerry Landon said he found the break-in "unbelievable".

"Apparently, as you may have read, the alarm went off at one o'clock on Friday and the security guards came down," Mr Landon said.

"They more or less looked through the window to see that there was no activity there - and then they left."

Neil Duttson, a diamond dealer who buys stones for private clients, said tracing gems stolen in the heist would be nearly impossible.

Video: Vault Customer's 'Shock' At Raid

"Once diamonds have been re-cut and polished there is no geological map," he said.

"I imagine they will be sat on for six months. You can expect some cheap diamonds will be coming on the market soon."

Police have not put a value on the goods stolen, but estimates vary widely from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £200m.

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'Ordinary Yorkshire Lads' Feared To Be In Syria

The families of two teenage boys believed to have travelled to Syria have said they are "in a state of profound shock" and are exrtremely concerned for their safety.

The seventeen-year-olds, named as Hassan Munshi and Talha Asmal, are thought to have fled to the country after travelling to Turkey on 31 March.

The pair, from Dewsbury, were last seen by their families on the day they are thought to have flown from Manchester airport to Dalaman.

A statement released on behalf of the two families said: "Our number one priority is to get Hassan and Talha back home ... and we implore anyone who may have any information whatsoever to get in contact with the police.

Kadiza Sultana, Shamima Begum and Amira Abase are thought to be in Raqqa

"These were just two ordinary Yorkshire lads who enjoyed the things that all young people enjoy at their age - both Hassan and Talha had a promising future as an apprentice and an A-level student respectively, and we are praying they will be back with us soon and are able to realise that future."

The statement added: "We would implore all parents to be extra vigilant, although as we found, it's near impossible to know your children have been groomed and brainwashed.

Video: IS Threat Gets Closer To Damascus

"Syria is a frightening war-torn place and we need to urgently educate our young children about the dangers posed by those who prey on impressionable teenagers."

Hassan is believed to be related to Hammaad Munshi, who was arrested by counter-terrorism police in 2006 at the age of 15 and later convicted over his role in a plot to murder non-Muslims, The Times newspaper reported.

West Midlands Police says it has been supporting the two families and carrying out extensive inquiries alongside the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom said: "Syria is an extremely dangerous place and the public will be aware of the dangers these boys may face.

"The choice of returning home from Syria is often taken away from those that come under the control of Islamic State, leaving their families in the UK devastated and with very few options to secure their safe return."

Video: May 2013 - Yarmouk Refugees

He urged anyone concerned that a friend or relative may be contemplating travelling to Syria to contact police or local safeguarding units.

The two teenagers are believed to have travelled on a Thomas Cook Airlines flight out of Manchester.

A spokesman for the company said: "Whilst we cannot confirm the names of any of our passengers who travel with us, we can reassure all our customers that we work closely with all authorities to ensure the safety of our flights in and out of the UK."

UK security services believe around 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join militant groups, with around half now back in the UK.

They include three teenage girls from East London, who are now thought to be in the Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold.

Video: Feb 2014 - Inside Yarmouk

Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana were last seen on CCTV at a bus station in Istanbul on 17 February.

Last week, nine Britons were arrested allegedly trying to cross into Syria from Turkey illegally.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

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All Passports To Be Checked On UK Exit

By Joanna Simpson, Sky News Reporter

New border checks are being introduced today which will require every passport to be thoroughly verified before a person can leave the UK.

The checks are being introduced at seaports, airports and tunnels which provide exit points from the British Isles.

The changes are expected to particularly affect cross-Channel and Channel tunnel travellers, who will now need to have their passports scanned.

As airlines currently gather passengers' information ahead of time, there is unlikely to be a noticeable difference in queues for passengers.

But there are fears of delays at peak travelling times while the changes are implemented.

Until now, many people have been able to leave the country without having their passport scrutinised. 

The Home Office says the changes will strengthen Britain's border security, adding that the implementation of the checks will be staggered at sites across the country.

The changes have led to fears of delays for some travellers

For the first month all passports will be scanned, but only 25% of passport holders will have their details verified.

In the second month 50% will be checked. By the middle of June, 100% of passports will be fully checked.

Security and immigration minister James Brokenshire said: "It is right that we have an immigration system that is fair, that tackles immigration and that clamps down on anyone who tries to cheat the system by staying here when they have no right to do so.

"Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.

"Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers."

More staff have been brought in to cope with the new measures, but whether the changes will have a detrimental impact on passengers will not be known until peak travelling times, such as the summer months.

A P&O spokesperson said: "They have picked a quiet day for the introduction of the checks.

"The actual scanning of passports is quick, it's the verification that takes longer. We are hoping there will be a fairly seamless transition to the new system."

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Skin Cancer Rise Blamed On Package Holiday Boom

The cheap package holiday boom of the 1960s and 70s means pensioners are now seven times more likely to develop the deadliest form of skin cancer.

New figures from Cancer Research UK show that men aged 65 and over are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma than their parents' generation.

Older women are around five times more likely to develop the disease.

Each year, some 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year in the UK compared with 600 in the mid-1970s.

Older women are around five times more likely to develop the disease

Age is a big risk for melanoma, but the increase is blamed on package holidays which became popular in the 1960s.

Getting sunburnt once every two years can triple a person's risk of developing the disease.

Professor Richard Marais, Cancer Research UK's skin cancer expert based in Manchester, said: "It's important for people to keep an eye on their skin and seek medical opinion if they see any changes to their moles, or even to normal areas of skin.

"Melanoma is often detected on men's backs and women's legs but can appear on any part of the body."

Malignant melanoma is the country's fifth most common cancer overall and the second most common cancer in young adults aged 15 to 34.

Each year, 2,100 Britons die from the disease.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said: "Sun damage accumulates over time so avoiding sunburn - and sunbeds - is key, as well as getting to know your skin type so you don't overdo it on the beach or even in the garden."

Retired teacher Sue Deans, 69, from Croydon, south London, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2000 after having a mole removed.

She said: "I was part of the generation where package holidays became affordable and you could go abroad nearly every year.

"I don't think there was much understanding at the time about the impact that too much sun can have on your risk of getting skin cancer."

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Warm Easter Weather To Continue All Week

The warm Easter weather looks set to continue into the week.

Temperatures could reach 21C (70F) in some places, when the average UK temperature for April is 11.4C (52F) and for England is 12.4C, according to the Met Office.

Two Great White Pelicans in London's St James Park

Despite many holidaymakers expected to return from the Easter break on Monday the continued high pressure will ensure conditions in most areas will remain settled for the rest of the week.

The South and South West of England will see the best of the warm weather while in northeast Scotland it will be sunniest while northwest Scotland could see some cloud developing.

Most of Northern Ireland, particularly the east coast, will also enjoy spells of sunshine.

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Most places will continue with the dry and sunny conditions - however, eastern coastal regions and Irish sea coasts may be affected by sea fog.

"It will feel warm in the sunshine today, with top temperatures of 12-18C (54-64F)."

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