2013, മേയ് 24, വെള്ളിയാഴ്‌ച

British police arrest 2 on Pak flight escorted by fighter jets



London: British fighter jets escorted a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane to Stansted Airport near London on Friday, where police went on board and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

Passengers were leaving the plane and no one was hurt in the incident, a spokesman for the airport said.

Flight PK709 from Lahore in Pakistan had been due to land at Manchester in northern England with 297 passengers on board, but was diverted shortly before arrival.

Britain is on high alert after a soldier was hacked to death on a London street on Wednesday in what the government are treating as a terrorist incident.

A security source said early indications were that the plane was not the target of a terrorist attack.

A passenger who had just got off the plane told the BBC the pilot had informed passengers after landing that he had diverted to Stansted because of threats. The passenger, named by the BBC as Mr Munsif, said two men had been handcuffed on board and removed.

'We landed safely and then he announced that they had some kind of threat from someone and that's why he landed the plane,' the passenger said, speaking by telephone.

'Essex Police have boarded a passenger plane diverted to Stansted Airport and two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft. They have been removed from the plane,' the police said in a statement. The force is responsible for the area where Stansted is located.

'The two men arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft are aged 30 and 41. They are being taken to a police station for interview by detectives,' the police added.

Stansted is one of London's less busy airports, preferred as a location for handling airplane security incidents. A spokesman for the airport said the plane was being held in an isolated area and that the rest of the airport was operating as normal.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said 10 fire engines had been sent to the airport.

The Pakistani plane was a Boeing 777, according to the flight tracking website www.flightradar.com.

According to two tracking websites, the aircraft broke off from its descent about 60 miles east of Manchester.

It turned and followed a wide arc over northeast England and out to the North Sea before heading towards London.

Britain launches military planes to intercept unidentified aircraft when they cannot be identified by other means, for example when the aircraft is not talking to air traffic controllers.
Reuters

British police arrest 2 on Pak flight escorted by fighter jets



London: British fighter jets escorted a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane to Stansted Airport near London on Friday, where police went on board and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.

Passengers were leaving the plane and no one was hurt in the incident, a spokesman for the airport said.

Flight PK709 from Lahore in Pakistan had been due to land at Manchester in northern England with 297 passengers on board, but was diverted shortly before arrival.

Britain is on high alert after a soldier was hacked to death on a London street on Wednesday in what the government are treating as a terrorist incident.

A security source said early indications were that the plane was not the target of a terrorist attack.

A passenger who had just got off the plane told the BBC the pilot had informed passengers after landing that he had diverted to Stansted because of threats. The passenger, named by the BBC as Mr Munsif, said two men had been handcuffed on board and removed.

'We landed safely and then he announced that they had some kind of threat from someone and that's why he landed the plane,' the passenger said, speaking by telephone.

'Essex Police have boarded a passenger plane diverted to Stansted Airport and two men have been arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft. They have been removed from the plane,' the police said in a statement. The force is responsible for the area where Stansted is located.

'The two men arrested on suspicion of endangerment of an aircraft are aged 30 and 41. They are being taken to a police station for interview by detectives,' the police added.

Stansted is one of London's less busy airports, preferred as a location for handling airplane security incidents. A spokesman for the airport said the plane was being held in an isolated area and that the rest of the airport was operating as normal.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said 10 fire engines had been sent to the airport.

The Pakistani plane was a Boeing 777, according to the flight tracking website www.flightradar.com.

According to two tracking websites, the aircraft broke off from its descent about 60 miles east of Manchester.

It turned and followed a wide arc over northeast England and out to the North Sea before heading towards London.

Britain launches military planes to intercept unidentified aircraft when they cannot be identified by other means, for example when the aircraft is not talking to air traffic controllers.
Reuters

Cars, people in water as bridge collapses in Washington


Washington: A bridge carrying a freeway over a river in the northwestern US state of Washington partially collapsed Thursday, sending cars and people plunging into the water below, police said.

Pictures showed a large section of the bridge, carrying the Interstate 5 highway over the Skagit river north of Seattle, collapsed into the water, with traffic and crowds of people visible on the end nearest land.

'People and cars in water,' Mark Francis, spokesman for the Washington State highway patrol, said on his Twitter feed. The police did not immediately return calls seeking more details, including on potential casualties.

At least two cars were in the water, and three people were rescued from vehicles, Marcus Deyerin, spokesman for the Northwest Washington Incident Management Team, told the Seattle Times.

Rescuers believed they had pulled everyone involved out of the water, but they were not sure, he added, saying the section of bridge collapsed around 7:00 pm (0200 GMT Friday), for an unknown reason. AFP


Cars, people in water as bridge collapses in Washington


Washington: A bridge carrying a freeway over a river in the northwestern US state of Washington partially collapsed Thursday, sending cars and people plunging into the water below, police said.

Pictures showed a large section of the bridge, carrying the Interstate 5 highway over the Skagit river north of Seattle, collapsed into the water, with traffic and crowds of people visible on the end nearest land.

'People and cars in water,' Mark Francis, spokesman for the Washington State highway patrol, said on his Twitter feed. The police did not immediately return calls seeking more details, including on potential casualties.

At least two cars were in the water, and three people were rescued from vehicles, Marcus Deyerin, spokesman for the Northwest Washington Incident Management Team, told the Seattle Times.

Rescuers believed they had pulled everyone involved out of the water, but they were not sure, he added, saying the section of bridge collapsed around 7:00 pm (0200 GMT Friday), for an unknown reason. AFP


.High Command intervenes to end Kerala crisis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the state leaders failing to resolve the crisis crippling the party over the expansion of the Oommen Chandy ministry, the Congress high command on Friday stepped in.

All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of the state, Madhusudhan Mistry, and Party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel on Friday telephoned Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, and instructed them to find a solution to the issue in the state itself. Mistry also warned them not to make public statements which deepen the crisis.

Antony explored the possibility of finding a mutual solution to the issue by talking to leaders of both ‘I’ and ‘A’ groups at Kannur on Friday. Federal Minister K C Venugopal, State Minister K C Joseph, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) vice-president M M Hassan and M K Raghavan, MP participated in the discussions. Both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala kept off the process

.High Command intervenes to end Kerala crisis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the state leaders failing to resolve the crisis crippling the party over the expansion of the Oommen Chandy ministry, the Congress high command on Friday stepped in.

All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of the state, Madhusudhan Mistry, and Party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel on Friday telephoned Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, and instructed them to find a solution to the issue in the state itself. Mistry also warned them not to make public statements which deepen the crisis.

Antony explored the possibility of finding a mutual solution to the issue by talking to leaders of both ‘I’ and ‘A’ groups at Kannur on Friday. Federal Minister K C Venugopal, State Minister K C Joseph, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) vice-president M M Hassan and M K Raghavan, MP participated in the discussions. Both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala kept off the process

Meiyappan arrested as pressure mounts on Srinivasan to resign


MUMBAI: Gurunath Meiyappan, who had appeared in the Mumbai crime branch for questioning, has been arrested by the Mumbai Police for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the Indian Premiere League.

Earlier in the week, Meiyappan's name had cropped up during the interrogation of arrested actor Vindoo Dara Singh whose custody has also been extended till 28 May.

The clamour for Indian cricket board president Narayanswamy Srinivasan`s resignation got louder after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's arrest.

Chennai Super Kings, however, sought to distance itself from Meiyappan, whose name cropped up during questioning of Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa, the franchise saying Meiyappan was neither the chief executive nor the team principal and was just an honorary member of the management committee.

Meiyappan, who was untraceable for the past 48 hours, was spotted at Srinivasan`s farmhouse in the hill station of Kodaikanal, some 500 km from Chennai. He left for Mumbai by a chartered flight from Madurai and was greeted by the Crime Branch officials on arrival, well after the deadline of 5 p.m. set by Mumbai police.

Srinivasan, however, remained in the line of fire with Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and former International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI president Sharad Pawar`s party Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) calling for his resignation as BCCI chief on moral grounds.

Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Srinivasan, who was aspiring to be the next ICC president, was likely to step down if Mumbai police arrest Meiyappan, who has been accused of having links with bookies.

Meiyappan`s name in the spot fixing scandal emerged after Mumbai police arrested Vindu Dara Singh, whose call records showed that he was in constant touch with the BCCI president`s son-in-law. Vindu was often seen at the VIP boxes, as an invitee of Meiyappan, during Super Kings matches in the IPL.

Among other developments Friday, a court granted Mumbai police custody of Vindu till May 28 besides of two others - hawala operator Alpesh Taneja and a bookie, Prem Taneja.

Meanwhile, Gurunath`s alleged involvement in the scandal has put Srinivasan in a spot of bother. The 35-year-old is the son-in-law of Srinivasan, whose India Cements owns IPL`s Chennai franchise.

The series of events led India Cements to issue a statement that Gurunath was not Super Kings chief and rather an honorary member of team management. However, Gurunath has introduced himself as Super Kings team principal on his Twitter account.

In a statement issued here, India Cements` executive director T.S.Raghupathy said: "India Cements clarifies that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is neither the Owner, nor CEO / Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings. Mr. Gurunath is only one of the Members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings."

That clarification did not cut ice with Sharad Pawar`s party NCP, which demanded that Srinivasan quit immediately "if he has any sense of morality and public accountability".

Sahara chief Subrata Roy fired another salvo, saying he would immediately stop sponsoring the Indian team if N. Srinivasan continues to be the president of the BCCI. Roy said the BCCI`s style of functioning "is disgusting, irritating and frustrating".

"Person like Srinivasan does not know how to run cricket. Sahara will not sponsor Team India till N. Srinivasan stays as its chief," said Roy.

Following the dispute with the BCCI over franchise fee, which it wanted to be lowered, Sahara Group has already pulled out its Pune Warriors India franchise from the Indian Premier League, and decided not to sponsor Team India after the contract ends in December 2013.

Earlier Friday, Delhi Police arrested a bookie from the Hyderabad airport.

"One of the arrested bookies, Chandresh Patel, revealed Ahya`s name. We will be bringing him to Delhi," a Delhi Police official said. This takes the number of arrests in the IPL spot fixing case to 19.

Ahya, based in Mumbai, was arrested by Delhi Police at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad when he was about to board a flight to Dubai, police sources said. He had reached Hyderabad from Mumbai by road and was trying to flee the country.

Shortly after their arrest, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy said that the trio is linked to the bookies already arrested by Mumbai police and those who are wanted and are absconding. Police also recovered cash amounting to Rs.12.80 million from Taneja`s residence.

The IPL scam, which seems to be getting bigger by the day, came to light when Rajasthan Royals cricketers S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested on spot fixing charges last Wednesday.



Meiyappan arrested as pressure mounts on Srinivasan to resign


MUMBAI: Gurunath Meiyappan, who had appeared in the Mumbai crime branch for questioning, has been arrested by the Mumbai Police for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the Indian Premiere League.

Earlier in the week, Meiyappan's name had cropped up during the interrogation of arrested actor Vindoo Dara Singh whose custody has also been extended till 28 May.

The clamour for Indian cricket board president Narayanswamy Srinivasan`s resignation got louder after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's arrest.

Chennai Super Kings, however, sought to distance itself from Meiyappan, whose name cropped up during questioning of Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa, the franchise saying Meiyappan was neither the chief executive nor the team principal and was just an honorary member of the management committee.

Meiyappan, who was untraceable for the past 48 hours, was spotted at Srinivasan`s farmhouse in the hill station of Kodaikanal, some 500 km from Chennai. He left for Mumbai by a chartered flight from Madurai and was greeted by the Crime Branch officials on arrival, well after the deadline of 5 p.m. set by Mumbai police.

Srinivasan, however, remained in the line of fire with Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and former International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI president Sharad Pawar`s party Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) calling for his resignation as BCCI chief on moral grounds.

Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Srinivasan, who was aspiring to be the next ICC president, was likely to step down if Mumbai police arrest Meiyappan, who has been accused of having links with bookies.

Meiyappan`s name in the spot fixing scandal emerged after Mumbai police arrested Vindu Dara Singh, whose call records showed that he was in constant touch with the BCCI president`s son-in-law. Vindu was often seen at the VIP boxes, as an invitee of Meiyappan, during Super Kings matches in the IPL.

Among other developments Friday, a court granted Mumbai police custody of Vindu till May 28 besides of two others - hawala operator Alpesh Taneja and a bookie, Prem Taneja.

Meanwhile, Gurunath`s alleged involvement in the scandal has put Srinivasan in a spot of bother. The 35-year-old is the son-in-law of Srinivasan, whose India Cements owns IPL`s Chennai franchise.

The series of events led India Cements to issue a statement that Gurunath was not Super Kings chief and rather an honorary member of team management. However, Gurunath has introduced himself as Super Kings team principal on his Twitter account.

In a statement issued here, India Cements` executive director T.S.Raghupathy said: "India Cements clarifies that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is neither the Owner, nor CEO / Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings. Mr. Gurunath is only one of the Members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings."

That clarification did not cut ice with Sharad Pawar`s party NCP, which demanded that Srinivasan quit immediately "if he has any sense of morality and public accountability".

Sahara chief Subrata Roy fired another salvo, saying he would immediately stop sponsoring the Indian team if N. Srinivasan continues to be the president of the BCCI. Roy said the BCCI`s style of functioning "is disgusting, irritating and frustrating".

"Person like Srinivasan does not know how to run cricket. Sahara will not sponsor Team India till N. Srinivasan stays as its chief," said Roy.

Following the dispute with the BCCI over franchise fee, which it wanted to be lowered, Sahara Group has already pulled out its Pune Warriors India franchise from the Indian Premier League, and decided not to sponsor Team India after the contract ends in December 2013.

Earlier Friday, Delhi Police arrested a bookie from the Hyderabad airport.

"One of the arrested bookies, Chandresh Patel, revealed Ahya`s name. We will be bringing him to Delhi," a Delhi Police official said. This takes the number of arrests in the IPL spot fixing case to 19.

Ahya, based in Mumbai, was arrested by Delhi Police at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad when he was about to board a flight to Dubai, police sources said. He had reached Hyderabad from Mumbai by road and was trying to flee the country.

Shortly after their arrest, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy said that the trio is linked to the bookies already arrested by Mumbai police and those who are wanted and are absconding. Police also recovered cash amounting to Rs.12.80 million from Taneja`s residence.

The IPL scam, which seems to be getting bigger by the day, came to light when Rajasthan Royals cricketers S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested on spot fixing charges last Wednesday.



I am not soft like Sonia: Rahul Gandhi tells party workers


NEW DELHI: With assembly election just months away, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked party leaders in Delhi to work in unity to ensure a fourth successive victory for the party in the polls and sent out a clear message that indiscipline will not be tolerated by him.

At around five-hour long interaction with separate groups of Congress workers at DPCC office in Central Delhi, Mr Gandhi underlined the need for better coordination between the party and the government while asking MLAs, MPs and senior leaders to start preparations for the polls slated for November.

"The Congress President is soft. But I am not soft. I will not tolerate indiscipline. We must work unitedly," Mr Gandhi was quoted as saying by two MLAs.

The Congress Vice President held separate meetings of MPs, MLAs, district and block presidents of each of the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. He held a separate meeting with party councillors from all three municipal corporations besides having another meeting with MLAs, MPs and Pradesh Congress Committee delegates.

"Rahul Gandhi told us to work unitedly and prepare for the assembly polls," said Ajay Maken, MP from New Delhi and Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation.

MP from Chandni Chowk Constituency Kapil Sibal said Mr Gandhi asked party workers to further strengthen the party at the grass-root level. "Rahul Gandhi aims to strengthen the party," he said.

Another MP said Mr Gandhi instructed the party leaders to take the achievements of Sheila Dikshit government as well as UPA government to the people.

A majority of party leaders, who attended the interactions Friday, described their meeting with Rahul Gandhi as a "morale booster".

"He (Rahul) said power should be decentralised and party should not be run by a few people. He also underlined the need for even taking views of block level party workers while recommending names for ticket aspirants in the assembly polls," said an MLA.

"Rahul Gandhi said the government may have shortcomings. But that does not mean that you will not take its achievements to the people," the MLA quoted Mr Gandhi as saying.

A majority of MLAs said that in almost all interactions Mr Gandhi asked all those present to speak about their views on various party-related issues.

"In our meeting, he even asked one block Congress president what he thinks about his role...He was very clear in his agenda. He wanted the party to be strengthened at the grassroot level," said an MLA.



I am not soft like Sonia: Rahul Gandhi tells party workers


NEW DELHI: With assembly election just months away, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked party leaders in Delhi to work in unity to ensure a fourth successive victory for the party in the polls and sent out a clear message that indiscipline will not be tolerated by him.

At around five-hour long interaction with separate groups of Congress workers at DPCC office in Central Delhi, Mr Gandhi underlined the need for better coordination between the party and the government while asking MLAs, MPs and senior leaders to start preparations for the polls slated for November.

"The Congress President is soft. But I am not soft. I will not tolerate indiscipline. We must work unitedly," Mr Gandhi was quoted as saying by two MLAs.

The Congress Vice President held separate meetings of MPs, MLAs, district and block presidents of each of the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. He held a separate meeting with party councillors from all three municipal corporations besides having another meeting with MLAs, MPs and Pradesh Congress Committee delegates.

"Rahul Gandhi told us to work unitedly and prepare for the assembly polls," said Ajay Maken, MP from New Delhi and Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation.

MP from Chandni Chowk Constituency Kapil Sibal said Mr Gandhi asked party workers to further strengthen the party at the grass-root level. "Rahul Gandhi aims to strengthen the party," he said.

Another MP said Mr Gandhi instructed the party leaders to take the achievements of Sheila Dikshit government as well as UPA government to the people.

A majority of party leaders, who attended the interactions Friday, described their meeting with Rahul Gandhi as a "morale booster".

"He (Rahul) said power should be decentralised and party should not be run by a few people. He also underlined the need for even taking views of block level party workers while recommending names for ticket aspirants in the assembly polls," said an MLA.

"Rahul Gandhi said the government may have shortcomings. But that does not mean that you will not take its achievements to the people," the MLA quoted Mr Gandhi as saying.

A majority of MLAs said that in almost all interactions Mr Gandhi asked all those present to speak about their views on various party-related issues.

"In our meeting, he even asked one block Congress president what he thinks about his role...He was very clear in his agenda. He wanted the party to be strengthened at the grassroot level," said an MLA.



2013, മേയ് 23, വ്യാഴാഴ്‌ച

3 more players, 1 more IPL team under scanner, says Delhi police


NEW DELHI: At least three more players and one more IPL team is under the scanner for spot-fixing in the tournament, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar disclosed on Thursday.

This is in addition to S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila of Rajasthan Royals who have been arrested by the police for alleged spot-fixing in three different matches.

'We are investigating role of another team and three more players. However, I cannot disclose the names as we are in the process of gathering evidence,' Kumar told PTI here.

Asked whether police hoped to gather evidence against the players under its scanner as they would be extra cautious, the Commissioner said with a smile 'may be, they have already committed the crime.'

Asked what amount of money could be involved in the betting racket, Kumar said it was not possible to have any firm figure but it must be running into hundreds of crores of rupees.

'Look we are investigating and the chain of bookies and number of people involved in betting in a long chain. It is extremely difficult to ascertain this,' he said.

The Commissioner said that the focus of the police was in completing the investigation into the present case as soon as possible and submit a charge sheet in 60 days.

'We will try to charge sheet the accused in 60 days so that they are not released on bail,' he said. PTI

3 more players, 1 more IPL team under scanner, says Delhi police


NEW DELHI: At least three more players and one more IPL team is under the scanner for spot-fixing in the tournament, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar disclosed on Thursday.

This is in addition to S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila of Rajasthan Royals who have been arrested by the police for alleged spot-fixing in three different matches.

'We are investigating role of another team and three more players. However, I cannot disclose the names as we are in the process of gathering evidence,' Kumar told PTI here.

Asked whether police hoped to gather evidence against the players under its scanner as they would be extra cautious, the Commissioner said with a smile 'may be, they have already committed the crime.'

Asked what amount of money could be involved in the betting racket, Kumar said it was not possible to have any firm figure but it must be running into hundreds of crores of rupees.

'Look we are investigating and the chain of bookies and number of people involved in betting in a long chain. It is extremely difficult to ascertain this,' he said.

The Commissioner said that the focus of the police was in completing the investigation into the present case as soon as possible and submit a charge sheet in 60 days.

'We will try to charge sheet the accused in 60 days so that they are not released on bail,' he said. PTI

We want to start a war in London, suspect tells eyewitness


LONDON: British counter-terrorism police were on Thursday investigating the murder of a man thought to be a soldier, who was butchered and beheaded on a busy London street by two men shouting Islamist slogans.

The attackers, wielding knives including a meat cleaver, carried out the attack a few hundred metres (yards) from the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, then delivered an Islamist tirade to passers-by.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the 'appalling crime', adding: 'There are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident.'

He cut short a visit to Paris to fly back for a meeting of the government's emergency response committee, COBRA, which had already met in the hours following the attack.

Media reports citing witnesses said the men first ran over their victim in a car before finishing him off with the knives.

Eyewitnesses described how after the two men carried out their attack, they stayed at the scene, asking passers-by to photograph and film them.

Armed police shot and wounded the two attackers after they ran at officers, said witnesses. Both were being treated in hospital, said police.

Amateur footage of one of the men carrying a blood-stained knife and meat cleaver shows him saying: 'We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you.'

The man, a black man dressed in a hooded jacket and black woolly hat, speaks in a London accent.

'We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,' he says.

'I apologise that women have had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don't care about you.'

Reports said the man attacked was wearing a t-shirt bearing the logo of the British military charity Help for Heroes.

Several eyewitnesses said he had been decapitated.

Rapper Boya Dee, who witnessed the incident, wrote on his Twitter account: 'Ohhhhh myyyy God!!!! I just see a man with his head chopped off right in front of my eyes!'

'We want to start a war in London'

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, 48, told the Daily Telegraph that when she asked the assailants why they had carried out the attack, one of them told her: 'We want to start a war in London tonight'.

Around 250 members of the anti-Islamist English Defence League were involved in minor scuffles with police at Woolwich Arsenal train station, near the scene of the attack, before dispersing.

Police later arrested two people suspected of trying to carry out reprisals.

Officers arrested a 43-year-old man who was detained in Braintree, southeast England, after reportedly walking into a mosque with a knife.

They detained another man in nearby Gillingham on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage to a mosque, police said.

Cameron, speaking to journalists before flying back from Paris, called the attack 'truly shocking'.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French President Francois Hollande, he added: 'We've had this sort of attack before in our country and we never buckle in the face of them.

'People across Britain, people in every community, I believe, will utterly condemn this attack.'

Hollande, expressed solidarity with Britain, at 'the cowardly killing of a British soldier', but the British prime minister did not publicly confirm that the victim was a soldier.

In London, a local member of parliament, Nick Raynsford, said he understood the dead man had been a soldier. Security was reinforced at all army barracks in London following the incident.

The Muslim Council of Britain said the killers' use of 'Islamic slogans' indicated they were motivated by their faith.

A statement from the council said: 'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.'

Police were called at 2:20pm (1320 GMT) to reports of one man being assaulted by two others.

Britain's top policeman, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe confirmed two men had been arrested following the 'shocking and horrific' attack.

'We have launched a murder investigation, being led by the Counter Terrorism Command,' he added.

Police had met local community representatives and extra officers were patrolling the area, he said. Appealing for calm, he added: 'The shock that we all feel at what has happened must bind us together.'

The United States condemned the attack.

'We stand with our UK allies in the face of such senseless violence,' State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement.AFP

We want to start a war in London, suspect tells eyewitness


LONDON: British counter-terrorism police were on Thursday investigating the murder of a man thought to be a soldier, who was butchered and beheaded on a busy London street by two men shouting Islamist slogans.

The attackers, wielding knives including a meat cleaver, carried out the attack a few hundred metres (yards) from the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London, then delivered an Islamist tirade to passers-by.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the 'appalling crime', adding: 'There are strong indications that it is a terrorist incident.'

He cut short a visit to Paris to fly back for a meeting of the government's emergency response committee, COBRA, which had already met in the hours following the attack.

Media reports citing witnesses said the men first ran over their victim in a car before finishing him off with the knives.

Eyewitnesses described how after the two men carried out their attack, they stayed at the scene, asking passers-by to photograph and film them.

Armed police shot and wounded the two attackers after they ran at officers, said witnesses. Both were being treated in hospital, said police.

Amateur footage of one of the men carrying a blood-stained knife and meat cleaver shows him saying: 'We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you.'

The man, a black man dressed in a hooded jacket and black woolly hat, speaks in a London accent.

'We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,' he says.

'I apologise that women have had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your government, they don't care about you.'

Reports said the man attacked was wearing a t-shirt bearing the logo of the British military charity Help for Heroes.

Several eyewitnesses said he had been decapitated.

Rapper Boya Dee, who witnessed the incident, wrote on his Twitter account: 'Ohhhhh myyyy God!!!! I just see a man with his head chopped off right in front of my eyes!'

'We want to start a war in London'

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, 48, told the Daily Telegraph that when she asked the assailants why they had carried out the attack, one of them told her: 'We want to start a war in London tonight'.

Around 250 members of the anti-Islamist English Defence League were involved in minor scuffles with police at Woolwich Arsenal train station, near the scene of the attack, before dispersing.

Police later arrested two people suspected of trying to carry out reprisals.

Officers arrested a 43-year-old man who was detained in Braintree, southeast England, after reportedly walking into a mosque with a knife.

They detained another man in nearby Gillingham on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage to a mosque, police said.

Cameron, speaking to journalists before flying back from Paris, called the attack 'truly shocking'.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French President Francois Hollande, he added: 'We've had this sort of attack before in our country and we never buckle in the face of them.

'People across Britain, people in every community, I believe, will utterly condemn this attack.'

Hollande, expressed solidarity with Britain, at 'the cowardly killing of a British soldier', but the British prime minister did not publicly confirm that the victim was a soldier.

In London, a local member of parliament, Nick Raynsford, said he understood the dead man had been a soldier. Security was reinforced at all army barracks in London following the incident.

The Muslim Council of Britain said the killers' use of 'Islamic slogans' indicated they were motivated by their faith.

A statement from the council said: 'This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.'

Police were called at 2:20pm (1320 GMT) to reports of one man being assaulted by two others.

Britain's top policeman, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe confirmed two men had been arrested following the 'shocking and horrific' attack.

'We have launched a murder investigation, being led by the Counter Terrorism Command,' he added.

Police had met local community representatives and extra officers were patrolling the area, he said. Appealing for calm, he added: 'The shock that we all feel at what has happened must bind us together.'

The United States condemned the attack.

'We stand with our UK allies in the face of such senseless violence,' State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said in a statement.AFP

Rare birth of mega-galaxy captured by space telescope


Washington : Researchers in the US have captured rare images of the creation of a massive galaxy about 10 times the size of the Milky Way that was formed when two young galaxies collided 11 billion years ago, a study said.

'Capturing the creation of this type of large, short-lived star body is extremely rare - the equivalent of discovering a missing link between winged dinosaurs and early birds,' scientists from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) who made the discovery said in a statement.

The new mega-galaxy was originally spotted by a post-doctoral researcher at UCI in an image recorded by the European Space Agency's Herschel telescope.

The researcher, Julie Wardlow, 'noticed an amazing, bright blob' that stood out among the 'carpets of galaxies' that Herschel recorded.

Follow-up studies by other telescopes, including NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, confirmed that two galaxies, 'located about 11 billion light-years from Earth, during a time when our universe was about three billion years old', were 'intertwined and furiously making stars' at a rate of about 2,000 stars a year, NASA said in a statement.

The Milky Way only produces two to three new stars a year, NASA said.

Eventually, the two hyperactive galaxies will calm down and form a giant elliptical galaxy, according to astronomers.

'This monster system of interacting galaxies is the most efficient star-forming factory ever found in the universe at a time when it was only three billion years old,' said Hai Fu, a postdoctoral researcher at UCI and lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

The discovery of the space mega-merger helps to shed light on an astronomical mystery that scientists have pondered for years, namely how were large elliptical galaxies formed in the early universe.

Most large galaxies are either spirals that are full of gas, like the Milky Way, or ellipticals, populated by old cool red stars and showing few signs of ongoing star formation.

'It was long assumed that the large elliptical galaxies seen in the universe today built up gradually over time via the gravitational acquisition of many small dwarf galaxies,' the European Space Agency said in a statement.

But the fact that the collision of the two galaxies happened when the universe was just three to four billion years old suggests that massive mergers in space could, in fact, be responsible for giant elliptical galaxies forming in such a 'short' cosmological time frame as a few billion years.

Rare birth of mega-galaxy captured by space telescope


Washington : Researchers in the US have captured rare images of the creation of a massive galaxy about 10 times the size of the Milky Way that was formed when two young galaxies collided 11 billion years ago, a study said.

'Capturing the creation of this type of large, short-lived star body is extremely rare - the equivalent of discovering a missing link between winged dinosaurs and early birds,' scientists from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) who made the discovery said in a statement.

The new mega-galaxy was originally spotted by a post-doctoral researcher at UCI in an image recorded by the European Space Agency's Herschel telescope.

The researcher, Julie Wardlow, 'noticed an amazing, bright blob' that stood out among the 'carpets of galaxies' that Herschel recorded.

Follow-up studies by other telescopes, including NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, confirmed that two galaxies, 'located about 11 billion light-years from Earth, during a time when our universe was about three billion years old', were 'intertwined and furiously making stars' at a rate of about 2,000 stars a year, NASA said in a statement.

The Milky Way only produces two to three new stars a year, NASA said.

Eventually, the two hyperactive galaxies will calm down and form a giant elliptical galaxy, according to astronomers.

'This monster system of interacting galaxies is the most efficient star-forming factory ever found in the universe at a time when it was only three billion years old,' said Hai Fu, a postdoctoral researcher at UCI and lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

The discovery of the space mega-merger helps to shed light on an astronomical mystery that scientists have pondered for years, namely how were large elliptical galaxies formed in the early universe.

Most large galaxies are either spirals that are full of gas, like the Milky Way, or ellipticals, populated by old cool red stars and showing few signs of ongoing star formation.

'It was long assumed that the large elliptical galaxies seen in the universe today built up gradually over time via the gravitational acquisition of many small dwarf galaxies,' the European Space Agency said in a statement.

But the fact that the collision of the two galaxies happened when the universe was just three to four billion years old suggests that massive mergers in space could, in fact, be responsible for giant elliptical galaxies forming in such a 'short' cosmological time frame as a few billion years.