Colchester Murder Police Seek 'Running Man'

Police have said they want to speak to a man seen running close to where Saudi student Nahid Almanea was killed.

The white man, aged between 18 and 25, of medium build and with dark hair was spotted to coming out of an alleyway which indirectly links to to the Salary Brook Trail, where the 31-year-old was stabbed.

He was wearing a long sleeved, plain hooded top that is described as London bus red and dark trousers.

Ms Almanea was stabbed 16 times while walking along a path on Tuesday morning.

Nadia Almanea was attacked on her way to university

In a statement, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Worron said police also wanted to hear from anyone who could help identify a man wanted for questioning over an attack on a woman in Peache Road, Colchester, at around 10pm on June 19.

"The location of this attack, and some aspects of it, including reports that a knife was seen and the victim was a woman, mean that this suspect is also of interest to the Almanea investigation," he said.

The attacker was described as white, in his early 20s, and around 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in tall. He was of medium build and had a narrow face, appeared unwell, and possibly had fair hair.

Police have been searching the area where Ms Almanea was stabbed

Ms Almanea had been taking an English language course at the University of Essex as part of her studies for a life sciences PhD.

Police released a CCTV picture of the 31-year-old taken moments before her death and a map of her likely route from the home she shared with her brother to the spot on the Salary Brook trail where her body was found.

Police have previously said the fact that Ms Almanea was stabbed multiple times bore "obvious similarities" to the murder of James Attfield, a vulnerable man with brain damage who was stabbed more than 100 times in a park in Colchester in March.

Police released a map showing Ms Almanea's route

In the statement on Saturday, police said it was still not clear whether the two killings had been carried out by the same person.

"A criminal profiler from the National Crime Agency has carried out a thorough assessment of all the evidence in connection with both murders," Detective Chief Superintendent Worron said.

"A decision has been taken that they remain separate but parallel investigations at this time.

"However the circumstances of both crimes mean that we must consider the possibility that the same killer or killers are responsible."

James Attfield was stabbed more than 100 times in March

Police have urged people to remain vigilant and be careful about going out alone following the attacks.

Superintendent Steve Ditchburn said extra patrols were being carried out across the town.

"Our advice to people is that we have now had two knife murders in Colchester in less than three months where the motive for the attacks remains unknown," he said.

"Both of these attacks were on lone people who were in locations where it appears no one else was nearby at the time.

"For that reason we would remind people to take sensible precautions to stay safe. This includes avoiding any situations in which you could find yourself isolated and alone in a public area."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 01245 282103, Essex Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Iraq Militants Take Border Post In Bloody Battle

Dozens of Iraqi troops have been killed as Islamist militants seized the al Qaim crossing into Syria, security officials say.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took the border post, about 200 miles west of Baghdad, after heavy fighting throughout Friday that left some 30 Iraqi troops dead.

Although the Sunni militants have been able to cross the border with some ease for months amid the conflict in neighbouring Syria, control of the crossings makes it simpler to move weapons and other heavy equipment between the two countries. 

The al Qaim crossing. Pic: File

The mayor of Rawah confirmed militants had captured the town, some 175 miles (275km) northwest of Baghdad.

Hussein AIi al-Aujail said fighters had ransacked government offices there.

ISIS has seized swathes of land in the west of the country and north of the capital Baghdad in recent weeks and despite many Iraqis reportedly flocking to join the fight against the militants the government is on the back foot.

PM Nouri al Maliki is under increasing pressure as the crisis continues

On Friday hundreds of black-clad Shia militants, members of the newly formed "Peace Brigades", marched in the holy city of Najaf, heeding a call to defend holy sites by cleric Muqtada al Sadr.

The cleric once led a powerful militia, the Mahdi army, that battled US troops and was blamed for attacks on Sunni civilians at the height of Iraq's sectarian conflict in 2006 and 2007.

Militiamen also marched at a parade in Kirkuk, where they were called on to "sacrifice" themselves in defence of their country.

Militiamen loyal to Muqtada al Sadr march in Kerbala

In Baghdad, about 20,000 men marched through the Sadr City district with assault rifles, rocket launchers, artillery and missiles. Similar parades took place in the southern cities of Amarah and Basra.

Some carried Iraqi flags, while others held signs with messages including "We sacrifice for you, O Iraq," "No, no to terrorism," and "No, no to America".

The fall of the crossing comes as Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki faces mounting pressure to form an inclusive government or step aside.

A volunteer shouts as he takes part in a military parade in Najaf

A top Shia cleric and the White House have both strongly hinted that Mr Maliki is in part to blame for the worst crisis in Iraq since US troops withdrew at the end of 2011.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, the most respected voice for the country's Shia majority, on Friday joined calls for Mr Maliki to reach out to the Kurdish and Sunni minorities, remarks that could seal his fate.

A day earlier, President Barack Obama challenged him to create a leadership representative of all Iraqis.

There are fears Iraq could be on the brink of civil war

"Only leaders that can govern with an inclusive agenda are going to be able to truly bring the Iraqi people together and help them through this crisis," Mr Obama said.

Mr Maliki has until the end of this month to form a majority coalition after winning the most seats in April's election.

If he were to step aside, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, would assume the role until a new prime minister is elected, according to the constitution.

But he has been in Germany for treatment since 2012, so his deputy, Khudeir al Khuzaie, a Shia, would step in

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Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon Dies, Aged 60

Gerry Conlon, one of the so-called Guildford Four who were wrongly convicted over an IRA pub bombing in 1974, has died aged 60.

He was jailed for life the following year - along with Paul Hill, Carole Richardson and Paddy Armstrong - for the attack that killed five people and wounded 65 others. 

Mr Conlon and the rest of the Guildford Four served 14 years of a life sentence before their convictions were overturned in 1989.

He was later played by Daniel Day-Lewis in the film In The Name Of The Father.

In a statement his family said: "This morning we lost our Gerry.

"He brought life, love, intelligence, wit and strength to our family through its darkest hours.

"He helped us to survive what we were not meant to survive.

Mr Conlon with a letter of apology from former PM Tony Blair

"We recognise that what he achieved by fighting for justice for us had a far, far greater importance - it forced the world's closed eyes to be opened to injustice... we believe it changed the course of history.

"We thank him for his life and we thank all his many friends for their love."

Mr Conlon died in his home in the Falls Road area of Belfast after a lengthy illness.

Tributes have beeen paid by Alex Attwood, SDLP Stormont Assembly member for the area, and Sinn Fein preident Gerry Adams.

"He'd given an awful lot but yet had so much more to give," Mr Attwood said.

"What he learned from his time in prison and campaign for release was the importance of not only raging against his own injustice but fighting for those who had also suffered miscarriages of justice."

Gerry Adams: 'An infamous miscarriage of justice'

Mr Adams said: "Gerry and his father Giuseppe were two of the most infamous examples of miscarriages of justice by the British political and judicial system.

"To his family and friends I want to extend my sincere condolences."

Mr Conlon's father Giuseppe, was jailed as part of a discredited investigation into an alleged bomb making family - the Maguire Seven - and died in prison.

His mother Sarah, a tireless campaigner for their freedom, died in 2008 aged 82.

In 2009 Mr Conlon wrote about the personal and emotional battles he suffered as a result of his incarceration and fight for freedom.

He suffered two breakdowns, attempted suicide and became addicted to drugs and alcohol following his release.

"The ordeal has never left me," he said.

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Jihadi Video Brit's Father: 'Give Up Your Guns'

The father of a British student seen in an ISIS recruitment video appealing for Muslims to join the fight in Iraq has pleaded with him to come home.

Ahmed Muthana told Sky News he believes his son Nasser was radicalised in a mosque in the United Kingdom, but did not know which one.

He said: "The way he talks is not Nasser talking, it's someone else … He was a very soft person, he was very nice, but why he left his family I don't know. Who drove him? I don't know.

"The way he talks, the radicalism he is talking about, recruiting, asking British-born Muslims to come Syria is not Nasser's way.

"Nasser has never persuaded anybody like this before. It's the first time for me and devastating for me and my family."

The 20-year-old is seen in the video - released on social media - wearing a white turban and using the name Abu Muthanna al Yemeni.

ISIS fighters have taken control of large areas of Iraq

In the film, entitled "There is no life without Jihad", he claims the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has fighters from as far afield as Cambodia, Australia and the UK.

His family, from the Cardiff area, said that he travelled to join the conflict with younger brother Aseel Muthana, 17.

Muthana is one of three apparent Britons to feature in the video, which calls for their countrymen to "answer the call and fight for Allah".

When asked if he had a message for his son, Mr Muthana said: "My message to Nasser and Aseel is please come back home.

"Your home is the United Kingdom, not the Middle East."

ISIS, which has taken over large parts of Iraq in recent weeks, has launched a global campaign asking Muslims to post messages "to support the Islamic State" on social media.

The three apparent Britons that appear in the video

The militants have used it to release videos of them parading around towns they have claimed in northern Iraq.

One of the co-founders of Twitter has told Sky News the platform remains a "force for good" despite being utilised by groups such as ISIS.

Biz Stone told Digital View: "When you create a large-scale platform where hundreds of millions of people have the freedom of expression you have to take the good with the bad.

"I'd rather this sort of thing be out in the open than hidden in the back waters."

The Home Office said in a statement: "We do not tolerate the existence of online terrorist and extremist propaganda, which directly influences people who are vulnerable to radicalisation.

"We already work closely with the internet industry to remove terrorist material hosted in the UK or overseas."

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'British Jihadist' Video Calls For Iraq Recruits

A video purporting to show British jihadists urging Western Muslims to join them in Iraq has been released on social media.

The footage - which has not been independently verified - apparently features Britons and Australians fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

It is titled "There is no life without Jihad", lasts 13 minutes and appears to have been shot in Syria several weeks ago as those who feature prepared to travel to Iraq.

"We are aware of reports of the circulation of a ISIL (ISIS) recruitment video and are looking into them," said a Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement.

The Iraqi prime minister's spokesman in the UK, Dr Zuhair Al-Naher, told Sky News the video proves ISIS is a threat to the West.

"The video seems to show an organisation that respects no borders," he said. "These terrorists will come back highly radicalised and militarised."

Militants have posted images purportedly showing the massacre of soldiers

The video emerged as ISIS, who have taken control of large swathes of Iraq, launched a global online campaign asking Muslims to post messages of support.

The organisation aims to get one billion Muslims posting on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram "to support the Islamic State".

Thousands of tweets have been posted using two hashtags.

"Today after Friday prayers we will be launching with the help of God the largest media campaign in support of an Islamic state," tweeted @AL_Bttaar, one of the apparent orchestrators.

An image outlining "duties" of those supporting the campaign is also in circulation.

The duties include talking "about the lies that enemies try to pin on ISIS" and to "tweet the talks of Sheikh Al Baghdadi", an ISIS chief. The image also urges supporters to post translations in English.

Isis released a video showing captured Iraq military personnel

Sky's Foreign Affairs Correspondent Lisa Holland said ISIS is proving as capable on the web as on the battlefield.

"ISIS is calling on Sunni Muslims to join their jihad in a direct way not seen before," she said.

"We've seen fairly unsophisticated videos released by Al Qaeda but this is quite different. ISIS knows how to use the media both in terms of publicising their gains but also promoting their propaganda.

"They even seem to have a media hub."

ISIS has used social media to release videos of its fighters parading around towns they have claimed in northern Iraq.

Last week a series of horrific images of Iraqi soldiers being murdered were posted online.

Meanwhile, Twitter user Abu Rashash Britani, who claimed to be a British ISIS fighter and published a stream of vile tweets, has had his account suspended.

One of the co-founders of Twitter has told Sky News the platform remains a "force for good" despite being utilised by groups such as ISIS.

Biz Stone told #DigitalView, which airs on Saturday at 10.30am: "When you create a large-scale platform where hundreds of millions of people have the freedom of expression you have to take the good with the bad.

"I'd rather this sort of thing be out in the open than hidden in the back waters."

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Teacher Caught Under Pupil's Bed Sentenced

A married maths teacher has been placed on the sex offenders' register for having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Andrew Welsh, 36, was caught by the girl's mother who found him hiding under the teenager's bed.

Bolton Crown Court heard he was caught when the the girl's mother returned home unexpectedly one morning last July.

Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, told the jury the girl had ruffled hair and smudged lipstick.

When the mother went upstairs, she noticed a pair of men's boots at the side of the girl's bed, he added.

This "understandably aroused suspicion" in the mother, who asked the girl: "What are you doing? Who is here?"

Mr Whelan continued: "However, as that was said, she looked down and saw movement in the drawer compartment within the girl's single divan bed and the valance sheet folded back.

"She saw movement of material which seemed to match the suit jacket her daughter was holding.

"The girl replied 'Mr Welsh'.

"Her mother ordered the defendant to get out from under the bed and recognised him from the school."

The shocked mother called her husband and the police and Welsh was arrested.

The court heard Welsh, of High Bank, Atherton, near Wigan, had begun a relationship with the "impressionable" girl last summer while she was taking her GCSEs.

The St Andrews University graduate bombarded the girl with obscene texts, including: "Have you heard about my maths lesson? We're going to find out if 35 goes into 16."

The father-of-one, who is married to a local doctor, admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

He was given a 14-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.

Welsh was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

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Colchester Police Hunt 'Brutal' Murderer

Police have promised to "unrelentingly" pursue all lines of inquiry as they continue to investigate the brutal murder of a Saudi Arabian student who was stabbed 16 times.

Nahid Almanea was walking along a path in Colchester, Essex, on Tuesday morning when she was attacked.

Police are investigating whether the 31-year-old's clothing - an abaya robe and hijab headscarf - was a factor in the stabbing, but stressed they do not yet know for sure.

There are other possible motives, officers say, but they are calling for calm, and have confirmed they are investigating threats of revenge attacks made on social media.

The locations of the two murders

Police have warned people not to go out alone and to be vigilant.

The fact that she was stabbed multiple times bore "obvious similarities" to the murder of James Attfield, a vulnerable man with brain damage, the force said.

He was stabbed more than 100 times in a park in Colchester in March, but Essex Police stressed the cases remain separate investigations.

Sky's Emma Birchley, who is at the scene of Ms Almanea's murder, said: "The police presence is enormous, there are police cars patrolling everywhere, not just here close to the scene."

Salary Brook Trail, where Ms Almanea was attacked

Chief Inspector Richard Phillibrown said: "I see this murder as an attack on the entire community of Colchester and I believe we will all pull together to respond to it.

"I am confident that the vast majority of people in this town will pay no attention to those trying to stir up trouble."

He added: "What we would also ask is for people to look out for each other, for neighbours to keep an eye on the vulnerable and for everyone to remain vigilant."

In a joint statement, Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh and Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston said: "We would urge everyone to work with Essex Police, who will, supported by local communities, do everything possible to find the person or people responsible for both these awful crimes.

The bag Ms Almanea was carrying when she was murdered

"I know that everyone in Colchester will come together, and remain strong and united in ensuring that the town and the district continues to be safe and welcoming to all."

Ms Almanea, who has been described as a "very intelligent" student, had been studying an English language course at the University of Essex as part of her studies for a life sciences PhD.

A 52-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released after police said he had been positively eliminated from their enquiries.

CCTV footage taken from a newsagent, which shows Ms Almanea's last movements as she headed towards the footpath, has been released.

The killing of James Attfield remains unsolved

Police have also released a map of her likely route from nearby Woodrow Way to the Salary Brook trail where she was stabbed, as well as a photograph of the bag she was carrying.

Officers said Ms Almanea would usually walk to the university with her brother, who she also lived with.

But because he had earlier lectures that day she was walking alone.

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Garden Murders Pair Guilty Of Killing Parents

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

Susan and Christopher Edwards have been found guilty of murdering her parents and burying them in their own back garden.

The Edwards shot Patricia and William Wycherley twice at close range before they hid their bodies in the back garden of their home in Blenheim Close, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

The couple then carried out a 15-year-long deception, pretending to neighbours, relatives and the authorities that the Wycherleys were still alive.

They sent Christmas cards, forged signatures and set up timers in the house where Susan's parents had lived to keep up the pretence for a decade and a half.

The Wycherleys' bank accounts were closed and a new one set up which allowed the couple to syphon nearly £250,000 from her dead parents, from state benefits payments, pensions and the eventual selling of their home.

Money was spent on a photo of film star Gary Cooper

During that time, despite having been £160,000 in debt, the cash was used to fuel the couple's interest in movie star memorabilia.

The plot only came to light after the authorities and another group tried to get in touch with Mr Wycherley, at the point he would have turned 100, prompting them to flee to France.

The police dug up the back garden after Christopher Edwards, now 57, contacted his stepmother to ask for help and she tipped them off.

The two-and-a-half-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard that until they were exhumed in 2013, relatives and officials had no idea the Wycherleys had died on a bank holiday in May 1998.

One letter written by the Edwards in December 2007, nine years after the killings, reads: "Actually, my father is remarkably fit for his age - as well as being more adventurous than in younger years, as his Ireland travels would show!"

The couple forged letters and signatures from the Wycherleys

Police found the bodies wrapped in bedding in a grave beside a fence near the back door of the property.

Susan Edwards, 58, had claimed that her mother had shot her father and then had confessed to having a relationship with Christopher, which led to her to grabbing the gun and killing her mother.

The Edwards fled to France after they received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions and the Centenarian Society asking Mr Wycherley to get in touch at the approach of what would have been his 100th birthday.

After they were traced there, on October 30 the couple sent a politely-worded email to the officer in charge, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, saying "we are going to surrender".

DCI Griffin said: "It was straightforwardly about money."

The couple sent a letter informing relatives William was in Ireland

During the trial it was revealed that Susan Edwards had faked a decade-long writing relationship with French film star Gerard Depardieu and spent thousands buying letters written by Hollywood star Gary Cooper.

The defendants, who were arrested last October, admitted obstructing the coroner in the execution of his duty and the theft of a Halifax credit balance.

Susan Edwards admitted her mother's manslaughter but both had denied murder.

Neither reacted as the jury of eight women and four men delivered its unanimous verdicts.

The couple will be sentenced at the court on Monday at 2.30pm.

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Rik Mayall Remembered By Friends And Family

Rik Mayall's friends and family have paid their respects to the late comedian at a private funeral service.

Ruby Wax, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French were among mourners who attended the service at St George's Church in Dittisham, Devon.

Mayall - known for roles in TV hits such as Bottom, The New Statesman and The Young Ones - had a home in the county.

Prior to the service, Mayall's widow Barbara asked fans for their "thoughts and prayers" during the private ceremony.

Mayall died after a morning jog

Around 140 people packed the church to remember the star who died last week aged 56 at his home in Barnes, southwest London after going for a morning jog.

Mrs Mayall said he died of an "acute cardiac event".

Adrian Edmondson, with whom Mayall forged a friendship as a student in Manchester and who was his comedy partner for many of his most memorable series, was among the pall-bearers as the coffin was led from the church.

Others who filed into the church, accompanied by Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade Of Pale on organ, were Alan Rickman and actor and director Peter Richardson, a long-standing friend with whom Mayall had worked repeatedly.

Ben Elton, his old friend from university and one of his co-writers on The Young Ones, was also among the mourners who saw the wicker coffin - adorned with red flowers - carried into the church.

A memorial service for the star is expected to be held in September.

Mayall shot to national fame for his role as poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones, going on to star as conniving Conservative MP Alan B'Stard in The New Statesman and Lord Flashheart in Blackadder.

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Video Shows Cop Fatally Shooting Prisoner

Newly released video shows a Texas police officer fatally shooting a handcuffed prisoner in El Paso city jail.

The footage shows a struggle between the inmate - bodybuilder Daniel Saenz - police officer Jose Flores and an unidentified prison guard.

The release of the video was ordered by the Texas Attorney General's Office after a request by the newspaper El Paso.

The video dates to March 8, 2013.

Saenz, 37, had been arrested that day after he had allegedly attacked an off-duty police officer.

Saenz was then being transported from jail to a hospital because he had smashed his head against the doorway and injured himself.

The video shows Saenz, his hands in cuffs behind his back, being dragged by Mr Flores and the guard.

According to a statement by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the inmate had been tasered five times throughout the course of the day but continued to resist.

Mr Flores pulled out his gun, firing a shot that went through Saenz's shoulder and into his heart, local reports said.

Saenz died shortly thereafter in hospital.

CLEAT claimed the guard inadvertently hit the officer's hand, causing the gun to fire.

Mr Flores has not been charged but is believed to be on leave.

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Iraq Forces 'Retake' Oil Refinery From ISIS

Iraqi forces have regained full control of the country's biggest oil refinery after heavy fighting with Sunni militants attempting to seize it, the authorities claim.

The retaking of the plant in Baiji, north of Baghdad, comes amid calls for the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al Maliki to quit as a condition of US help in driving back insurgents who have seized large swathes of the country.

And speaking on Sky News, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned the government in Baghdad risked splitting the country unless it reached out to all groups.

The administration of Mr al Malaki has requested America launch airstrikes against the ISIS extremists, whose lightning offensive in the north of the country, including the capture of the city of Mosul, saw the US-bankrolled military crumble.

A member of the Iraqi security forces guards volunteer fighters in Baghdad

The advance of the al Qaeda breakaway group has only been slowed by a regrouped army, Shia militias and other volunteers.

Washington has not yet responded to the Iraqi request for drone strikes.

Officials say action is not imminent, partly because intelligence agencies have been unable to identify clear targets on the ground.

Another potential obstacle to US military involvement is Mr al Maliki himself, who has been blamed for alienating Iraq's Sunni minority, leading to sectarian rifts, and contributing to the current crisis.

Several leading figures in Congress from across the political divide have spoken out against the premier.

David Petraeus has warned over the risks of the US providing air support

Dianne Feinstein, the Democrat chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: "The Maliki government, candidly, has got to go if you want any reconciliation."

Republican senator John McCain backed military support but urged Mr Obama to "make it make very clear to Maliki that his time is up".

Mr Rasmussen warned on Sky News: "Unless the government reaches out to other groups in Iraqi society, there's a clear risk that the country will be split."

And General David Petraeus, who led the US troop surge ahead of America pulling out of Iraq, says there should not even be air support without major change in Baghdad.

ISIS militants claim to have captured an airbase in Tal Afar

The former CIA chief warned Washington risked becoming an "air force for Shiite militias", if it agreed to the request for support.

However, President Barack Obama has indicated he does not need authorisation from Congress to take any steps over action in Iraq.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr al Maliki said the country's leaders felt "abandoned", comparing the situation to the genocide in Rwanda, and "the Nazi occupation of Europe".

He insisted Mr al Maliki's administration was inclusive, with Sunni Muslims represented in key roles.

But so far his government has relied almost entirely on his fellow Shias for support, with officials denouncing Sunni political leaders as traitors.

The US deliberations on military action came amid fierce fighting for the oil refinery in Baiji.

There had been reports the insurgents at one point appeared to control most of the site, but Mr al Malaki's security spokesman said: "The security forces are in full control of the Baiji refinery."

ISIS also claims to have captured an airbase in Tal Afar, although this cannot be verified.

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Three Nurses Charged With Neglecting Patients

Three nurses have been charged with wilful neglect of patients at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

More follows...

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Baghdad Braced For Return To Sectarian War

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 2:12pm UK, Tuesday 17 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

President Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".

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Iraq: Footage Of Militant-Held Mosul Emerges

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 2:12pm UK, Tuesday 17 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

President Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".

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Anti-Terror Chief: Facebook Snooping 'Is Legal'

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

The UK Government can legally intercept UK citizens' Google searches, and YouTube, Faceboook and Twitter activity, a counter-terror boss has claimed.

According to a statement from Charles Farr, director general of the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism, this surveillance is legal because such communications are classed as "external".

This is because a Google search, for example, is viewed as a message between the searcher's computer and a Google web server.

If the web server is abroad, this counts as an "external communication". Posting updates to Facebook, or tweets to Twitter, also count as external communications.

Some 88.6% of all web searches in the UK are made through Google. Around 24 million people in the UK use Facebook every day, according to the social network, and 15 million people use Twitter – around a quarter of the population.

Mr Farr also said "it will be apparent that the only practical way in which the Government can ensure that it is able to obtain at least a fraction of the type of communication in which it is interested is to provide for the interception of a large volume of communications".

However, emails sent between British nationals are deemed internal communications, even if the message is routed through web servers located abroad.

Mr Farr would not confirm or deny whether the government does actually intercept such external communications, arguing merely that it was legal to do so, under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Internal communications can only be intercepted under a warrant. External communications, though, can be intercepted indiscriminately.

The statement was in response to a legal challenge made by Privacy International, Liberty, Amnesty International, and other NGOs and charities.

Privacy International said: "British residents are being deprived of the essential safeguards that would otherwise be applied to their communications - simply because they are using services that are based outside the UK."

Addressing concerns that analysts might look at the private affairs of law abiding UK citizens, Mr Farr quoted the Interception of Communications Commissioner's 2013 annual report which said: "The analyst, being only human and having a job to do, will have forgotten (if he or she ever took it in) what the irrelevant communication contained."

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Morrisons Plans 2,600 Job Cuts In Shake-Up

Morrisons has confirmed plans for 2,600 job cuts as the loss-making supermarket chain battles falling sales and market share.

A statement detailing the changes said the losses, representing 2% of its workforce, would result from cutting tiers of in-store management.

But the company insisted it could improve customer service at the same time as more staff would be focused on serving shoppers.

The announcement was made as the supermarket combats a flight to discounters with a series of price cuts that will cost it £1bn over three years.

Earlier this month, Morrisons reported a 7.1% slump in quarterly sales on the back of annual losses of £176m - a performance which prompted chief executive Dalton Philips to waive his bonus.

Morrisons now has 117 convenience stores

Morrisons has been the worst performer among the big four chains in terms of sales amid tough competition from the discounters, including Aldi and Lidl, though major rivals including Tesco have also endured falling market share.

The chain was slow to launch an online food offering and also lagged behind its biggest competitors on convenience store numbers.

Former chairman Sir Ken Morrison used the supermarket's annual general meeting to publicly criticise the current management's strategy just a week ago - reportedly describing it as "bull****".

Morrisons said that while the changes would be painful for its workforce, trials of its planned new management structures had proved a hit with customers.

The statement suggested that some stores currently had seven tiers between the shop floor and the store manager and it hoped to relocate some of those managers who will lose their jobs to new store and convenience operations.

Mr Philips said: "This is the right time to modernise the way our stores are managed.

"These changes will improve our focus on customers and lead to simpler, smarter ways of working.

"We know that moving to the new management structure will mean uncertainty for our colleagues and we will be supporting them through the process."

The company's share price - which has lost more than a quarter of its value over the past year - rose 3% in the moments after the announcement was made.

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Schumacher Out Of Coma And Leaves Hospital

Former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has been moved from hospital in Grenoble after a ski accident last December.

The 45-year-old has been in an induced coma since suffering a serious head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel in December.

He has now left CHU Grenoble in France and been moved to University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland.

His management company said in a statement: "Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore.

"His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months.

"The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes to Michael. We are sure it helped him."

"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye."

Schumacher was skiing at speeds of up to 60mph when he crashed

Schumacher's family was "in a space created especially to ensure their intimacy and to ensure the best possible care" at the Lausanne facility, a hospital spokesman said.

Schumacher, his wife Corinna and two children live in the Swiss town of Gland.

The seven-time F1 champion was reportedly travelling at speeds of up to 60mph when the accident happened, and is thought to have been saved by his skiing helmet, which split on impact.

However, the racing legend's chief doctor said in March that it was unlikely he would ever fully recover from the accident.

Doctor Gary Hartstein wrote on his blog: "As time goes on, it becomes less and less likely that Michael will emerge to any significant extent."

The German, who won a record 91 Grand Prix victories, left motor racing in 2013 after a disappointing three-year comeback.

Mercedes, the team Schumacher raced for during his return, said: "Encouraging news on Michael's condition this morning.

"We couldn't ask for a better start to the week. #KeepFightingMichael."

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Video Catches Brands Hatch Race Gatecrashers

Video has emerged showing a normal road car gatecrashing a race at Brands Hatch by driving onto the track in the middle of a high speed race.

The video was shot by a passenger in the Volkswagen Polo and uploaded to Facebook with the title "It's not everyday you break in to brandshatch and ruin a four hour endurance race half hour before it finishes ! Haha :D"

In the film, a girl can be heard screaming at the driver, believed to be Jack Cottle from Kent, pleading with him to stop as their car pulls onto the main track.

Another passenger in the back of the car describes what is happening:

Passenger One: "This is Jack Cottle trying to get on the race track."

Passenger Two: "Jack don't, please I'm begging you."

Passenger One: "We're going to try and get on this track with all these Beetles. We're going through the pits boys."

Passenger Two: "You are properly joking! No Jack stop; seriously! You'll crash my car! We'll get arrested!"

Driver: "You best get that on camera."

Volkswagen Beetles can be seen zooming past at high speeds

The driver ignores her pleas and her attempts to take control of the steering wheel as he manages to bypass security and onto the track.

Volkswagen Beetles can be seen zooming past at high speed.

The video has been viewed 146,000 times since it was uploaded to YouTube.

The incident caused organisers to raise the red flag during the race on Saturday at the track in Fawkham, Kent and it was half an hour before the event could get going again.

Another video uploaded to YouTube, which was taken by a spectator watching the race from the track stands, shows the teenager's car drive past in the middle of the race.

The race commentator can be heard on the film saying: "Why is there a Volkswagen Golf on the track? I know these are VW Beetles but that's not quite right is it?"

The video was shot by motorsport enthusiast Fergus Reed. He told Sky News: "I'm a regular at Brands Hatch; I'm there at every car meeting.

"It was incredibly dangerous. The cars are designed to race in packs and he was extremely lucky to have joined the race when he did. If he'd have come out half a lap later it would not have been nice.

"The garages at the back of the pit lane are all open so anyone could do it again.

"But I don't think Brands Hatch were to blame. It was a small event and at this level the likelihood of something like this happening is incredibly slim and could easily have happened at any other circuit across the country."

Jon Tomlinson was part of a two-person team taking part in the race. A video camera installed in the team car caught the moment the white Polo blocked its way.

"Everyone was shocked. You never expect anything like that to happen," he said.

"The race cars have a roll cage in them, fire extinguishers and the drivers wear crash helmets, so we're reasonably safe in there. But a road car doesn't the same safety features.

"There is a big speed differential. That car was going round at about 40mph, whereas the race cars were reaching speeds of 110mph.

"You get a lot of cars swapping positions in the race and they could easily have been in their slipstream and pulled-out and smacked into it."

Kent Police said they are reviewing the incident.

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McCanns Angry Over 'Cynical' Libel Trial Delay

The parents of Madeleine McCann have condemned the postponement of a former police officer's libel trial as a "blatant" attempt to wear them down.

Kate and Gerry McCann had been due to speak at the trial of ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral, who has been accused of making defamatory statements about them in a book he wrote.

At the last minute, Mr Goncalo's lawyers submitted a letter to the court asking for a postponement as he had sacked his legal team.

Speaking outside the court, Gerry McCann said: "Today is a blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down.

"The hearing has been cancelled once again at Mr Amaral's request. This is the fourth time that this has happened and we've travelled to Portugal.

"The legal case has been running now for five years and we want to get justice for Madeleine. It's Madeleine who is suffering. We are not going to give up. We are going to keep going."

Kate McCann shows the strain as she is interviewed by Portuguese media

Mrs McCann, her voice cracking with the strain as she was surrounded by the Portuguese media, added: "We need to make it clear to people that we took on this case because of the pain and distress that Mr Amaral has brought to us and our children.

"Every time he postpones the case like this it brings us more pain and distress. Every time we come here we have to make arrangements for our children to be looked after, we have to book flights, we have to book hotels, we have to take time off work.

"Mr Amaral apparently handed that letter in at nine o'clock this morning. That letter could have been handed in before we left the country. As Gerry said, can this be seen as anything but blatant and cynical?

"We just want justice. This is not fair."

Police have been searching sites in Portugal in recent weeks

The couple had been expected to deliver emotional statements about the impact of allegations Mr Amaral's 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie, which they say damaged the search for the missing girl and added to their anguish.

If the court rules against Mr Amaral, the McCanns could receive around £1m in damages.

Madeleine went missing in May 2007 from the couple's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve and despite a worldwide hunt, she has never been found.

British and Portuguese police have been examining patches of ground in Praia da Luz in the last few weeks but have had no success.

Mr McCann saidoutside court that no evidence had been found to show Madeleine had been injured or killed and, as a result they believed that, "as far as we are concerned there's a good chance she's still alive".

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Captured Iraqi Troops Made To Chant ISIS Slogan

Footage has emerged which appears to show an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighter questioning and killing Iraqi soldiers.

It comes after the insurgents, who have seized large swathes of territory in the past week, released graphic pictures purporting to show some of the 1,700 Shia soldiers they claim have shot dead near Tikrit.

According to a translation of the first clip, militants order their prisoners to chant the ISIS slogan "Baqiya", which is thought to mean "(ISIS) will remain in existence" or "Islamic state will stay".

When asked where the government forces are, a soldier replies they have left.

The soldiers appear to be taunted before being killed

The fighters then threaten to chop off the head of one of the soldiers.

The earlier images posted online showed the Sunni insurgents loading captives on to flatbed trucks, forcing them to lie face-down in a ditch with their arms tied behind their backs before they were shot dead.

The militants claimed to have captured 2,500 soldiers, although that number has not been verified.

Chief Iraqi military spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassim al Moussawi, confirmed the authenticity of the earlier pictures and said he was aware of cases of mass murder of captured soldiers in areas held by ISIS.

Two of the soldiers ISIS apparently captured

Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the US State Department, condemned the "bloodlust" of ISIS.

She said: "While we cannot confirm these reports, one of the primary goals of ISIL is to set fear into the hearts of all Iraqis and drive sectarian division among its people."

Sky's Diplomatic Editor Tim Marshall said the release of the images means the militants have now "got the attention of the world".

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has vowed to recapture the territory seized by the insurgents last week.

Militants have posted images purportedly showing the massacre of soldiers

In the latest fighting, residents of the northern town of Tal Afar said ISIS had taken control after a dawn raid.

Fighters have swept through towns and cities along the Tigris but have since halted around an hour's drive north of Baghdad.

Security in the capital has been tightened, but despite this three explosions there left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Iraq's army is holding out in Samarra, which has been the subject of numerous attacks by militants.

A convoy travelling there to reinforce troops was ambushed by Sunni fighters on Sunday near the town of Ishaqi.

The US, which is planning to evacuate some of its staff and boost security at its embassy in Baghdad, is reportedly preparing to stage direct talks with arch-enemy Iran over the situation.

The US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush has arrived in the Persian Gulf, while the USS Mesa Verde, with 550 Marines and Osprey aircraft on board, has also entered the Gulf to evacuate Americans if necessary, navy officials say.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has spoken with his Iranian counterpart about the crisis. But, the Foreign Office declined to disclose the call's contents.

Peshmerga soldiers on patrol in northern Iraq

The Government has banned ISIS under UK terrorism laws, making membership and support of the extremist group a criminal offence.

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Blair Denies Iraq Violence Result Of 2003 War

Tony Blair has said critics who believe the violence in Iraq today is a result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

Speaking to Sky News' Dermot Murnaghan, he said the West's inability to get tough with Syria's Bashar al Assad and failure in Libya had allowed terrorism and chaos to spread across the Middle East.

And he said had he still been an MP he would have voted for military action against Mr Assad in Syria last year, when Labour leader Ed Miliband made the case against intervention.

The former Prime Minister said if the UK had not acted to get rid of Saddam Hussein 11 years ago the country would have been in a worst state than Syria now.

He said Britain had to "get involved" to end the crisis in the Middle East but he was not suggesting a "full-scale intervention" with troops on the ground like in 2003.

Mr Blair, who is now Middle East peace envoy, argued there was no way Britain could stay out of Syria because "ultimately, extremist groups also intend to target us".

He said security services in the UK, Germany and France now all say the greatest risk to those countries is jihadist fighters returning from Syria.

He said: "Some people will say 'well if we hadn't removed Saddam in 2003 we wouldn't have the problem today in Iraq and the reason I think that is profoundly mistaken is this: since 2011 there have been these Arab revolutions sweeping across the whole of the region - Tunisa, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, nextdoor to Iraq in Syria - and we can see what would have happened if we left Saddam there in 2003.

"We have left Bashar Assad in Syria. The result is that there have now in the last three years in Syria been virtually the same number of people killed in Syria as in the whole of Iraq. You have had nine million people displace from Syria, you have chaos and instability being pushed across the region."

'Inaction over Syria' is to blame, says Mr Blair

He suggested the West may have to accept that  Mr Assad would have to stay but that an agreement would have to be reached and a new constitution and "inclusive government" formed.

He also cautioned working with Iran after the president Hassan Rouhani offered to co-operate with the US to tackle the Iraq insurgency. 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott said he disagreed with Mr Blair and accused him of wanting to wage some kind of Medieval crusade in the Middle East.

He said in 2003 Mr Blair had insisted the invasion was not about regime change but pointed out that in his interview on Sky News, Mr Blair admitted it had been. 

He also cautioned against the use of drones as an alternative way of intervening because the public would not accept the case for troops on the ground.

Iran's president Rouhani has said he would consider working with the US

Former Labour International Development Secretary Clare Short said Mr Blair was "wrong, wrong, wrong" on the issue and accused him of being a "complete American neocon".

She said further intervention was not the answer telling the Murnaghan programme: "Who are you going to bomb? Remember Northern Ireland. When there is an uprising backed by some of the people, if you bomb you kill some of the people and make the people more angry and strengthen the forces of opposition."

In Iraq, the defence ministry said its forces are having some air strike successes against fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) who have made dramatic gains in the Sunni heartlands north of Baghdad after overrunning Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul.

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England Physio Injures Ankle Celebrating Goal

Gary Lewin will be flying home from the World Cup early after dislocating his ankle while celebrating a goal.

Staff rush to attend to Mr Lewin as he lies on the turf

The 50-year-old jumped off the bench to celebrate Daniel Sturridge's first half equaliser against Italy in Manaus, but hurt his ankle in the process when he landed on a water bottle.

He received treatment on the pitch and was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

A doctor set his ankle before Mr Lewin was taken to hospital

Speaking after the match, which finished 2-1 to Italy, manager Roy Hodgson said it was a "very sad moment".

He said: "In celebrating the goal he jumped up, landed on a water bottle and dislocated his ankle.

The 50-year-old will now fly home to recover

"It was very painful. He was taken to hospital.

"The doctor set it, put it back in at the side of the field, but it's the end of the World Cup for Gary."

Manager Roy Hodgson said the injury was a "very sad moment"

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: "What happened to running it off??? The magic spray & sponge??? Our Physio Gary Lewin has to man up!!"

He later apologised, tweeting: "Was only having a bit of banter but just found out that Gary Lewin's injury was serious so apologies for previous tweets on the injury. My bad."

Mr Lewin will be replaced by assistant Steve Kemp

Lewin's assistant Steve Kemp will take over for the rest of the tournament.

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World Cup: England Defeated By Italy In Brazil

England have suffered a narrow defeat in their opening match of the 2014 World Cup, losing 2-1 to Italy in Manaus.

Italy opened the scoring with a Claudio Marchisio goal in the 35th minute, only for England to strike back when Daniel Sturridge scored from a Wayne Rooney cross.

The winning goal came for Italy in the 51st minute when Mario Balotelli scored with a header shortly after the half-time break.

Roy Hodgson's side had several unsuccessful attacking efforts as they tried to get back into the game, but Italy's Salvatore Sirigu put in a strong performance in goal.

Claudio Marchisio opens the scoring for Italy in the 35th minute

There was an unusual injury for the England squad when the team's physio, Gary Lewin, dislocated his ankle while celebrating Sturridge's goal.

Lewin was carried off the sidelines after suffering the injury in the 37th minute.

The win sees Italy join Costa Rica on three points at the top of Group D.

England physio Gary Lewin receives treatment on the sidelines

A disappointed Steven Gerrard said after the match: "Italy are a good team and we knew how they were going to play it.

"It's disappointing because we put so much into it."

Hodgson selected an attacking line-up for his team's opening clash of the tournament.

The England team prepare to take on Italy at the Arena Amazonia

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling was named alongside Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney in the midfield.

Italy confirmed before the match that their captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would miss the fixture because of an injury.

Hodgson had expressed his confidence in the team's pre-tournament preparations.

Some 5,000 England fans have travelled up the Amazon to back the team

"I think we are well prepared. I don't think we are concerned about the heat and humidity because we have been training in heat and humidity," he said.

The game at the Arena Amazonia was the first competitive encounter between the teams since Italy beat England in the 2012 European Championship quarter-finals.

Some 5,000 England fans travelled up the Amazon to support the side.

Raheem Sterling takes a shot at goal in the opening minutes

Supporters at home filled the pubs, which were allowed to stay open late for the match after the Home Office announced that licensing laws would be relaxed.

Extra buses were laid on in London to get fans home, however the Tube did not run later than normal.

Police had issued a warning urging people not to drink too much and "wake up in a police cell".

Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal in the 37th minute

Chief Superintendent Andy Prophet from Essex Police said: "The tournament is a celebration of football and a chance to feel national pride.

"It is however just a game and can never be an excuse for violence or disorder.

"I hope everyone enjoys the World Cup, but experience tells us we need to plan for the minority who spoil things.

Roy Hodgson said his team prepared for the match as well as possible

"My message to anyone planning to go out tonight is have a great time, enjoy the game but please be sensible."

Prime Minister David Cameron sent a good luck message ahead of the match, saying the country is behind the England team "every step of the way".

"On behalf of the whole country I want to wish the England team the very best of luck for the World Cup," Mr Cameron said.

"There is nothing like a World Cup to bring our country together."

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