Daily Post

Police in City Al-Qaida Swoop ; Terrorist Group's 'Financier' Arrested in Liverpool Raid

A LIBYAN man claimed by US Treasury agents to be a "key financier" for an al- Qaida terror group was arrested in Liverpool yesterday. Last night, the United Nations Security Council imposed a worldwide freeze on the assets of two Liverpool property firms alleged to have been financing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).

Fighting Group Is Part of Wider Al-Qaida Associated Movement Threatening Global Peace and Security

THE LIBYAN Islamic Fighting Group is described by the US Treasury as an "al Qaida affiliate known for engaging in terrorist activity in Libya and co-operating with al Qaida worldwide". The US Treasury say the LIFG was formed in the early 1990s in Afghanistan and formally announced its existence in 1995.

The Westernised 'Cool Guy' Who Drives a Mercedes, Drinks Alcohol and Enjoys Socialising with Girls

THE Smithdown Road community was in shock as the allegations leading to Mohammed Benhammedi's arrest began to emerge. Residents described the 39-year-old, known for driving round in a Mercedes, as a "westernised" man, a "cool guy" who liked going out, drank alcohol and enjoyed socialising with girls.

Rock Star Escapes Jail for Drug Offences

TROUBLED rock star Pete Doherty was given a 12-month community order yesterday after admitting drug offences. The 26-year-old Babyshambles front man and former boyfriend of Kate Moss was sentenced at Ealing Magistrates' Court in west London after earlier pleading guilty to seven charges of possessing illegal substances.

Three Towns Fight for Right to Be Casino Capital of Nw

THREE towns are locked in a race to be the "casino capital" of Merseyside and North Cheshire - offering gamblers a Las Vegas-style 150 slot machines. Southport, Warrington and St Helens have all told the Government they are interested in securing one of a limited number of money- spinning licences for a so-called "large" casino.

Billie-Jo Murder Trial Jury Still Deadlocked

AN OLD Bailey jury trying Sion Jenkins for the murder of his teenage foster daughter Billie-Jo was sent home again last night after failing to agree a verdict. The jury, which has so far deliberated for 37 hours and 16 minutes, will return today to begin its eighth day considering the case.

Foreign Tourists Flood in Despite Bombers

THE UK welcomed a record number of overseas visitors last year, despite the July London bombings. Foreign residents made 29.95m visits to the UK in 2005, an 8 % increase on the 2004 total, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Henshaw to Lead Csa Inquiry

WORK and Pensions Secretary John Hutton is expected to announce today that outgoing Liverpool council chief executive Sir David Henshaw has been commissioned to draw up a new system for child support. Sir David has been asked to report by the summer. His report could lead to the CSA in its current form being shut down after 13 controversial years.

Driver Killed

A MAN in his mid 20s died after he lost control of his car near Warrington last night. The accident happened on Lymm Road, Thelwall, at 8.38pm.

Zeta-Jones Lined Up for Sex-Change Screen Role ; April Ashley's Journey From Dockland Slum to High Society

A LIVERPOOL man's remarkable struggle to be accepted as a woman is set to be made into a major Hollywood movie. Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has been lined up to star in the film depicting the life of April Ashley - the first British transsexual.

In Brief: Sinn Fein to Get Pounds 500,000 in Allowances

SINN Fein is to receive around pounds 500,000 in House of Commons allowances after MPs passed a motion to have them restored. After a hot debate at Westminster, MPs gave their approval to the move as ministers urged them to support Sinn Fein's efforts to bring republicanism down a path of total peace and democracy.

In Brief: Best Room View - the Taj Mahal

In Brief: Pounds 357,832 Coin

In Brief: Food Content

Lottery

NUMBERS in the Lotto main draw last night were 28, 27, 42, 31, 9, 41. The bonus number was 25. No-one won the jackpot, which is now rolled over to Saturday. The Lotto Extra numbers are 12, 16, 22, 23, 33, 37. No-one won the Lotto Extra jackpot. In Thunderball, one person won the pounds 250k top prize. Numbers were 2, 13, 18, 23, 24, with the Thunderball 7.

Soldiers' Bodies Brought Home

THE bodies of three servicemen killed in Iraq were flown back to Britain yesterday for a "moving and dignified" repatriation service watched by their families. The Union Flag-draped coffins of Lance Corporal Allan Douglas, 22, Corporal Gordon Pritchard, 31, and Trooper Carl Smith, 23, arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in a C17 jet transporter aircraft early yesterday morning.

Carragher to the Rescue of Cash-Strapped Fan - and Fellow Bootle Red

A FOOTBALL fan has told how Liverpool star Jamie Carragher forked out pounds 1,700 from his own pocket to help a football fan who got stranded in Japan. Steve Yardley was faced with the huge bill after losing his passport watching Liverpool in the World Club Championships in Tokyo. The roofer spent two extra nights in the Japanese capital and paid pounds 126 for new documents from the British embassy. Mr Yardley, 45, was then told his original airline ticket was non- transferable and he would...

Police Criticised Over Use of Stun Grenades in Arrest

A POLICE operation in which seven stun grenades were thrown into the home of a mentally-ill man was criticised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The grenades, which set off 63 separate detonations, were used during a dawn raid to arrest a 42-year-old schizophrenic man in Liverpool in July 2004.

In Brief: Tight Security Brings Airport Delays

PASSENGERS at Heathrow have been warned to expect extra delays after the airport's operator reviewed its security procedures. BAA, which runs the airport, said the security changes, coupled with a trend for people to carry more bags on board, was slowing the flow of passengers.

In Brief: Springer Opera Cash U-Turn

ARTS Council England has given pounds 30,000 to the national tour of Jerry Springer - The Opera, six months after turning down an application for funding. In August the organisation threw the future of the production into doubt when it decided against subsidising the tour.