Raised Terror Threat Prompts Government Talks

Caution No Excuse For Chaotic Response To IS

Updated: 6:52pm UK, Friday 29 August 2014

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor

This is a Corporal Jones moment: "Don't Panic!"

But it is one that, so far, has revealed that the British approach to the rapid emergence of Islamic State from almost nil to "a deeper and greater threat than we have ever seen before" has been as chaotic as the Dad's Army character.

David Cameron has now elevated IS above al Qaeda in terms of the danger it poses to the safety of British citizens.

And the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has raised the immediate threat level for the UK from substantial to severe – which means it's likely.

The Prime Minister will announce new measures to restrict the ability of would-be terrorists to leave the UK to get training and to return to commit atrocities.

For now, though, he has continued to rule out the use of force to battle IS in its home territory.

Instead the UK will continue to offer logistical and intelligence support to the US which has been conducting very limited air strikes against the 'Caliphate'.

If, as the PM suggested, this is to be a conflict that could last years or decades, then there is clearly no rush.

But caution can no longer be an excuse for chaos in the response.

The world isn't the way that anyone would wish it. Not now and not for the foreseeable future.

The next generation of Britons will be facing a Malthusian struggle over resources with a hungry China, a Russia brimming with ambitious consumers, Africa's exploding population, India's intellectual empire, and global warming.

The mess that is the Middle East may have its roots in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I and sectarian rivalry – but it will be further fuelled by the competition that is going to drive conflicts for years to come.

These may involve a long-term campaign against political Islamist terror.

But that won't be the only problem the UK and her allies will face.

For proof one only has to look at eastern Ukraine.

Nato's leaders are going to meet in Wales next week to thrash out priorities and strategy for the next few years.

Cameron's recent short speech and his appearance on Monday in the Commons, is a clear sign that he's steeling himself to grasp a handful of nettles.

He's bracing the British for a long haul conflict with the IS. He's fortifying the debate over what it is to be British by insisting that adopting "British values" are not an option or a choice but "a duty".

He will soon have to help drag more money for Nato out of its members.

And he'll be ordering his security services to come up with tactics and long-term strategies to deal with the uncomfortable realities of the modern world that politicians have been refusing to confront.

These are that it's going to get more dangerous, more expensive, harder work and just tougher all around. Few politicians will want to sell that less than 12 months from an election.

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Missing British Boy Ashya Could Be In Spain

French Media Support Hunt For Missing Ashya

Updated: 11:48pm UK, Friday 29 August 2014

French media are supporting the hunt for missing Ashya King, featuring the story prominently on websites and TV news channels.

TF1, France's most popular domestic channel, has led its site with the story, under the headline 'Life Of Sick Child Taken By Parents In Danger: Care Needed In 12 Hours'.

Although many news sites were slow to pick up the story - with none featuring it in the first few hours after Ashya's disappearance was announced - most are now running appeals for help from the French public.

Sky News Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet, in Cherbourg, says it is also prominent in Saturday's newspapers, making the front page in some.

On its website, the daily newspaper Liberation has the headline: 'Child With Brain Tumour Taken By His Parents: Interpol Issues Global Alert.'

Le Figaro, another French daily, also carries the story on its website, urging motorists to be vigilant and to contact police if they spot the family's grey Hyundai car.

The write-up by TF1 quotes the prosecutor in Cherbourg, Eric Bouillard, as saying that police in France urgently wanted to contact the family.

Mr Bouillard says action in France may be limited by the fact the family are believed to be Jehovah's Witnesses.

He said: "What we want to do is to contact the family.

"Even if we can't treat the child against his parents' wishes - we have had this difficulty with Jehovah's Witnesses - we want at least to contact them to see what's going on."

The TV channel's website urges French drivers to watch out for the English vehicle.

"The Britons of Asian origin are travelling in an English car, with steering on the right. They are in a grey Hyundai with the registration KP60 HWK."

The story has also started being picked up across the rest of Europe, amid reports it was possible the family have left France.

Broadcasters and newspapers in Germany and Spain were among those who featured reports.

Meanwhile, Guy Canonici, the president of the Jehovah's Witnesses in France, has told Sky News he is doing all he can to locate the missing boy.

He said he had sent out a communique to over 1,000 Kingdom Halls (places of worship) to ask whether the King family had been in touch, and ask that they get in contact if they do.

He said so far no one has come forward with any information.

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US Accuses 'Lying' Russia Of Ukraine Incursion

The United States has accused Russia of sending combat forces across the border into Ukraine as it warned Moscow economic sanctions may be tightened.

Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama said Russia has been supporting pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine "for months".

He rejected Moscow's repeated denials of involvement in the conflict but ruled out any direct US military intervention in the crisis,.

"I consider the actions that we've seen in the last week a continuation of what's been taking place for months now," Mr Obama said.

"The separatists are backed, trained, armed, financed by Russia. Russia determined that it had to be a little more overt in what it had already been doing, but it's not really a shift."

Ukraine's military said on Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for a 'humanitarian corridor' to be set up to allow Ukrainian troops to withdraw showed the separatists were "led and controlled directly from the Kremlin".

Meanwhile, Washington's envoy to the United Nations hit out at Russia during an emergency session of its Security Council 

US Ambassador Samantha Power said: "Russia has to stop lying and has to stop fueling this conflict.

"The mask is coming off. We see Russia's actions for what they are: a deliberate effort to support and now fight alongside illegal separatists in another sovereign country."

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Russia has stepped up its military presence in Ukraine's east.

She said Russia has sent "combat forces, armoured vehicles, artillery, and surface-to-air systems" to Ukraine.

She also accused Russia of "playing a direct supporting role to the separatists proxies and mercenaries".

The US and European countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea in March.

A pro-Russian separatist seen in the eastern city of Donetsk

Nato is due to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later today, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said an EU summit on Saturday would discuss the prospect of further sanctions.

A spokesman for Ukraine's National Security Council, Colonel Andriy Lysenko, said earlier two columns of tanks had fired at a border post, before rolling into Ukraine.

His comments followed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's claim on Thursday that Russian forces had "entered" the country.

The tanks are reported to have crossed into a southern area of the Donetsk region, where the separatists have made significant gains in recent days.

Nato has released satellite imagery purportedly showing self-propelled artillery battery.

A Nato official said at least 1,000 Russian troops had entered Ukraine with sophisticated equipment and had been in "direct contact" with Ukrainian forces, resulting in casualties.

At a crisis meeting of the UN Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused Kiev of "waging war against its own people."

However, British Ambassador to the UN, Mark Lyall Grant, listed "overwhelming" evidence to the contrary.

"It is simply not credible for Russia and its proxies in (the eastern regions of) Donetsk and Luhansk to keep claiming that these serving members of the Russian armed forces are in Ukraine by accident or on holiday," he said.

"Nor is it credible for Russia to continue claiming to the whole world including to the Russian people that Russian soldiers are not present in Ukrainian territory."

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Boy With Brain Tumour Taken From Hospital

Police have launched a major investigation to find a boy with a brain tumour, taken without consent from hospital by his parents.

Hampshire Constabulary said "there are serious concerns" for the life of Ashya King as he needs constant medical care.

Officers said his parents - Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, - boarded a cross-Channel ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg at 4pm yesterday.

Ashya King needs constant medical attention, police say

The parents went with Ashya's six siblings, officers said.

Police said Ashya was taken from Southampton General Hospital at around 2pm yesterday by his family, who live in St David's Road, Southsea, Portsmouth.

CCTV images captured the moment the boy was wheeled out of the hospital, apparently by his father.

Hampshire Police have launched a social media campaign to find Ashya

Ashya is still likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, he cannot communicate verbally and is immobile, a police spokesman said.

The family are travelling in a grey-coloured Hyundai I800 Style CRDI, registration KP60 HWK, and they are still believed to be in France.

Police said they arrived in France at 8pm local time last night.

Mother Naghemeh King is believed to be in France

Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are working with our counterparts in France to activate their emergency child rescue alert procedures to locate the family as soon as possible.

"If we do not locate Ashya today there are serious concerns for his life.

"He is receiving constant medical care within the UK due to recent surgery and ongoing medical issues.

Father Brett King is thought to have taken the boy from hospital

"Without this specialist 24-hour care Ashya is at risk of additional health complications which place him at substantial risk."

Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson, of the Hampshire Major Investigation Team, said: "He needs to be taken to a medical facility for his urgent health requirements as soon as he is located.

"We have also launched a social media appeal and would urge everyone to share this appeal, particularly if you have friends and relatives in France and bordering countries."

Anyone with information about Ashya's whereabouts should contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, quoting Operation Aquilion.

More follows...

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Rotherham Abuse: Pressure Grows On Police Chief

By Becky Johnson, North Of England Correspondent

Pressure is growing on South Yorkshire's Police Commissioner to resign in the wake of the Rotherham abuse scandal, after it emerged he was once a councillor with responsibility for children's services there.

A damning report has revealed more than 1,400 children were victims of abuse there between 1997 and 2013.

It detailed examples of 11-year-olds being gang raped and children being forced to watch violent sex abuse while being threatened that they would be next.

It has emerged authorities in the town "could and should" have done more to stop the abuse but did not listen to children trying to report it.

In some cases victims were treated with contempt.

Shaun Wright was a Labour councillor for Rotherham until he was elected Police Commissioner in 2012, and was in charge of children's services from 2005 to 2010.

Colin Ross, the leader of the Lib Dem group on Sheffield City Council, said it is "difficult to see how local people can have confidence in him to continue as our Police and Crime Commissioner".

UKIP Yorkshire and Humber MEP Jane Collins also called on Mr Wright to go, adding: "The apologies we have heard are totally insincere and go nowhere near repairing the damage done."

Alexis Jay's highly critical report detailed "appalling" abuse

A spokesperson for Mr Wright said: "The Commissioner has previously apologised for the failure of Rotherham Council while he was in its cabinet from 2005 to 2010.

"He repeats that apology today and he fully accepts that there was more that everyone at Rotherham Council should have done to tackle this terrible crime.

"Since becoming Police and Crime Commissioner he has repeatedly publicly made tackling child sexual exploitation his number one priority."

The leader of Rotherham Council, Roger Stone, stepped down with immediate effect following the publication of the report.

Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone has left his post

The council has apologised for its failings but confirmed no staff will face disciplinary action.

South Yorkshire Police also issued an apology but it too revealed that no officers have been disciplined.

Several of the individuals named in the report are still working in child protection.

Jim Gamble, former Chief Executive of CEOP, told Sky News: "Every person particularly in a leadership role who has got it wrong whether today, yesterday, or in the years before must take responsibility for their actions.

Chief executive Martin Kimber revealed no council staff will face action

"There's a couple of things, you need to make sure; 1) that they're not in a position of authority in any other local safeguarding board, in any other organisation that works to protect children and 2) if there is evidence that individuals supressed information that there's a criminal investigation."

A lawyer who represents some of the victims has told Sky News they intend to take legal action against the authorities.

Solicitor David Greenwood said he was "appalled" by what he called a "systematic failure".

He added that some of the girls involved have displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and will need "a lot of input to get their lives back on track".

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Abuse Scandal 'Not Peculiar' To Rotherham

The child exploitation scandal in which 1,400 youngsters were abused over 16 years is not "peculiar" to Rotherham, according to a leading children's charity.

A damning report on abuse in the South Yorkshire town between 1997 and 2013 detailed examples of 11-year-olds being gang raped and children being forced to watch violent sex abuse.

Barnardo's was called into the town by police last year to help tackle the problem - but the charity has told Sky News it is also working with other councils to help them "learn lessons of the past".

Chief executive Javed Khan said: "Barnardo's is working very closely with that council and many other councils across the country. We're trying to help those professionals learn lessons from the past.

"This is happening all over the country - it isn't just peculiar to Rotherham. It's important that they learn the lessons from the past, work with agencies like ours that have experience.

Some 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham over 16 years

"We work with more than 2,000 children who've been sexually exploited every year. We know how to spot the signs and put it right."

The revelations on abuse in Rotherham said authorities in the town "could and should" have done more to stop the abuse but did not listen to children trying to report it.

Council leader Roger Stone resigned after the report was published - and there have been calls for South Yorkshire's Police Commissioner to follow. Shaun Wright was elected in 2012 - but his previous role as a councillor put him in charge of children's services between 2005 and 2010.

However, Mr Khan insists it is important the victims are not forgotten amid the "recriminations".

"I'm sure Shaun Wright is doing some deep thinking about what he did and what he could have done differently - many other people will be doing as well," he said.

Council leader Roger Stone resigned after the report was published

"Apart from the recriminations, the important thing is that we learn the lessons about how to protect children.

"Whatever actions need to be taken, let's focus on the victims and make sure this never, ever happens again to children who need our support.

"I'm not sitting on the fence. Children were failed. But the report says children's services in Rotherham are fit for purpose now - that's what interests me.

"What we're trying to do is work with the schools, work with the police, work with the social services, so they're more aware and more able to spot the signs of children who need our support."

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First Briton With Ebola Virus Begins Treatment

A Briton who contracted the deadly ebola virus in Sierra Leone is being treated at a specialist hospital after being evacuated to the UK.

The volunteer nurse, who is understood to be William Pooley, tested positive after treating patients suffering from the disease at Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in the south-east of the country.

It is the first confirmed case of a Briton contracting ebola during the outbreak. There is no cure and outbreaks have a fatality rate as high as 90%.

Mr Pooley, who is understood to be in his late 20s or early 30s, was transported to the UK on a specially-equipped C-17 Royal Air Force jet, which landed at RAF Northolt in west London on Sunday evening.

He was then taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, which has the UK's only high level isolation unit.

The nurse is taken off the plane and into a waiting ambulance

His bed will be surrounded by a specially-designed tent with its own controlled ventilation system.

The only people allowed inside are specially-trained medical staff.

Dr Robert Garry, from Tulane University in New Orleans, has worked at KGH for around a decade on a virus research project.

He said he was told by a university colleague that the test results for William were received on Saturday.

"They worked as hard as they could, as fast as humanly possible to make these arrangements," he said.

William was treating ebola patients in Sierra Leone

"Of course they were wanting to make sure that he got the best care possible.

"It was kind of a remarkable turnaround, barely over 24 hours (later) he was heading towards that plane."

Mr Pooley was working at a hospice in the capital, Freetown, but moved to Kenema when he found out other workers at the hospital had died from ebola.

In an interview with a blogger for freetownfashpack.com published earlier this month, he is reported to have said: "It's the easiest situation in the world to make a difference.

"I'm not particularly experienced or skilled, but I can do the job and I am actually helping."

The C17 plane lands at RAF Northolt on Sunday evening

Dr Garry praised William's decision to help. He said: "It's a very honourable thing. He saw the need.

"He read about our nurses who were unfortunately dying there and took it on himself to come over and volunteer and learned how to be as safe as he could.

"But when you work hard like that, when you put in so many hours, you're going to make a mistake and unfortunately that seems to have happened in this case.

"I just hope the best for him, that he can get the best treatment he can get."

The Royal Free Hospital in north London

The Department of Health said he was not "seriously unwell", while health chiefs have insisted that the risk to the public from ebola is "very low".

There have so far been 2,615 confirmed cases and 1,427 deaths in the outbreak in Africa.

Ebola is contracted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids and there is currently no cure or vaccine.

Symptoms of the virus appear as a sudden onset of fever, headache, sore throat, intense weakness and muscle pain.

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