Plotter of al-Qaeda attacks in Britain dies

A senior al-Qaeda figure believed to have been involved in planning attacks against Britain was reported yesterday to have died in Pakistan. The man, known only by his nom de guerre of Abu Obaidah al-Masri, was said by US sources to have died of natural causes.

Past attempts by American forces to kill him had failed. He was believed to be in his forties and to have fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

Security sources described him as a senior attack planner in Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network. Whitehall sources confirmed his high-ranking position within al-Qaeda but declined to discuss his role in any plots against Britain.

Private treatment centres announced

Three independent sector treatment centres were given approval yesterday by the Department of Health (Nigel Hawkes writes). Two schemes in Greater Manchester and one in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been approved, bringing the number of schemes in Phase 2 of the treatement centre programme to ten.

Ben Bradshaw, the Health Minister, said that the new schemes would provide another 1.5 million procedures over seven years, at a cost of £385 million.

Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the British Medical Association consultants’ committee, said: “We are disappointed that the Government has still not learnt that there are better ways of spending NHS money.”

Too late for £1m

Matalan’s former chief executive has lost his case at the Court of Appeal to reclaim almost £1 million in mistaken tax payments. Despite acknowledgment by Revenue & Customs that Angus Monro paid too much tax, and a judge’s sympathy, he will not receive a refund because an amended tax return was filed late.

Food colours risk

Food safety chiefs are seeking a ban on six food colours that cause hyperactive behaviour in children. The artificial colours are causing as much brain damage as lead in petrol, new scientific advice to the Food Standards Agency says. A formal decision is to be made at the agency board in Central London.

Plastic peril

Plastic litter is blighting beaches and much of it is being dumped at sea from cruise ships, ferries, leisure craft, freight and fishing vessels, according to the Marine Conservation Society’s latest Beachwatch survey. Plastic debris on beaches was at its highest level in 14 years, up 126 per cent.

Ex-PC in thriller deal

A former police constable from Cumbria has won an £800,000 five-book deal as a debut author. The first action thriller by Matt Hilton, 42, Dead Men’s Dust, plucked from the slush pile by his agent’s wife, is published by Hodder & Stoughton in hardback next year, with more books due every six months.

Baby killer jailed

A father who killed his six-month-old daughter by dropping her on her head in a fit of rage has been jailed for life. Francis Essilfie, 29, of Ilford, East London, had pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to murdering the baby in April last year.

Terminal 5 inquiry

The heads of British Airways and BAA, the airport operator, are to give evidence before MPs on the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5. The Commons Select Transport Committee is to hold an evidence session on May 7 on the terminal’s problems.

Missing wife arrest

Andy Taggart, 43, the husband of a mother of two who was last seen on January 3, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Elaine Taggart, 48, from Ferring, West Sussex, had given a colleague a lift in her red Fiat Punto, which was found near Goring station.

Ofcom ruling on BBC

The BBC has been ordered by Ofcom, the TV watchdog, to broadcast a statement of its findings on six instances of “the most offensive language” aired during the Live Earth concert last year on BBC One and BBC Two. Many viewers complained.

Indecent pictures

Paul Caffell, a photographer and friend of Sir Paul McCartney, has received a community order at Taunton Crown Court after being found guilty of taking indecent pictures of a 15-year-old girl. Caffell, 68, was also put on the sex offenders register.

Sat-nav damage

Sat-nav devices are diverting lorries to country roads not designed to take heavy vehicles, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings claimed. A spokesman said: “The result is thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to historic structures.”

‘Worst road’ inquiry

A three-day inquiry into traffic delays on the A12 in Essex, said to be Britain’s worst road, is to be led by Sir David Rowlands, a retired civil servant from the Department for Transport. He was caught in the jam in October that prompted the inquiry.

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