Royal Hoax DJ To Appear At Suicide Hearing

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

One of the two Australian radio DJs involved in a hoax phone call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge will appear at the inquest of the nurse who died.

Mel Greig asked to attend the inquest into the death of nurse Jacintha Saldhana and the coroner has granted her permission.

In a statement Ms Greig's Sydney based lawyers said: "Ms Saldanha's suicide was a devastating tragedy and Ms Greig's thoughts have been with the family ever since.

The nurse committed suicide a few days later

Ms Greig fully understands their need for answers, which is why she has taken this step to appear as an individual at the inquest."

Greig, and co-host on Sydney radio station 2Day FM, Michael Christian, telephoned King Edward VII's hospital when the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness.

Jacintha Saldhana was the nurse who put them through to Kate's ward, believing the DJs were the Queen and the Prince of Wales. 

A second nurse then gave the pair information about her condition which was broadcast.

Ms Greig's lawyers Slater and Gordon said: "She is determined to address any questions surrounding her role in these tragic events as part of the inquest.

"Ms Greig wants the family to know she will answer any questions the coroner or the family's lawyers may have at the inquest."

The news comes a day after The Sunday Times printed what it said was an extract from one of three apparent notes written by the 46-year-old mother of two before she died.

Greig made the call with colleague Michael Christian in December 2012

According to the paper in one of the notes directed at her employers at King Edward VII's Hospital in London she blames the presenters, rather than her managers, for her death.

"Please accept my apologies. I am truly sorry. Thank you for all your support. I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for this act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry," the paper said Ms Saldanha wrote.

If genuine, the note will provide a critical insight into Ms Saldanha's death at her upcoming inquest, which was due to open in London this week but has been delayed.

It had been reported Ms Saldanha criticised the hospital for her treatment after the prank call.

According to the paper another note says she did not blame her work colleagues for the distress she felt. The third left instructions for her funeral.

She has yet to return to radio station 2day FM

Southern Cross Austereo, which owns the Sydney radio station, has said it would contribute $500,000 (£330,000) into a trust fund for Ms Saldanha's family.

Ms Saldanha, who shared a home in Bristol with her husband Benedict Barboza, 49, a hospital accountant, and their two children, Junal, 17, and Lisha, 14, had trained as a nurse in Mangalore in southern India before moving to Britain more than a decade ago.

It was revealed that she was upset by problems she was having at work and Mr Barboza criticised the hospital for its handling of the situation.

It has also emerged that she had previously been placed on anti-depressants.

A spokesman for King Edward VII's Hospital said: "Jacintha Saldanha was an outstanding and much-loved member of our team. We continue to assist the coroner so that she can establish the full facts of the case."

Keith Vaz, the Labour MP who has acted as Ms Saldanha's family's spokesman, said: "The forthcoming inquest will hopefully provide answers for the family and for them it will represent closure."

Ms Greig is yet to return to the airwaves. Michael Christian is however back on air in a lower profile role for a Southern Cross Austereo radio station in Melbourne.

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UK Trio Jailed For Four Years In Dubai

Three British men, who claimed they were tortured by Dubai police, are sentenced to four years in prison for drug offences.

More follows ...

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Bangladesh Factory Owners Arrested

Police in Bangladesh have arrested two clothing factory owners based at the eight-storey building near the capital Dhaka that collapsed killing 304 people.

It comes after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of clothing workers who took to the streets on the outskirts of Dhaka to protest over the deaths.

Dhaka police deputy chief Shyaml Mukherjee said: "We've arrested Bazlus Samad, the chairman of New Wave Buttons and New Wave Style factories, and Mahmudur Rahaman Tapash, a managing director of one of these plants, after midnight."

He added that police have filed a case against them for "death due to negligence", after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the owners forced the workers to return to work after cracks appeared in the building.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association had also asked the factories to shut down on Wednesday morning, hours before the building came down.

"After we got the crack reports we asked them to suspend work until further examination, but they did not pay heed," said association president Atiqul Islam.

Survivors described hearing a loud crack just before the eight-storey building collapsed, with each level pancaking on top of those below.

The building housed at least four factories producing clothes for leading Western retailers.

High street giant Primark confirmed one of its suppliers occupied the second floor of the building.

A Primark spokesman said: "The company is shocked and deeply saddened by this appalling incident at Savar, near Dhaka, and expresses its condolences to all of those involved."

Elsewhere in Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands of workers walked out of their factories in solidarity with their dead colleagues.

Some workers' leaders attacked Western firms, whom they accused of turning "a blind eye" while using Bangladeshis as "money-making machines".

With time running out to save workers still trapped in the collapsed building, rescuers have been digging through mangled metal and concrete to find more survivors.

By Friday evening, more than 80 survivors had been rescued, according to officials.

But more dead were also discovered. Shamim Islam, a volunteer who entered the collapsed building along with rescue workers, said he saw "many bodies inside".

Officials said the search will continue today.

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Max Clifford Charged With 11 Sex Assaults

Publicist Max Clifford has been charged with 11 alleged indecent assaults, including one against a girl of 14, the CPS has said.

Clifford stands accused of sexually assaulting seven separate women.

The first, the girl of 14, was allegedly abused in 1966.

A further three females, aged between 15 and 18, allegedly suffered five offences between 1974 and 1978.

Clifford is also accused of assaulting another three females, aged between 16 and 19, between 1981 and 1985.

He has strenuously denied the allegations and said he is living in a "24/7 nightmare."

Clifford's initial arrest in December 2012 was carried out as part of Operation Yewtree, which was set up to investigate allegations of sex abuse carried out by Jimmy Savile.

There is no suggestion that his alleged offences are connected with Savile's.

Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said in a statement: "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Max Clifford, who was initially arrested on 6 December 2012 over allegations of sexual offences.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Clifford to be charged with 11 offences of indecent assault relating to seven complainants."

"Mr Clifford will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 28 May 2013.

"We have also decided that there is insufficient evidence to authorise charges in relation to three separate allegations.

"These decisions were taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and our guidance for prosecutors on sexual offences.

"May I remind all concerned that Mr Clifford has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

Indecent assault is an offence contrary to Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956. It is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment upon conviction in the Crown Court.

Clifford said in response to CPS's decision: "The allegations in respect of which I have been charged are completely false and I have made this clear to the police during many, many hours of interviews.

"Nevertheless a decision has been taken to charge me with 11 offences involving seven women, the most recent of which is 28 years ago and the oldest 47 years ago.

"I have never indecently assaulted anyone in my life and this will become clear during the course of the proceedings.

"I am naturally disappointed about today's decision, particularly because of the distress it has caused my wife, Jo, my daughter, Louise, and all those close to me.

"However, at least I will now be in a position to fully consider all the evidence against me and to answer the evidence in public and ultimately clear my name in a court of law.

"Since last December I have been living a 24/7 nightmare. A black cloud has been placed over me, obliterating the bright blue skies that I have been fortunate to live my life under for the vast majority of the past 70 years.

"Fortunately I have and continue to receive wonderful support and understanding from those who knew me, those who know me, as well as people I meet everywhere I go.

"This has made this nightmare so much easier to cope with and I am extremely grateful for this as you can imagine."

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GDP Figures: Triple-Dip Recession Feared

The spectre of a triple-dip recession is hanging over the UK economy ahead of official figures that will show whether the country has avoided another quarter of shrinking output.

Economists fear it will be a close-run result this morning, amid mounting warnings over the strength of the recovery and following last week's latest downgrade to the UK's AAA credit rating.

Most experts are predicting the initial estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) from the Office for National Statistics will show growth of 0.1% in the first three months of the year, which would mean the economy narrowly avoided its third recession since 2008.

But a volatile start to 2013 following snowstorms in January and March and ongoing pressure in the construction sector have left it hanging in the balance.

Facing mounting pressure to do more to help the recovery, Chancellor George Osborne beefed up his flagship Funding for Lending (FLS) scheme on Wednesday to help cash-starved businesses and spur on growth.

Banks are being offered an up to 10-fold increase in the cheap funding they can access in return for extending loans to smaller firms under the FLS revamp.

It is also to be opened up to non-bank lenders such as invoice finance houses and leasing firms that provide around £20bn of working capital to small businesses, and will be extended for a year to January 2015.

Fitch became the second ratings agency to strip Britain of its prized AAA rating on Friday, citing a weaker economic outlook and worse-than-expected progress on cutting debt levels.

The decision came after a brutal assessment of Britain's economic prospects by incoming Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who branded the UK a "crisis economy" alongside stricken eurozone countries and Japan.

Mr Osborne was offered some respite earlier this week when figures revealed underlying public borrowing fell in the last financial year to £120.6bn - but it was just £300 million lower than a year earlier in the latest sign that his austerity plans are stalling.

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Nationwide Drive To Boost MMR Vaccination

By Gamal Fahnbulleh, Sky News Reporter

A national catch-up programme to increase MMR vaccination uptake in children and teenagers has been announced.

The aim is to prevent measles outbreaks by vaccinating as many unvaccinated and partially vaccinated 10 to 16 year olds as possible in time for the next school year.

There were 587 confirmed measles cases in England in the first three months of this year, a figure that comes after a record high of 2000 cases last year.

Experts believe around 330,000 children aged 10 to 16 years of this age group remain unvaccinated.

Mairead Flavin is a nurse at a GP surgery in Middlesex. She has seen an increase in the number of parents getting their children vaccinated and believes the message is getting through.

"It's more standard practice now. Back in the day it wasn't. You had to do a lot of convincing and had to try to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. At this moment in time I think they're very anxious to have it done."

Experts believe the rise in Measles cases can be mostly attributed to the proportion of unprotected 10-16 year olds who missed out on vaccination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when concern around the discredited link between autism and the vaccine was widespread.

Professor David Salisbury, Director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "At the moment the hotspots in particular are in the North East and  North West.

"That's quite different from where the vulnerability is and the vulnerability is all over the country. London is a real risk but we must be sure that any child anywhere in the country who has not had two doses of MMR gets vaccinated."

Dr Paul Cosford, Director for Health Protection at PHE, said " We believe this national framework for a catch-up programme sets out an appropriate response to the situation in England, using the range of expertise and skills across the new public health system.

"Although nationally the numbers needing catch-up vaccination is quite large, the are relatively few in each local area.

"We are confident that local teams have the resources to identify and vaccinate those children most at risk, and the NHS has sufficient vaccine to cover the approaches described in the action plan."

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Boston Suspect 'Influenced' By Mystery Radical

In the years before the Boston Marathon bombings, Tamerlan Tsarnaev fell under the influence of a Muslim convert who steered the young man towards a strict strain of Islam, family members have claimed.

After befriending the man, known to the Tsarnaev family only as Misha, Tamerlan gave up boxing and stopped studying music, his family said.

He became vocal about his opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and read websites claiming that the CIA was behind 9/11 and Jews controlled the world.

"Somehow, he just took his brain," said Tamerlan's uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, who recalled conversations with Tamerlan's worried father about Misha's influence.

Dzhokhar has been charged

It was not immediately clear whether the FBI has spoken to Misha or was attempting to, but efforts by the media to identify and interview the mystery man have been unsuccessful.

Throughout his religious makeover, Tamerlan maintained a strong influence over his siblings, including Dzhokhar, who investigators say carried out the deadly attack by his older brother's side, killing three people.

Tamerlan was killed in a police shootout on Friday. The family's claims came as new photos emerged of the stand-off that killed Tamerlan.

The images were taken from inside a house overlooking the scene of the gunfight, and show the brothers crouching near a Mercedes SUV they had carjacked.   

This image shows the brothers crouched by a Mercedes

One of the brothers appears to be holding a gun with both hands in front of his body.

Dzhokhar survived the shootout and was caught by police later in the day.

He was charged on Monday with using a weapon of mass destruction to kill. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Based on preliminary written interviews with Dzhokar in his hospital bed, US officials believe the brothers were motivated by their religious views.

Anzor was said to be worried about Misha's hold on Tamerlan

Two US officials say the brothers had no tie to terrorist groups, but Tamerlan's relationship with Misha could be a clue in understanding the motives behind his religious transformation and, ultimately, the attack itself.

Elmirza Khozhugov, 26, the ex-husband of Tamerlan's sister, Ailina, said Tamerlan was idolised by his siblings.

"You could always hear his younger brother and sisters say, 'Tamerlan said this,' and 'Tamerlan said that.' Dzhokhar loved him. He would do whatever Tamerlan would say," he said.

Mr Khozhugov, who now lives in Almaty, Kazakhstan, said he was close to Tamerlan when he was married and they kept in touch for a while but drifted apart in the past two years or so.

Tamerlan (L) boxes at the 2009 Golden Gloves

"Of course I was shocked and surprised that he was Suspect No 1," Mr Khozhugov said, recalling the days after the bombing when the FBI identified Tamerlan as a suspect.

"But after a few hours of thinking about it, I thought it could be possible that he did it."

The Tsarnaev brothers are ethnic Chechens raised in a home that followed Sunni Islam, the religion's largest sect.

But they were not regulars at the mosque and rarely discussed religion, Mr Khozhugov said.

Tamerlan is seen here with little brother Dzhokhar and their sisters

Then, in 2008 or 2009, Tamerlan met Misha, who the family described as slightly older, heavyset and bald with a long reddish beard.

"Misha was important," Mr Khozhugov said.

"Tamerlan was searching for something. He was searching for something out there."

Mr Khozhugov did not know where they had met but believed they attended a Boston-area mosque together.

Mr Tsarni made a public appeal to his nephew when he was on the run

Misha was an Armenian native and a convert to Islam and quickly began influencing his new friend, family members said.

Once, Mr Khozhugov said, Misha came to the family home outside Boston and sat in the kitchen, chatting with Tamerlan for hours.

"Misha was telling him what is Islam, what is good in Islam, what is bad in Islam," said Mr Khozhugov, who said he was present for the conversation.

"This is the best religion and that's it. Mohammed said this and Mohammed said that."

Dzhokhar remained in Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre

The conversation continued until Tamerlan's father, Anzor, came home from work around midnight.

"His father comes in and says, 'Why is Misha here so late and still in our house?' He asked it politely. Tamerlan was so much into the conversation he didn't listen."

Mr Khozhugov said Tamerlan's mother, Zubeidat, told him not to worry.

"'They're talking about religion and good things. Misha is teaching him to be good and nice," Mr Khozhugov recalled the mother saying.

The aftermath of the fatal Boston Marathon attacks

As time went on,  Anzor became so concerned about his son that he called his brother, worried about Misha's effects.

"I heard about nobody else but this convert. The seed for changing his views was planted right there in Cambridge," Mr Tsarni said.

Last week, Mr Tsarni made a public appeal for Dzhokhar to turn himself in when he was still at large following his brother's death.

Since the attacks, Anzor has insisted his sons are innocent and the attacks were orchestrated to frame them. Other members of the extended family have made similar claims.

"It's a set-up, a political order, a Hollywood show," Anzor said.

But two US officials have confirmed that Tamerlan, who was married with a young daughter, became an ardent reader of jihadist websites and extremist propaganda.

Lawyers for Katherine Tsarnaeva, Tamerlan's widow, say she is doing everything she can to assist authorities.

In a statement her legal team said Tsarnaeva, a Muslim convert, and her family were in shock when they learned of allegations against her husband and brother-in-law.

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Wrinkle Fillers 'A Crisis Waiting To Happen'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Injectable anti-wrinkle treatments are a "crisis waiting to happen", government health advisers have warned.

A review of cosmetic procedures, ordered by the Department of Health, has found that widely-used dermal fillers are as loosely regulated as toothbrushes and ballpoint pens, yet they have potentially serious side effects.

It says the injections should in future be available only on prescription and used solely by qualified practitioners.

In the United States, where there are far tighter regulations, just 14 products are on the market. But in Europe there are 190 different types of filler on sale.

The NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, who led the independent review, said: "The most striking thing is that anybody, anywhere, anytime can give a filler to anybody else and that is bizarre.

"Dermal fillers - which are things you inject into people and put beneath their skin, and they stay there for a period of time - should be treated the same way as other types of implants."

The review of the cosmetic surgery industry was ordered in the wake of the PIP scandal, in which up to 40,000 British women were implanted with breast prostheses that were filled with non-medical grade silicone.

Sir Bruce said the debacle had led to a "cacophony" of concern about the industry.

His final report to ministers calls for a ban on financial inducements and time-limited deals that could influence vulnerable consumers.

Patients should also be better informed by surgeons about the risks and potential benefits of a treatment.

And there should be an insurance scheme to pay compensation when treatments go wrong.

The review team criticised TV shows such as The Only Way is Essex (Towie) for trivialising cosmetic procedures.

Rita Payton nearly died in a private hospital after surgery on her nose went badly wrong. The surgeon sliced off the tip of her nose, and removed too much cartilage causing one nostril to collapse. She came round from the anaesthetic bleeding profusely.

"I was gagging for breath," she said.

"I was choking on my own blood. It was horrible - I was pressing the bell but nobody came.

"The pain in my head was like someone was hitting me with a very big hammer. It was excruciating."

The surgeon has since left the UK to work abroad.

Another surgeon, Mr Rizwan Alvi, reconstructed Rita's nose, although she is still scarred.

He said: "This is as bad as it gets. Complications can happen, but it is essential a surgeon looks after the patient afterwards."

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said there was currently a "significant risk of people falling into the hands of cowboy firms or individuals whose only aim is to make a quick profit."

The Department of Health will announce a series of controls on the industry later this summer.

"It is clear that it is time for the Government to step in to ensure the public are properly protected," he said.

The UK's largest chain of cosmetic surgery clinics, Transform, supports reform of the industry.

Since the PIP scandal it has made more information available to patients, including infection rates and details of how often surgery needs to be re-done.

But chief operating officer Pat Dunion said tighter rules for clinics won't prevent another PIP scare.

"The whole PIP scandal was caused by a fraudulent manufacturer and a failure of the regulatory body to check the quality of the implants.

"We urge the government to address that now. There is a need for the regulatory bodies to come into hospitals and take sample implants and check the quality of them."

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'Al Qaeda Terror Plot' To Attack Train Foiled

Canadian police say they have foiled an al Qaeda-backed "major terrorist plot" to attack a passenger train on a railway line between New York and Toronto.

Two people have been arrested and charged with conspiring to carry out the attack and murder people in association with a terrorist group, police revealed at a news conference in Toronto.

The suspects - Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, and Raed Jaser, 35 - had been under surveillance since August 2012 after authorities were tipped off about one of the men.

They will attend a bail hearing in Toronto today.

The pair were allegedly planning to target and derail a Via Rail passenger train in the Toronto area, and are alleged to have received "direction and guidance" from al Qaeda "elements" in Iran.

Police said there was "no indication that these attacks were state-sponsored" and declined to say where the suspects were from.

They confirmed they were not Canadian citizens but had been in the country "a significant amount of time".

The suspects' plans were "not based on their ethnic origins but on an ideology," police said.

"This is the first known al Qaeda planned attack that we've experienced in Canada," Superintendent Doug Best said.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews warned later added that the "arrests demonstrate that terrorism continues to be a real threat to Canada".

Canadian police hold a news conference to reveal details of the arrests

Canadian authorities, the FBI and US Homeland Security police and agents have been involved in a year-long cross-border operation that led to the arrests in Toronto and Montreal.

Assistant Commissioner James Maliza, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said: "Had this plot been carried out it would have resulted in innocent people being killed, or seriously injured."

Colleague Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan added: "We are alleging that these two individuals took steps and conducted activities to initiate a terrorist attack.

"They watched trains and railways in the Greater Toronto area. It was definitely in the planning stage but not imminent."

Sky's US correspondent Amanda Walker said: "They are really hailing this as a successful operation - something particularly in the current climate - that they have managed to prevent.

"It does seem they have treated this as a very serious and major threat which was certainly well-on in the planning, it seems.

"But not far enough for the public or railway staff to be in any immediate danger.

"So obviously they had a difficult act here to actually balance the timing of when they made these arrests - getting enough intelligence, enough information, but not taking that up to the point when the public would have been in real danger."

The news comes one week after twin bombings at the Boston Marathon killed three people and wounded 180 - and as Canada's parliament debates a proposal to beef up anti-terror measures.

A US Justice Department official in Washington said there was no connection between the thwarted terrorist plot and last Monday's attacks in Boston.

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Boston Bomb Suspects 'Had Religious Motive'

The two brothers suspected of bombing the Boston Marathon appear to have been motivated by a radical brand of Islam, but they do not seem connected to any Muslim terrorist groups, US officials say.

Authorities have interrogated and charged the surviving brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with crimes that could bring the death penalty.

The 19-year-old remains in a serious condition with a gunshot wound to his throat and other injuries suffered during his attempted getaway.

His older brother, Tamerlan, 26, died on Friday after a fierce gun battle with police.

Tsarnaev was charged in his hospital bed with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

He was accused of joining with his brother in setting off the shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs that killed three people a week ago.

Tamerlan is seen here with little brother Dzhokhar and their sisters

The brothers, ethnic Chechens from Russia who had been living in the US for about a decade, practised Islam.

Two US officials said preliminary evidence from the younger man's interrogation suggests the brothers were motivated by religious extremism but were apparently not involved with Islamic terrorist organisations.

Dzhokhar is said to have communicated with his interrogators in writing due to his injuries.

They said they were still trying to verify what they were told by Tsarnaev and were looking at such things as his phone and online communications and his associations with others.

In the criminal complaint outlining the allegations, investigators said Tsarnaev and his brother each placed a backpack containing a bomb in the crowd near the finish line of the marathon.

The FBI said surveillance-camera footage showed Dzhokhar manipulating his mobile phone and lifting it to his ear just instants before the two blasts.

A silent tribute was held in Boston on Monday

After the first blast, a block away from Dzhokhar "virtually every head turns to the east  ... and stares in that direction in apparent bewilderment and alarm", the complaint says.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev "virtually alone of the individuals in front of the restaurant, appears calm."

He then quickly walked away, leaving a backpack on the ground; about 10 seconds later, a bomb blew up at the spot where he had been standing, the FBI said.

The FBI did not say whether he was using his mobile phone to detonate one or both of the bombs or whether he was talking to someone.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying two foreign nationals arrested Saturday in the Boston area on immigration violations are from Kazakhstan and may have known the two Marathon bombing suspects.

The foreign ministry said US authorities came across them while searching for "possible links and contacts" to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Their names have not been released.

The aftermath of the Boston Marathon blasts

On Monday, Boston residents observed a moment of silence exactly a week after the first of two bombs went off near the marathon finish line.

A private funeral was also held for Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant worker who was among the dead.

Later in the day, a memorial service was held at Boston University for another victim, Lu Lingzi, 23, a graduate student from China.

The youngest person to die was eight-year-old Martin Richard, while police officer Sean Collier was killed during a confrontation with the suspects in the early hours of Friday.

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Luis Suarez Bite: Liverpool Striker 'Sorry'

Liverpool's Luis Suarez has apologised for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League clash.

The striker said sorry on his personal Twitter account around three hours after the final whistle blew on the game at Anfield.

The 26-year-old wrote: "I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!"

In a statement issued through his club, he added: "I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally.

"I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down."

The FA says it will review match footage - seen by millions of television viewers - that shows Suarez biting the Chelsea defender on the arm.

Cameras captured the striker appearing to sink his teeth into his opponent's upper arm during the second half.

Ivanovic remonstrated with referee Kevin Friend following the incident and the match official briefly spoke to Suarez before allowing the game to continue.

The match ended 2-2, with Liverpool's controversial star - who is a contender for this year's player of the season awards - scoring an equaliser in the dying seconds.

In a later Twitter message, Suarez said he had spoken to Ivanovic and his apology had been accepted.

Suarez apologised on his Twitter account a few hours after the incident

He wrote: "I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting."

A Chelsea spokesman said: "Luis Suarez called Branislav Ivanovic this evening. Branislav appreciated the call and his apology."

Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre, who cancelled a trip to Australia to deal with the fallout from the incident, said: "Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today. 

"His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

"We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA."

The club's manager, Brendan Rodgers, added: "Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this."

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness said the Uruguayan striker had "crossed a line".

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told Suarez the bite was 'unacceptable'

He said: "I'm not sure what to make of it. Embarrassing. He's making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool, that puts him in the last chance saloon.

"Most important is safeguarding the good name of the football club. Liverpool are world renowned. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, and it will show Liverpool in a very bad light.

"This is not the first time he has bitten someone in the football match. He is risking everything this great club stands for. I've never seen something like that in a football match before.

"There are lines you just can't cross, and he has crossed it today."

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor was coy over whether he would support a punishment, but he expressed his dismay at the incident.

He told Sky Sports News: "It was not good to see to say the least. It was unacceptable. I know it's a really difficult one for Liverpool and the FA are going to have to deal with it."

But Marseille's Joey Barton took to Twitter to urge Liverpool to back their player.

Suarez said he spoke directly to Branislav Ivanovic after the incident

He wrote: "Suarez is a good as a player as there is in world football at the minute. Yes, he's messed up and shouldn't have bitten another player but a player like him has to play right on the edge.

"Without it he wouldn't be the talent he is. LFC would be mad not to back him IMO. If they don't I'm sure the queue of Champions League clubs would stretch round the block."

Meanwhile, Suarez has found a new brother in arms in former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who famously bit the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield.

According to Tyson's profile page on Twitter, he made Suarez his 432nd and most recent follow.

Tyson took a chunk out of Holyfield's right ear in the third round of a bout in Las Vegas in June 1997, after which Holyfield, nicknamed the 'Real Deal', became known as the 'Meal Deal'.

Suarez's new Twitter follower: Tyson, who took chunk out of his challenger

Tyson was disqualified from the fight and fined $3m (£1.9m).

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Boston Bombs Suspect 'Awake And Responding'

The surviving Boston marathon bomb suspect is beginning to respond to questions from investigators, reports say.

Dzokhar Tsarnaev remains in critical but stable condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, where some of the 180 people wounded in the blasts are also being treated.

The 19-year-old is said to have a wound to his throat - reportedly caused by a gunshot through his mouth that exited the back of his neck - which prevents him from speaking.

Tamerlan died in a gunfight

But major US news networks say he is responding to questions in writing.

Dzokhar is also reported to have been shot in the leg during a shootout with law enforcement the night before his arrest.

His older brother and fellow suspect Tamerlan, 26, died in that gunfight.

A lawyer for Tamerlan's wife, Katherine Russell Tsarnaev, said US authorities have also asked to speak with his client.

Amato DeLuca said Mrs Russell Tsarnaev did not suspect her husband of anything, and nothing seemed amiss after the bombings.

He said she had been working 70 to 80 hours a week as a home health care aide while her husband cared for their daughter.

Mr DeLuca said on the day he died, Tamerlan was home when his wife left for work.

After Tamerlan was killed early on Friday, Dzhokhar escaped, triggering an hours-long manhunt that shut down Boston.

It ended with the teenager's capture in a boat parked in a backyard late on Friday night.

It has also emerged that police chiefs fear the Tsarnaev brothers were planning further attacks.

Dzhokhar leaves the boat he was hiding in

Commissioner Ed Davis said police found a huge stockpile of weapons.

"They had IEDS," he said, referring to improvised explosives devices.

"They had homemade hand grenades that they were throwing at the officers.

"The scene was loaded with unexploded improvised explosive devices that actually we had to point out to the arriving officers and clear the area."

He said one IED was found in a Mercedes the brothers had abandoned.

"This was as dangerous as it gets in urban policing," Commissioner Davis said.

He said federal authorities were trying to track down how and where the two suspects obtained the firearms and explosive devices.

The two were ethnic Chechens who had been living in the United States for a decade.

Dzhokhar became a US citizen in 2012, while his older brother's application was reportedly held up.

Tamerlan began posting militant videos on social media sites in recent years, and travelled to Dagestan, which borders Chechnya, in 2012. Both Russian regions host separatist rebel groups.

The brothers' social media pages appeared to express sympathy with the struggle in Chechnya, which has been ravaged by two wars since 1994 between Russia and increasingly Islamist-leaning separatist rebels.

Three people died in the twin blasts at the marathon, the worst bombing to take place in the US since 9/11.

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Boston Bombing: Suspect Still Unable To Speak

Boston Marathon Blasts: Timeline

Updated: 11:14am UK, Saturday 20 April 2013

Here is a timeline of events from the Boston Marathon bombings to the death of one of the suspects and another one being taken into custody.

Monday, April 15 (Times are local)

2.50pm: An explosion takes place near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Around 10 seconds later, there is another blast about 100m further back down the same road, Boylston Street, also on the marathon route.

The explosions occurred four hours into the race and two hours after the men's winner had crossed the line, but thousands of runners were still on the course.

2.57pm: The Boston Globe's Twitter feed reports a witness hearing "two loud booms" near the finish line.

4.02pm: Two people have died and 23 injured in the explosions, Boston Police confirms via Twitter.

6.12pm: President Barack Obama addresses the nation, saying: "The American people will say a prayer for Boston tonight."

8.49pm: At a news conference, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announces the FBI has taken over the investigation.

It is confirmed three people died as a result of the bombings and at least 100 others were hurt. The injury toll was later put at over 180.

Tuesday, April 16

Two victims of the blasts were identified as Martin Richard, eight, and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell.

Martin was waiting with his family to give his father a hug at the finish line when he died.

Restaurant manager Ms Campbell had gone with her best friend to take a picture of the friend's boyfriend crossing the finish when the bombs went off.

Wednesday, April 17

The third victim is identified as 23-year-old Chinese graduate student Lingzi Lu.

Boston University confirmed Ms Lu was studying mathematics and statistics there and was due to receive her degree in 2015.

It said she and two friends had been watching the marathon near the finish line. One of the friends, also a Boston University student, was injured while the other was unharmed, it added.

There are reports a suspect has been detained in connection with the explosions and is due to appear in court - but authorities said there had been no arrests.

The federal court in the city is evacuated due to a bomb scare but people are later allowed to return.

Thursday, April 18

Afternoon: Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend an interfaith service at a Roman Catholic cathedral in Boston to remember the bombing victims. The president vows the attackers will face justice.

Evening: The FBI releases photos and video footage of two bombings suspects at the scene before the attacks.

One is pictured wearing a black baseball cap and a second had a white baseball cap on back to front.

Police say the suspects tried to rob a supermarket in Cambridge, across the river from Boston, on Thursday evening.  

10.20pm: Officers receive reports of shots fired on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge.

10.30pm: A police officer at MIT is found with gunshot wounds in his vehicle after being shot several times. He died in hospital.

The bomb suspects are suspected of carrying out the shooting.

They are then thought to have stolen a Mercedes car at gunpoint and later release its driver unharmed.

Friday, April 19

1am: Witnesses in Watertown near Boston report hearing multiple gunshots and explosions. The suspects reportedly threw explosives from the vehicle as police followed it into the area.

The suspects and police exchange gunfire, during which an officer is hurt.

Police say one of the two suspects in the MIT officer shooting, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is dead. But his younger brother, Dzhokhar, remains at large. The pair are suspected of carrying out the bombings.

An extensive manhunt takes place in the Watertown area for Dzhokhar, who is said to be armed and dangerous.

Almost a million residents in Boston are warned to stay indoors and public transport is stopped as armed police search for Dzhokhar.

The two suspects are said to be from a Russian region near Chechnya and have lived in the US for at least one year.

6.60pm: Massachusetts Governor Patrick Deval announces the "stay indoors" order is being lifted, even though Dzhokhar remains in hiding.

Around the time the order is lifted, a flurry of gunfire breaks out in the community that is being searched. Law enforcement officials locate Dzhokhar in a boat parked behind a home.

8.45pm: Dzhokhar is taken into custody by police.

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London Marathon: Show Of Solidarity For Boston

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

A 30-second silence will be held before the start of today's London Marathon as a mark of respect to victims of the Boston bombings.

Organisers said most of the 36,000 runners are also expected to wear black ribbons to show solidarity with the people of Boston.

Virgin London Marathon has pledged to donate £2 for every finisher to The One Fund Boston, which was set up to raise money for the victims of the explosions.

Richard Inchley, who has been registering runners for the marathon, says events in Massachusetts have not deterred competitors from taking part in the 26.2-mile challenge.

"People are more determined than ever to take part, and I can't think of a single person who wasn't eager to wear the ribbon," he said.

Every participant is being given a black ribbon to wear during the race

"One German runner was in tears as he showed me video footage of him crossing the line in Boston as the bomb went off behind him. But I think running in London will be a kind of therapy for him."

British runner Jack Cummings, who ran in the Boston Marathon, said he would also run again today.

"My wife and daughter were across the street from the second blast. It was very unnerving as people at the finish line didn't know what was happening," he explained.

"I was very apprehensive about running today. I felt so empty after what happened in Boston, but I didn't want to disappoint the charity and today I'm running for all those in Boston that got hurt or died."

Despite the death and capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, security has been stepped up to reassure the runners and spectators.

The police prescence during the London race is being stepped up by 40%

The Met is in close contact with the FBI and Boston Police, and there is nothing to suggest any link with the bomb attacks.

Malcolm Baker, a former Police Counter-Terrorism Officer, told Sky News: "The main objective of the police is to provide reassurance and public safety for both the runners and spectators, and secondly it will be to deter any copycat attacks."

Despite the 40% increase in police presence, the marathon will maintain its carnival atmosphere.

Hundreds of runners will turn out in fancy dress for the winding route from Black Heath to Buckingham Palace past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.

Half a million people usually turn up to watch the spectacle.

One volunteer race official, Lesley Inchley, said: "I think there will be even more people than usual coming to watch. Spectators will want to lend their support to the runners and send a really clear message that we won't be frightened by bombers."

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Boston Bombings: Second Suspect In Custody

Boston Marathon Blasts: Timeline

Updated: 2:50am UK, Saturday 20 April 2013

Here is a timeline of events from the Boston Marathon bombings to the death of one of the suspects and another one being taken into custody.

Monday, April 15 (Times are local)

2.50pm: An explosion takes place near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Around 10 seconds later, there is another blast about 100m further back down the same road, Boylston Street, also on the marathon route.

The explosions occurred four hours into the race and two hours after the men's winner had crossed the line, but thousands of runners were still on the course.

2.57pm: The Boston Globe's Twitter feed reports a witness hearing "two loud booms" near the finish line.

4.02pm: Boston police confirm two people have died and 23 injured in the explosions via Twitter.

6.12pm: President Barack Obama addresses the nation, saying: "The American people will say a prayer for Boston tonight."

8.49pm: At a news conference, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announces the FBI has taken over the investigation.

It is confirmed three people died as a result of the bombings and at least 100 others were hurt. The injury toll was later put at over 180.

Tuesday, April 16

Two victims of the blasts were identified as Martin Richard, eight, and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell.

Martin was waiting with his family to give his father a hug at the finish line when he died.

Restaurant manager Ms Campbell had gone with her best friend to take a picture of the friend's boyfriend crossing the finish when the bombs went off.

Wednesday, April 17

The third victim is identified as 23-year-old Chinese graduate student Lingzi Lu.

Boston University confirmed Ms Lu was studying mathematics and statistics there and was due to receive her degree in 2015.

It said she and two friends had been watching the marathon near the finish line. One of the friends, also a Boston University student, was injured while the other was unharmed, it added.

There are reports a suspect has been detained in connection with the explosions and is due to appear in court - but authorities said there had been no arrests.

The federal court in the city is evacuated due to a bomb scare but people are later allowed to return.

Thursday, April 18

Afternoon: Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend an interfaith service at a Roman Catholic cathedral in Boston to remember the bombing victims. The president vows the attackers will face justice.

Evening: The FBI releases photos and video footage of two bombings suspects at the scene before the attacks.

One is pictured wearing a black baseball cap and a second had a white baseball cap on back to front.

Police say the suspects tried to rob a supermarket in Cambridge, across the river from Boston, on Thursday evening.  

10.20pm: Officers receive reports of shots fired on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Boston.

10.30pm: A police officer at MIT is found with gunshot wounds in his vehicle after being shot several times. He died in hospital.

The bomb suspects are suspected of carrying out the shooting.

They are then thought to have stolen a Mercedes car at gunpoint and later release its driver unharmed.

Friday, April 19

1am: Witnesses in Watertown near Boston report hearing multiple gunshots and explosions. The suspects reportedly threw explosives from the vehicle as police followed it into the area.

The suspects and police exchange gunfire, during which an officer is hurt.

Police say one of the two suspects in the MIT officer shooting, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is dead. But his younger brother, Dzhokhar, remains at large. The pair are suspected of carrying out the bombings.

An extensive manhunt takes place in the Watertown area for Dzhokhar, who is said to be armed and dangerous.

Almost a million residents in Boston are warned to stay indoors and public transport is stopped as armed police search for Dzhokhar.

The two suspects are said to be from a Russian region near Chechnya and have lived in the US for at least one year.

6.60pm: Massachusetts Governor Patrick Deval announces the "stay indoors" order is being lifted, even though Dzhokhar remains in hiding.

Around the time the order is lifted, a flurry of gunfire breaks out in the community that is being searched. Law enforcement officials locate Dzhokhar in a boat parked behind a home.

8.45pm: Dzhokhar is taken into custody by police.

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Boston Residents Rejoice Over 'End Of Terror'

Boston Bomb Suspect In Custody

Updated: 6:22am UK, Saturday 20 April 2013

The second Boston bombing suspect has been captured after he was found hiding in a boat parked in a suburban backyard.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was already wounded from an earlier shootout, exchanged gunfire with police for an hour while holed up in the boat in the neighbourhood of Watertown.

The dramatic stand-off ended with the 19-year-old being given first aid on the lawn next to the boat before he was taken away in an ambulance. 

Dzhokhar remains in "serious condition" at Beth Israel Deaconess hospital, said Boston police commissioner Ed Davis.

Swat teams surrounded the boat after a tip-off from a resident who noticed blood on it, Mr Davis said.

The man lifted the cover of the boat, saw the teenager covered in blood and alerted police.

A police helicopter then used infra-red equipment to confirm there was a human inside the boat.

Dzhokhar had been on the run since his 26-year-old brother and fellow suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev  - known as suspect number one - was killed in a shoot-out with police in the early hours of Friday.

The brothers were believed to be behind Monday's twin explosions at the Boston Marathon which left three people dead and around 180 wounded.

During their getaway attempt, they killed Massachusetts Institute of Technology policeman Sean Collier and severely wounded another officer, authorities said.

A crowd of residents cheered as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev - known as suspect number two - was taken into custody, and the celebrations continued into the night in the city's streets.

Mayor Tom Menino said on Twitter: "We got him".

Boston Police tweeted: "CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody."

The family of eight-year-old Martin Richard, who died in the bombings, released a statement praising police.  

"Tonight, our family applauds the entire law enforcement community for a job well done, and trust that our justice system will now do its job," the family said.

Martin's mother also sustained brain injuries and his sister lost a leg in the blast.

US President Barack Obama told a news conference the suspect's capture "closed an important chapter in this tragedy".

But he said there were still many unanswered questions about the marathon bombings, including whether the two men had help from others.

As Dzhokhar was being captured, three people in New Bedford, Massachusetts, were also taken into custody for questioning over the blasts.

Lieutenant Robert Richard said two men and a woman were being questioned by the FBI "on the assumption there is an affiliation with suspect number two".

Dzhokhar's capture came at the end of a tumultuous all-day manhunt and house-to-house search by thousands of elite police officers.

As night fell, police announced that they were scaling back the hunt and they had so far come up empty-handed.

But shortly after that statement, a break came in Watertown when the homeowner - who had been indoors all day due to the manhunt - saw the blood on his boat.

The vessel had not been searched before because it was outside of the police perimeter set up during the search.

It has also been revealed that Tamerlan attracted the attention of US authorities two years ago.

The FBI said its agents interviewed him in 2011 at the request of a foreign government, but that the investigation found "no derogatory information", according to an official.

The FBI declined to identify the country involved or the nature of the probe.

The brothers moved to the US a decade ago from a Russian region near Chechnya and had been living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as legal permanent residents.

Their father, Anzor Tsarnaev, told reporters in Russia that he believed his sons had been framed and described the killing of Tamerlan as "cowardly".

Maret Tsarnaeva, the men's aunt, said Tamerlan had recently become a devout Muslim who prayed five times a day.

Speaking to reporters at her home in Toronto, Canada, she also said the older brother was married and had a daughter in the US.

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Police Officer Shot Dead At Massachusetts Uni

A police officer has been shot dead at a Massachusetts university, near Boston.

A message on the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT) website described the incident as "active and extremely dangerous".

Cambridge Police Department said in a statement that six gunshots were heard at 10.50pm local time.

University students have been warned to stay indoors

Officers are currently searching for the suspect.

The university warned students in an emergency alert to stay indoors and said that one building on campus had been surrounded by police.

About 11,000 people attend the prestigious school.

It comes just days after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 180.

More follows...

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Boston Marathon Bombings: Suspects On CCTV

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

The FBI has released pictures and video of two suspects in the deadly Boston marathon bombings.

CCTV footage and photographs show a pair of men investigators describe as "armed and extremely dangerous".

They are seen in the images carrying bulky backpacks as they walk the route of Monday's race in the heart of the city.

The man described as 'suspect one' was wearing a black cap

The men were filmed heading in the direction of the finishing line, moments before both bombs went off just seconds apart.

Three people were killed and more than 180 others injured in the explosions.

The images released on Thursday show one suspect wearing dark clothes, with his face obscured by a dark cap and sunglasses.

Another image of suspect one

The second is easier to make out - his white baseball cap is reversed allowing a clearer view of his face.

Investigators say it was this second man who was seen dumping his backpack at the site of the second explosion.

The videos and pictures were released at a news conference in Boston that had been delayed by 24 hours.

The man described as 'suspect two' was wearing a white hat

FBI special agent Richard DesLauriers, who is leading the manhunt, appealed for help in finding the suspects.

He said: "Somebody out there knows these individuals as friends, neighbours, co-workers or family members of the suspects.

"Though it may be difficult, the nation is counting on those with information to come forward and provide it to us."

Suspect two is said to have dropped his bag at the site of the second blast

The FBI has declined to discuss the men's ethnicity for fears people would be led "down the wrong path potentially".

Earlier at a moving inter-faith memorial service, Barack Obama joined 1,700 people at Boston's Holy Cross Cathedral to honour the victims - the youngest of whom was eight-year-old Martin Richard, from Boston.

The president promised the killers would be brought to justice, saying: "We will find you.

A profile shot of suspect two

"We will hold you accountable. But more than that, our fidelity to our way of life - to our free and open society - will only grow stronger."

Police have begun opening up more of the city after security was heightened in the wake of the attack, but the scene of the blasts was still being scoured by forensic teams on Thursday night.

There was panic and confusion in the aftermath of the deadly twin bombing

The other people killed were steakhouse manager Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lu Lingzi, a graduate student from China. Seven victims are in a critical condition.

The bombs were crudely made with explosives, nails and ball bearings packed into pressure cookers, investigators close to the case have said.

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Boston Marathon Bombs: FBI Hunts 'Suspect'

Investigators have revealed they have an image of a potential suspect taken from security footage before the deadly Boston Marathon bombings.

The picture is believed to have come from CCTV video taken before the twin attacks, in what could be the biggest breakthrough in the case.

It apparently shows a man carrying and possibly dropping a black bag at the second bomb scene on Boylston Street, outside the Forum restaurant, and then walking away.

The surveillance video is believed to have been taken at the Lord and Taylor department store between the sites of the two blasts, which were seconds and about 100 metres apart on the same road.

A forensic officer carries evidence from a rooftop near one of the blasts

Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle will attend an interfaith service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross later today in the city.

Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is also expected to attend.

It comes as police said no-one has been arrested over Monday's bombings, despite reports in the US media that a suspect was in custody.

The Associated Press earlier claimed a law enforcement official had said a person was detained and was set to be taken to the federal court in the city.

The FBI released images of parts of the bombs

Other media outlets also reported there had been an arrest. But the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US attorney's office in Boston and the police disputed that.

"Despite reports to the contrary there has not been an arrest in the Marathon attack," the Boston police department said on Twitter.

The FBI also said there had been "no arrests made," urging the media to "exercise caution".

Boston City Council president Stephen Murphy, who was 50 yards from one of the explosions, warned Sky News this investigation could be long and drawn out.

Martin Richard, eight, was killed in the explosions

He said: "There were tens of thousands of people out there on Boylston Street and so much movement and so much going on and so much to look at, and everybody's emailing, texting tips, to law enforcement.

"People are poring over that."

The explosive devices involved pressure cooker bombs hidden inside duffel bags packed with nails, shards of metal and ball bearings, placed on the ground near the finish line of the race.

Chinese graduate student Lu Lingzi was with friends when she was killed

Three people were killed and more than 170 others were injured in the twin blasts on Monday.

Those killed include eight-year-old Martin Richard, who was waiting to give his father a hug as he crossed the finish line; restaurant manager Krystle Campbell, 29, and Chinese graduate student Lu Lingzi, who was studying at Boston University.

Scores of victims remain in hospitals, many seriously injured. Seventeen people, one as young as give, remain in critical condition.

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Texas: Fatalities In Fertiliser Plant Blast

A number of people have been killed and hundreds injured after an explosion at a fertiliser plant in Texas.

The blast happened in West, near Waco. More than half of the town has been evacuated.

It was so powerful a nearby block of flats was destroyed and a number of residents of a local nursing home were injured.

A plume of smoke rises up after the explosion Pic: KWTX-TV

As many as 75 homes were damaged by the blast as well as a local school.

Officials have said firefighters have stopped trying to tackle the blaze as there are fears of another explosion.

The explosion happened shortly before 8pm local time on Wednesday and could be heard as far away as 45 miles.

Tommy Muska, West's mayor, said a number of firefighters are unaccounted for.

This image shows the initial blast Pic: KWTX-TV

Texas Governor Rick Perry said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene."

Debby Marak told The Associated Press she noticed a lot of smoke coming from the area across town near the plant, which is near a nursing home.

She said she drove over to see what was happening, and when she got out of her car two boys ran towards her screaming that officials told them to leave because the plant was going to explode.

Moments later the blast happened.

The injured are treated at a nearby sports field

"It was like being in a tornado," the 58-year-old said. "Stuff was flying everywhere. It blew out my windshield.

"It was like the whole earth shook."

Police officers have reportedly been transporting the injured to local hospitals in their patrol cars.

As many as a dozen helicopters have been sent to the West High School stadium where ambulances are waiting to transport victims to hospitals.

Local media reports claim firefighters had been trying to put out a fire at the plant when the explosion happened.

A number are believed to have been injured.

The explosion in the town of West comes on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Waco siege - a deadly confrontation between federal authorities and heavily armed locals.

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Boston Bombs: First Pictures Of Devices Released

US authorities have released the first pictures of the explosive devices used in the twin blasts which hit the Boston Marathon on Monday.

The images show twisted pieces of a metal container, wires, a battery and a small circuit board which exploded close to the finish line at the race.

In another, a piece of charred wire can be seen attached to a small box and a twisted metal lid with bolts.

The FBI said on Tuesday that a pressure cooker may have been used to build the bombs, with nails, ball bearings and other metal packed around the explosive.

The damage caused by one of the blasts in Boston

The device may also have been hidden inside rucksacks placed on the ground near the finish line.

Special Agent Richard DesLauriers said experts would reconstruct the devices at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

Three people were killed and more than 170 others injured after the two explosions around four hours into the famous marathon.

It is not yet known what was used to set off the devices.

Doctors have revealed the extent of the injuries suffered by those caught in the blasts, including details of a nine-year-old girl who lost her leg and a 10-year-old boy who suffered deep shrapnel wounds.

Several people have had to have limbs amputated and others are at risk of losing legs following the blasts. Seventeen remain in a critical condition.

No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack and the FBI has yet to find a motive.

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Boston Bombs: Victim's Mother 'Heartbroken'

The mother of one of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings has paid an emotional tribute to her daughter.

Krystle Campbell, 29, was the second of the three people killed in the blasts on Monday to be identified.

She had gone with her best friend to take a picture of the friend's boyfriend crossing the finish line on Monday afternoon when the bombs went off.

An image of one of the mangled pressure cooker bombs

Mother Patty Campbell said: "She was a wonderful person and everyone who knew her loved her.

"She was always smiling and was such a hard-worker in everything she did. This just doesn't make any sense."

Boston University said the third victim was a graduate student who was watching the race with friends at the finish line, close to the university.

The Chinese consulate said the victim was an exchange student, but has not identified them.

The first victim to be identified, eight-year-old Martin Richard, was waiting with his family to give his father a hug at the finish line when he was killed.

Krystle Campbell was with a friend at the race

His sister Jane lost a leg and his mother Denise, 43, is understood to have undergone surgery for a serious head injury after they were also caught in the blast.

President Obama will visit Boston on Thursday and will attend an interfaith service in memory of those killed.

On Tuesday, he branded the bombings an act of terrorism, but said investigators did not know whether they were carried out by a solo bomber or a group.

The FBI also vowed to "go to the ends of the Earth" to find out who carried out the attacks.

More than 24 hours since the twin blasts, the FBI has few breakthroughs to report and no apparent motive.

Eight-year-old Martin Richard was killed in one of the blasts

Special agent Rick DesLauriers said that specialists in Virginia will "reconstruct the device".

Doctors have revealed the extent of the injuries suffered by those caught in the blasts, including details of a nine-year-old girl who had lost her leg and a 10-year-old boy who suffered deep shrapnel wounds.

Several people have had to have limbs amputated and others are at risk of losing legs following the blasts that ripped through crowds during the city's marathon.

Forensic investigators work at the scene of one of the bomb blasts

The explosive devices involved pressure cooker bombs hidden inside duffel bags packed with nails, shards of metal and ball bearings, placed on the ground around 100m apart along the finishing stretch of the Boston Marathon route.

Seventeen people remain in a critical condition after the blasts.

Security has been stepped up in Washington and New York, and Boston remains on high alert, although there have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack.

People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the attacks

Police are said to have questioned a 20-year-old Saudi Arabian man who is being treated for injuries at a hospital in Boston.

Officers have searched his apartment in Revere, according to his flatmate.

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Boston Marathon Explosions: Live Updates

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1:14am UK, Tuesday 16 April 2013

The moment the blast happened

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Boston Marathon Explosions Leave Three Dead

At least three people have been killed and more than 130 others hurt after two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, police have said.

The blasts ripped through the crowd, with one explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish.

Another happened a few seconds later, about 50-100 metres away. They took place about two hours after the men's winner had crossed the line.

Cheering spectators lined the street and some runners were finishing the race as the drama unfolded.

The blasts happened at the end of the marathon

By that point, more than 17,000 competitors had completed the marathon, but thousands of others were further back along the course.

TV helicopter footage showed blood on the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay.

There were reports of a third blast at the JFK library a few miles away but that was later confirmed as a fire that was believed to be unrelated to the blasts.

Participants in the marathon were seen lying on the ground as the explosions tore through the finish line, sending smoke and debris soaring into the air.

A senior US intelligence official said two other explosive devices found near the end of 26-mile course were being dismantled. 

Boston Police asked people to stay indoors or go back to their hotel rooms and avoid crowds as bomb squads checked parcels and bags left along the race route.

More than 130 people were injured

Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama said the tragedy was a "senseless loss".

He said Americans would say a prayer for the Boston people and he and wife Michelle "send our deepest thoughts and prayers" to the families of the victims.

He said the US did not know "who did this or why" but vowed that whoever was responsible "will feel the full weight of justice".

The President went on: "We will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable."

A senior administration official told Fox News the White House believed it was a terror attack.

Police said no suspect was in custody, and Fox reported ball bearings were found on the street.

A bomb squad officer at the scene of one of the blasts

Sky's Mark White said: "The ball bearings are likely to be shrapnel, leading to a growing suspicion the blasts were deliberate."

Some runners who had not finished the race were diverted down another road and into a family meeting area.

According to the Boston Marathon website, there were more than 25,000 registered entrants in the race, 374 of whom are British and there were also 108 Irish athletes.

The Federal Aviation Administration has warned pilots it had created a no-fly zone over the site.

Runners and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Smoke rose through international flags lining the route of the world's oldest and most prestigious marathon.

British police are now reviewing security plans for this Sunday's London Marathon after the US blasts.

Member of the bomb sqaud investigates suspicious bag

Video footage has emerged which showed the moment one of the explosions happened.

Police made their way through competitors as they ran towards the scene, and injured spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for tired runners.

Roupen Bastajian, a 35-year-old state trooper, had just finished the race when he heard the first explosion.

"I started running toward the blast. And there were people all over the floor," he said.

"We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. A lot of people amputated. ... At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing."

A map shows the crimescene perimeter set up by police

A police officer was taken from the course with a leg injury that was bleeding.

"There are people who are really, really bloody," said Laura McLean, a runner from Toronto, who was in the medical tent being treated for dehydration when she was pulled out to make room for victims of the explosions.

New York police have stepped up security around key landmarks in the city after the double blasts.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter: "The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific - my thoughts are with all those who have been affected."

Boston Police said there is a helpline in the US for concerned relatives: 617 635 4500, and anybody with information about the blasts should call 1 800 494 tips.

The UK consulate in Boston said British Nationals in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Global Response Centre on 1 877 854 6872.

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