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Hundreds of German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, have had personal details stolen and published online.

Contacts, private chats and financial details were put out on Twitter that belong to figures from every political party except the far-right AfD.

Data from celebrities and journalists were also leaked. It is unclear who was behind the attack, which emerged on Twitter in the style of an advent calendar last month.

The true extent of damage caused by the leak is not yet known although Justice Minister Katarina Barley said it was a «serious attack». «The people behind this want to damage confidence in our democracy and institutions,» she said.

A government spokeswoman said no sensitive data from the chancellor’s office had been published. MPs, Euro MPs and MPs from state parliaments were affected, said Martina Fietz. She said the government was not yet certain that the data had been stolen by cyber-hackers. Some reports suggested a lone leaker may have had access to sensitive data through their work.

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A man who planned to kill 100 people in a London terror attack was instructed by an Islamic State (IS) commander to make the British people «pay in their blood», a court has heard.

Lewis Ludlow, 27, from Rochester in Kent, said he was told to set off a truck bomb after being refused permission to leave the UK. He then carried out «reconnaissance» and planned to target Oxford Street.

Ludlow pleaded guilty in August to preparing acts of terrorism. He is giving evidence at the Old Bailey ahead of sentencing as there are still disputed issues between the prosecution and defence.

The former Royal Mail worker said a Filipino extremist, known as Abu Yaqeen, told him to scout potential targets, take pictures, and prepare an oath of allegiance to IS.

The court heard on Thursday how Ludlow was working with the government’s de-radicalisation programme, known as Prevent, while planning the attacks.

Images taken by Ludlow, by then under intensive police surveillance, of various London landmarks, including Madame Tussauds and the Disney Store on Oxford Street, were shown to the court.

In a torn-up note recovered from a bin hear his home, Ludlow had written «it is a busy street it is ideal for an attack. It is expected nearly 100 could be killed.»

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An Angus memorial commemorating Airedale terriers and the soldiers they served beside in World War One will be unveiled this year.

The memorial will be installed at East Haven Beach in Carnoustie, where Lt Col Edwin Richardson trained the dogs in the early 1900s.

Lt Col Richardson eventually convinced the government that the Airedale was the right breed for war work.

The sculpture is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the UK. It is being hewn from a 30 ton block of granite by sculptor Bruce Walker and apprentice Kevin Hill.

Mr Walker said the sculpture would capture the dogs’ dedication and power, both mental and physical. He said: «It’s their relationship with their handler that’s important- it was usually one man, one dog.»

Wendy Turner from the Airedale Terrier Club of Scotland is the driving force behind the memorial.

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The stabbing of three people — including a police officer — at Manchester Victoria station on New Year’s Eve is being treated as a terror related incident, police have confirmed.

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two knives were recovered at the scene and a property is being searched in the Cheetham Hill area. The security services are assisting police.

In a briefing on Tuesday morning Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins added: «Last night we experienced a horrific attack on people out to simply enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Manchester. «My thoughts are with the couple who are still being treated in hospital for their serious injuries and with the brave British Transport Police officer who was also stabbed during the attack.

The three victims were taken to a nearby hospital with «serious» but not life-threatening injuries. A woman in her 50s suffered injuries to her face and stomach, while a man — also in his 50s — has injuries to his stomach.

Manchester Victoria railway station has reopened after the stabbings.

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