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Ex US Marine Claims He Is Victim Of Political Kidnap

A former US marine imprisoned in Russia on suspicion of spying has complained of “abuses and harassment” and says he is a “victim of political kidnap”.

Mr Whelan – a citizen of the US, UK, Canada and Ireland – was arrested in late December, accused of espionage. The 48-year-old denies the charges and told a court on Friday that he had been subjected to threats and abuse by a security service investigator.

The comments came as his pre-trial custody was extended until 29 August.

Mr Whelan told the court that there was “absolutely no legitimacy” to the case against him, describing it as retaliation for US sanctions. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

He said he had not showered in two weeks, was unable to access medical or dental treatment and had been denied access to books and letters sent to him months ago. “I’ve been threatened. My personal safety has been threatened. There are abuses and harassment that I am constantly subjected to,” he said.

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‘American Taliban’ Released From Prison

John Walker Lindh – the so-called “American Taliban” – has been released from prison, a move Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared “unconscionable”.

Lindh served 17 years of a 20-year sentence after he was captured in 2001 fighting in Afghanistan. His early release has sparked fierce criticism, with many believing he still harbours extremist views.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Mr Pompeo said it was “deeply troubling and wrong”.

Mr Lindh “still is threatening the United States of America” and was “still committed to the very jihad that he engaged in”, he said. His lawyer Bill Cummings told CNN Lindh would now move to Virginia and live under the direction of his probation officer.

Born in Washington DC in 1981 and named after John Lennon, Lindh was raised a Catholic. He dropped out of school and converted to Islam at the age of 16, moving to Yemen the next year to learn Arabic.

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Police Forces Arrest Nearly 600 Gang Members In The Last Week

Nearly 600 suspected members of county lines drugs gangs have been arrested across the UK in the past week, the National Crime Agency has said.

Police forces led by the National County Lines Coordination Centre also seized cocaine worth £176,780, £312,649 in cash and 46 weapons.

The NCA estimates there are about 2,000 city-based gangs exploiting young people to sell drugs in smaller towns. It says tackling the gangs is a “national law enforcement priority”.

In the operation between 13 and 20 May:

500 men and 86 women were arrested in raids in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cheshire, Bedfordshire and other areas,519 vulnerable adults and 364 children in need of support were helped, 30 people were identified as potential victims of slavery or human trafficking.

Four guns were seized, as well as swords, machetes, an axe, knives, samurai swords, and a crossbow. Drugs including cocaine with a street value of £176,780, crack worth £36,550 and £17,950 of heroin were recovered.

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Teenagers Living In Care Vulnerable To Organised Crime Gangs

Thousands of teenagers in care are being “dumped” in unregulated homes and “abandoned to organised crime gangs”.

The number of looked-after children aged 16 and over living in unregistered accommodation in England has increased 70% in a decade, Newsnight has found.

Police forces have raised concerns, saying criminals see the premises as an easy target for recruitment. The government said children in care “deserve good quality accommodation”.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) said local authorities do “many things” – including unannounced checks and DBS checks – to monitor provision.

As part of a special series of reports, Britain’s Hidden Children’s Homes, Newsnight has learned that – according to figures from the Department for Education – around 5,000 looked after children in England are living in so-called 16+ supported or semi-supported accommodation – up from 2,900 10 years ago.

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Neo Nazi Terror Plotter Jailed For Life

A neo-Nazi who planned to murder Labour MP Rosie Cooper in a terrorist attack has been jailed for life.

Jack Renshaw, 23, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, must serve at least 20 years in prison.

A judge at the Old Bailey said Renshaw, who earlier admitted preparing an act of terror, wanted to “replicate” the murder of Jo Cox.

Renshaw made a Nazi salute towards supporters as he was led to the cells from the dock. He pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to buying a machete to kill the West Lancashire MP and making threats to kill police officer Det Con Victoria Henderson.

A jury twice failed to reach a verdict on charges relating to his membership of banned neo-Nazi group National Action.

Sentencing him for the terror plot, Judge Justice McGowan said Renshaw’s “perverted view of history and current politics” led him to “an attempt to damage our entire system of democracy”. She said: “You praised the murder of Jo Cox in tweets and posts in June 2017. In some bizarre way you saw this as a commendable act and set out to replicate that behaviour.”

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