UK NEWS

UK NEWS: JUNE 2004

Gunmen fled: Militants, reportedly dressed in military-style uniforms, opened fire with automatic weapons on the compounds housing oil company offices in Khobar on Saturday morning. The gunmen then fled into the luxury six-storey Oasis housing compound and took hostages. British diplomats are believed to have travelled from the embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh to the scene of the shootings. A spokesman for the Foreign Office told BBC News Online on Saturday: "We are investigating reports that British nationals may have been caught up in the incidents.

'Terrible attacks': "Reports have said one British national plus others have been killed but they are still unconfirmed." Mr Straw said the UK would stand by Saudi Arabia in its fight against terrorism. He said: "I am appalled by the attacks in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and strongly condemn these acts of terrorism. "I want to extend my condolences to all the families of all the victims of these terrible attacks." He said British officials in Khobar were in close touch with the Saudi authorities and the British community. The US embassy has confirmed that an American is among the dead. A 10-year-old Egyptian boy was also killed. A statement purporting to come from an al-Qaeda-linked group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The message from the al-Quds Brigade, which said Americans would not be allowed to steal Saudi Arabia's riches, was carried on an Islamic website. BBCWorldNews.

A team of diggers are planning to hunt for a Second World War fighter plane which crashed after downing a Nazi bomber near Buckingham Palace.

The crashed Dornier on Victoria Station forecourt, picture from City of Westminster archives

Photo: The German plane crashed onto the station forecourt at Victoria

Pilot Ray Holmes ran out of ammunition so flew his Hurricane into the German Dornier on 15 September 1940. He managed to use his aircraft to slice off the bomber's wing and he bailed out before his plane hit Buckingham Palace Road at the junction with Ebury Bridge. A team will be filmed live as they try to find the plane's shell on Sunday. If they succeed, it will go on display as part of Westminster's West End at War weekend on 12 and 13 June. But the team are not expecting to find it resembles the plane much - it hit the ground at about 350 miles an hour.

Bomber 'heading for palace': It is thought the German bomber may have been on a mission to destroy Buckingham Palace. Footage of the crash survives and will be broadcast on a giant screen in Leicester Square during the weekend of events. Mr Holmes, now 89, has been interviewed for a documentary by Channel 5, which is also broadcasting the dig live on Sunday night. Tim Owen, from Westminster City Council, said: "Westminster Council has pulled out all the stops to facilitate this historic excavation." But he added there would be some traffic disruption, with diversions around Ebury Bridge.

The UK premiere of Harry Potter film

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

Photo: The film's stars will appear in London for at premiere

The film, directed by the Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, will be shown at the Odeon Leicester Square in the capital's West End from 1800 BST. Stars taking part will include Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson (Hermione Grainger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley). The premiere follows enthusiastic reviews for the film. The film has been described as the best of the films so far, with a much darker atmosphere.

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