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The Papers: ‘Terror probe into stabbing’ and ‘Streeting still intent’

Headlines are dominated by a stabbing incident that occurred at a school in North London and the latest developments in the health secretary’s political maneuverings.

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"Terror probe into school stabbing" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.
"Terror probe into school stabbing" is the headline in the Daily Telegraph following an attack on two boys, aged 12 and 13, in North London. The two pupils remain in hospital. A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the paper writes. A picture of teary-eyed Norwegian Olympic athlete Sturla Holm Lagried also makes the front page in "the Olympic cheating scandal you didn't expect". Lagried told press he had cheated on his girlfriend after winning a bronze medal in "one of the most unusual interviews in Olympic history".
"Mandelson investigation will go back to Blair era" reads the headline on the front page of the Times.
The Times also features the counter-terrorism police's investigation into the stabbing at Kingsbury High School, highlighting the head teacher's description of the event as "deeply traumatic". It also says the investigation into Lord Mandelson's relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will "go back to Blair era". The peer's appointment to the position of British ambassador to the US has come under fresh scrutiny after the latest release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice. It was publicly known at the time of the appointment that Lord Mandelson had maintained a relationship with Epstein after his conviction for a child sex offence. The BBC understands Lord Mandelson's view is that he answered questions about his relationship with Epstein in the vetting process accurately. Lord Mandelson has not responded to requests for comment, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.
"Streeting still intent on deposing PM despite united front, say allies" reads the headline on the front page of the Guardian.
The Guardian says Health Secretary Wes Streeting is "still intent on deposing PM despite united front". His allies tell the paper they expect he will make an attempt to topple Sir Keir Starmer "within weeks".
"Allies admit Starmer is too 'weak' to sack Streeting after coup speculation"
Allies of the PM "admit Starmer is too 'weak' to sack Streeting after coup speculation", according to the Financial Times. The paper also reports on US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick who has said he visited Epstein's island in 2012.
"Starmer's ex-No 0 spin doctor loses Labour whip over link to sex offender" reads the headline on the front page of The i Paper.
The i Paper headlines on the news of Lord Doyle losing the Labour whip "over link to sex offender". The prime minister's "ex-No 10 spin doctor" was suspended after he campaigned for Labour councillor Sean Morton who was charged with possessing indecent images of children in 2017. He has apologised for his past association with Morton.
"Labour's taxes are 'shameful assault' on high street" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express.
The Daily Express highlights comments from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch that Labour's taxes are a "shameful assault" on high streets. This comes "amid warnings that small firms face an apocalypse", the paper writes.
"Get miaowt of here" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express/
The Daily Star calls Starmer a "limp lettuce" in a nod to its livestream of a lettuce during Liz Truss's premiership. It says that Larry the No 10 cat is "fed up with Labour's in-fighting", headlining with "get miaowt of here".
"Leo was gentle and kind... the heartbreak will never end" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail.
"Leo was gentle and kind… the heartbreak will never end" headlines the Mirror on the comments from the father of 12-year-old Leo Ross, killed in a stabbing in Birmingham. There is a "knives epidemic in our schools" says the Mirror.
"Teen held for 'terror stabbing' of boys, 12 and 13, in class" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail leads with the North London stabbing, saying witnesses claim the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" at the time. The paper also says it has revealed "where shamed Fergie's hiding – while plotting return".
"I was destroyed by Strictly" reads the headline on the front page of the Sun.
The Sun leads with the story of Strictly Come Dancing's Robin Windsor's suicide note, which it says detailed that he was "destroyed" by Strictly. The inquest continues.
"Going down... in flames!" reads the headline on the front page of Metro.
Metro leads with the story of a "DIY drugs baron" who it says "rigged his house with Home Alone-style booby traps inlcuding a flame-thrower to stop intruders". Ian Claughton has now been jailed and is "going down… in flames!"
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Tottenham set to appoint temporary boss ahead of permanent summer hire

Tottenham expect to appoint an interim manager to oversee the team for the rest of the season by this weekend, with plans to make a permanent appointment in the summer.

The task of finding a successor to Thomas Frank has fallen to Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, who are overseeing the selection process.

Tottenham Hotspur intends to appoint an interim manager to see out the current season, with a view to making a more permanent appointment during the summer months.

The dismissal of Thomas Frank occurred earlier this week, at a time when the team was five points clear of the relegation zone.

According to sources close to BBC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur is expected to finalize an agreement with an interim manager before the team resumes training on Monday.

Following their early exit from the FA Cup in the third round, Tottenham has a nine-day break before facing Arsenal in the north London derby on February 22.

With no match scheduled for this weekend, the first-team squad has been given a brief break and is set to return to training on Monday.

The club is aware that the mid-season transfer window presents limited options, and it may be more feasible to secure a long-term manager at the end of the campaign.

An in-depth examination of Thomas Frank's tenure reveals the challenges he faced in winning over players and fans.

A closer look at Frank's time at Tottenham highlights the risks involved in his appointment and the ultimate failure of his tenure.

Although the search for an interim manager is still ongoing, the successful candidate will be considered for the permanent position if they perform well in the role.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is a potential candidate to take the reins on a permanent basis, particularly since his contract with the US men's national team is set to expire after the World Cup this summer.

Another candidate being considered is Roberto De Zerbi, who recently parted ways with French club Marseille by mutual consent.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Tottenham, please refer to our dedicated section.

If you have any questions about Tottenham, feel free to ask and we will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

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Aberdeen to unveil new manager soon with Docherty set to take assistant role

Aberdeen has bolstered its interim management team with the return of Tony Docherty, who previously served as an assistant manager, to support Peter Leven, amid anticipation of a permanent appointment announcement that sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel had indicated would be made “imminently”.

Ross County parted ways with Tony Docherty in December, and he has now taken on a new role.

Aberdeen have brought in former assistant manager Tony Docherty to support Peter Leven's interim management team, despite sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel indicating that a permanent appointment was imminent.

Docherty's return to Aberdeen comes just a week after Eirik Horneland, a former coach of Rosenborg, Brann, and Saint-Etienne, emerged as a top contender to succeed Jimmy Thelin, who was sacked earlier.

As Aberdeen delays making a full-time appointment, speculation surrounding Eirik Horneland's availability has arisen, with reports suggesting the 50-year-old Norwegian may not be able to take on the role until summer.

Since Jimmy Thelin's dismissal on January 4, Lutz Pfannenstiel has been leading the search for a replacement, and he confirmed that Tony Docherty would be joining the team to assist Peter Leven during the interim period.

Dundee Utd are facing a challenging schedule, with four matches in 14 days set to take place on a weather-affected pitch.

According to Stavrum, Eirik Horneland's coaching style, characterized by intensity, would be a good fit for Aberdeen.

Tony Docherty initially joined Aberdeen in 2013 as part of Derek McInnes' management team and spent eight years at the club.

Before his stint at Aberdeen, Docherty served as McInnes' assistant at Kilmarnock and later managed Dundee and Ross County, but his time at Ross County ended in December when he was let go with the team at the bottom of the Championship.

Lutz Pfannenstiel praised Tony Docherty's experience, stating that he has a deep understanding of the club and will be a valuable asset during the transition period.

Pfannenstiel highlighted Docherty's extensive knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, gained through his experience as both a coach and manager, which will be beneficial to the team in the short term.

The club's managerial search is nearing its conclusion, and an announcement regarding the new head coach is expected soon, according to Pfannenstiel.

Peter Leven, who is serving as caretaker manager for the third time, expressed his enthusiasm for Tony Docherty's appointment.

Leven welcomed Docherty's return, stating that his experience will be a significant boost to the team, particularly during the upcoming matches.

Leven noted that Docherty was eager to join the team and that his presence will provide valuable support during both training sessions and matches.

Eirik Horneland left his position at Saint-Etienne in early February, at which point his team was fourth in France's second tier.

If Aberdeen decides to wait until summer for Horneland to take over, it will be similar to the six-month delay that occurred when Jimmy Thelin joined the club from Elfsborg in the summer of 2024.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Aberdeen, visit our dedicated page.

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Peter Murrell faces allegations of misusing £459,000 in funds over 12 years

Allegations have been made that he bought various items, such as luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome, in an improper manner.

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, is facing allegations of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a 12-year period.

Peter Murrell looking off to his right while sitting in a room. He is wearing a black suit, white shirt and dark coloured tie.
Peter Murrell is due to appear in court next Friday for a preliminary hearing

An indictment document obtained by BBC News outlines the case against Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The alleged embezzlement is said to have occurred between August 2010 and January 2023, according to the indictment.

It is claimed that Murrell used party funds to purchase luxury items, including jewellery, cosmetics, and vehicles, such as two cars and a motorhome.

The Scottish Sun was the first to report on the details of the indictment.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, 20 February, where Murrell is expected to appear.

During his initial court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Murrell made no plea and was subsequently granted bail.

Murrell's arrest in 2023 was part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the SNP's funding and finances, which led to him being charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

A police van and a police officer outside Murrell's home in April 2023.
Murrell was arrested in 2023 as part of a probe into the SNP's finances

Although Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the investigation, she is no longer considered a suspect.

BBC News has obtained a copy of the indictment against Murrell ahead of his upcoming court appearance.

It is worth noting that the indictment is subject to change until the case is heard in court and may be amended throughout the judicial process.

The indictment alleges that Murrell purchased a £124,550 motorhome for personal use and created false documents to justify the expense as a legitimate party expenditure.

Murrell is also accused of using £57,500 of party funds to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, and falsifying an invoice to conceal the true nature of the purchase.

Furthermore, it is alleged that when the Jaguar was sold in 2021, Murrell deposited more than £47,000 into his personal bank account.

The indictment also claims that Murrell embezzled £16,489 from the SNP to partially fund the purchase of a Volkswagen Golf in 2016.

A list of over 80 retailers is included in the indictment, where Murrell allegedly made purchases totalling more than £159,000 between 2014 and 2022, using party credit or charge cards for personal expenses.

The retailers named in the indictment include Harrods, the Royal Mint, John Lewis, Homebase, and Argos, among others.

It is alleged that Murrell used SNP credit or charge cards to make these purchases and then inserted false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions into the party's accounting systems.

The indictment also accuses Murrell of making purchases worth over £81,600 through Amazon using the same method.

Murrell served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years before his departure.

Murrell and Sturgeon were married in 2010, but announced their separation in January 2025, after being together for many years.

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