A British beheading on the net - police claim to foil plot

A plot to abduct and film the beheading of a young British Muslim soldier - apparently inspired by footage of Iraqi murders posted on the internet - was foiled yesterday with the arrest of nine men, according to police and security sources.

In what would mark a new departure for UK jihadists, members of the group are alleged to have been preparing to film the kidnap victim as he begged for mercy before being murdered, and were then planning to post the footage on the web.

The conspiracy is alleged to have been intended to echo the deaths of hostages in Iraq such as Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan, according to security sources, but to the incredulity of the local community.