Independent and Guardian 1/2/07

The Guardian's frontpage story on the Birmingham raids is split into roughly half. Half the story talks about the men arrested and the raids and the other half is devoted to ellucidating on the speculation. The phrase "alleged to have been" is used three times on the frontpage.

Page 4 of the Guardian has two stories about the arrests and raids. Page 5 however has two stories about the unfounded unnamed source-inspired "plot". One story is given over to giving a potted history of the beheading and videotaping terror technique. In a story about the alleged victim the following speculatory words and phrases are employed:
"alleged..."
"thought to have..."
"allegedley..."
"was to have been..."
"would have been..."

Even though it quotes assistant chief constable Shaw as saying that speculation was unhelpful, the Guardian speculates anyway.

The absence of this story from the Independent's frontpage is not a sign that it is not joining in with the speculation-fest.

* page 4
"suspected plot..."
"alleged plan..."
"alleged plot, if proven..."
"thought to be a..."
"alleged plot..."
"Details [...] still unclear..."
"alleged conspiracy..."
"alleged plot..."
"would have been..."

On page page 5 Professor Paul Wilkinson from St Andrews university joins in with his take on the "plot".