An Israeli soldier facing a private prosecution in the UK for alleged war crimes avoided arrest at Heathrow after being tipped off, it was reported today.

Major General Doron Almog stayed on the plane and flew back to Israel after being alerted to the arrest plan, the BBC said.

Leaked documents apparently show police did not board the plane to detain him at the airport because they were worried about the dangers of an armed confrontation.

Maj Gen Almog has been accused by Palestinian campaigners of ordering the destruction of more than 50 homes in the Gaza Strip in 2002,

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A leaked police log obtained by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) showed police feared a clash with armed El Al air marshals or the officer's security guards, the BBC said.

Lawyers acting for the campaigners, who say the homes were destroyed illegally in retaliation for an Israeli attack, lobbied the Metropolitan Police to get involved prior to Maj Gen Almog's trip to the UK.

He planned to make social and charitable visits to Jewish communities in Manchester and Solihull, in the West Midlands.

The Met initially refused to act due to pressures on counter-terrorism teams after the London bombings, but a judge eventually issued an arrest warrant for a private prosecution.

Officers reportedly planned to detain the officer at immigration control then take him to a police station.

Full article here.