THE widow of a July 7 bomber who is suspected of being part of a terror cell is believed to have stolen the identity of a Southend woman.

Kenyan police are hunting Samantha Lewthwaite, 28, after she evaded capture when authorities carried out a raid on a group suspected of planning a terror attack in Mombasa at Christmas.

Kenyan officers believe she was most recently using the name Natalie Faye Webb and carrying a forged South African passport.

The father of the real Natalie Faye Webb who lives in Southend said his daughter had been an "innocent bystander" when an arrest warrant was issued in her name.

He said: "It is a relief attention can now focus on this woman." Ms Lewthwaite converted to Islam at the age of 15 and married Lindsay in 2002 before he killed 26 people when he blew himself up in July 2005.

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