New York policeman 'in cannibal plot'

A New York City policeman has been arrested for an alleged plot to kidnap women, rape and torture them and then cook and eat their body parts.

The FBI says Gilberto Valle emailed an unidentified co-conspirator to discuss details of the ghoulish plan.

The authorities were alerted by the suspect's estranged wife.

No women were hurt, officials say, but Mr Valle, 28, allegedly used police databases to gather information on a list of potential victims.

He was assigned to a police precinct in Manhattan and lives in Queens.

The officer is expected to appear in a federal court to face kidnapping charges on Thursday.