A former Forest School pupil in prison in Pakistan for murdering an American journalist has tried to commit suicide, according to reports.

Omar Saeed Sheikh was convicted in 2002 of the murder of Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and beheaded in Karachi.

Sheikh, 38, who has dual British and Pakistani citizenship, is said to have attempted to hang himself in prison, according to the AFP news agency.

The agency quote senior Pakistani police officer Aram Naeem as saying: “His condition is stable now and a case has been filed against him in the local police station.”

Mr Pearl was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 and a video of his killing was delivered to U.S. officials in Pakistan.

Forest School is a private school on the border of Walthamstow and Snaresbrook.