Teachers are being forced to spy on their students over fears about Islamic extremism, a teachers' union conference has heard.

New counter-terror rules aimed at exposing radicalisation require schools to report suspicions about pupils to the police.
The National Union of Teachers says the rules are stifling debate in schools.
The Conservatives said the guidance made clear that no teacher should feel unable to talk about sensitive issues.
A party spokesman said teaching about "fundamental British values" actively encouraged such discussions.
But the NUT conference in Harrogate heard how teachers were becoming too nervous to discuss controversial issues such as Islamic fundamentalism.
One Wandsworth teacher, Jan Nielsen, said: "We are expected to be front-line stormtroopers who listen, spy and notify the authorities of students who we are suspicious of."
She told delegates of a Muslim pupil who had been questioned over comments he made after Friday prayers, even though he had made a strong argument against extremism.
And she gave a case of another boy being questioned after he applied for permission to visit his dying grandfather in Pakistan.
His laptop was seized and he was accused of looking at jihadi websites by the headteacher.
In response the boy said: "How can I argue against something if I don't understand it?"
Other teachers claimed Muslims were being demonised and turned into suspects.
Executive member Alex Kenny told delegates the union was already hearing  that teachers did not know whether to open up discussions on such issues because they did not know "where they would go".
He added: "Prevent is shutting down debate and we must oppose it. Schools are places where teachers and children should be allowed to have discussions."
The "Prevent" strategy is part of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, designed to discourage people from supporting terrorism.
In certain circumstances teachers could also face prosecution if they failed to alert the police to any concerns they have about pupils.
Schools must also actively promote "British values" and are judged on how well they teach these as part of the school inspection process.
Delegates agreed a motion which said: "The government's promotion of British values, the Prevent agenda and the use of Ofsted to monitor these is having the effect of closing down spaces for such discussion and that many school staff are now unwilling to allow discussions in their classroom for fear of the consequences."
Speaking ahead of the debate, NUT general secretary Christine Blower gave the example of how teachers had felt conflicted when dealing with the issue of the attack on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo.
"When the appalling attacks took place at Charlie Hebdo, quite a few teachers said pupils were bringing it into class saying it is a big news story - what is happening here?," she said.
"After the attack, some students, particularly some Muslim students, said they felt if they expressed that they were offended by the cartoons, they would be labelled as extremist.
"The idea that young people themselves are shutting this down means that they are locked out of the discussion."
She said the way to deal with such controversial matters was "to have proper discussions within a robust framework".
And she argued that if any concerns about extremism or radicalisation among pupils emerged in schools, they should be dealt with under existing safeguarding procedures in schools.
Kalsoom Bashir of counter-extremism organisation Inspire agreed that early intervention was key.
She said: "Prevent really is about working with people whether they're members of the community, as mothers we work with, or with teachers, about the need to have open and frank conversations - and recognise when somebody maybe at risk of going down a criminal path and start having those conversations very, very early."
A spokesman for the Conservatives said: "The battle against extremism begins at school where young people learn to be active, resilient and tolerant citizens, ready to seize the rich opportunities of modern Britain.
"Teaching about the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance and respect for others is part of our promotion of British values and is at the heart of what every school has to deliver for children.
"We want all schools to promote these values throughout the curriculum, not just as a bulwark against extremism, but as a vital part of preparing young people to get on in life. It helps to open young people's minds, making them into citizens who respect difference, who welcome disagreement and who challenge intolerance."


Work to prepare Portsmouth harbour to allow the navy's new aircraft carriers to dock will start in the autumn the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

Three million cubic metres of sea bed will be removed to deepen and widen a 4 mile (7km) channel.
It will allow the navy's new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to enter the port.
The work costing £31m is expected take eight months.
The MoD said high-voltage power for the ships when berthed and new gangways were also being installed in the naval base to accommodate the vessels.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to be handed over to the MoD in 2016 ahead of being put into service in 2020.
Work is also under way on a second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince Of Wales.


Police investigating the Manchester Arena bomb attack have stopped sharing information with the US after leaks to the media, the BBC understands.

UK officials were outraged when photos appearing to show debris from the attack appeared in the New York Times.
It came after the name of bomber Salman Abedi was leaked to US media just hours after the attack, which killed 22  - including children - and injured 64.
Theresa May is to raise concerns with Donald Trump at a Nato meeting later.
Greater Manchester Police hopes to resume normal intelligence relationships - a two-way flow of information - soon but is currently "furious", the BBC understands.
The force - which is leading the investigation on the ground - gives its information to National Counter-Terrorism, which then shares it across government and - because of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing agreement - with the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
In total eight men are now in custody following the attack, carried out by Manchester-born Abedi, a 22-year-old from a family of Libyan origin.
It has also emerged two people who had known Abedi at college made separate calls to a hotline to warn the police about his extremist views.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd had said she was "irritated" by the disclosure of Abedi's identity against the UK's wishes and had warned Washington "it should not happen again".
However, the pictures of debris - which appear to show bloodstained fragments from the bomb and the backpack used to conceal it - were subsequently leaked to the New York Times, prompting an angry response from within Whitehall and from UK police chiefs.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says UK officials believe that US law enforcement rather than the White House is the likely culprit for the leaks.
A Whitehall source described the second US leak as "on another level", and said it had caused "disbelief and astonishment" across the British government.
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent
The police decision to stop sharing information specifically about the Manchester attack with their security counterparts in the US is a hugely significant move and shows how angry British authorities are.
The information from the crime scene wasn't shared on a whim: the British and Americans have a lot of shared world-leading expertise in improvised explosive devices and scientists would be discussing whether the Manchester device tells them something new that could, ultimately, track down a bomb-maker.
Other sharing will continue. The UK and US share a vast amount of information about terror and espionage threats - its a tight-knit network that also encompasses Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
That system is based on trust and the "control principle": if a piece of intelligence is shared, the receiving nation has no right to further disseminate it without permission.
The UK's National Police Chiefs' Council described the "unauthorised disclosure" as a breach of trust which had potentially undermined a "major counter-terrorism investigation".
Counter-terrorism detectives have spoken in the past about how a delay of about 36 hours before the public know who is being investigated can allow known associates of the suspect to be arrested without being tipped off.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the leaks had worried him "greatly", and he had raised them with the US ambassador.
Lord Blair, who was the head of the Metropolitan Police at the time of the bombings in London on 7 July 2005 said intelligence leaks by the US were not new.
"I'm afraid it just reminds me exactly of what happened after 7/7 when the US published a complete picture of the way the bombs in 7/7 had been made up," he said.
"It's a different world in which the US operate in terms of how they publish things and this is a very grievous breach but I'm afraid it's the same as before."
In other developments:
Eight men and one woman have been arrested in the UK since Monday night, including Abedi's older brother Ismail, 23. The woman has since been released.
Abedi's younger brother Hashem, 20, was held by special forces linked to the interior ministry in the Libyan capital Tripoli, as was their father.
Speaking on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "It's very clear that this is a network that we are investigating.
"And as I've said, it continues at a pace. There's extensive investigations going on and activity taking place across Greater Manchester."
As part of their investigation, police raided a block of flats near Manchester Piccadilly station in the city centre, requiring them to carry out a controlled explosion and briefly close the railway line.
Police carried out another controlled explosion in the early hours of Thursday morning at an address in the Moss Side area of Manchester.
Anyone with information can call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789321.
Some of the victims had been making their way outside at the end of the Ariana Grande gig when Abedi detonated his "nuts-and-bolts" bomb.
They include children and teenagers and others who had been waiting in the foyer to pick up concert-goers.
The youngest so far known to have died is eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, while an off-duty Cheshire police officer, who has not yet been named, was also among the dead.
The latest victim to be named is Eilidh MacLeod, a 14-year-old from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, also died. Her family issued a statement saying: "Words cannot express how we feel at losing our darling Eilidh."
Of the 64 injured, 20 are in a critical condition. Twelve of them are children.
Salman Abedi was a 22-year-old born in Manchester to Libyan parents, and a former University of Salford student.
He attended Burnage Academy for Boys in Manchester between 2009 and 2011, and The Manchester College until 2013.
A former classmate told the BBC that Abedi was a "very jokey lad" but also "very short tempered" and would get angry at "the littlest thing".
The man, who did not want to be identified, said Abedi had hung around "the wrong crowd and was very, very gullible".
Before leaving Burnage Academy, Abedi had become "more and more religious", the man added.
A Muslim community worker, who did not want to be identified, has told the BBC that two people who had known Abedi at college had made separate calls five years ago to a hotline to warn about his extremist views.
He said they had been worried that Abedi was "supporting terrorism" and he had expressed the view that "being a suicide bomber was ok".
Profile: Who was Salman Abedi?


The UK's Brexit negotiating stance cannot just be "a series of demands which appeal to people in Peterborough", a former Irish prime minister has warned.

John Bruton made the comments at the House of Lords EU Select Committee.
He said the UK would need to take an imaginative approach which appealed to mutual self-interest.
"The negotiating bid should be framed as what Britain wants to do to help the EU prosper and the UK prosper."
Mr Bruton, who also served as EU ambassador to the US, added that in his experience the best way to get anything done in Europe is to present your position as good for Europe as a whole.
He said it is "very easy to see what's good for yourself"  but more difficult to ask "what's in this for Slovenia?"
Mr Bruton was giving evidence alongside Bertie Ahern, another former Irish prime minister.
Mr Ahern dismissed a recent suggestion that Irish ports and airports would become proxy points of entry into the UK and a type of frontier for British immigration checks.
"I quite frankly just found that unbelievable," he said.
"To put that suggestion forward is a total lack of understanding of how people think, north and south, of either tradition. It just would not happen."


Britain's Kyle Edmund beat American wild card Ernesto Escobedo at the US Open to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Edmund, 21, followed up his first-round win over 13th seed Richard Gasquet with another confident display as he came through 7-5 6-4 6-4.
The Yorkshireman, ranked 84th in the world, will play American 20th see John Isner in the last 32.
Briton Johanna Konta beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 5-7 6-2.
Compatriots Andy Murray, Dan Evans and Naomi Broady play their second-round matches on Thursday.
Edmund looked to have been handed a golden opportunity facing Escobedo in the second round, but the world number 201 made him work for it.
With both men struggling to find their first serve, Edmund saw off some real pressure before edging the first set and saw six break points slip by in the second.
Some brilliant Edmund defence earned a seventh chance, and prompted Escobedo to smash his racquet, and the Briton secured a two-set lead after an hour and a half.
With the humidity providing as much discomfort as the heat, there was every reason for Edmund to keep up the pressure and push for a straight-sets win, but the third set was another gruelling contest.
It was Edmund's sixth break point of the set - and 16th of the match - when he finally made the breakthrough before confidently serving it out.
"I'm very pleased, a lot of good things today," Edmund told Eurosport.
"I thought I played a much cleaner match, a lot of things went better for me against Gasquet. This was about toughing out more longer rallies, I made a few more errors, but you can't be too tough on yourself.
"I thought every set I stayed tough, and when it counted towards the end I got the break."


(Close): London's leading shares closed almost 110 points lower on Thursday, with insurer Direct Line leading the slide with a 9% fall.

Losses mounted in late trading to leave the FTSE 100 1.8% lower at 6,036.7 points.
Direct Line was one of several companies going ex-dividend, along with BHP Billiton, which fell 4.9%.
Supermarket chain Morrisons, which recently returned to the FTSE 100, was another big faller, shedding 4.5%.
The decline came after the retailer posted a further drop in annual profits as a result of the price war in the supermarket sector.
Shopping centre owner Intu Properties, a recent entrant to the FTSE, was the top riser, adding almost 1.5% to 299.8p.
The company, whose centres include Lakeside in Essex and the Trafford and Arndale centres in Manchester, is worth just over Â£4bn.
On the FTSE 250, estate agent Savills rose 5.2%, while OneSavingsBank was the biggest faller, losing 7.8%.
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.6% against the dollar to $1.4301, but tumbled 0.9% against the euro to â‚¬1.2810.


Head coach Ian Cathro believes his Hearts squad has a stronger mentality than the team that was knocked out of Scottish Cup at Easter Road last term.

Hearts visit Hibernian in a Scottish Cup replay on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw in the first fifth-round tie.
And Cathro is convinced his players are ready for the derby match.
"I see a Hearts team now that is stronger and more ready to deal with the part of the game when we need to suffer and need to fight," he said.
The Edinburgh rivals met at the same stage of the competition last season, in February, with Hibs winning the replay courtesy of a Jason Cummings goal.
"We have a stronger and more ready group to balance better the high of when it is going for us and also be able to deal with the situation when you have a difficult period of the game. You can't dominate the entirety of the match," added Cathro, who joined Hearts in December.
"The first game gives us information, we have played against the opponents, maybe they will be a little bit different, but there won't be too many changes I would imagine.
"Everyone feels quite clear with what we will be faced with."
Cathro, who hopes to welcome Don Cowie back into the first-team squad following a rib injury, reflected on his first experience of the Edinburgh derby by saying there was "less football, less quality" than other games.
He would not be drawn on the potential impact on the Hibs players of Neil Lennon's stark criticism in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers, saying that "those are internal things at another club".
However, he added that the cup holders are already more than capable of playing in the Premiership.
"On Wednesday, it is the most important thing in all our lives, to win the game," said Cathro.
"And, when we play the next game in a different competition, that will be the most important thing.
"It really is that simple. We are fighting to become a team that knows how to win and gets used to winning, it becomes comfortable with the feeling that we need to win.
"I am happy with the idea that there is more pressure on us because of how much we want to win the game.
"You see inside Hibs a team that could very comfortable play in the top league without drastic changes and, over the last couple of seasons, if things go slightly differently then they would already be in this league.
"They are a top-league club in Scotland and I think they could comfortable be a top league team in Scotland.
"I am sure we can look forward to trying to beat them more often next season."


An extra vessel has been drafted in to deal with passengers and freight travelling to the Channel Islands after a £50m ferry was damaged in high winds.

Condor Liberation - which sails between Poole in Dorset and the Channel Islands - struck the quayside at St Peter Port, Guernsey, on her second day in service.
Condor Ferries said it would now be out of action until Saturday.
The MV Arrow has been brought in to carry freight while the Commodore Clipper will carry passengers.
The Clipper is a conventional, rather than high-speed ferry, so journeys will take longer on Wednesday and Thursday and will operate between the islands and Portsmouth.
The Condor Express, one of two vessels being replaced by the Liberation and sold to Greek firm Seajets, will operate two services between the islands and Poole on Friday.
Captain Fran Collins, from ferry firm, said: "No-one is more disappointed than we are, that the combination of the very unfortunate incident at the weekend and some really severe weather, has caused this disruption in Condor Liberation's first week in service.
"We are working around-the-clock to have her back in service as soon as possible and are very grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding.
"We would like to apologise to all those customers affected by the weather disruption and the incident which affected Condor Liberation.
"We are carrying out a full investigation in conjunction with Guernsey Harbours and we know there are always lessons to be learned in situations like these."
The Commodore Clipper normally carries passengers and freight between Portsmouth and the islands.
The MV Arrow will take over some of its freight services this week so it can focus on passenger sailings.


A "serious breakdown of working relationships" at a west Belfast "impacted substantially" on its pupils, an independent report has found.

The investigation of events at De La Salle College was ordered in April by former Education Minister John O'Dowd, after months of industrial problems.
On one day in March, about one third of its teachers were absent from work.
The report said some staff "described a culture of fear" and made claims of "bullying and intimidating behaviour".
However, it found that the numerous problems were not "solely attributable" to the principal Claire White, and there was "no single cause or factor" for them.
Criticism of CCMS
The secondary school, in the Andersonstown area of west Belfast, has more than 1,000 pupils and was the scene of protests by parents earlier this year, concerned about the impact of the staff problems on their children's education.
The report, published on Wednesday, said there had been "a wide range of issues and incidents" at the school, stretching back more than three years.
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), which helps to manage Catholic schools, came in for particular criticism.
The report highlighted failings on behalf of the organisation for not intervening earlier to resolve disputes at the school.
It also said CCMS were "aware of the difficulties and developing conflict within the school" from at least June 2014.
The report also found that the disputes had "a detrimental impact" on pupils at the school.
"Normal classes were frequently disrupted because of the levels of teacher absence," it said.
Financial concerns
The school had also failed to apply for special consideration for all pupils taking GCSE and A-level exams in summer 2016 who might have been affected by the disputes.
Among the report's other findings were:
The current Education Minister Peter Weir received the report earlier this month.
The investigation was led by a three-person panel consisting of leading educationalist Sir Robert Salisbury, trade unionist John Corey and Belfast Metropolitan College's principal Marie-ThÃ©rÃ¨se McGivern.
Their remit included looking at staff relationships, the role of senior leadership, governance of the school and the impact of the ongoing disputes on pupils.
Mr Weir said he had asked his officials to work with CCMS and the Education Authority to oversee their implementation.
"My priority remains the pupils at the school," the minister said.
"I am confident that the panel's report will provide a sound platform for moving forward in building relations within the school and the wider community, while also making a positive contribution to ensuring that all children receive a quality education experience."


The summer transfer window opens in England, Scotland and Wales in July and will close at the end of August.

Signings confirmed in April can be found on the relevant page, while you can see who each club has released on our dedicated page.
Keep up to date with all of the confirmed deals in our list below.
You can also catch up with what the papers are saying in today's gossip column, or for manager ins and outs, see our list of current bosses.
Niall Canavan [Scunthorpe - Rochdale] Free
Darius Charles [Burton - AFC Wimbledon] Free
Danny Hylton [Oxford - Luton] Free
Liam McAlinden [Wolves - Exeter] Free
Johnny Mullins [Oxford - Luton] Free
Mark Randall [Barnet - Newport] Free
Yordi Teijsse [Quick Boys - Dundee] Free
Stephen Warnock [Derby - Wigan] Free
Antoni Sarcevic [Fleetwood - Shrewsbury] Free
Mathieu Baudry [Leyton Orient - Doncaster] Free
Louis Dodds [Port Vale - Shrewsbury] Free
Viktor Fischer [Ajax - Middlesbrough] Undisclosed
Russell Penn [York - Carlisle] Free
Louis-Michel Yamfam [Stevenage - Charlton] Undisclosed
Blair Alston [Falkirk - St Johnstone] Free
Gary Deegan [Southend - Shrewsbury] Free
James Jennings [Forest Green - Cheltenham] Free
Ryan Lowe [Bury - Crewe] Free
Josh Payne [Eastleigh - Crawley] Free
George Taft [Burton - Mansfield] Free
Alex Cairns [Rotherham - Fleetwood] Free
Erik Cikos [Unattached - Ross County]
Ross Etheridge [Accrington - Doncaster] Free
Danzell Gravenberch [FC Dordrecht - Reading] Undisclosed
Aaron Holloway [Wycombe - Fleetwood] Undisclosed
Lloyd James [Leyton Orient - Exeter] Free
Aaron McCarey [Wolves - Ross County] Free
Glenn Morris [Gillingham - Crawley] Free
Chris Neal [Port Vale - Fleetwood] Free
Jon Nolan [Grimsby - Chesterfield] Free
Danny Rose [Bury - Mansfield] Undisclosed
Christopher Routis [Bradford - Ross County] Free
Alan Sheehan [Bradford - Luton] Free
Robbie Simpson [Cambridge - Exeter] Free
Kenny van der Weg [NAC Breda - Ross County] Free
Granit Xhaka [Borussia Monchengladbach - Arsenal] Undisclosed
Nicky Adams [Northampton - Carlisle] Free
Jason Banton [Notts County - Crawley] Free
Joey Barton [Burnley - Rangers] Free
Matty Blair [Mansfield - Doncaster] Free
Loris Karius [Mainz - Liverpool] £4.7m
James Martin [Queen of the South - Hartlepool] Free
Joe McKee [Greenock Morton - Carlisle] Undisclosed
Ben Pollock [Newcastle - Hartlepool] Free
Kayden Jackson [Wrexham - Barnsley] Free
Ben Wyatt [Maldon & Tiptree - Colchester] Undisclosed
Cian Bolger [Southend - Fleetwood] Free
Michael Madl [Sturm Graz - Fulham] Undisclosed
Ashley Eastham [Rochdale - Fleetwood] Free
Oliver Lancashire [Rochdale - Shrewsbury] Free
Stefan Payne [Dover - Barnsley] Undisclosed
Tommy Rowe [Wolves - Doncaster] Undisclosed
Jamie Turley [Eastleigh - Newport] Free
Ashley Nadesan [Horley - Fleetwood] Undisclosed
Miles Storey [Swindon - Aberdeen] Undisclosed
Enzio Boldewijn [Almere City - Crawley] Free
Chris Maxwell [Fleetwood - Preston] Free
Havard Nordtveit [Borussia Monchengladbach - West Ham] Free
Hayden White [Bolton - Peterborough] Free
Andy Yiadom [Barnet - Barnsley] Free
John Goddard [Woking - Swindon] Undisclosed
Jordan Rossiter [Liverpool - Rangers] Undisclosed
Ousmane Dembele [Rennes - Borussia Dortmund] Undisclosed*
Lex Immers [Feyenoord - Cardiff] Undisclosed
*Deal to be completed on 1 July
Jayden Stockley [Bournemouth - Aberdeen] Free*
*Deal to be completed on 1 July
Kristian Dennis [Stockport - Chesterfield] Free
Mats Hummels [Borussia Dortmund - Bayern Munich] Undisclosed*
Jodi Jones [Dagenham & Redbridge - Coventry] Undisclosed
Renato Sanches [Benfica - Bayern Munich] £27.5m*
*Deal to be completed on 1 July
Keith Watson [St Mirren - St Johnstone] Free*
*Deal to be completed on 1 July
The page covers signings by Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premiership clubs, along with selected deals from overseas and the Scottish Championship.


Welfare reforms are making people live in "constant fear" of cuts to their benefits, according to a report.

The study by Napier University found those on benefits were anxious that changes to their circumstances would push them into "crisis situations".
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil urged the UK government to rethink its reforms.
But the Department for Work and Pensions said the changes were designed to help people into work.
The Welfare Reform Tracking Study, which was carried out by Edinburgh Napier University on behalf of the Scottish government, also highlighted criticism of how the details of reforms were communicated to recipients of benefits.
Some disabled people who took part in the study said they felt they had to present themselves in a "negative light and focus on their limitations" when claiming.
Other participants spoke of stress, anxiety and depression brought on by assessments, and a fear of further changes.
Mr Neil accused the UK government's "austerity agenda and benefit cuts" of having a "damaging effect" on people in Scotland.
He added: "Their approach is slashing the incomes of some of our poorest households and pushing 100,000 children into poverty.
"The study is further evidence that people are living in constant anxiety about changes to their entitlements and are already suffering from the effects of around Â£6bn of cuts taken from Scottish welfare expenditure over the last five years.
"Despite these frustrations we will do all we can to use our new powers to make our system fairer and simpler and work to improve the experience for people."
However, a spokesman for the Department of Work and pensions said the reforms were about giving people peace of mind.
He added: "Reforms to welfare are designed to help people into work, giving more people the peace of mind and security that comes with a steady income - there are now near record numbers of people in Scotland in a job.
"The government provides a safety net to support millions of people who are unemployed or on low incomes, spending Â£94bn a year across the UK on working age benefits."


Facebook has shut down pages offering marijuana for sale in Alaska, angering the businesses that run them, who say they were licensed to sell it.

It highlights the problems faced by social networks trying to set boundaries for what users can post.
The National Cannabis Industry Association said it was seeking "clearer guidelines" from Facebook.
Affected businesses should appeal to have their accounts restored, the NCIA told the Associated Press news agency.
The problem had affected all of the nine US states that had legalised recreational and medical cannabis, deputy director Taylor West added.
"The issue seems to pop up and then go away. These rules are applied extremely inconsistently," she told the BBC.
Facebook does not allow content that promotes the sale of marijuana regardless of state or country.
"In order to maintain a safe environment on Facebook, we have community standards that describe what is and is not allowed on the service," it said in a statement.
TV and radio advertising about legal marijuana is often restricted, meaning social media can be a vital way to communicate with customers.
Leah Levington, who owns cannabis business Enlighten Alaska, told AP the take-down was "frustrating" and she was worried her Instagram account could also be shut down.


A lawyer who handled Craig Whyte's takeover of Rangers has said Sir David Murray's team were "desperate to get the deal over the line".

Gary Withey said it was the only deal he had known where the vendor was pushing more than the purchaser.
The 52-year-old made the comments during testimony at the trial of Craig Whyte, who is accused of acquiring the club by fraud.
He denies a charge of fraud and another under the Companies Act.
Before Craig Whyte took over Rangers in May 2011, the Ibrox club was 85% owned by Sir David Murray.
He had made his intention to sell the club known in 2007.
However, the court has already heard that it took several years before he identified what he considered to be a serious buyer.
At the time of the deal to sell the club to Craig Whyte in 2011, Gary Withey worked for the London-based tax specialist Collyer Bristow, which had been recruited by Mr Whyte to oversee the deal.
He told prosecuting QC Alex Prentice that in contrast to the seller's eagerness to sell the club, Mr Whyte was not pushing for the deal.
Mr Withey told the court that Sir David Murray's team "did not seem to care" with regards to the financing for the deal from Craig Whyte.
The lawyer went on: "This was the only deal I have been involved in where the vendor was pushing more than the purchaser.
"Murray did not seem to care. I have never been pushed so hard in any deal.
"They were desperate to get this deal over the line."
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC then asked: "You say Murray did not seem to care?"
Mr Withey replied: "They did not want the embarrassment of this not completing."
Mr Prentice later put it to Mr Withey that there seemed to be a "persistence" from the Murray team that funds were there.
The witness said he would agree.
Mr Prentice added: "Fair to say then that it appeared to have importance to Murray that you had the money."
Mr Withey replied: "Not that I had the money. The fact that the deal would complete...that was important."
Craig Whyte's former advisor also told the trial that a source of funding for the Rangers deal was from the ticketing firm Ticketus.
The prosecutor asked Mr Withey if "steps" were taken to "conceal" Ticketus as a "fund provider".
The witness replied: "I was told by Mr Whyte that Ticketus must not be shown."
But, he added that it was "not unusual" not to reveal "your source of funding".
Mr Withey said the Murray team had hoped to get the takeover done in time for an Old Firm match in May 2011.
He added: "Rangers were playing Celtic at the weekend and Murray wanted to be able to say that 'we have a new owner in place'."
Whyte's QC Donald Findlay later quizzed Mr Withey on his claim they had been keen to complete the sale.
Mr Findlay said: "Murray were desperate to conclude the deal?"
The witness replied: "Yes, which I found really odd."
The advocate then asked him: "Murray wanted to sell desperately?"
Mr Withey replied: "Yes, I have no doubt at all."
Mr Withey also told the trial that it had been "impossible to keep secret" Whyte's interest in Rangers' funding".
Prosecutors allege Mr Whyte pretended to Sir David Murray, and others, that funds were available to make all required payments to acquire a "controlling and majority stake" in the club.
The Crown alleges Mr Whyte had only £4m available from two sources at the time but took out a £24m loan from Ticketus against three years of future season ticket sales.
The court has heard the sale was eventually made to Mr Whyte for £1 but came with obligations to pay an £18m bank debt, a £2.8m "small tax case" bill, £1.7m for stadium repairs, £5m for players and £5m in working capital.
The second charge under the Companies Act centres on the £18m payment between Mr Whyte's Wavetower company and Rangers to clear a bank debt.
The trial before eight men and seven women continues.


Tranmere Rovers saw their unbeaten start to the season end at Aldershot.

The hosts, themselves looking to keep up pressure at the top, took the lead just three minutes in when Bernard Mensah came out best in a scramble six yards out after Cheye Alexander's cross.
Tranmere levelled on 37 minutes as Andy Cook headed in James Norwood's cross for his fourth goal of the season.
But the Merseysiders were stunned on 77 minutes when Scott Rendall calmly stroked home from the penalty spot following a foul on Iffy Allen, before a superb Will Evans volley made sure of the points five minutes later.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Aldershot Town 3, Tranmere Rovers 1.
Second Half ends, Aldershot Town 3, Tranmere Rovers 1.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Josh Wakefield replaces Matt McClure.
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Jake Kirby replaces Andy Cook.
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Darren Stephenson replaces Adam Mekki.
Goal!  Aldershot Town 3, Tranmere Rovers 1. Will Evans (Aldershot Town).
Goal!  Aldershot Town 2, Tranmere Rovers 1. Scott Rendell (Aldershot Town) converts the penalty with a.
Scott Davies (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Nick Arnold replaces Anthony Straker.
Substitution, Aldershot Town. Iffy Allen replaces Bernard Mensah.
James Norwood (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bernard Mensah (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Steven Jennings (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Second Half begins Aldershot Town 1, Tranmere Rovers 1.
First Half ends, Aldershot Town 1, Tranmere Rovers 1.
Goal!  Aldershot Town 1, Tranmere Rovers 1. Andy Cook (Tranmere Rovers).
Michael Ihiekwe (Tranmere Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!  Aldershot Town 1, Tranmere Rovers 0. Bernard Mensah (Aldershot Town).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Following a speech last week by the future banking regulator, Andrew Bailey, there has been speculation about the possible end of free-in-credit current accounts.

Most people have got used to not having to pay for their current account, unless they go overdrawn. The UK is unique in Europe in enjoying free banking so its demise would cause quite a stir.
One of the features of the current account market is that customers tend to be very loyal. Only about 4% to 8% of customers switch their current account each year, depending upon which estimate you read.
But are they paying for such loyalty? It is quite possible that by changing their current accounts, they could get a better deal elsewhere.
It is also likely that switching would increase dramatically if free-in-credit current accounts disappeared because the imposition of monthly charges would undoubtedly spur many to look for possible alternatives.
In essence, there are four types of current account available.
These do not offer overdrafts. If they have a debit card it tends to have limited facilities.
They can be opened without undergoing any credit check and are offered by the providers as part of the government's strategy for financial inclusion because they enable those who cannot get a full service current account to access banking facilities.
They do not incur a monthly fee. There are 20 basic bank accounts available.
These are full-service bank accounts that are free to use for those that remain in credit. There are 55 free-in-credit current accounts available.
These are broadly similar to free-in-credit current accounts but tend to offer interest free overdrafts and other goodies to attract students who, the providers hope, will remain long-term customers.
There are 28 student current accounts available.
These are full service current accounts that charge a monthly fee which typically range from about £8 up to £25, although some premier accounts charge as much as £40.
In exchange for the charge, a variety of incentives such as travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and motor breakdown assistance policies are provided.
There are 65
          packaged current accounts
 available.
There are also a number of current accounts denominated in foreign currencies which can be useful for those who have foreign income and expenditure.
Current accounts tend to be dominated by the banks but there are five building societies that offer current accounts.
There are also a number of foreign banks that offer them such as ICICI, Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of India. Tesco has signalled its intention to launch a current account in the not-too-distant future.
When looking for a new current account, there are a few key points to consider.
Firstly it depends upon how the account will be used, because the best account will vary from person to person.
Those who never use an overdraft should opt for an account that pays interest on credit balances. Some 63% of current accounts no longer pay interest.
Examples include Halifax's Reward Current Account, which pays £5 (net of basic rate tax) every month that at least £1,000 is paid in. Santander's 123 Current Account charges £2 a month but pays interest of 1% on balances over £1,000, 2% on the entire balance if the balance is over £2,000, or 3% on the entire balance if it is over £3,000 up to a maximum balance of £20,000. It also pays cash back on council tax, utility and communications bills.
Somebody more likely to go overdrawn should concentrate on the overdraft costs. There are a myriad of different overdraft tariffs in the market and this complexity makes overdraft comparisons very difficult.
The size and frequency of overdraft usage and the number and size of transactions can all affect the overall cost. It is also worth noting that the availability of overdrafts is subject to the credit status of the applicant.
Some current accounts offer an ongoing interest-free overdraft. The highest interest free overdraft from a free-in-credit current account is £500 from Citibank's Plus Current Account but customers must pay at least £1,800 into the account every month otherwise there is an £8 monthly fee. By paying less than £1,250, the interest free overdraft is removed.
It is worth noting that interest-free overdrafts are generally more prevalent among packaged current accounts.
Customers should also consider whether they want branch access or would accept doing all their banking online. They should check that the account permits them to operate it as they wish.
Some accounts insist on paying in a minimum monthly amount every month - typically £500, £750, £1,000 or £1,500. This is to ensure it is used as a primary current account.
Failing to pay in the required monthly amount with one of these accounts would probably lead to a benefit or incentive being reduced or removed, or a financial penalty being levied.
Anyone contemplating a packaged current account should make sure they want and need the various incentives and, if so, that they are suitable for their circumstances and represent value for the monthly fee being charged.
Some providers restrict certain other products to their current account customers. Anyone wanting an HSBC credit card or unsecured loan can only get it if they have an HSBC current account. NatWest and RBS have a similar restriction.
Some providers offer special mortgage deals to their current account customers, but do bear in mind that just because a mortgage is a "special" deal, it does not necessarily mean that it cannot be beaten elsewhere.
Enhanced savings, unsecured loan and credit card deals are similarly in evidence.
There is no doubt that providers want you as a current account customer, provided of course that you use it as your main current account.
They regard it as the key way to build a relationship with the customer and it enables them to target customers with other products that are appropriate for their circumstances.
Many providers want to become a one-stop shop for all their customers' financial needs, and the current account is the preferred avenue by which to deepen such relationships.
A current account does not have to be for life and there are significant safeguards being put in place to make switching a relatively seamless process. It is worth taking the time to see if you can get a better deal and it might save you a lot of money.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by the BBC unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Links to external sites are for information only and do not constitute endorsement. Always obtain independent professional advice for your own particular situation.


Meryl Streep's choice of dress for the Oscars has sparked a bitter row between the star and designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Chanel's creative director accused Streep of rejecting one of his dresses because she found a different designer who was willing to pay her.
He has since said he "misunderstood" - but that has not calmed Streep's ire.
"I do not take this lightly, and Mr Lagerfeld's generic 'statement' of regret for this 'controversy' was not an apology," she said.
She also criticised fashion website WWD, which originally reported his quotes.
"He lied, they printed the lie, and I am still waiting," she said in a statement.
The dispute began when WWD published an interview in which Lagerfeld said he had started work on a dress for Streep to wear to Sunday's Academy Awards.
But he claimed he was then told by one of the actress's representatives: "Don't continue the dress. We found somebody who will pay us."
Referring to Streep, he said: "A genius actress, but cheapness also, no?"
The designer later issued a statement admitting he had "misunderstood that Ms Streep may have chosen another designer due to remuneration" and said he regretted the controversy.
However, Streep, who has her 20th Oscar nomination this year for Florence Foster Jenkins, hit back.
She said Lagerfeld "defamed me, my stylist and the illustrious designer whose dress I chose to wear, in an important industry publication".
Her statement added: "The story was picked up globally, and continues, globally, to overwhelm my appearance at the Oscars, on the occasion of my record-breaking 20th nomination, and to eclipse this honour in the eyes of the media, my colleagues and the audience."
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Fans of Monopoly have voted to replace the iron with a cat-shaped playing piece in the popular board game.

Following a month-long online poll, toy maker Hasbro said the feline design had beaten competition from a robot, helicopter, diamond ring and a guitar.
"I think there were a lot of cat lovers in the world that reached out," said Hasbro's Jonathan Berkowitz.
It is the first time fans have had a say on which of the eight tokens to keep and which to lose.
"Tokens are always a key part of the Monopoly game... and our fans are very passionate about their tokens, about which token they use while they play," Mr Berkowitz added.
The Scottie dog was the clear favourite with fans from more than 120 countries who took part in the contest to decide which token should be saved, eventually securing 29% of the vote.
While the shoe, wheelbarrow and iron were neck and neck in the final hours of voting, the iron ended up with just 8% of the vote and will now be retired from the game.
"While we're a bit sad to see the iron go, the cat token is a fantastic choice by the fans and we have no doubt it will become just as iconic as the original tokens," said Eric Nyman from Hasbro.
The iron was one of the original game tokens introduced by the Parker Brothers in 1935, when the appliance was an important part of domestic life. The Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.
Previous tokens retired in the 1950s included a lantern, a purse and a rocking horse.
The new cat design received 31% of the total vote and will be added to the existing tokens which include a race car, thimble, top hat, and battleship.
Versions of Monopoly with the new token will come out later this year.


Katherine Grainger is still "more than likely" to compete at her fifth Olympic Games in Rio this summer, says British rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave.

The London 2012 gold medallist's place in the British team was cast into doubt when her double scull partnership with Vicky Thornley was disbanded.
Redgrave believes 40-year-old Grainger and Thornley, 28, will be accommodated in one of the British boats.
"I still expect both to be in Rio," he told BBC Sport.
"Their training times have been good and they are among the top scullers in the women's squad."
The partnership was ended after Grainger and Thornley finished fourth at the European Championships.
Grainger won Olympic gold in London with Anna Watkins after three consecutive silvers, and the Scot was paired with Thornley when she returned following a two-year sabbatical in the aftermath of the 2012 Games.
The duo won European bronze in 2015 and finished sixth at the World Championships last September to qualify the boat for Rio, but it became apparent they were unlikely to contend for gold there.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"I suspect the girls realised that and were keen to make a change," said Redgrave. "Neither of them would want to go to the Olympics unless they were a bolted-on medal hope."
Grainger and Thornley will be given the chance to earn a place in the eight, despite the crew earning European gold in Brandenburg earlier this month.
With several top nations in that event coming from the rest of the world, strengthening that boat makes sense to Redgrave - even if the experiment ends with Grainger, Thornley or even both remaining in the double for Rio.
"There is no guarantee that Katherine and Vicky will make the eight quicker," he said.
"But if they do, it would be crazy to take two boats - the eight and the double - that might finish outside the medals, when you could strengthen one of them by making a change."


Canada is moving to crack down on "shoddy treatment" and overbooking on flights.

Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau has introduced legislation that will set national standard for how passengers are treated by airlines.
Mr Garneau says the bill will give the government the tools it needs to protect air travellers.
The proposed new rules will apply to any airline operating flights in and out of Canada.
The minister said the details related to passenger rights in instances like overbooking and bumping are still being developed but that there must be compensation in those cases.
"I am convinced the air carriers will take note of these new measures protecting passengers rights, and will know if they don't change some of their practices there will be repercussions," he said.
He said air carriers will not be able to involuntarily remove from flights people who have a legitimate right to travel.
"That is a critical factor. If somebody has bought a ticket for a particular flight that person cannot be removed from that flight. This is non negotiable."
The proposed rules would set minimum compensation standards for overbooked flights and lost or damaged luggage, and set out how airlines must treat passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled in situation within the airline's control or during events like bad weather. It will also set standards for tarmac delays.
Mr Garneau announced plans for the rights bill last year, but restated the promise as footage of a US passenger being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight made global headlines in April.
Canadian news has since been filled with stories of people coming forward with travel woes.
Ian Jack, of the Canadian Automobile Association, which lobbies for passenger rights, said it is too early to say whether the minister's promises will mean better travel for passengers because the "devil is in the details".
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) will establish the details such as levels of compensation and the rules around bumping over the next few months.
"The jury's out on whether they are going to be able to deliver," said Mr Jack.
"There's a big difference between the concept of compensation and whether you're going to be offered a coffee coupon or $750. That has still to be worked out."
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says some 60 countries have some form of passenger rights protection already in place.
The CTA receives an average of about 50 complaints a year from passengers saying they were denied boarding.
Both the European Union and the US have compensation rules for passengers bumped from flights.
The federal government also said on Tuesday it plans to loosen international ownership restrictions in the industry to boost competition. The bill would allow international companies to own up to 49% of Canadian air carriers, up from a 25% cap.
The new rules are expected to be in place by 2018.


They queued up for brand new clothes and flip-flops - cellophane-wrapped dresses for the girls and matching shirts and shorts for the boys.

For the rescued children this donation, from Red Cross Nigeria and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was the first chance to get out of the tattered clothes they had been wearing for months, since the very day they were kidnapped by Boko Haram.
Handing out clothes to the women and children as well as buckets, towels and soap is the easy part.  It is much harder to help them recover from the physical and psychological damage.
"I saw death when I was with Boko Haram.  I lived with death," says Margaret.
"It's only God that saved me. But I'm not the same person now."
Her two-year-old daughter, Halima, is asleep on her lap, as her young son Jacob, four, cries relentlessly from fever and struggles to sit up on the bed beside her.
"We saw so many ugly things.  People were slaughtered with knives in front of us.  It has changed my view of the world completely," she told me.
Margaret escaped from captivity several months ago so it was surprising to find her amongst the just rescued women and children. She was there for an extraordinary reunion.
When Boko Haram gunmen stormed her village near Damboa late last year Margaret was abducted along with Halima and Jacob.
But she had three other children, aged six, eight and 10, back at home - with no one looking after them.  With the jihadists terrorising the towns and villages, killing and abducting, Margaret was worried sick about their safety.
"So I just took the risk and fled with Halima," she said adding that it would have been impossible to escape carrying both children.
She took the painful decision to leave Jacob in the jihadist camp and begged another abductee, 20-year-old Hauwa, to look after him.
I met Hauwa in another room of the school that is a temporary home for the rescued women and children.
"We really suffered there.  We were beaten if we didn't pray.  Every day we were beaten," she tells me.  Many of the children fell sick because they were eating so badly in the jihadist camp in the Sambisa forest.
Despite all the challenges she still managed to keep Jacob and another woman's child safe - a heroic act that also helped her avoid being handed out as a wife of a Boko Haram fighter.
"I am not married but I told them I was.  I said: 'Look, here are my two children.'"
Hauwa also protected the children during the terrifying rescue mission when the Nigerian military stormed the camp.
"When the aircraft were above us we lay under the bushes to avoid being hit by bullets," she says.
"The soldiers were shooting because they thought we were Boko Haram.  Some of our women were hit, some died and others were wounded."
Hearing that the Nigerian military had brought 275 of the rescued women and children to Yola, Margaret headed to the school "to find out if I was lucky".
"When I found my son, Jacob, here, I was so happy it was as if I could fly," Margaret said, her face suddenly lighting up.
Jacob needs a lot of help though.
He is severely malnourished, as are more than 30 of the 200 children that were brought here.
Help is available at the very basic clinic that has been set up at the school but some are disturbingly emaciated, with protruding ribs, and need emergency treatment.
Retired midwife Mary Galadima points to three children recovering on a mattress on the floor.
"That evening when they were brought here you would shed tears when you see them. These three here couldn't walk - we had to carry them, they were so weak.
"When we give them food they start vomiting and they have diarrhoea because they stayed so long there in the bush," says Mrs Galadima, who is now a village health worker in a government-funded programme to boost care in the most vulnerable parts of the country.
"Some also have eye problems because they became infected due to the harsh conditions they lived under, or the eyes were damaged when bombs exploded," she says.
"If we know that there is a psychological problem we counsel them, and reassure them.  That is all we are doing."
The United Nations Population Fund, ICRC and volunteers are also helping with some counselling.
"Any human being put under such level of stress becomes overwhelmed and the normal coping mechanism, the in-built resilience is stretched beyond breaking point," says one community leader from Borno state, who asked not to be named.
After helping many former abductees he says some display clear signs of Stockholm syndrome.
"They are brainwashed and indoctrinated so I have met some women who begin to think what the group is doing is right," he says.
Given the staggering level of suffering and heartbreak and the memories that haunt these women and children, the need for psychosocial support is overwhelming.
Boko Haram gunmen grabbed Safiya last December when she went to sell food in the market. She was several months pregnant and was taken with her husband.
Just hours into her ordeal she tasted the brutality of the jihadists.
"They killed my husband using a knife.  Right in front of me they slit his throat," she said.
From then on it was a battle for survival for both her and the unborn child, as she was moved from camp to camp - ending up in the harsh environment of the Sambisa forest.
"Every day they would come around and tell us we were infidels and we should convert and accept their religion," she recalls.
"Some days they beat us. Sometimes they would starve us of food and even water."
Safiya gave birth last week to a baby boy - just one day before the Nigerian military attacked to rescue them.
"We were very happy to see the soldiers because Boko Haram has said they would sell us and we never thought we would get out and live amongst people again."
Safiya then tells me she has three other children aged nine, six and three.
"They were at home in Lassa when I was abducted at the market."
She has not seen them since then and has no idea how they have fared as the insurgency has battered the towns and villages of the north-east.
The Red Cross says at least 60 of the children at the camp in Yola have been separated from their parents.
In recent months a local radio and TV station has helped reunite some relatives but so many families have been torn apart during this conflict there is a great need for more tracing of relatives to be done.
There are also many victims of sexual violence who need delicate counselling.  Some young women and teenage girls held by Boko Haram have been forced to marry more than five men.
"Any time they go for an operation and one of the fighters is killed they will force the young woman to marry another one," says the community leader from Borno state.
"Eventually she becomes a habitual sex slave."
The survivors have extraordinary levels of resilience and had to be resourceful in order to get through the ordeal.  Now they need huge amounts of long-term help as they try to heal.
All names of survivors have been changed.


Wood chip piles at a dockyard in Newport are still smouldering after a fire broke out on Saturday, environment officials have said.

South Wales Fire and Rescue put out the blaze at Alexandra Docks after 20,000 tonnes of wood caught alight.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it may continue to smoulder for "weeks".
It said it had served an enforcement notice on the operators last month to tackle the stockpile and reduce the risk of fire.
Ashley Lansdown, of NRW, said: "Health officials have said air quality monitoring data does not show any cause for public health concern.
"Additionally, the weather forecast is due for a change of wind direction away from areas that have been affected in the last couple of days meaning people can expect to have respite from the odours."


Australian police are on the hunt for vandals who hacked off and stole the heads of three dinosaur statues from a Canberra museum.

The suspects climbed over a fence to access the velociraptors, which were part of an outdoor display.
They then beheaded the fibreglass dinosaurs with a handheld grinder or hacksaw, said local police.
Authorities are appealing for information on the vandals, whom they have branded "idiots".
Police spokesman Rod Anderson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the theft was "a pretty stupid act", and that the perpetrators may have wanted to keep the heads as trophies.
"We're expecting these perpetrators, because they're obviously not very smart, will tell people about it... We want people to give us information identifying who these idiots are," he was quoted as saying.
The incident took place at the National Museum of Dinosaurs on Saturday night and was only reportedly discovered the next morning by visitors.
Museum supervisor Mitchell Seymour told The Canberra Times that children "had been asking their parents: 'Mum and Dad, what's happened to the dinosaurs?'".
The museum appears to be a frequent target. In March 2013, a dinosaur was stolen in an apparent birthday prank and found in a local man's home.
Months later three other dinosaurs were found vandalised at the museum. The next year, another dinosaur was stolen and later found damaged in a nearby park.


Fourteen people have died and nine were injured after a pick-up truck filled with illegal immigrants crashed in Texas, said the authorities.

The vehicle was about 150 miles (241km) north-east of the US border when it careened off the highway and struck two trees on Sunday evening.
Immigration officials said that among the dead were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
At least 23 people had been crammed inside the cab and bed.
"This is the most people I've seen in any passenger vehicle, and I've been an officer for 38 years," said Texas public safety department spokesman Gerald Bryant.
He told the Associated Press that several survivors with life-threatening injuries had been brought to nearby hospitals.
The driver was one of 11 who died at the scene.
US immigration officials were investigating whether it was a case of human-trafficking.
In April, nine Mexican immigrants died near the border after the driver of a minivan crashed while fleeing officials. That van had 18 people inside.


Hong Kong's government has unveiled a controversial plan which would allow Chinese mainland law to apply in the territory for the first time.

It's part of attempts to streamline operations at the new Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which will open next year, costing just under $11bn (Â£8.45bn).
Under the new plan, passengers will be able to undertake border clearance procedures for both Hong Kong and China successively in one building in West Kowloon, Hong Kong.
And it will be mainland law which will be in force in parts of the terminal, even though it's on Hong Kong soil.
The government says that will be more convenient for passengers, but opponents say it could violate Hong Kong law.
For those travelling overland, the process is similar to most border crossings between countries.
At the busiest land crossings, passengers must first clear immigration and customs in one physical jurisdiction, then walk or be driven a fair distance to clear immigration in the other jurisdiction.
Hong Kong immigration procedures are handled on undisputed Hong Kong territory, and Chinese immigration procedures are handled in Shenzhen, which is the mainland.
Hong Kong officials are touting this as a "one-stop" clearance.
Passengers will be able to complete both Hong Kong and Chinese clearance procedures under one roof inside the West Kowloon terminus building, before boarding trains to all cities on the national high-speed railway network.
Hong Kong officials say this will be like similar arrangements between for example the US and Canada, and the UK and France on the Eurostar.
China will lease the so-called "Mainland Port Area" from Hong Kong. The area will comprise the Chinese section of immigration and customs and the waiting hall for departure passengers, as well as all platforms and trains.
Full Chinese law, both criminal and civil, will prevail in this entire area, even though it is physically located on Hong Kong soil.
Hong Kong officials say the area will be considered to be outside the territorial boundary of Hong Kong.
There will be immigration, customs, quarantine, administration and police officers stationed in the area.
Hong Kong has a separate legal system from mainland China, under the One Country Two Systems framework.
Under this Basic Law, Hong Kongers have a far greater degree of freedom to protest than mainland citizens have, among other differences.
Mainland officials also have no jurisdiction in the territory.
Critics say the proposal could lead to Hong Kongers being arrested on Hong Kong soil for actions which are legal here, but not in mainland China.
It also feeds in to growing concern in recent years about Chinese encroachment into Hong Kong affairs, after the disappearance from Hong Kong of several people who sold books critical of the Chinese government, and the removal of several MPs who had protested against Beijing while being sworn in.
It is currently unclear whether Western social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which are blocked in mainland China, will be accessible within the port area.
The Hong Kong government proposal must be approved by Chinese authorities, before it can be implemented in Hong Kong through a change or addition in local legislation.
Pro-democracy legislators say they will try to veto the plan.


There has been anger in Londonderry after two handguns were found in a car in the City Cemetery.

28 January 2016 Last updated at 14:43 GMT
A controlled explosion was carried out on the vehicle which was parked close to the graves of people who recently died.
It is the third weapon police have recovered in recent days.
A military style assault rifle was found in Strabane last weekend.
BBC News NI's north-west reporter, Keiron Tourish has the details.


England lack the self-belief to compete with the world's best teams, said coach Wayne Bennett after a 36-18 Four Nations defeat by Australia.

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The chastening loss at London Stadium ensured the host nation failed to reach the final of the tournament.
Bennett said his side "self-destructed" at times during Sunday's game.
The Australian added: "Right now, they don't believe. They just have to realise how good they can be - they don't get that part unfortunately."
England, who needed to avoid defeat to qualify for next Sunday's final at Anfield, led 6-2 after half-an-hour against the tournament favourites.
But they gave away a series of needless penalties and failed to make the most of the openings they created during a frustrating afternoon for Bennett and his team.
By the mid-point of the second half they trailed 28-6, and they conceded six tries in total.
"They have to recognise what is beating them," said Bennett. "They have got to fix it in their daily habits and they have got 12 months before the World Cup to fix it.
"There's lots of talent, they can play, the problem is that they have to learn to compete at this level under pressure."
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England lost their opening Four Nations match 17-16 against New Zealand but defeated Scotland before losing by 18 points against the Kangaroos.
It was England's 11th straight defeat against Australia but, despite criticising aspects of his players' performances during the tournament, Bennett was insistent the gap between the sides is not all that big.
"I have enjoyed being with the players immensely," added the 66-year-old, who was taking charge of England for the first time at the Four Nations. "They are great blokes to be around.
"It makes me more frustrated than ever, angry even in my case, because they are not showing how good they can be.
"They are not that far behind. I cannot fault them off the field, they have just got to get it right on the field.
"They are very capable and a better team than a lot of people realise. I thought there would have been a lot more issues when I took charge."
Australia will face New Zealand in the final after winning all three of their round-robin games.
However, skipper Cameron Smith felt the scoreline in London flattered his team.
"It was a high-quality game and England were very good," said the Melbourne Storm hooker.
"We had to come up with some special plays to get points against them. The scoreline did not reflect the contest.
"The gap is not widening, it might look that way but it was fairly tight through the whole 80 minutes."
Former England utility player Jon Wilkin, speaking to BBC Sport on Facebook Live:
Australia are world class and will win the Four Nations in style against New Zealand next week.
Half-back Cooper Cronk was sensational today, while the packs pretty much cancelled each other out.
Was the venue an issue? There were 35,000 people in the London Stadium, and the atmosphere was OK.
Maybe we can look at that and play to our strengths. I know we need to promote the game, and spread the game to the south, but we need to do what's best for the national team.
For coach Wayne Bennett, there were some real thought-provoking moments in the game. The question remains how England unlock the southern hemisphere teams.
Former Great Britain coach Brian Noble on BBC One:
There is room for improvement for England. You have to move pieces forward, you might get beaten initially in a game of chess but you hope it starts a winning game.
Hopefully, coach Wayne Bennett's principles of the 'smarts' and the things he has spoken about come to fruition. He clearly said he needs time with the players.
Former dual-code international Jonathan Davies on BBC One:
Australia did the softening-up period. They did the hard work, the had graft and hard yards, coupled with the good kicking and chasing.
They put the pressure on England in the right areas of the field and then turned on the style.


Detectives investigating the murder of a toddler in Australia nearly 50 years ago are trying to locate a family believed to be living in the UK.

Three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer went missing from a shower block at a New South Wales beach in 1970.
The Goodyear family, from Nottinghamshire, provided a statement on the day and police believe they can still help with the investigation.
A 63-year-old man has been charged with Cheryl's abduction and murder.
More on this story and other news in the East Midlands
The girl disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong, a city south of Sydney, on 12 January 1970.
Despite a massive search, police failed to make a breakthrough and the case has remained one of Australia's longest-running mysteries.
Detectives doubt Cheryl's body will ever be found.
However, after the case was re-examined last year a new clue emerged that led to the arrest of a 63-year-old man from Melbourne.
Police believe Peter Goodyear, then aged 37, his wife Mavis, and daughters, Karen, aged six, and Janette, aged five, who were living at the Fairy Meadow Commonwealth Hostel at the time, could still help with the case.
Mr Goodyear worked as a labourer at the John Lysaght Springhill metal works in Illawarra, before he moved his family to Papua New Guinea in late 1970.
The Goodyears, who were originally from Bristol, later returned home to England and were last believed to be living in Oxton, Nottinghamshire.
Det Sgt Damian Loone, of New South Wales Police, said: "We have been making inquiries with authorities in Britain in a bid to find Mr Goodyear, if he is still alive, to determine whether he can still assist our ongoing inquiries.
"To date, those efforts have not been successful."


The mayor of London has announced plans to spend £770m on cycling schemes over the next five years.

The Transport for London (TfL) draft business plan allocates £154m a year for infrastructure and promoting cycling.
Sadiq Khan said he wants to make cycling a "safe and obvious choice for Londoners of all ages and backgrounds".
But the Conservatives have accused Mr Khan of failing to explain "where the money is coming from".
Former mayor Boris Johnson spent £158m on cycling last year, and £302m over his final four-year term.
The proposed spending, equivalent to £17 per Londoner per year, gets near the levels seen in cycle-friendly nations such as the Netherlands and Denmark.
Two new Cycle Superhighways, which separate cyclists from motor traffic, have also been proposed.
Among the schemes set to receive funding are the completion of phase two the Cycle Superhighway from Farringdon to King's Cross, the extension of the East-West Cycle Superhighway.
Three so-called mini-Holland schemes are also planned, which involve reducing through-traffic on quiet residential streets, and "at least" 20 Quietway routes along back streets were announced.
Mr Khan said "making cycling safe and easier can provide huge benefits for us all".
Tom Edwards, BBC London Transport Correspondent
Sadiq Khan's proposals could maintain the momentum for more segregated bike lanes - key schemes under the previous Mayor Boris Johnson's administration.
We don't have much detail yet, and these schemes are contentious; some blame bike lanes for London's congestion. But the Mayor is showing his intent and his priorities.
There are also questions over where the money is coming from.
There will be some departments in TfL who won't be as fortunate and will see cuts.
The Conservative's transport spokesman on the London Assembly, Keith Prince, said he hoped "this is not yet another grand pledge on which the mayor fails to deliver".
"Having already taken £640m from TfL's budget with his fares freeze, the mayor is now promising large-scale cycling investment without explaining where the money is coming from," Mr Prince added.
Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell called for the mayor to double the investment "to transform our streets more thoroughly and more quickly".
She claimed: "Getting more people onto bikes and getting around on foot could make life so much better for all."
The draft business plan will be considered by the TfL board at its next meeting on 15 December.


Moves to make non-European history compulsory at Oxford University do not go far enough, an anti-colonial campaign group claims.

Rhodes Must Fall Oxford, which seeks to address Oxford's "colonial legacy", said the history syllabus remains "hugely Eurocentric".
It reacted after Oxford made completion of one paper in non-European history compulsory for history undergraduates.
The university said it was pleased to be diversifying its curriculum.
It said the move "followed years of discussion" and was not a response to any campaign.
The likes of the "Why is My Curriculum White?" campaign have been encouraging UK universities to cover more "non-white" topics.
Neil Gregor, professor of modern European history at the University of Southampton, described the move as "long overdue", and said there was a "widely acknowledged need to make history less Eurocentric".
But, he also criticised some of the media reaction to the changes, which he said carried "an implicit accusation this is PC [political correctness] gone mad" based on the assumption global history means black history.
He added it was a "delusion" to think British or European history could be taught without some consideration of global history.
Femi Nylander, from Rhodes Must Fall Oxford, said the "real question" was why non-European history did not become compulsory on the syllabus of "the world's supposedly best institution" until 2017.


The Northern Ireland Secretary has pulled out of an event run by the DUP after it was revealed to be a party fundraiser.

Billed as a business breakfast, Mr Brokenshire was listed as guest speaker alongside DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster.
However, Mr Brokenshire withdrew in the face of unwelcome publicity.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he needs to show he is not favouring one Northern Ireland party over any other.
The story was first reported in the Irish News on Wednesday.
"It's quite clear, given the Tory party conference, champagne receptions and James Brokenshire agreeing to attend a fundraiser, that they seem to be working very closely together," Mr Eastwood told the BBC.
"That's fine on one level, but the British secretary of state and the British Government should not be in the pocket of any one party.
"He needs to now go overboard in demonstrating that he isn't captured by the DUP, that he is his own man and he's prepared to stand up for what's right in Northern Ireland - not for what Arlene Foster tells him."
People attending the event at a café in Lisburn, County Antrim, are being charging £30 a plate or £300 for a table of 10.
The invitation described it as "an excellent opportunity to network with business and elected representatives".
An NIO spokesman said that it does not "discuss [Mr Brokenshire's] diary and he is not attending the event."
The DUP refused to comment.
Last week, the DUP held a champagne reception at the Conservative conference amid claims the two parties have done a deal in the wake of the Brexit vote.
On Wednesday, the secretary of state met DUP MPs in what was described as a constructive and useful engagement.
The NIO said it was part of a series of meetings, with the MPs of all the Northern Ireland  parties represented at Westminster.


Andy Rose netted in the second period of extra time to hand Coventry victory over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.

Portsmouth took the lead when Vladimir Gadzhev brought down Kyle Bennett and Curtis Main scored from the spot.
Ryan Haynes volleyed in to level and, with eight minutes remaining, Gadzhev scored from close range and that looked to be enough for a Sky Blues victory.
But Kal Naismith's free-kick sent the tie into extra time before Rose side-footed home two minutes from time.
Match ends, Coventry City 3, Portsmouth 2.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Coventry City 3, Portsmouth 2.
Ruben Lameiras (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Vladimir Gadzhev (Coventry City).
Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Ruben Lameiras (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Drew Talbot.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Tom Davies.
Attempt blocked. Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
Foul by Andy Rose (Coventry City).
Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!  Coventry City 3, Portsmouth 2. Andy Rose (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Second Half Extra Time begins Coventry City 2, Portsmouth 2.
First Half Extra Time ends, Coventry City 2, Portsmouth 2.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
Attempt saved. Ruben Lameiras (Coventry City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Drew Talbot.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Alex Bass.
Attempt saved. Jodi Jones (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Adam May (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Ruben Lameiras (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kal Naismith (Portsmouth).
Foul by Jack Finch (Coventry City).
Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Drew Talbot.
Attempt blocked. Kyel Reid (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Kyel Reid (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth).
Corner,  Portsmouth. Conceded by Cian Harries.
Foul by Jack Finch (Coventry City).
Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Jodi Jones (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
First Half Extra Time begins Coventry City 2, Portsmouth 2.
Second Half ends, Coventry City 2, Portsmouth 2.
Attempt blocked. Vladimir Gadzhev (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner,  Coventry City. Conceded by Drew Talbot.
Attempt missed. Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.


The BBC has comprehensive coverage of Wimbledon across television, radio and digital from 23 June to 6 July as Andy Murray defends his title.

Retired women's champion Marion Bartoli and injured British number two Laura Robson join the BBC commentary team.
Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova will also be part of the BBC line-up.
• Up to 12 live HD video streams -  up from 10 in 2013 (depending on device and connection)
• All the action on any device
• Up to five alternative courts on the Red Button
• Highlights and full-length replays of key matches on demand
• Have your say through live votes
BBC Sport's digital coverage will be the most comprehensive ever, with up to 12 live streams across any device.
Sue Barker will lead 150 hours of live television coverage on BBC One, BBC One HD, BBC Two, BBC Two HD and the BBC Sport website.
She will be joined by a host of regulars, including Tracy Austin, Pat Cash, Lindsay Davenport, Tim Henman, Anne Keothavong, John Lloyd, John McEnroe and Virginia Wade.
John Inverdale will present Today at Wimbledon each evening on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
Clare Balding heads Radio 5 live's coverage daily from 12:00. Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller leads the commentary team, which includes Mary Pierce, Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Jana Novotna and Nick Bollettieri and, new for 2014, Serena Williams's coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
John McEnroe will take calls from listeners on his 6-love-6 programme, and you can catch up with the day in summary in the 5 live In Short section.
BBC Sport's dedicated live coverage page, available at bbc.co.uk/sport, and through the BBC Sport apps for mobiles and tablets and on connected TVs, will combine the BBC's full selection of live video streams, radio, rolling highlights, text commentary and live votes.
Up to five alternative courts can be accessed via the Red Button. Depending on your digital TV provider, you may need to retune your receiver.
Audiences can also join the conversation with all the best comments and opinions from across social media, email and texts.
The BBC Sport website will also offer a range of features, including a column from Murray, alongside all the latest news, analysis, draws, order of play, live scores and results. The site will also offer highlights, full match replays and video clips.
All the BBC's Wimbledon coverage broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two will also be simulcast and available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
Sunday, 6 July
Wimbledon 2014: Men's Singles Final (Build-up), 11:00-14:00 BBC Radio 5 live
Wimbledon 2014: Day 13, 11:30 BBC Red Button
Wimbledon 2014: Men's Singles Final (Build-up), 13:00-13:50 BBC One
Wimbledon 2014: Men's Singles Final, 13:50-17:45 BBC One
Wimbledon 2014: Men's Singles Final, 14:00-19:00 BBC Radio 5 live
Wimbledon 2014: Mixed Doubles Final, 17:45-20:00 BBC Two
Today at Wimbledon, 23:35-00:35 BBC Two
Wimbledon 2014: Day 13 Highlights - 21:00 BBC Red Button
If you have any questions about the BBC's tennis coverage please first consult our main FAQs page.
The BBC Sport website is available via desktop, mobile, tablet and app. The BBC Sport app is available free for Apple and Android devices.
NB: Times are subject to change.
All online broadcasts are UK only.


Two men are now charged with the killings of four young men in an affluent Philadelphia suburb.

Cosmo DiNardo and Sean Kratz, both 20, each face murder charges as well as multiple counts of conspiracy, robbery and abuse of a corpse.
Police have confirmed all four men, missing since last week, were found buried on a farm belonging to Mr DiNardo's family.
Both men have confessed to investigators, according to officials.
The accused men - who told investigators they are cousins - allegedly sold the victims cannabis before killing them separately and burning their bodies on Mr DiNardo's family's farm, according to the Bucks County district attorney.
Investigators found the body of Dean Finocchiaro, 19, who disappeared last Friday, in a "common grave" on the 90-acre farm in suburban Philadelphia.
Mark Sturgis, 22, and Tom Meo, 21, also vanished on 7 July, and Jimi Tar Patrick, 19, went missing two days earlier.
On Thursday, a lawyer for Mr DiNardo told US media that his client had confessed to playing a role in the four murders after a plea deal was reached with prosecutors that would spare him the death penalty if convicted.
"I'm sorry," said a shackled Cosmo DiNardo as he left court on Thursday.
District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said on Friday that Mr DiNardo disclosed the location of the one victim's remains as part of the deal.
"Our boys get to go home to their families, which was always our first priority," Mr Weintraub said at a press conference announcing the criminal charges.
The three other bodies had already been discovered by police more than 12.5 ft (3.8m) beneath an old oil tank that had been converted into a "cooker".
Two firearms were also recovered from Solebury Township farm property.
According to a police affidavit, Mr DiNardo told investigators that he had arranged to sell $8,000 worth of cannabis to Mr Patrick, whom he had picked up from his home on 5 July.
After the two walked to a remote part of the property Mr DiNardo shot Mr Patrick with a .22 rifle, investigators say.
On 7 July he allegedly arranged another cannabis sale with Mr Finocchiaro.
He picked up Mr Kratz before driving to the second victim's home to transport him to the farm property, investigators say.
Before then, Mr DiNardo had given a .357 pistol to Mr Kratz.
Mr Kratz shot the man in the head, and Mr DiNardo fired another shot at him as he lay on the ground, police say.
Later that day, Mr DiNardo met Mr Meo and Mr Sturgis and had them follow him back to his family property in their car.
After both men were ambushed and shot, Mr DiNardo allegedly ran over Mr Meo with an earth-moving machine.
He then used the machine to transport the bodies of Mr Meo, Mr Sturgis, and Mr Finocchiaro into a metal tank, which he described to police as a "pig roaster", before pouring gasoline on them and setting the pit on fire.
The two men returned the next day to dig a hole with the earth-moving machine where they placed the men's bodies.


Some players have a special Challenge Cup moment... Joe Lydon has a catalogue of them.

Whether it was in the black and white of Widnes, or the cherry and white of Wigan, Lydon became part of cup folklore, finishing with six winners' medals and a host of memories.
"It's a very special competition. Wembley and the Challenge Cup is a fantastic opportunity," Lydon told BBC Sport.
Although a staunch Wiganer whose first taste of the big day out was with the town's schoolboys in 1975, it was with Widnes that the 49-year-old would first lift the famous old trophy.
He signed professional terms at Widnes at a time when Dougie Laughton's side were regular finalists, a lure too great for the then-teenager to resist.
1984 Challenge Cup final: Widnes 16-9 Wigan
Lydon collected an offload from Les Gorley deep inside his own half and sprinted 75m to light up the final at Wembley. He repeated the feat soon afterwards to pick up the Lance Todd Trophy  in a thrilling Widnes win.
1988 Challenge Cup final: Wigan 32-12 Halifax
Halifax restarted after Tony Iro's try and Wigan's kick return saw Lydon streak through a gap and run 60 yards before passing to Ellery Hanley on the inside. The Great Britain loose forward had the pace to get over the line for the Cherry and Whites. Sublime rugby league.
1989 Challenge Cup semi-final: Wigan 13-6 Warrington
With scores tied at 6-6 at a muddy Maine Road with around eight minutes remaining, Wigan's hold on the Challenge Cup was in the balance, but a moment of magic from Lydon got them on the way. Nicky Kiss, at dummy half, whipped a pass back and Lydon kicked a 61-yard drop goal that edged Wigan ahead. It made the Guinness Book of Records.
1993 Challenge Cup quarter-final: Halifax 18-19 Wigan
Halifax came as close as anyone to ending the Wigan winning streak during their eight-season dominance at a snowy Thrum Hall, but again Lydon's accuracy with the boot ensured progress - another drop goal proving the difference and continuing the cup tradition.
"It was almost a promise - join Widnes and you'd go to Wembley. In 1984 I got there, playing against Wigan," he said.
If there was any sentiment, it never showed. The Chemics won 16-9 against Alex Murphy's Wigan, with Lydon scoring two tries and picking up the Lance Todd Trophy for his efforts.
"It was difficult. Myself, Andy Gregory and Keiron O'Loughlin - who also scored in that final - we took an awful lot of stick for playing against our home-town team," Lydon continued.
"We wanted to prove a point as Wiganers, probably wrongly on reflection.
"It was a fabulous occasion, and the tries, like the game, came and went so quickly. The whole occasion that surrounded it was phenomenal."
The 1984 season proved to be the making of Lydon who played in several positions, including full-back and centre. He won Man of Steel in addition to Player and Young Player of the Year awards, and forged a regular place in the Great Britain side.
It did not please everybody, however, with the loyalties of those close to him tested.
"My mother wasn't a rugby league follower - she was just happy that her son was at Wembley - but the rest of the family had mixed emotions to a degree, although a large degree of loyalty to me, I hope," he said.
"It was the friends I took most of the stick from, those who were die-hard Cherry and White and had been most of their lives.
"There were some people who found it hard to forgive that I was going to play against them, even more so when we came back with the silverware and Wigan didn't."
His form at Naughton Park led to a dream move, with Wigan paying £100,000 for his services in 1986.
However, it would be two years before he would finally achieve his dream of representing the Cherry and Whites in the Challenge Cup final.
"I knew how much it meant to the Wigan public, being born and bred there, but we failed (to get there) against Castleford (the 1986 winners) and Oldham (in 1987)," he added.
"There were so many internationals who were household names but there were also players who I consider special, cornerstones of most teams who don't get the recognition.
"There was Andy Gregory, Shaun Edwards, Ellery Hanley and Martin Offiah, as well as leaders like Dean Bell, Gene Miles, Andrew Farrar - real solid players who you looked at in the tunnel alongside whoever the opposition were and thought: 'I'm in the right team here.'
"It didn't matter what way the game went or how the opposition thought they wanted to play it, we had the ability to counter it, and that's special.
"We had the confidence, not an arrogance, that we had a special group of people who knew what it takes to win."
Success in the 1987 Premiership final and a famous World Club Challenge win against Australian champions Manly that same year gave Wigan the platform for a cup tilt, and they responded by reaching the 1988 final against Halifax.
Their West Yorkshire opponents went into the final as cup holders, but Wigan, packed with talent such as Shaun Edwards, Ellery Hanley and the Iro brothers Tony and Kevin, were too strong.
"It was a fabulous occasion, made more special in that arena in front of a crowd that could be generated at that time in Wembley," Lydon said.
"Most importantly, most teams and people who have played at Wembley will know this, it's about the team spirit.
"Yes, memories are fantastic, of winning the trophy, the silverware and the medal, but it's the camaraderie, the friendship that goes along with it, and the changing room stories, the quirks of humour make it a special place.
"It was special to win my first Challenge Cup medal with Widnes, but knowing how much it means to the Wigan public, knowing I'm going to play for my home town, standing there just before kick-off unsure of what was going to happen but knowing we had some great players, was very special."
Between 1988 and defeat by Salford in February 1996, no-one could touch the men from Central Park, who recorded 43 consecutive victories as they won the cup eight times in a row.
"I heard criticism that Wigan were 'spoiling the game', that we were too dominant. Rubbish, it was fantastic to be part of," he said.
"You didn't want to be in the team that let it go. I go back to a game against Hull where were 22-0 down at half-time at the Boulevard, our captain Dean Bell came in and said if we didn't pull our socks up, we could lose this.
"Not that we will lose it - we could. Basically it was up to us to sort it out and Andy Farrell eventually scored the try that took us through to the next round.
"People realised how special it was to go and wanted to make sure they were in the team that went back."
"My first taste was with Wigan schoolboys against Widnes schoolboys in 1975; I played in the curtain-raiser at Wembley, a game we lost 8-0.
"I played against a certain David Hulme, not realising we'd be playing in the same team some years in the future.
"When I look back at it now, I have a vivid memory not just of the game, but everything surrounding it.
"We went into the Widnes changing room afterwards and met the players, and bizarrely some 10 years later I'd be playing alongside some of them."
Lydon's last Challenge Cup final appearance came in the 1993 victory against Widnes, while Wigan would go on to win another two - both against Leeds - before their streak finished.
Now, 20 years on from that success, his two former clubs again go head to head bidding for a place in the last four of the 2013 competition.
Although Wigan have re-established themselves at the top of the modern Super League and lifted their 18th Challenge Cup as recently as 2011 with victory against Leeds, Widnes only returned to the top tier in 2012 after relegation in 2005.
The game also pits two of Lydon's former team-mates together in Shaun Wane and current Widnes coach Denis Betts, two winners with history on their side.
"It's possible for Widnes, and if I know anything about Denis then it is that he knows how to win," said Lydon who is set to take on a post as head of international player development for the Rugby Football Union when his notice with the Welsh Rugby Union is served.
"It's knock-out rugby and it's the Challenge Cup. Many people wouldn't have given Sheffield Eagles any chance at all against Wigan in 1998 and there have been massive upsets.
"He may not have the ability to transfer that on the day, however, because Shaun will be trying equally hard to stop him and to progress in this round.
"But the beauty of cup football is the underdogs do on occasions win."


A 25-year-old man has been arrested over a sexual assault on a woman who was out jogging on a canal towpath.

The 39-year-old victim was attacked then held round the neck until she became unconscious.
It happened as the woman was running on the Leeds-Liverpool canal near Viaduct Road in Leeds at about 06:00 BST last Wednesday.
Police said a 16-year-old boy arrested on Sunday night had been released without charge.


Prince's former wife Mayte Garcia is to write an "intimate memoir" about her life with the musician.

The book, called The Most Beautiful, will chronicle the couple's relationship and marriage and the painful loss of their son in 1996.
Publisher Hachette said the book was due for release in April 2017, marking the first anniversary of the pop star's death.
"Ours was a rare, almost otherworldly connection," Garcia said.
"I want to share our love story, and with it the highs and lows - always coming from a loving place, as this man is still part of my family and always will be."
The couple were introduced backstage at a Prince show in 1990, when Garcia was just 16.
An accomplished dancer, she had caught Prince's attention after her mother sent a video of her belly dancing to the musician in the hope he might hire her.
They stayed in touch and two years later she joined his touring band. After falling in love, they married on Valentine's Day, 1996. White doves were released as they exchanged vows.
She became pregnant almost at once, but their son Boy Gregory died just a week after birth due to Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare defect of the skull.
That loss, followed by a miscarriage not long afterwards, tore the grieving couple apart and they divorced in 2000.
"Prince was loved the world over but few knew him intimately," Garcia said in a statement announcing the memoir.
Its title refers to Prince's only UK number one, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, which she inspired.
Prince was also in the process of writing a memoir before his death. It is not known if the book was finished, or whether it will see the light of day.
The musician died on 21 April following an accidental overdose of the painkiller Fentanyl. He was 57.
A tribute concert is planned in his home town of Minneapolis for next month. However, local paper The Star Tribune has reported that the event might be in trouble, with no contracts signed and only one act confirmed to play.
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A black cat has ridden his luck by taking a 250-mile trip under a car bonnet and escaping with paw burns.

The aptly-nicknamed Phileas Mogg began his trip in Warmingham, Cheshire when he got inside Colin Woodward's Audi A4.
The retired farmer inadvertently took the cat on two motorways, over the Welsh border and through a car wash before he was found when he arrived at a friend's home near Bristol.
The RSPCA's Simon Coombs said the trip had cost Phileas one of his nine lives.
Mr Woodward said he thought he heard a cat under his car at his Cheshire home on 11 November, but checked and found nothing so set off.
Over the next few days, he drove to nearby Sandbach and Wettenhall, over the border to Wales to visit Bangor-on-Dee races, down to Cheltenham and on to Easton-in-Gordano, near Bristol, to see a friend.
When he arrived, on 13 November, he heard the cat again and found Phileas "between the front wheel and the headlight".
He said he "couldn't believe [his] eyes" when the tom was released by a mechanic and was "just relieved he survived".
Phileas was taken to RSPCA Bristol, where his burned paws were treated.
The charity has been unable to trace his owners but Mr Woodward said he hoped the search would be successful.
"He's a lovely cat [and] he will certainly have a tale to tell them about his adventure," he said.
Mr Coombs said Phileas "was lucky to escape with some burns to his paws".
"If cats really had nine lives, he's lost one of them."
Appealing for information, he added it was possible Phileas was not from Warmingham but had "jumped on board along the way, so his owners could come from any of these places".