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UK Terror Plot Investigation - News Roundup - July 4

By Jeffrey Imm

July 4 news roundup on the ongoing UK terror plot investigations:

-- British Cleric: 'Al-Qa'eda leader told me of bomb plot'. Daily Telegraph reports that in April, British Anglican Canon Andrew White "met an unnamed al-Qa'eda leader on the sidelines of a religious reconciliation meeting in Amman, Jordan", where the Al-Qaeda leader told White that " 'the plans were already made and they would soon be destroying the British' and that 'the people who cure you would kill you'." Sky News has a similar report.

-- British Cleric Meeting with Al-Qaeda: USA to be Bombed Next? Sky News also posted the full text of Canon Vicar White's email on the April meeting with Al-Qaeda member which states "He told me that they were going to start killing in the UK then the USA".

-- MI5 knew at least four of the bomb plotters. Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph reported that MI5 was aware of bomb plotters. Daily Mail reported that "at least four of the eight suspects being questioned had their details logged on MI5's databases before the attacks took place", and the Daily Telegraph reported that "At least one was on a Home Office watch list after being identified by security services - meaning their travel in and out of Britain was monitored by immigration officers." BBC summarizes several media comments on intelligence issues.

-- UK NHS Hospital Computers may have been used to plot attacks. Daily Mail is reporting that "[p]olice have seized computers from hospitals in Glasgow, Stoke-on-Trent and Liverpool. They are examining a theory that suspects planned the attacks in cyberspace while working at NHS hospitals"

-- Strict new checks for foreign NHS doctors. Daily Telegraph reports that "Background security checks on foreign doctors and other health workers migrating to Britain are to be stepped up after the weekend bomb scares in London and Glasgow. Recruitment of overseas medical staff will also be reviewed and the worldwide watch lists for terrorists expanded. " Reuters reports the UK PM Brown is ordering a "review of recruitment to Britain's state-run health service after security sources confirmed all of the eight people arrested, including one in Australia, are doctors or have medical links".

-- Scotland and London Bomb Attempts Linked to Same Two Men. ABC News reports that British investigators' leading theory is that two brothers who are doctors, Dr. Khalid Ahmed and Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, "are the same two persons attempted the downtown London bombings early Friday morning and then traveled to Glasgow where they attempted what now appears to be a failed suicide attack on Glasgow Airport."

-- UK terror police find suicide note. CNN reports that "British police have found a suicide note in connection with the two men who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into Glasgow's airport".

-- British: Bombing suspects recruited in UK. Daily Telegraph reports that "British security sources insisted there was no intelligence that al-Qa'eda commanders plotted to infiltrate the NHS. Most of the alleged cell members arrived in this country after 2004 to take up NHS jobs. It is believed they were recruited in Britain. Whitehall sources said that, as yet, there was no sign of any orders, instructions or training from al-Qa'eda based in Pakistan." AP has a similar report with different sources with the same view.

-- Australian Investigation Ongoing. AP and Daily Telegraph report on the ongoing investigation of Dr. Mohammed Haneef in Australia. AP reports: "A British counter-terrorism officer was set to arrive in Australia on Thursday to interrogate Mohammed Haneef, a 27-year-old Indian doctor who was arrested at Brisbane international airport Monday. It was not immediately clear if Britain would seek his extradition. Australia's Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said the next action would become clearer within 48 hours." Daily Telegraph provides a similar report.

Sources

Daily Telegraph: British Cleric: 'Al-Qa'eda leader told me of bomb plot'

Sky News: 'Those Who Cure You Will Kill You'

Sky News: Full Text Of Vicar's Terror Warning Email

Daily Telegraph: Bomb suspects on MI5 files

Daily Mail: NHS terror plot: police investigate global email network used by 'bombers'

BBC: UK 'spooks' under fire in papers

Daily Telegraph Strict new checks for foreign NHS doctors

Reuters: Brown orders doctors probe after British bomb plot

ABC News: Investigators: Scotland and London Bomb Attempts Linked to Same Two Men

CNN: UK terror police find suicide note

AP: Evidence suggests terror suspects hatched plot in Britain

UPI: British: Bombing suspects recruited here

AP: Country on high alert as 7/7 anniversary looms

Daily Telegraph: Yard sends terror detective to Australia