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UK Terror Investigations - News Roundup - July 9

By Jeffrey Imm

July 9 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities and related news:

Four Guilty of Conspiracy to Murder in July 21 Bomb Plot. BBC reports that '[f]our men have been found guilty of plotting to carry out suicide bombings on London's transport network on 21 July 2005. Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29, Yassin Omar, 26, Ramzi Mohammed, 25, and Hussain Osman, 28, were convicted of conspiracy to murder at Woolwich Crown Court. The jury will continue to consider verdicts on Tuesday for two others", who AP has identified as "Manfo Kwaku Asiedu and Adel Yahya". Per Sky News, [t]he terror cell attempted to detonate hydrogen peroxide and chapatti flour bombs covered in shrapnel on three tube trains and a bus on July 21, 2005. Their plan only failed at the last moment because of problems with the home-made explosives, hot weather, or mere "good fortune", Woolwich Crown Court heard." In addition, the Daily Mail indicates that the terror bombing failed due to incorrect calculations of bombing ingredients by the Jihadists. BBC has profiles of the 4 convicted terrorists: Muktar Said Ibrahim, Ramzi Mohammed, Yassin Omar, and Hussain Osman. The Daily Telegraph also has a profile of them.

40 British Jihadist Cases Yet To Be Heard; 100 Suspects. Daily Telegraph reports that the "more than 40 separate terror court cases due to be heard include Operation Gamble, an alleged plot to kidnap and video the beheading of a British soldier and Operation Overt, an alleged plan to blow up 10 US airliners." Former MI-5 Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller advises this includes "[m]ore than 100 suspects are awaiting trial in British courts for terrorist offences".

Nuclear alert by ex-head of MI5. Daily Telegraph reports statement from former MI-5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller: "It remains a very real possibility that they may, sometime, somewhere attempt a chemical biological, radiological or even nuclear attack".

Interpol: "UK's anti-terrorist effort is in the wrong century." Interpol has criticized UK for failure to share information with Interpol, and for UK's failure to use Interpol criminal database in reviewing immigrants to the UK. On Interpol's web site, Interpol chief Noble states "The UK has not shared its terrorist watch list with Interpol". Daily Telegraph reported that "The head of Interpol also accused the authorities of failing to check visitors to Britain against its global database of 11,000 suspected terrorists and further quotes Interpol chief Noble as saying 'The guys detained last week could be wanted, arrested or convicted anywhere in the world and the UK would not know'." The Daily Mail quotes Noble "The UK government really needs to catch up and realise that unless it consults global databases for passports, names and photographs then it risks letting dangerous people roam free." BBC states that the UK "Home Office has insisted border officials are aware of the list." Guardian reports: "Interpol said last night that the UK makes just 50 checks a month of the database; France by comparison makes 700,000 checks and Switzerland makes 300,000." BBC also stated the Interpol's chief stated that there was a "clear link between stolen passports and al-Qaeda linked terrorist activity. The UK's anti-terrorist effort is in the wrong century."

Daily Telegraph reports that "deep concerns were raised over the weekend that a loophole in visa controls for foreign students could have been letting in extremists without real checks." Daily Mail reports "it emerged thousands of visas are obtained by immigrants from terror hotspots for university courses which they then don't attend."

Other related UK news media stories today report British Jihadist car bomb suspects traveling to Pakistan, Britons going to South Africa without a visa and then going to Pakistan (which has previously been reported in the London Times), and Britons traveling to Bangladesh, and UK's outsourcing of immigrant checks to a private company in India.

UK's MI5 Risk Map of 219 Extremist Groups in UK. Daily Telegraph reports "[t]he security service is watching 219 groups, mostly in the Midlands and North. A 'risk map' of terrorist threats shows a total of 80 groups of extremists in the Midlands, 60 in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester and 35 in London. There are also 20 being watched on Merseyside, 12 in Scotland, 10 in Wales and two in Northern Ireland. Each network can involve more than a dozen people bringing the total to well over 1,600 - some estimates have put it as high as 3,000." Belfast Telegraph reports that "Northern Ireland has at least two of the networks, containing around 30 people".

London Times points out that "the terror hot spot" of Birmingham and "West Midlands, with about 80 suspected terror networks under surveillance is more than double the "only" 35 terror networks under surveillance in London. The London Times reports that Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has called for creation of "a network of Muslim spies to gather intelligence on terror suspects plotting attacks in Britain" and said that the networks 'scattered across the country' are thought to be plotting up to 30 attacks at any one time.

UK Five Face Second Week of Questioning over Car Bomb Plots. Daily Mail reports: "Five terror suspects remained in police custody at London's high security Paddington Green police station. Police have been given more time to hold the four men and one woman." This includes Dr. Mohammed Asha, Marwa Asha, a 26 year old doctor from Bangalore, and two trainee doctors. KUNA reports that "Dr. Asha, Marwa Asha, and the 26-year-old doctor from Bangalore can be questioned until Saturday July 14. The two trainee doctors arrested at the Royal Alexandra Hospital can be held for a further day, until July 15."

Australia Extends Car Bomb Suspect Mohammed Haneef Inquiry: BBC reports that "Australian police have been granted an extra 48 hours to continue detaining an Indian doctor in connection with the suspected UK car bomb attacks." The Australian Federal Police stated that this "would allow 'for the analysis of material obtained during the course of the investigation by joint counter-terrorism teams'."

Australia: Police in Australia search bomb suspect's car and flat. The Daily Mail reports that "Police in Australia investigating the London and Glasgow bomb plots, today confiscated the car of one the suspects. The vehicle, belonging to Dr Mohammed Haneef was under examination as investigators search for vital clues linked to the bungled car bomb attempts. Police also executed a search warrant to further examine Dr Haneef 's top-floor apartment, close to the hospital where he worked on Queensland's Gold Coast."

India: Ongoing Investigation. Indian investigators seized computer of car bomber Kafeel Ahmed, per Associated Press, Bangalore's Commissioner of Police N. Achuta Rao stated that the "hard disk is being examined to ascertain the contents and possible connection to the UK incident and also regarding terrorist activity, if any, in India and elsewhere". AFP reports that "Police said on Monday they were questioning relatives and friends of three suspects held over the failed British car bombings but had made no formal arrests."

Car Bomber Kafeel Ahmed Computer Reveals Terrorist Links. NDTV reports "Hard disk reveals Kafeel's terror links" - "There is incriminating material like videos of terrorist executions, attacks filmed by terrorists and speeches by key Al Qaida leaders, none of which is available, either publicly or on the internet.The intelligence agencies say this indicates that Kafeel was part of some kind of internal distribution list in a terrorist network. British Intelligence sources have also told India that there is CCTV footage showing Kafeel involved in parking the explosive-rigged cars in The HayMarket London. This means Kafeel is not just the main suspect in the Glasgow attack but also directly involved in the Hay Market failed bombing. The cars in HayMarket were discovered by police before they exploded after fuel leaks were detected."

Car Bomber Kafeel Ahmed Worked in Jet Design. The International Herald Tribune reports that Kafeel Ahmed worked for much of last year as an aeronautical engineer" for Infotech Enterprises, "an Indian outsourcing company that designs aircraft parts for clients including Boeing and Airbus." IHT reports "that Ahmed might have had access to the design secrets of some top aircraft makers in the very period when his friends have told the Indian police that he was turning into a Islamic radical", and that Infotech Enterprise's clients included the UK Home Office.

India: UK Car Bomber Kafeel Ahmad linked with Tablighi Jamaat. NDTV reports regarding Tablighi Jamaat "is yet again in the news for its links with Glasgow plotter Kafeel Ahmad and his father in Bangalore" and that "Bangalore police have now revealed that Kafeel Ahmed's father was a member of the Tablighi Jamaat." In August 2006, after the failed British Jihadist transatlantic jet plot to attack the United States, the Hindustan Times identified a link between Tablighi Jamaat and several of the British terror suspects including Waheed Zaman. The Hindustan Times reported: "The relatives and friends of some of the 23 people arrested last week told the police that the detainees were followers of the Tablighi Jamaat, which is believed to control several mosques in Britain." The Hindustan Times continued: "This is not the first time that a terror plot has been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. One of the 7/7 suicide bombers, Mohammad Sidique Khan, was a follower. Another, Shehzad Tanweer, had visited a mosque controlled by the Tablighi Jamaat in Leeds."

Times of India also reports that Kafeel Ahmed's mother felt her son was on the wrong path, and was concerned about the influence of Kafeel's father, Dr Maqbool Ahmed. Times of India reports that Kafeel's father was a member of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Pakistan: Car bomb suspect visited Pakistan. The Daily Telegraph reports that "[a]t least one of the alleged plotters of the London and Glasgow car bombings had spent time in Pakistan". This was discovered through delays in car bomb suspect taking a hospital post, and per Inverclyde Royal Hospital hospital: "[t]here were calls from him about the delay and he was in Pakistan at the time." Daily Telegraphs reports that "[t]he information suggests that the leaders of the gang may have been seeking approval from al-Qa'eda before going ahead with their plan." As the London Times has previously reported, British Jihadists can easily get to Pakistan through South Africa (and other African countries), as Britons flying to South Africa do not require a visa.
 

Bangladesh: British Jihadists Traveling to Bangladesh for Training. London Guardian reports that that "[s]ignificant numbers of Britons are travelling to Bangladesh to train in terrorist techniques amid rising concern among security and intelligence officials about the increasing appeal of al-Qaida's message throughout the Middle East and south-east Asia. Their concern is compounded by a realisation among al-Qaida leaders of the value of individuals who can enter western countries easily. Officials say the number of Britons of Bangladeshi descent apparently prepared to consider carrying out terrorist acts marks a new and worrying development. It coincides with the increasing number of young Britons travelling to Pakistan via South Africa in an effort to avoid being noticed by British security officials. Recent terrorist trials have shown how the Britain-Pakistan link has been crucial, with many convicted terrorists having trained in camps in Pakistan." The London Times has also previously reported on the use of South Africa by British Jihadists to get to Pakistan.

UK Outsourcing Immigrant Checks to India. Daily Mail reported that the UK "Foreign Office was criticised for contracting out vital checks on immigrants to a private company in India." The Daily Express is reporting that "[t]he Foreign Office has also come under fire for contracting-out vital security checks on immigrants to a private company based in India. Earlier this year, responsibility for security checks on immigrants from countries including India and Pakistan was given to VFS Global. The business, which employs local staff, even carries out the critical task of taking fingerprints and storing them electronically."

EU Human Rights Laws and Terrorists. The London Times reports that "Migrationwatch says the UK should give six months’ notice that it will withdraw from the convention and announce that that any foreigners convicted of a terrorist offence will be deported to their home country at the end of their sentence. The report adds that the Government should also be allowed to detain suspects for long periods of time. Ministers will continue to find it almost impossible to kick out terrorist suspects or those who have served a sentence for terrorism while the UK remains in the convention. Migrationwatch says that the convention and its interpretation by the courts is acting as a 'positive encouragement' to terrorists to come to the UK because it is almost impossible to deport them to foreign states with poor human rights records."

Scotland - Hizb ut-Tahrir bid to control Scotland's main mosque. Scotland's Daily Record reports: "A radical Islamic group tried to gain control at Scotland's main mosque just months before one of its members allegedly tried to bomb Glasgow airport. The Hizb ut-Tahrir sect are said to have put forward candidates for ruling positions at the city's Central Mosque. The group want a global Islamic state. But their plans failed when officials realised who was putting up nominees for senior positions."

Scotland: Terror debate raises stark views. During a BBC Scotland program entitled "Scotland After the Bomb", Aamer Anwar stated: "A Stealth bomber in Iraq is the moral equivalent of a suicide bomber in Scotland". This was greeted by "rounds of applause" by the BBC studio audience. On the BBC Scotland program, Mr. Anwar continued "There is no justification for the murder of innocent people. The US and Israel, however, are equal to any 9/11 hijacker." BBC reports that "[h]e added that it was a myth that there was an inclusive, multicultural Scotland..."

London Central Mosque Protest - Media Recording. WorldNetDaily.com has reported a recording by radio host Rusty Humphries of Anjem Choudary and an estimated 3,000 protesting Islamists in front of the London Central Mosque on June 22, 2007. The report quotes Anjem Choudary as shouting "One day my dear Muslims, Islam will govern Britain!" The report quotes Abu Saif as stating "Brothers and sisters, make no mistake. Make no mistake. The British government, the queen, the MPs in this country, they are enemies to you, enemies to Allah and enemies to the Muslims." WND reports that "Abu Saif is believed to be a member of the group Hizb ut-Tahrir".

WND states that radio broadcaster Rusty Humphries interviewed Abu Saif, and reports that the "Muslim leader said he does not believe in democracy and insists there is no such thing as freedom of religion, 'because freedom is an absolute term.' 'Are we to say that Muslims can fully practice religion in America,' he asked in an attempt to explain. 'Say, for instance, I was a Muslim in America. Could I call for the destruction of the American government and establishment of an Islamic state in America? No. So where is the freedom of religion? There is none.' "

More background on doctors in car bomb plots. Newsweek has done an article on additional background on doctors in car bomb plots, which doesn't mention Hizb ut-Tahrir or other influences. The Newsweek article is intended to show links between the British Jihadists and Iraq.

Sources:

BBC: Four guilty over 21/7 bomb plot

AP: 4 guilty of plotting suicide bombing attack in London

Sky News: Three Guilty Over 21/7 Bomb Plot

Daily Mail: 21/7 bombers failed to kill dozens as 'mastermind' could not do maths

BBC: Profile: Muktar Ibrahim

BBC: Profile: Ramzi Mohammed

BBC: Profile: Yassin Omar

BBC: Profile: Hussain Osman

Daily Telegraph: The four guilty July 21 bombers

ITV News: Profile of the July 21 plotters

Daily Telegraph: Nuclear alert by ex-head of MI5

London Times: Recruit Muslim spies in war on terror, urges new security chief

Daily Telegraph: New UK terror threat from foreign students

Interpol Web Site on UK Non-Cooperation

BBC: UK defends its border procedures

Guardian: Britain failing to check migrants on terror database, says Interpol chief

Daily Express: Interpol: Britain is letting in terrorists

Belfast Telegraph: Terror networks operating in Ulster

KUNA: Five face second week of questioning over bomb plots

BBC: Australia extends Haneef inquiry

Daily Mail: Police in Australia search bomb suspect's car and flat

Evening Standard: Police in Australia search bomb suspect's car and flat

AP: India: Police seize UK terror suspect's computer

NDTV: Hard disk reveals Kafeel's terror links

International Herald Tribune: British terror suspect worked in jet design

AFP: No arrests in India over Britain terror plot: police

NDTV: Kafeel Ahmad linked with Tablighi Jamaat

August 2006: Hindustan Times: UK terror suspects' faith made in India

August 2006: India Daily: Suspected Terrorists for Recent UK Terror Plot Keep Faith in Tablighi Jamaat

Times of India: Kafeel's mother feared he was on wrong path

Daily Telegraph: Car bomb suspect visited al-Qa'eda's heartland

Guardian: More Britons travelling to Bangladesh to train in terror

May 3, 2007: London Times: British terrorists using Africa as secret staging post (story on use of South Africa to get to Pakistan)

London Times: "Change human rights laws to stop encouraging terrorists"

Daily Mail: Families abandon overseas holidays because of airport terror fears

Scotland Daily Record: Mosque Takeover Bid

BBC Scotland: Terror debate raises stark views

WorldNetDaily news report on London Central Mosque protest

Newsweek: Doctor of Death - A busted terror plot in Britain puts the spotlight on radicalized Muslim professionals.