EYE SPY JUNE 2001
TERRORISM
united kingdom
OSAMA BIN LADEN London Plot Uncovered by MI5 I5 officers have discovered plans for a terrorist attack devised by London-based supporters of Osama Bin Laden, the world’s most wanted man. According to sources, the gang had intended using the capital as a base to organise a prolonged bombing campaign against Western targets, though not necessarily in the UK.
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Anti-terrorist police swooped on several addresses and arrested 10 Muslim men suspected of being terrorists linked to the Saudi-born millionaire. Some of the men are believed to belong to ‘The Base’, or Al-Qa’ida, Bin-Ladens’ worldwide organisation regarded as militant by most nations. Computers and other items are thought to have been confiscated by police. MI5 believe one of The Base’s active service units had been using London and that an attack was imminent - hence the raid. Like the FBI and CIA, MI5 officials believe Bin-Laden supporters were responsible for the massive blast at the US Embassies in East Africa in August 1998 that left more than 200 people dead and hundreds more injured. It is believed that one person arrested in the London raid is
fighting an extradition order by Washington over the African blasts.
Al-Qa’ida sits high on the list which Home Secretary Jack Straw has outlawed in the UK. Indeed, in February 2001, police arrested several men during a series of dawn raids in London, including Omar Mahmood Abu Omar, 40, an Islamic cleric who has been convicted on at least two occasions for his role in terrorist acts in Jordan. Released on bail, it has been alleged Abu Omar has links with Bin Laden. Omar is better known as Abu Qatada who has been living in England as a political refugee for some eight years. He runs an Islamic library from rented accommodation in northwest London.
MI5 believe one of The Base’s active service units had been using London and that an attack was imminent
The Jordanian Government claim the gang was sponsored by Al-Qa’ida, and that prior to their arrest, some of its members had visited Afghanistan - the country ruled by the Taliban who are shielding Bin Laden. Qatada was also convicted in absentia over his involvement in a number of bombings in Jordan in 2000. Qatada says he is a peaceful man: “I deny completely the Jordanian allegations. I do not head any group or follow Bin Laden. His views, however, are radical according to MI5 sources, and he was once involved in the now defunct newsletter called al-Ansar, which often published views and press statements issued by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), an Algerian terrorist organisation. Qatada and three other men were released after questioning. Six other Algerian nationals aged between 18 and 38, were charged with owning computers, electronic devices, false credit cards, false identity documents and money for terrorist purposes. The operation followed a similar series of arrests made by German Intelligence in the city of Frankfurt just before Christmas. Berlin issued a statement saying the men were believed to belong to the GIA and were plotting to explode a number of bombs in Strasbourg. MI5 was alerted after a number of London addresses and telephone numbers were discovered on the men. EYE SPY!
Omar rejects any connection with Bin Laden and terrorist actions in Jordan. He was, however, found guilty in absentia by a court in Amman last year of financing and coordinating a gang of suspected terrorists who were plotting to blow up tourist locations in Jordan during the millennium celebrations.
Osama bin Laden - the World’s most wanted man
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