Saudi-funded school in Germany 'linked to terrorist attacks'

London Daily Telegraph ^ | 10-24-2003 | Kate Connolly

[Prince Charles]

Saudi-funded school in Germany 'linked to terrorist attacks'
By Kate Connolly in Bonn
(Filed: 24/10/2003)

Explosives and a testament like those written by suicide bombers have been found at the home of a man linked to a Saudi-funded school, German secret service sources said yesterday, intensifying pressure for the institution to be closed.

The King Fahd Academy in Bonn was set up eight years ago with £10 million from the Saudi royal family, and was hailed as a "cultural bridge between Germany and the Arab world".

Now it is alleged to be a magnet for Islamic fundamentalists. A spokesman for the city of Bonn said: "According to information from intelligence sources people have been observed at the school over the past few months who have contact with terrorists or are themselves suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks. By that I mean teachers and the parents of pupils."

One parent, identified only as Sayed M, 39, an Egyptian, went on trial last month charged with plotting bomb attacks on Jewish sites in Germany. Several houses near the school, including those of some parents, have been raided in recent days, German intelligence said.

At the home of one man linked to the school explosives, bomb-making instructions and a statement in the style of suicide bombers' wills were found.

The possibility of an Islamic terrorist presence is particularly sensitive in Germany as several of the September 11 hijackers lived and plotted the attacks unnoticed in the northern port of Hamburg.

The discoveries have fuelled a simmering row between Berlin and Riyadh, heightened when Chancellor Gerhard Schroder told his hosts during a visit to Saudi Arabia: "This must be stopped."

Pupils, including girls in headscarves, were observed continuing with lessons in Arabic and mathematics as normal yesterday, watched at the gates of the gold-domed building by armed guards.

Although 40 per cent of the 500 pupils have German citizenship and will probably spend their lives in the country, education officials are concerned that only one to two hours a week are dedicated to learning German.

Religious instruction is give eight to nine hours. Textbooks seized last week by police and examined by experts are said to have a "disturbing" content and to present a "very narrow interpretation" of Islam.

A teacher at the school was filmed by German television calling for a holy war "in the name of Allah" during prayers at a mosque attached to the institution. The teacher was suspended.

[aculeus]

A teacher at the school was filmed by German television calling for a holy war "in the name of Allah" during prayers at a mosque attached to the institution. The teacher was suspended.

Before this war is over people like this will be suspended ... from gallows.

[Arpege92]

It's amazing how the Muslims can move to foreign countries and spew forth hatred. Can anyone imagine how PO'd Muslims would be if the situation were reversed?

[maestro]

Muslim-OIL-funded school in Germany 'linked to terrorist attacks'

Oil-Religion-Oil-funded school...payed for by the 'suckers' (1 Born Every Minute/Barnum) at 'their' Gas pump?

(Support the ________)

[Ben Chad]

SHOCKING!

[Bosco]

I, too, am shocked. Say it ain't so, Abdullah!

[blam]

"Religious instruction is give eight to nine hours. Textbooks seized last week by police and examined by experts are said to have a "disturbing" content and to present a "very narrow interpretation" of Islam."

Let me guess, it says, "kill everyone else."

[pepsionice]

I will say this for Muslims of narrow thought....freedom of speech is their greatest fear. If you can think what you want and talk about it....then you have an open mind. If you look at strict Muslim society...openess is something that must be stopped. From the media to the news...from music to books...society must be closed-minded for Muslims to enjoy their religion. You don't find Muslims winning Nobel prizes for medicine or physics. You don't find Muslims developing heart transplants or new versions of the peanut.

As for this German school...because its in Germany, you have to meet their criteria to have any school (private or public). They do step over the boundary and dictate precisely what schools will teach and to some degree how much of each area. These Muslims likely enjoyed freedoms in the US that you don't have in Germany. My guess is that this Muslim orientation school will clean up its act....and develop a after-school program (because most German schools end at 1:30 in the afternoon anyway) and use the afterschool program to push toward radical ideas. You can avoid conflicts with the legal system this way. They will get what they want in the end....no doubt.