Militant Cleric Says Attack on London 'Inevitable'

Reuters ^ | Apr 18, 2004

[yonif]

LISBON (Reuters) - Several Islamic militant groups are preparing attacks on London, making such a strike unavoidable, a radical Muslim cleric said in an interview published Sunday. "It's inevitable. Because several (attacks) are being prepared by several groups," Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad told Lisbon's Publica magazine from London where he is based.

One "very well organized" group in London calling itself al Qaeda Europe "has a great appeal for young Muslims," he said. "I know that they are ready to launch a big operation."

The firebrand cleric, who has outraged moderate Muslims and non-Muslims alike with his uncompromising views, gave no further details.

Asked if a British Muslim was allowed to carry out a "terrorist attempt" in a foreign country, Muhammad said, "That is another story."

He added: "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."

It was important to see accusations of terrorism in their proper context, he said.

"If we give money to needy women and children, they say they are the families of terrorists. But where do the terrorists come from? Zimbabwe? No. They are people from here. And they are our brothers, the terrorists."

"The British also are terrorists, in Iraq...Terrorism is the law of the 21st century. It's legitimate."

Sheikh Bakri Muhammad said he had mixed feelings about the possible effect of his comments. "In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said.

The Syrian-born cleric heads the al Muhajiroun group, which has praised the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and the al Qaeda militant network blamed for them.

He told Publica there were several "freelance" militant groups in Europe, such as al Qaeda London, prepared to launch attacks similar to those carried out by the al Qaeda network.

Four British men and a teen-ager appeared in court in Britain last week charged with plotting a bombing after they were arrested in the country's biggest anti-terror raids since the U.S. attacks on September 11. The men, all of Pakistani origin, were arrested on March 30 in raids which uncovered 1,300 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be used in bomb making.

Asked about his comments that he wanted to have the banner of Islam at 10 Downing Street, Muhammad said, "Yes, it's my dream. I believe one day that is going to happen. Because this is my country, I like living here."

"I've been arrested 16 times. And 16 times freed, because they have nothing against me. These are the contradictions of laws made by man. If they believe in democracy, who are they afraid of? Let Omar Bakri benefit from democracy!"

[Monty22]

These guys don't realize if we wanted to terrorize the islamics, there'd be none of them left. What fools, they just don't understand the USA/Israel.. Or England either I hope.

[Migraine]

The threat is bad enough; but the threat, the attitude that goes along with it, and (God forbid), if the bastards actually "do" a significant terrorist event in UK, that's the same as asking every last known sympathizer to be deported. The Brits are passive sometimes; but not if you attack their homeland.

[risk]

'Sheikh Bakri Muhammad said he had mixed feelings about the possible effect of his comments. "In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said.'

That's a start.

[EDINVA]

*** "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity." ***

kinda nice to know where you stand, isn't it ?

[Guillermo]

And teh British response was probably to increase the size of his welfare check.

[samadams2000]

I want loyalty oaths..now. the enemy within? I dont even know if its an open question.

[tet68]

*** "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity." ***

kinda nice to know where you stand, isn't it ?

Omar is going to find out that we value our lives
much more than his.

I'm coming to the point where if ever there was an idolatry
that deserved to be erased from the face of the earth it
is Islam.

[Selene]

He added: "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."

Anyone who makes a statement like this should not be allowed to draw another breath.

We need ZERO TOLERANCE.

[blackdog]

"Unbeleivers" , Sort of an odd phrase? Almost implies something of a threat to muslems doesn't it? I've heard plenty of infadels, non-beleivers, and zionists, but unbeleivers implies a muslem had better stay muslem, including to the degree that the most militant cleric decides makes him or her a beleiver. No room for muslem lite.......

[LoudRepublicangirl]

In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said.

Gee, ya think?

[expatpat]

Muhammad said, "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."

The religion of peace! And wwe treat Islam as an acceptable religion?

[BunnySlippers]

He added: "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."

Thanks for clarifying this. We ought to take this tack when fighting these b**tards.

[driftless]

If they succeed in a mass murder scheme way beyond 9/11 (which they would love to do), then deportation would be the least of their worries. If tens of thousands of westerners die in some lunatic islamo-fascist attack, we may be looking at very drastic ways of dealing with Islamic countries. They had better reform now.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said. - Only if your're lucky!

[BunnySlippers]

These guys don't realize if we wanted to terrorize the islamics, there'd be none of them left.

One little problem. Unfortunately OUR laws will not allow us to terrorize them.

[yonif]

Excatly. So when you hear an Arab or Islamic leader say "we are against the targetting of civilians" they don't consider non-Muslims civilians. So of course Arab leaders would say in response to suicide bombings in Israel that they are against targetting civilians. They don't consider Israelis civilians. Most of the world doesn't understand that.

[FairOpinion]

He (Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad) added: "We don't make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity."

People better pay close attention to this and act accordingly.

[FairOpinion]

We need not only zero tolerance, but PREEMPTION -- just what Bush is doing, except more.

We need to kill them, before they kill us.

[Quix]

I hope you are right.

I hope they haven't become utterly blithering idiots about survival.