British al-Qaeda suspect arrested [Developing]

BBC NEWS: ^ | 2003/11/27 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

A man suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda has been arrested in Gloucester under the Terrorism Act. Homes in the Barton Street area of the city were evacuated on Thursday after the 24-year-old man was arrested.

Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."

In a separate investigation, a 39-year-old man was arrested in Manchester under the Terrorism Act.

Forensic evidence

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said two addresses in Blackburn, Lancashire, were also being searched.

Mr Blunkett said of the Gloucester raid: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

"Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I don't want to in any way damage the future trial."

Searches are ongoing and the immediate area has been evacuated, as there may be explosives on the premises Gloucester police spokeswoman

A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved.

The Gloucester man has been taken to a police station in neighbouring Wiltshire for questioning.

Officers have moved people from the area around his home because of fears explosives may be involved.

A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: "The man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terror.

'Bomb scare'

"Searches are ongoing and the immediate area has been evacuated, as there may be explosives on the premises."

Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of the city have been closed, and people living in the area have been moved to the city's new leisure centre.

Local resident Stephen Baker, who lives in Barton Street, said: "The police have told us that it's a bomb scare somewhere near the St James Street and Upton Street area.

"We can leave the house, but no one is being allowed close to those two streets."

[aculeus]

"We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."

Heavy.

[Peach]

Good work.

[Jack Bull]

[blam]

Shoot the SOB!

[TrebleRebel]

No doubt. Very interesting...

[dagnabbit]

"Ian Jones"?
"Nigel Blackburn"?
"Trevor Williams"?

[arasina]

What I find interesting is that Great Britain has a Terrorism Act 2000. Enacted prior to 9/11/01? I didn't know that.

[aculeus]

Please fix the "by" line. It should read "Unsigned".

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Britain is due for a major terrorist attack- and they know it. Let's hope that Scotland Yard and all those MI agencies are as good as they are supposed to be.

[sgtbono2002]

I hope they arrest the Mayor of London next.

[max_rpf]

Shoot the SOB!

I hope you mean in the knees. That way he cannot pray.

[1066AD]

Great Britain has a Terrorism Act 2000. Enacted prior to 9/11/01?
Made permanent legislation that had to be renewed annually. Mostly set up originally to deal with the peace loving IRA and their bombs.

[Mitchell]

Ping.

[aculeus]

UPDATED DETAILS

British 'al-Qaeda suspect' held

A man suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda has been arrested in Gloucester under the Terrorism Act.
Police are believed to be investigating possible links between his arrest and the case of "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, who was sentenced to life for trying to blow up a US passenger plane.

Around 100 homes in Gloucester were evacuated on Thursday as police searched the 24-year-old British suspect's home for explosives.

Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."

Forensic search

Police also carried out raids on two addresses in Blackburn and a 39-year-old man was also taken into custody in Manchester as part of a separate anti-terror investigation.

Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the man arrested in Gloucester had been a former student at the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn.

He said religious leaders had been "fully co-operative" in assisting police in a search of the college and adjoining mosque.

"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world," he added.

The Gloucester man - whom police said was "British and of Asian origin" - has been taken to a police station in neighbouring Wiltshire for questioning.

Mr Blunkett said: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

"Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I don't want to in any way damage the future trial."


Searches are ongoing and the immediate area has been evacuated, as there may be explosives on the premises
Gloucester police spokeswoman
A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved.

Thursday's arrests come after Britain's terrorist threat level was recently increased following new intelligence of an al-Qaeda plot.

They also come one week after double suicide bombings in Istanbul in which at least 28 people died.

A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: "The man was arrested under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terror."

Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of Gloucester have been sealed off while the searches are carried out and residents moved to a nearby leisure centre.

It is thought the search for evidence may take several days to complete.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3242812.stm

Published: 2003/11/27 15:45:45 GMT

© BBC MMIII

[arasina]

Ah, yes. I forgot about the IRA terrorists. Now I wonder if the American Patriot Act used portions of the British Terrorism Act 2000 as a model for certain provisions. Interesting. Thank you for the enlightenment.

[TrebleRebel]

"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world," he added.

Although, their litmus test for 'innocent' is rather different than the one used by most non-Muslims.

[Central_Floridian]

The UK has had problems with terrorism from the IRA for over forty years.

[aculeus]

Yet another updated version.

BBC America 6 PM news played this as a major event.

British al-Qaeda suspect held

Police investigating a man suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda say explosives have been recovered at his house in Gloucester.

A 24-year-old man was arrested earlier on Thursday under the Terrorism Act.

Around 100 homes in Gloucester were evacuated as police searched the British suspect's home.

On Thursday evening, Scotland Yard said explosives had been found there and removed safely.

A police spokesman said: "We are confident that there is no longer a danger posed by explosives on the premises and work will begin to allow the local community to return to their homes as soon as is possible."


Police are believed to be investigating possible links between his arrest and the case of "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, who was sentenced to life for trying to blow up a US passenger plane.

Home Secretary David Blunkett told the BBC: "We wouldn't have taken these steps if we didn't believe this individual posed a very real threat to the life and liberty of this country."

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the man had been taken to a central London police station for questioning.

He said Scotland Yard indicated the amount of explosives was relatively small but sufficient to cause significant damage.

Police also searched two addresses in Blackburn as part of the operation. A 39-year-old man was also taken into custody in Manchester in a separate anti-terror investigation.


Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism
Ibrahim Master
Lancashire Council of Mosques
Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said the man arrested in Gloucester had been a former student at the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn.

He said religious leaders had been "fully co-operative" in assisting police in a search of the college and adjoining mosque.

"Islam prohibits the loss of innocent lives and as such we condemn all acts of terrorism, whether it's here in the UK or anywhere else in the world," he added.

The Gloucester man - whom police said was "British and of Asian origin" - has been taken to a police station in neighbouring Wiltshire for questioning.

Mr Blunkett said: "It is the belief of the security and Special Branch services that this person has connections with the network of al-Qaeda groups. That is why he has been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.

"Obviously the forensic evidence will be crucial here and I don't want to in any way damage the future trial."

Streets evacuated

A Whitehall security official said chemical, biological and radiological substances were not thought to be involved.

Thursday's arrests come after Britain's terrorist threat level was recently increased following new intelligence of an al-Qaeda plot.

They also come one week after double suicide bombings in Istanbul in which at least 28 people died.

Hopewell Street, Barton Street and St James Street in the centre of Gloucester were sealed off while the searches were carried out and residents moved to a nearby leisure centre.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/3242812.stm

Published: 2003/11/27 22:43:47 GMT

© BBC MMIII

[aculeus]

The latest BBC update, which I just posted, says the Brits recovered explosives in this guy's house!

Rather than initiating another thread perhaps you could add "Explosives Found" to the headline?

As to whether this thread should be moved to Breaking News I shall leave in your competent hands.