UK: New Muslim leader's warning as police defend raid decision

New Muslim leader's warning as police defend raid decision By John Steele, Crime Correspondent (Filed: 06/06/2006)

The new leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation said yesterday that trust between the police and the community affected by last week's terrorism raid in east London could break down.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari was speaking after Scotland Yard insisted that it had "no choice" but to mount the armed raid last Friday, which led to a man being injured and had so far failed to uncover any terrorist material.

Andy Hayman, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner who heads the force's specialist operations department, including the anti-terrorist branch, said: "The police received specific intelligence. We were left with no choice but to act. Public safety was our top priority."

In his first public engagement since his election as Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Dr Bari visited residents and businesses in the Forest Gate area.

Before being taken behind a police cordon to speak to residents directly affected, Dr Bari met councillors to discuss disquiet in the area's Muslim community fuelled by conflicting reports in the media.

Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23, was shot in the shoulder during the operation in Lansdown Road in Forest Gate on Friday. Both he and his brother Abul Koyair, 20, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a terrorist chemical plot. They are both being held at Paddington Green police station.

But Dr Bari said members of the community were beginning to question what had taken place.

Sitting in a sari shop Dr Bari said: "The message is the confusion, its the frustration and to some extent anger.

"People want to know what exactly happened and about the intelligence - is it genuine information, is it flawed? These are the questions police have to answer as soon as possible.

"Trust could be an issue. Trust could break down if things are not clarified as soon as possible."

Many residents appeared preoccupied with the practical inconvenience of an ongoing police cordon.

Yaqoob Kaduji said: "I am angry. I don't go shopping, I don't go to work. I am upset."

Last night Kahar was assessed as fit to be questioned after being treated for a bullet wound. Both he and his brother deny any involvement in terrorism.

Kate Roxburgh, representing Kahar, said: "He cannot think of any involvement with anybody who might be involved in terrorism."

Julian Young, solicitor for Koyair, said: "He denies any involvement in the commission, preparation or instigation of any acts of terrorism."

"I am angry. I don't go shopping, I don't go to work. I am upset."

Well, he couldn't do any of those things if he had been killed in a terrorist blast, either.

But apparently he is only concerned with playing victim.

"The new leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation said yesterday that trust between the police and the community affected by last week's terrorism raid in east London could break down. "

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Beyond belief!!!!!

4 posted on 06/05/2006 9:46:06 PM PDT by FairOpinion (Dem Foreign Policy: SURRENDER to our enemies. Real conservatives don't help Dems get elected.)

"People want to know what exactly happened and about the intelligence - is it genuine information, is it flawed? These are the questions police have to answer as soon as possible.i>

Ah no..the two moose limbs picked up in a possible chemical plot are the ones who need to giving answers as soon as possible Bari, you dimwit.

5 posted on 06/05/2006 9:47:32 PM PDT by Wolfhound777 (It's not our job to forgive them. Only God can do that. Our job is to arrange the meeting)

"The new leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation said yesterday that trust between the police and the community affected by last week's terrorism raid in east London could break down. "

TRANSLATION......we might riot, like in France....

6 posted on 06/05/2006 9:50:17 PM PDT by goodnesswins ( "the left can only take power through deception." (and it seems Hillary & Company are the masters)

Sitting in a sari shop Dr Bari said: "The message is the confusion, its the frustration and to some extent anger.

Yes, we are, Dr. Bari. OH, you mean YOU are - well, tough tookies

7 posted on 06/05/2006 9:52:16 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (Lincoln: "...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.")

The new leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation said yesterday that trust between the police and the community affected by last week's terrorism raid in east London could break down. "

All I can say is......about time!!!!!!!

"Trust could break down if things are not clarified as soon as possible."

Of course, when Muslims blow up buses, the rest of us are not even allowed to raise the issue of trust. The very possibliity is labeled "racist."

9 posted on 06/05/2006 9:57:38 PM PDT by denydenydeny ("Osama... made the mistake of confusing media conventional wisdom with reality" (Mark Steyn))

>"The new leader of Britain's biggest Muslim organisation said yesterday that trust between the police and the community affected by last week's terrorism raid in east London could break down.>"

Hey Slammy for brains! We DON'T Trust you to behave in a civilized manner in the first place. Why don't ya give yerselves some more brain damage banging your heads against the ground 5x a day!!

Deport em all! The sooner the better!

10 posted on 06/05/2006 10:03:24 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist (I'd rather be carrying a shotgun with Dick, than riding shotgun with a Kennedyl!)

These people are cavemen.

I believe that many are somewhat more sophisticated than that. I expect that the ones quoted in the article are instinctively if not conciously conducting jihad by other means.

Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23, was shot in the shoulder during the operation in Lansdown Road in Forest Gate on Friday.

British cops can't even shoot, this terrorist should bite the dust now. He would be dead if an US cop did the shooting.

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