Terror on the Eurostar: Al Qaeda suspect arrested sneaking into Britain

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | 02/11/03 | MIKE SULLIVAN

[Pokey78]

Going nowhere ... terror suspect was
held on Eurostar

EXCLUSIVE!

AN al-Qa’ida terror suspect has been arrested trying to sneak into Britain on the Eurostar.

Armed Special Branch cops nabbed the 25-year-old Algerian as he stepped off the train from Paris at London’s Waterloo Station.

He is thought to have been intending to carry out a bombing in the UK.

Last night, the man was being held at top security Paddington Green police station, West London, under the Terrorism Act 2000.

He was seized last Thursday after a joint operation by British and French security services. Details of his arrest have not been made public until now.

The man is suspected of having connections to the gang allegedly involved in a plot to produce the deadly toxin ricin in Wood Green, North London.

A security source told The Sun: “This is a triumph.

“We received information about an Algerian national attempting to come into the country on the Eurostar.

“He is suspected of belonging to an extremist Algerian terrorist organisation with close links to al-Qa’ida. He was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit terrorist atrocities in Britain.

“The Channel Tunnel has naturally opened up another avenue for terrorists attempting to come into this country. This arrest demonstrates how our security agencies are on top of the situation and monitoring all those coming into the country.”

• TWO Algerians used fake passports to get into Britain then began raising funds for Osama Bin Laden, a court heard yesterday.
  
  Baghdad Meziane, 38, entered Britain illegally in 1997, it was claimed. He allegedly opened a bank account in the name of Cyril Jacob and began collecting housing and council tax benefits.
  
  Brahim Benmerzouga, 31, was also said to have come to the UK in 1997.
  
  Prosecutor Mark Ellison, QC, said the pair helped promote al-Qa’ida chief Bin Laden’s call for a “holy war” against America and its allies.
  
  They were arrested two weeks after the September 11, 2001, attacks on America, Leicester Crown Court heard.
  
  Both men deny entering into a funding arrangement for the purposes of terrorism.
  
  Meziane also denies conspiracy to defraud banks, credit card and charge card firms.
  
  Benmerzouga admits that offence and three of having false passports. Meziane admits one passport charge.
  

[blam]

A little at a time, eh.

[crazykatz]

FYI

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Heads up! Good going, Armed Special Branch cops!!!

[eyespysomething]

<< Armed Special Branch cops nabbed the 25-year-old Algerian as he stepped off the train from Paris >>

hmmm, from Paris, eh? And where did Richard Reid fly from?
Great security. And why are we worried about France "helping" us? They've already chosen their side to hang their hat on.

[nutmeg]

He was seized last Thursday after a joint operation by British and French security services.

Well done! I guess we have to give a little credit to our "friends" the French on this one.

[celtic gal]

We were in England last summer. When you get on the Chunnel on the British side are French "customs" inspectors..in a booth sort of like those on toll roads. They did not even look at my passport. Coming back (from Calais) the British certainly did look very carefully at my passport. We took a car over and back so our point of embarkation was different than that of those going to or coming back from Paris. I was really suprised that the French were so lax. Additionally we drove to Belgium and going from France to Belgium no one was around to check our passports. Seems to be pretty easy to get from one country to another as if you were travelling right here in the USA.

[July 4th]

Additionally we drove to Belgium and going from France to Belgium no one was around to check our passports.

France and Belgium (along with several other continental nations) are Schengen treaty signatories. Border controls are a thing of the past on the mainland. Great Britain, however, is not part of the treaty and still takes pride in enforcing its borders.

[celtic gal]

Thanks for that info.I am glad the UK is still serious about looking at passports.

[absalom01]

I always wondered why it seemed like such a good idea to build the chunnel in the first place. The French thought it was a swell idea, but I never could figure out what the Brits saw in the whole crazy notion of (in effect) bringing the continent closer, of all things. Seems like the past 500 or so years of history would lead one to the opposite conclusion.

[butter pecan fan]

When you get on the Chunnel on the British side are French "customs" inspectors..in a booth sort of like those on toll roads. They did not even look at my passport.

Actually, they're costume inspectors. You know how the French are about fashion.

[Abar]

The Special Branch will give him...Special...attention.

When the defence of the Realm is in question, the Special Branch is called.

Way to go Britain!

[CyberAnt]

"We received information about an Algerian national attempting to come into the country on the Eurostar"

My goodness, that was fast work! Wow!

[fella]

Send him to "The Tower"!

The Brits used to know how to get information quickly.

[RWG]

Could have gotten into canda or mexico, then gone to ny and caught a flight and would have probably gotten away with it.

[Grampa Dave]

I'm sure that the security on the French side, still sucks as bad as it did a few years ago.

The Brits had great security and really checked passports of individuals when the train entered UK territory.

We noticed on the way back from Paris, that several people were detained by the UK security. The Frogs did basically nothing. We were asked for our tickets and that was it.

[Grampa Dave]

Typical Frog insecurity with their Islamofascist/Kazi buddies:

While this happened at DeBalless airport, it happens all over France. They don't want to insult any Islamokazi who might kill innocent Americans or Brits!