Hunt for 1,200 Britons who trained with al-Qa'eda

news.telegraph.co.uk ^ | Jan 26, 2003 | David Bamber

[Black Powder]

Almost 1,200 British Muslims trained with Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'eda terrorist network in Afghanistan, The Telegraph has learnt.

The names, addresses and other details of the Britons were found by British military intelligence during searches of bin Laden's cave complex at Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan.

Many of the Britons, all of whom trained at al-Qa'eda camps in Afghanistan, are now thought to have returned to Britain while others are believed to have died in combat. The location of some is known, but others have still to be traced. In all, the names of 1,192 Britons have been found. A senior Whitehall official confirmed the discovery, saying: "It was shocking to realise that so many young Britons had travelled to train with Osama bin Laden, al-Qa'eda and the Taliban."

Last night there were calls for the men to be prosecuted for terrorism offences, or even treason, and warnings that some of those who had returned to Britain might have formed terrorist cells here. Geoffrey Bindman, QC, a leading authority on terrorism legislation, said that the men could be tried in Britain if they had trained with al-Qa'eda after the passing of the Terrorism Act 2000, which came into force in February 2001.

He said: "It is an offence under the Terrorism Act to incite terrorism abroad, so it is arguable that a person working with al-Qa'eda in Afghanistan could be tried in Britain for that offence. Other offences under the Terrorism Act such as terrorist bombing can also be tried in Britain regardless of where the bombing took place."

Special Branch detectives fear that some of the men who cannot be traced could be plotting terrorist attacks in Britain.

[goodnesswins]

Join the AXIS OF FREEDOM Rally on TUESDAY –

it’s a CAR/HOUSE/YARD sign Rally

DAY of SUPPORT…Tues, 1/28/03....FLY your flags (U.S., British, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Quatar, Kuwaiti, Israeli, Australian and Japanese one, too if you have them)....and put up your BUSH/CHENEY signs, (and the BIG W's on your SUV's) for the STATE of the UNION next Tuesday, Jan 28th, if you support the President, our MILITARY and the United States of America. PSST....pass it on.

	UK	JAPAN
AUSTRALIA	BULGARIA	TURKEY
ROMANIA	ISRAEL	POLAND
SPAIN	CZECH
KUWAIT	HUNGARY	QATAR

[dagnabbit]

The UK's immigration practices of the last 40 years have come home to roost. Unfortunately, the USA's are no better.