Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: A major anti-terrorism raid in the UK

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The weather sucks in Seattle
    Posts
    4,899

    A major anti-terrorism raid in the UK

    BIRMINGHAM, England (CNN) -- A major anti-terrorism raid in the UK was intended to foil a plot to kidnap a Muslim soldier serving in the British Army, and behead him, according to a security source.

    Police arrested eight people during a series of early-morning raids in Birmingham, central England, early Wednesday, according to statements released by police and the Home Office.

    The Home Office said the eight were arrested in Birmingham by West Midlands police under the country's anti-terrorism laws.

    The arrests did not involve a plot to cause mass casualties, but instead the kidnap of a British Muslim soldier who has served in Afghanistan, a senior security source told CNN.

    Once kidnapped, the attackers allegedly planned to videotape the torture and execution of the soldier for later publication on the Internet.

    Media reports said the plot would have involved an "Iraq-style" execution.

    Former Scotland Yard commander John O'Connor said: "This is a major breakthrough in thwarting what seems to be a genuine and terrifying potential crime. These are not the kind of people that take hostages."

    According to West Midlands Police, the eight were arrested on "suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000."

    "A number of addresses in Birmingham have been secured and sealed off and are currently being searched by officers from West Midlands Police and Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit," West Midlands police said.

    On January 23, British police arrested five men in terror raids across northern England. (Full story)

    Two of the men -- Rizwan Ditta, 29, and Mohammad Bilal, 25, both from Halifax -- were charged Monday under the Terrorism Act 2000. The other three men are still being questioned by the Greater Manchester Police.

    "This operation is a reminder of the real and serious nature of the terrorist threat we face," the Home Office said Wednesday.

    Birmingham is about 100 miles northwest of London.

    Security services believe a terrorist attack is highly likely in Britain. An attack on London's public transport in 2005 killed 52 people, and the country is on its second highest alert level.

    Last year the head of MI5, Britain's domestic spy service, said that about 30 terrorism plots were being worked on and agents were monitoring around 1,600 suspects.
    The problem with socialism is that you eventually,
    run out of other people’s money.
    ” - Margaret Thatcher

  2. #2
    Senior Member hiss srq's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Around here and near there.
    Posts
    5,565
    Impressive... The Brits know how to get things done over there. Kudos to them in a big way. Just goes to show you just how good those guys are.
    Southwest Airlines-"Once it pop's it's time to stop" Southwest Airlines-"Our Shamu's are almost real" Southwest Airlines -"We blow our top real easy" Southwest Airlines- "You can't top us..... really"

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •