UK Counter-Terrorism (merged thread)

[davidbfpo]

Been away from the UK news and found this:

The charges amount to allegations of a plan to attack the London Stock Exchange, the American Embassy, a number of prominent religious and political leaders and possible restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.

The alleged plan also included a series of parcel bombs to be constructed based on instructions printed in an Al-Qaeda newsletter.

The second chage they face is of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism between November 6 and December 20, including by downloading, researching, obtaining and discussing materials and methods; researching discussing and carrying out reconnaissance on and agreeing potential targets; travelling to and attending meetings; and igniting and testing incendiary material preparing for acts of terrorism.

Link:http://www.channel4.com/news/anti-te...ne-men-charged

More details on:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ter-Abbey.html

[omarali50]

Why the surprise about Bangladeshis? Bangladesh has been an important hub of ISI's jihadist project for decades...

[AdamG]

Christmas bomb plot: nine men remanded over plan to 'blow up Big Ben and Westminster Abbey'
Nine alleged terrorists plotted a Christmas bombing campaign targeting sites that included the London Stock Exchange and Big Ben, a court heard.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ter-Abbey.html

[davidbfpo]

Omarali50,

You asked:

Why the surprise about Bangladeshis? Bangladesh has been an important hub of ISI's jihadist project for decades...

IMHO the surprise is that those of Bangladeshi origin have not featured in most UK plots for a few years, other groups dominate, notably Kashmiri / Pakistani and coming up Somalis. IIRC the last UK CT case with a Bangladeshi was Moinul Abedin and he was arrested in 2000. Secondly, there was the assumption that contemporary history would preclude any Bangladeshi going to Pakistan for training.

There has also been Bangladesh-UK co-operation in CT, although it has hiccups:http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/j...ims-bangladesh

[AdamG]

For people too cheap to buy from Paladin Press

LONDON - Nine men arrested in Britain on terrorism charges last week found inspiration and bomb-making instructions in an English-language Internet magazine published by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, British investigators reportedly said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

[davidbfpo]

A few weeks police in Birmingham arrested eight people, who were later charged with terrorism offences and seven men kept in custody:

Four of the men were charged with preparing for an act of terrorism in the UK, and two with failing to disclose information.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15113378

This week four young men were arrested, in part two of the investigation, now known as Operation Pitsford and they too have been charged:

They are accused of collecting money for terrorism, travelling to Pakistan for terrorism training and travelling abroad to commit acts of terrorism. They have been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006, a force spokesman said.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15798572

While this may have only local, British implications I do wonder if it will have an impact on the decision to base the US Olympic track team in Birmingham. There was speculation a week ago that the USA had some concerns overs security in London:http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...-security-2012

[davidbfpo]

Three threads merged and thread renamed UK Counter-Terrorism (merged thread).

[davidbfpo]

The annual report by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has been published and covered here, for example:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...-watchdog.html

Bee stings kill as many people in Britain as terrorist attacks do, according to a report by a Government watchdog who claims the risk from extremists has fallen “markedly” in recent years.

In view of a press report on a speech by the Director-General of the Security Service (MI5) on the threat, the reviewer said the threat is sometimes:

exaggerated for political or commercial purposes

Link to cited a report on the MI5 speech:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...spy-chief.html

As the UK winds up for the Olympics in a month's time his remarks are noteworthy and I suspect not exactly endearing him to HMG. When taken alongside his earlier testimony to a parliamentary committee on HMG's proposal for closed courts in civil cases he is showing some mettle IMHO:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...e-strikes.html