|
More on the Finsbury mosque raid...
Sheikh Abu Hamza, who was not arrested, claimed the raid was both part of a "war" against Muslims and retaliation for the stabbing of an officer during a raid in Manchester. "It is disgusting. The police have never been denied access to the mosque," he said. "What can people have in a mosque? I think it was a provocative act. It was silly and illogical. I am not a military person. I am not an institution. I am a preacher. When did you last hear of a church being raided when someone has been arrested? These people do not have principles." When was the last time you heard of a church being the nexus of terrorism in an entire country? Police insisted the raid was carried out sensitively, and said they had not entered parts of the mosque used for prayer, instead focusing on office and accommodation areas. They said they had "no quarrel" with ordinary worshippers at the mosque, and had been handing out leaflets suggesting alternative places of worship. Strongly suggesting, one would hope... But Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter said: "Public safety is our number one requirement and we will go anywhere that we have to, in order to pursue those that pose a threat to this country." He said the raid had been highly successful, and he expected it to lead to "more action in the future" as "part of our absolutely determined effort to keep the country safe". So far, we're not particularly impressed. Scotland Yard used to be chock full of smart guys. New Scotland Yard seems chock full of social workers... BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said: "It's part of this whole nationwide operation to try to wrap up this network of suspected Algerian militants here in Britain." Ohfergawdsake! It's not just Algerians! Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-20 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=9418 |