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| Britain |
| Cleric says attack on London "inevitable" |
| 2004-04-18 |
| Several Islamic militant groups are preparing attacks on London, making such a strike unavoidable, a radical Muslim cleric said in an interview with a Portuguese magazine. "It’s inevitable. Because several (attacks) are being prepared by several groups," Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad told Lisbon’s Publica magazine from London, where he is based. One "very well organised" group in London calling itself al Qaeda Europe "has a great appeal for young Muslims", he said. "I know that they are ready to launch a big operation." London police said they were not prepared to discuss the claims, but the country’s most senior police officer, Sir John Stevens, has previously said that an attack on the capital was inevitable. The firebrand cleric, who has outraged moderate Muslims and non-Muslims alike with his uncompromising views, gave no further details. Asked if a British Muslim was allowed to carry out a "terrorist attempt" in a foreign country, Muhammad said "That is another story." He added: "We don’t make a distinction between civilians and non-civilians, innocents and non-innocents. Only between Muslims and unbelievers. And the life of an unbeliever has no value. It has no sanctity." It was important to see accusations of terrorism in their proper context, he said. "If we give money to needy women and children, they say they are the families of terrorists. But where do the terrorists come from? Zimbabwe? No. They are people from here. And they are our brothers, the terrorists." "The British also are terrorists, in Iraq...Terrorism is the law of the 21st century. It’s legitimate." Sheikh Bakri Muhammad said he had mixed feelings about the possible effect of his comments. "In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said. GROUP PRAISED SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS The Syrian-born cleric heads the al Muhajiroun group, which has praised the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and the al Qaeda militant network blamed for them. He told Publica in the interview published on Sunday. there were several "freelance" militant groups in Europe, such as al Qaeda London, prepared to launch attacks similar to those carried out by the al Qaeda network. Four British men and a teenager appeared in court in Britain last week charged with plotting a bombing after being arrested in the country’s biggest anti-terror raids since the September 11 attacks. The men, all of Pakistani origin, were arrested on March 30 in raids which uncovered 600 kg (1,300 lb) of ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser that can be used in bomb making. Asked about his comments that he wanted to have the banner of Islam at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence, Muhammad said, "Yes, it’s my dream. I believe one day that is going to happen. Because this is my country, I like living here." "I’ve been arrested 16 times. And 16 times freed, because they have nothing against me. These are the contradictions of laws made by man. If they believe in democracy, who are they afraid of? Let Omar Bakri benefit from democracy!" |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #9 Someone needs to start wacking those who propound such dreck. If the governments can't do it, perhaps private individuals should start thinking about it. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4290 2004-04-18 10:32:00 PM |
| #8 Sheikh Bakri Muhammad said he had mixed feelings about the possible effect of his comments. "In a certain way I regret that, because the first thing the government will do is deport me, myself and my family," he said. It should have been done years ago. . |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-04-18 10:12:59 PM |
| #7 Heerarchy of terror terms:4)Cleric:a Muslim with a few RPGs and suicide belts 3)Firebrand cleric:add a few more explosives 2)Militant:one who kills dozens in terror attacks 1)Freedom fighter:one who kills thousands in a single attack ...Isn't that right,Sean Penn? |
| Posted by: WHiteHouseDetox 2004-04-18 9:05:02 PM |
| #6 He probably has more bugs on him and in the places he frequents than bin Laden and his mooks have fleas. MI5 must have a small army of officers assigned to bugging this camel bugger. |
| Posted by: VRWconspiracy 2004-04-18 9:02:35 PM |
| #5 There are proposals for a law which would allow the arrest of associates of terror suspects. Bakri has implicated himself in this article. Hopefully when it passes it will be retroactive. |
| Posted by: Lux 2004-04-18 8:18:41 PM |
| #4 Zipster, again, I can't help but remark how quick on the trigger you are. For him to be taken out would require Britain to pass something similar to the Patriot Act. Hope it happens. But as the British government seems to molly coddle Liberal whiners (like you?) even more than we do, I wouldn't count on it. The Left here and abroad has been busy indeed moaning about how their "civil liberties" have been infringed by the Patriot Act, yet when asked to cite one example, they can't. The second they arrest some Islamist oranguatan terrorist killer here, in comes CAIR, the ACLU and your precious Dimocrats screaming "police state." |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-04-18 8:08:49 PM |
| #3 Why is this nutcase allowed to run around and make these threats? This is national suicide letting this guy do this inciteful speech. On another note, where is Hook Boy and what is he doing these days? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-04-18 8:04:05 PM |
| #2 Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad told Lisbon’s Publica magazine from London, where he is based. One "very well organised" group in London calling itself al Qaeda Europe "has a great appeal for young Muslims", he said. "I know that they are ready to launch a big operation." Sounds like this Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad has direct contact with terrorist cells. If so, he is a participant in these plots. We need to take him out of circulation, preferrably by way of fast onset lead poisoning. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-18 8:03:50 PM |
| #1 One wonders whether they're really going to do this, or if they're trying to scare us. I know that the whole idea of shame and honor is a big thing in the minds of the Arabs, and so I'm trying to figure out whether they're going to have to follow through or else they'll be shamed, or if they're trying to shame us into surrender. |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2004-04-18 7:57:26 PM |