British intelligence agencies have drawn up a list of around 100 Islamist activists they suspect are involved in terrorist activities in the UK, The Observer can reveal. The security authorities are on high alert following a month of warnings and a series of arrests in Britain, the US and Pakistan. Most of those on the list are British citizens, mainly of Pakistani descent, although some are those of naturalised immigrants from the Middle East. Since 11 September 2001, intelligence agencies have focused their efforts on a perceived threat from within the UK, rather than from a group of 'al-Qaeda operatives' who infiltrate from outside. But sources who have viewed the list say that, although it includes some 'serious players', it is deeply flawed.
| Oh. Well. In that case you should throw it away... |
They say many of the individuals are marginal figures or are not involved at all. The view will raise fears that poor intelligence could lead to operations that will damage community relations while serving no useful counter-terrorist purpose. 'A lot of the names there are pretty historic,' said one person who has seen the list. 'Even if the people named are still involved, they are only acting in very minor support activities. Often they are now family men who had a bit of an adventure in their youth. They are decent citizens now.'
| "Even though they may still be involved in terrorism, kinda sorta..." |
Many of those on the list are Britons of Pakistani origin who fought for Islamist militant groups in Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan mountain state, several years ago and have since ceased their involvement with radical Islamist activism. Hundreds of British citizens are believed to have fought in Kashmir and then returned to the UK. Such activities were not illegal at the time.
| "So we should induce amnesia in ourselves and not expect them to do anything terrible now..." |
|