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| Terror Networks |
| Abu Qatada in protective custody? |
| 2002-07-08 |
| A suspected al-Qaeda leader and his family are living in a safe house in northern England where they are being looked after by British intelligence. Abu Qatada, said to be Osama bin Laden's ambassador in Europe, was sentenced to death in his absence in Jordan and is accused by the US, Spain, France and Algeria of being a key influence in the September 11 attacks. Also known as Omar Abu Omar, he has appeared on the list of suspected Islamic terrorists issued by the United Nations after September 11. Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 20th hijacker, is said to have attended prayers led by Abu Qatada at a community centre near Baker Street when they both lived in London. Last December he disappeared from his home in Acton, west London, after the government introduced anti-terrorism laws that could have seen him interred. Now senior European intelligence officials have told Time magazine that he and his family are being lodged, fed and clothed by British intelligence services somewhere in northern England. "The deal is that Abu Qatada is deprived of contact with extremists in London and Europe but can't be arrested or expelled because no-one officially knows where he is," said the source. "The British win because the last thing they want is a hot potato they can't extradite for fear of al-Qaeda reprisals but whose presence contradicts London's support of the war on terror." In April, the Sunday Times speculated that Abu Qatada had turned "supergrass" for MI5, a theory fuelled by the arrests of several Muslim extremists in Germany who had met the Palestinian refugee and were said to be on the brink of an attack. I don't buy the "we want to avoid reprisals" routine. There are too many other thugs, gunmen and "holy men" who've been rounded up. I think it's much more likely that Abu Qatada has been turned and that he's making a handy comparison point for those little chats the Merkins are having with Abu Zubaydah. Keeping him hidden away is more likely to keep goon squads from al Muhajiroun from hunting him down and killing him. Thanks to Paul for the link! |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |