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Six Arrested In Britain Under Anti-Terrorism Laws
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| Under the government's anti-terror legislation, foreign-born terror suspects can be detained without trial. |
DARLINGTON, England, Jan. 29 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - British police arrested six men Tuesday under anti-terrorism legislation in a pre-dawn raid in northeast England, police said.
"Six men are being held at northeast police stations under the Terrorism Act 2001 following a pre-dawn operation across two force areas," police in Durham, northeast England, said in a press statement, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Police denied that those arrested in the operation were directly linked to the events of September 11 or to Al-Qaeda, but did not comment on whether the men were wanted in connection with any Islamic groups.
The arrests followed simultaneous raids in the northeastern towns of Darlington, Redcar, Middlesborough and Hartlepool at around 7:00 am (0700 GMT).
More than 150 officers were involved in the raids -- codenamed "Ice bolt" -- which brought rush hour traffic in Darlington to a standstill while houses were searched, the statement said.
Three of the men, who are aged 29, 31 and 46, were arrested in Darlington and are being held at an undisclosed policed station, according to the same source.
The others, arrested as officers began detailed examinations of five properties in Redcar, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, were aged 29, 37 and 44.
"Public safety is of paramount importance and Detective Superintendent [Brian] Dunn and myself firmly believe the people in those areas have nothing to fear in the wake of today's arrests," the organizer of the operation, Detective Superintendent, Harry Stephenson, said.
Anti-terrorist legislation, passed December 14, permits British authorities to hold foreign suspects without trial if they are believed to present a threat to national security.
Under the new measures – part of the government's anti-terror legislation – foreign-born terror suspects can be detained without trial. Police did not reveal the nationality of those arrested Tuesday.
It is the second time Britain has arrested people suspected of links to Al-Qaeda network. On December 12, 2001, a number of foreign-born terror suspects were arrested under the new anti-terrorism laws.
Their identities have not been revealed, but it is thought that London-based Muslim activist Abu Qatada may have been among those held.
Abu Qatada, who was believed to be among those held, took the British government on in the courts last month to fight a decision to suspend his Income Support benefit.
Abu Qatada, 42, had social support payments withheld after 180,000 pounds (255,000 dollars, 290,000 euros) in sterling, U.S. dollars, Spanish pesetas and German marks were allegedly found by anti-terrorist police at his home in Acton, west London.
Abu Qatada was arrested and detained after the raid on his house last February. He was then released and not charged with any offence. However, the cash was not returned.
His lawyers argued Abu Qatada had never asserted he was the beneficial owner of the cash, but had explained the money was being held by him "on behalf of an informal prayer group to purchase a meeting place for that group," according to AFP.
Abu Qatada was granted refugee status in 1994 and was given leave to enter Britain, along with his wife and children.
He was therefore eligible for income support, housing benefit and child benefit on the same conditions as a British citizen.
He was granted asylum in Britain in 1994 after fleeing persecution for his religious beliefs.
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