London Update (Third Attack Possible?) And French Government Expelling Radical Clerics (updated)
By Andrew Cochran
Sunday Times report: "A third Islamist terror cell is planning multiple suicide bomb attacks against Tube trains and other “soft” targets in central London, security sources have revealed." Fifth bomber arrested and identified as Wahbi Mohammed, 23, "alleged to have dumped a device hidden in a rucksack on open ground at nearby Little Wormwood Scrubs." Late today, the AP reported a suspected bomber's confession: Osman Hussain "admitted Saturday to a role in the attack but said it was only intended to be an attention-grabbing strike, not a deadly one, a legal expert familiar with the investigation said." Here's another AP story, this one on the possible "mastermind": Haroon Rashid Aswat allegedly made about 20 phone calls to some of the July 7 bombers, according to Zambian officials, and he "told investigators he was once a bodyguard for al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden." Here's a BBC story updating news of other arrests yesterday: "Two men arrested under anti-terrorism laws during dawn raids in Leicester have been released without charge." MSNBC quotes Italy's Interior Minister: “'Important investigations' were underway in Venice, Salerno and other cities from north to south, he said."
On Thursday, Steven Emerson posted his skepticism of the fatwa issued by American Muslim leaders against terrorism. The post has been quoted and linked worldwide. Since the 7/7 attacks, we've commented here (Matthew Levitt's post as just one example) that the British have to follow through with plans to get tough with radical clerics. But even now, some British Muslims still pursue extremist ideals unabated: "A Muslim who helped recruit young men to fight for the Taliban says that those willing to plant bombs in London were guilty of tactical errors but were not immoral." They should take lessons from Nicolas Sarkozy, the French interior minister, who has had enough of radical Islamists there: "France announced the summary expulsion of a dozen Islamists between now and the end of August...Mr Sarkozy also revealed that as many as 12 French mosques associated with provocative anti-western preaching were under surveillance." And the BBC reports that Sarkozy has already deported Reda Ameuroud, a radical Algerian Islamist preacher, "said to have given pro-jihad speeches in a mosque in north-east Paris." Hat tip to Timothy Thompson for the articles, and VIVE LA FRANCE!!
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