UK Terror Plot Investigation - News Roundup - July 3

By Jeffrey Imm

July 3 news roundup of UK terror plot investigation activities:

-- Terror Attacks: 'All Key Suspects Held'. Sky News reports "Police investigating the failed terror attacks on London and Glasgow believe they now have their key suspects in custody. But they stress their inquiries are far from over and say Britain is likely to remain on a critical level of terror alert for some time."

-- 'Same Men Behind Attacks'. Sky News is reporting that sources say the same men were behind both the London and Glasgow attacks. In addition, Sky News is reporting the name of the second Jihadist arrested in Glasgow as "Dr Khalid Ahmed". Sky News is also stating now that that destination of the Australian doctor fleeing Australia when he was arrested - was headed to Pakistan.

-- Two Additional Arrests in Blackburn (northwest UK). Sky News reports that "Two men have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences after they apparently tried to collect a delivery of large gas canisters at an industrial estate in Blackburn."

-- CBS News reports this morning that "Intelligence sources tell CBS News that the people behind the attempts were directly recruited by Abu Hamza al-Muhajir," the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. See Evan Kohlmann's May 1 post on al-Muhajir and see other CT Blog posts on him.

-- Seven Doctors Held in UK Terror Plot. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that, of the total of 8 suspects currently arrested, "Seven doctors held over al-Qa'eda bomb plot" and that "five of the seven suspects held by British police are young Middle Eastern men employed at British hospitals". This includes a Dr. Mohammed Asha from Jordan, and Dr. Bilal Abdulla from Iraq. The Daily Mail is also reporting that two of the doctors are Saudi. An increasing focus is on suspects employed at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, Renfrewshire. Sky News has provided a brief summary of the 8 suspects arrested thus far. Daily Telegraph has provided a high level timeline of the Jihadist car bomb efforts.

-- Doctor at Arabic Websites at Work. Daily Mail reports that Jihadist suspect Dr. Bilal Abdulla "repeatedly visited Arabic websites when he was supposed to be working and was about to be disciplined for it, said staff at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Glasgow." Apparently, co-workers were aware of this and unwilling to report suspicious behavior.

-- Glasgow Bomber Abdulla Traced to Taxi Call. Sky News reports that a Paisley taxi cab company was visited by the police seeking information on Glasgow bomber Dr. Bilal Abdulla, seeking information on his whereabouts - just minutes before the Glasgow attack.

-- NHS staff among terror suspects". The Daily Mail is reporting that "up to 12 members of Al Qaeda were sent to work in the NHS", and provides a list of the terror suspects connected with the UK National Health Service. BBC News has also now come out with a report on this, stating that of the 8 arrested, all have links with the NHS, and that "seven are believed to be doctors or medical students, while one formerly worked as a laboratory technician." The Daily Mail reports of "NHS and an open door to terrorism -- 6,000 Arab doctors at work in UK."

-- Doctors Arrested in Australia. BBC reports that "Indian national Dr Mohammed Haneef" was arrested in Australia, and that a second doctor is also being questioned in Australia. Neither doctor has yet been charged. Sky News reports that Dr. Haneef "was based in Liverpool before moving to Australia". The London Times reports that Dr. Haneef was "trying to board a plane to leave the country with a one-way ticket." News media have differing reports as to the planned destination. Australian news is reporting the destination as Singapore; Sky News is reporting that the planned destination was to Pakistan.

-- Prison Connection to Bombers? The London Times is reporting over concerns that the British Jihadists have been getting plans and information to carry out the bombing atacks from Dhiren Barot or other arrested Jihadists.

-- Security Crackdown in London and Glasgow. Daily Telegraph reports that the security crackdown in London and Glasgow has included putting 6,000 armed police on the streets.

-- Scotland Police Carry Out Controlled Explosion of Car Near Mosque. AP and Sky News are reporting that a "controlled explosion was carried out early Tuesday morning on a suspicious car parked outside the Forth Street Mosque in Glasgow".

-- Security Alert at Heathrow Airport and other controlled explosions. ITN News is reporting that "Heathrow Airport's Terminal Four has been evacuated after police received reports of a suspect package" and that other controlled explosions of suspicious packages are happening in the Hammersmith area of London and the city's financial district. Daily Mail reports that over 100 flights were canceled at Heathrow airport, and that Britain is in "lockdown mode" with extra security "in place at airports, train stations, on the Tube, at major sporting events and shopping centers".

Sources:

Daily Telegraph: Seven doctors held over al-Qa'eda bomb plot

Daily Mail: Bomb plot: 12 NHS staff among terror suspects

BBC: Terror suspects all linked to NHS

Daily Mail: NHS and an open door to terrorism -- 6,000 Arab doctors at work in UK

BBC: Australia arrests in terror probe

London Times: Doctor arrested in Australia over UK terror plot

Australia Broadcasting Corporation: Gold Coast doctor arrested over UK bomb plot

Sky News: Oz Terror Suspect Had One-Way Ticket

Sky News: Car Bombing Suspects: Who Are They?

Daily Telegraph: Terror arrests : the list of suspects

London Times: Did al-Qaeda leader pass on his plans from inside prison?

CBS: Al Qaeda In Iraq Behind U.K. Bomb Plot?

Daily Telegraph: Alert puts 6,000 armed police on streets

AP: Scotland Police Carry Out Controlled Explosion of Car Near Mosque

Sky News: Video of Explosion of Car Outside Glasgow Mosque

ITN: Security alert closes Heathrow T4

Daily Mail: Terror plot: Holiday chaos as Heathrow is closed and flights are cancelled

Daily Mail: Britain under lockdown as further attacks are 'imminent'

Sky News: 'Gas Canister' Pair Held In Terror Probe - arrests in Blackburn (NW England) after gas canisters delivered - connection to plots unknown

Daily Telegraph: Two men arrested after 'gas canister delivery'

AP: Two more terror suspects arrested in England - in Blackburn

Sky News: 'Same Men Behind Attacks'

Sky News: Terror Plot Suspect Traced Via Taxi Call

Sky News: Terror Attacks: 'All Key Suspects Held'

Daily Mail: Terror suspect 'regularly visited Arabic websites'

Other Newslinks:

Australia News: Australian Federal Police (AFP) to decide fate of detained doctor - in UK car bombings

Sky News: Airports Slowly Returning To Normal

Sky News: Muslim Leaders Round On Bombers

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