Posted on 07/09/2005 10:02:07 PM PDT by jays911
Terror suspect: MI5 asks for deportation
BRIAN BRADY AND EDDIE BARNES
THE hunt for the London bombers dramatically switched to France last night after MI5 and Scotland Yard demanded the extradition of a "North African" terrorist suspected of involvement in the murderous attacks.
Detectives have made the formal request to French colleagues for the extradition of an Islamic radical who is believed to have fled across the Channel after the bomb attacks.
The name of the individual is not yet known, but sources say he is of North African descent, and is high on a list of potential terrorist masterminds drawn up in the hours after Thursday's atrocity. The revelation offers a further indication that the attacks - which police sources believe will claim at least 70 and up to 80 victims - were perpetrated by a North African terror cell.
The revelation over the French request intensifies concern that Britain has become a haven for radical Islamists from around the world, spurred on by what critics claim are lax immigration rules, a poorly resourced intelligence service and 'soft-touch' human rights laws.
Scotland on Sunday can also reveal today that soldiers from the SAS are being called in to carry out crucial surveillance work because MI5 does not have sufficient personnel. It can also be revealed that, two days before the attacks, ministers admitted that no 'control orders' - the controversial new measures which allow police to keep a close eye on suspects - had been issued.
MI5 took on 1,000 extra officers last year after its budget was increased to almost £1.5bn in recognition that the number of suspected terrorists and troublemakers across the country has spiralled in recent years. But the increasing number of potential terrorists - and difficulties in training recruits fast enough - has put the service under exceptional strain.
In a further development, the Moroccan Muslim cleric identified as a potential suspect in the London attacks made an appearance on Al-Jazeera TV, protesting his innocence.
Mohammed Al-Guerbouzi, who has been under investigation in connection with two previous attacks - the 2003 suicide bombing in Morocco and the al-Qaeda attack in Madrid last year - declared: "I affirm that I am not in hiding or on the run and the British police are not looking for me because they know where I live and my address," he said, with his face blacked out.
Another possible suspect is said by security insiders to be Mustafa Setmarian Nasar, the alleged mastermind of last year's Madrid railway bombings. The Syrian is suspected of being al-Qaeda's operations chief in Europe.
Meanwhile, Blair is preparing to give his government's official response to the crisis to MPs tomorrow, amid growing pressure for him to call a wide-ranging inquiry.
The government announced yesterday that there will be a two-minute silence this Thursday for the victims.
Of the 700 people injured in the London attacks, 65 are still in hospital, with 22 remaining in a critical condition
One hopes the French don't mistakenly extradite Oprah.
So tell me again why we should give the despotic African governments one f*ing US dollar?
MAKE BONO HISTORY
Then the Brits should hand him over the Moroccans.
thank you , yup , Africa again , this behaviour has been encouraged and condoned by the Left and all the Live8's ,erasing debts , Doctors Sans Borders , UNICEF , PeaceCorps all that S**T and for What??? so that we can again look the other way about despots and turn the other cheek as our children are murdered??
hmmmm...why then...so the brits won't know what he really looks like?
Too bad there isn't a real 00 Section...that we know of.
Can't make this up.
We have to much of it and need to get rid of some so we can have more storage place for liberal ideas.
Isn't this the same git who several other countries asked to have extradited???
We had the chance to return control of our immigration policy back where it belongs, with the British people. Instead, we elected more pro-EU Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Labour is already a lost cause.
There's no major party in Britain that wants control of our government back with the people. Now, all the decisions are made in Brussels.
That may well change -- if the people demand it.
Yeah, that is the guy.
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