Posted on 01/31/2007 7:12:28 AM PST by Dark Skies
Today's dawn terror raids in Birmingham have heightened the anxieties and suspicions among the Muslim community, it was claimed today.
Shabir Hussain, chairman of the Ludlow Road Mosque, near to the house in Jackson Road, Alum Rock, which was targeted by police, said raids like today’s were causing unease among local families.
He said: "People don’t trust their own children any more. It’s causing difficulties inside families.
"You feel like you should challenge your son or daughter: ‘Where are you going at night? What are you watching on TV? What are you doing on the internet?’
"After this kind of thing, 100 per cent of families are worried."
Eight men were arrested on suspicion of the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism" under the Terrorism Act 2000.
In an updated statement today, West Midlands Police said 12 addresses had been sealed off in the Sparkhill, Washwood Heath, Kingstanding and Edgbaston areas of Birmingham. All are being searched.
The force said the searches may cause disruption and asked for the support of people living in the area.
"Contact officers have been appointed to all the families directly affected by these arrests," the force said. "Their role is to act as a facilitator for any concerns the families may have, including concerns in relation to any future repercussions.
"West Midlands Police enjoys excellent relations with its communities. We will listen to their concerns and do everything in our power to reassure them.
"It is only with the support of all communities that terrorism can be disrupted and defeated."
Outside an address in Ward End Park Road in the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham, police officers were standing guard.
The door to No 106 had been boarded up and a police van was parked outside. One neighbour, who lives a few doors away, said that a couple lived there with three children.
She said: "My daughters were leaving for school at about 8.30 this morning when they saw police everywhere.
"The family are a nice family. I believe their children are aged between 10 and 14. I am really shocked and it’s really scary because it’s on our doorstep."
In Sparkhill, officers swooped on an anonymous end-of-terrace house, an Islamic bookshop and a cybercafe.
Dozens of officers stood guard outside the three addresses today as forensic experts worked inside the properties in the inner-city district.
Standing opposite the Maktabah bookstore on Stratford Road, Councillor Tanveer Choudhry expressed shock that the premises was among those raided. Mr Choudhry (Lib Dem, Springfield), said the staff at the shop were always polite and courteous.
"If the allegations are what they are then I am very, very surprised to be honest," he added. "I have used that shop before and I have never seen anything untoward."
The metal shutters of the bookshop had been cut open by police while a neighbouring beauty shop was closed. Photographers worked inside the bookshop, where titles such as Heroes of Islam, Muslim Heroes of the World and A Day With The Prophet were on display alongside candles.
Passer-by Sohel Aslam had also visited the shop to buy story books for his five children. The 37-year-old, from Leicester, said: "There are a few places around which are quite extreme, but not this place.
"I used to get perfumes and stuff from there for my family and I am really shocked that this is going on."
Residents in Poplar Road, a side street just yards from the bookshop, were reluctant to talk about the occupants of the house which had been sealed off or whether they had seen the police operation.
The third swoop in Sparkhill occurred about 800 yards further south along Stratford Road, close to the junction with Showell Green Lane.
A door at the rear of Blade Cybercafe and Communications, which led up a flight of stairs to what appeared to be a flat and a storage area, had been forced open.
Police could also be seen examining the inside of the cybercafe, which also offers mobile phone services, including repairs.
# A surveillance operation by anti-terror officers has been ongoing for some time. MI5 has also been working closely with the police.
Two weeks ago, a baking powder spillage from a fire extinguisher caused an anthrax scare in a betting shop on Stratford Road. Police were called and customers and staff were decontaminated, but tests proved it to be a false alarm.
Hey DUMMY! It's called "Parental Responsibility"!!!
Except most kids are planning a beheading (I hope).
Heavy metal poisoning?
Your children are causing difficulties for ALL the families in your host country. You are an imam, and they are getting their radical genocidist ideas from your religious teachings.
Don't be so quick to blame the kids, in this case, you're the ones that raised them to be sociopaths.
And well they should be asking those questions!
There. Fixed it.
"Your children are causing difficulties for ALL the families in your host country. You are an imam, and they are getting their radical genocidist ideas from your religious teachings.
Don't be so quick to blame the kids, in this case, you're the ones that raised them to be sociopaths."
What the imam means is: we have to challenge our children: where are you going at night? What are you doing on the internet? Are you tipping the police off about your elders do at mosque? How are the authorities finding out about the bookshop?
You're forgetting, Islam is de facto perfect, so they are genuinely surprised their kids are training to be murdering thugs. But, at least they are right in one area: 100% of everyone else's families are worried about what their Muslim children are doing as well.
Geez.... sounds like normal around here!
PING for later GREAT cartoon theft!
When I first read the quote, I thought maybe he means that parents planning terrorist attacks are worried their kids might turn them it!
I'm still not sure that's an incorrect interpretation!
Oh that makes me feel real sad, that Muslims are experiencing the negative effects of their own terrorism.
Oh yeah, they are all shocked and stunned.
Reminds me of what you always herar when the ploice arreast some one for mass murder. "gee he was always so quiet, and polite. I would never guess that he'd do something like this."
You beat me to it. Dead on.
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