Oake's wife Lesley.
Posted on 01/19/2003 7:25:24 PM PST by HennepinPrisoner
Police have raided Finsbury Park mosque in north London, arresting a number of people. The mosque has attracted controversy over its connection with radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza.
Mr Hamza, who preaches at the mosque, faces exclusion as an agent of the North London Central Mosque trust because of "inflammatory and highly political" speeches at prayers.
Scotland Yard said the raid was carried out at 0200 GMT on Monday by police officers with search warrants issued under the Terrorism Act 2000.
More soon...
I'm glad to see that the Brits are starting to get serious.
By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor
(Filed: 20/01/2003)
The Telegraph
A major round-up of alleged terrorists and their supporters who are using Britain as a base has been ordered by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary.
He has authorised MI5 and the police to take "whatever steps are necessary" to track down foreign nationals considered to pose a potential threat to the country.
He signalled a toughening of the Government's response as Sir John Stevens, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, confirmed that "large numbers" of alleged terrorists were under surveillance. Some, he said, were linked to al-Qa'eda and a number still had to be arrested.
Mr Blunkett, who is facing renewed pressure over chaos in the asylum system, said there would be "controversial" action in the weeks ahead.
He is likely to make greater use of his powers to detain indefinitely foreign nationals suspected of posing a threat to the well-being of the nation. Police are also to continue making arrests in an effort to disrupt al-Qa'eda support activities.
Anti-terrorist agencies are expected to step up the use of the "Al Capone option", securing charges for crimes such as fraud or theft where terrorist association cannot be proved.
A police operation in Manchester last week to detain an Algerian using an internment certificate issued by Mr Blunkett led to the death of Stephen Oake, a Special Branch detective.
At present, 13 foreign nationals are being held under the powers.
But Mr Blunkett, interviewed on BBC Radio yesterday, said anti-terrorist agencies had been authorised "to take whatever steps necessary, controversial or otherwise, without fear or favour, to take action to protect us". He added: "They will be taking that action in the weeks ahead very clearly indeed."
Sir John, whose officers earlier this month raided a north London flat where they found traces of the deadly toxin ricin, said: "There's still a large number of people we're watching . . . we are working very, very closely with the security service."
He added: "There is a need for us to up our game and we are doing that."
At the weekend, three men "in transit" were held at Gatwick under anti-terrorism powers and another three were arrested after acting suspiciously near the GCHQ listening centre at Cheltenham.
However, there was continued criticism of the Government's asylum policy yesterday. It emerged that a Taliban fighter, who took part in military action against British and American forces in Afghanistan, has been granted political asylum in Britain because he feared persecution by the new regime in Afghanistan.
• Efforts by the Charity Commission to expel a radical Muslim cleric from a north London mosque have been delayed for up to two weeks after he replied to its charges of "inflammatory and highly political" sermons. The organisation had given Abu Hamza, 45, until midnight tonight either to answer the allegations or leave the mosque in Finsbury Park. He said that on Friday he faxed a response to the charges.
Oake's wife Lesley.
Stephen Oake was killed during counter-terrorism work
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