.‘Immense scale’ of terror searches revealed
The full details of the progress made by police since the arrest 12 days ago of 23 alleged suspects involved in a plot to blow up several transatlantic airliners were outlined yesterday.
Peter Clarke, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who leads its anti-terrorist branch, told a news conference in London: "This is the first time we have been able to release information about the progress of the investigation since the morning of the arrests on August 10.
"This is not because we have wanted to withhold information, on the contrary we want to tell the public as much as we can about the terrorist threat.
"But we have now reached the stage where I can give you more details."
Mr Clarke said he was unable to give "a running commentary on the inquiry". Neither was he able to reveal details of the specific evidence against individuals.
However, he said he was able to give an indication of the type of evidence that will be presented in support of the prosecution.
He said: "First there is evidence from surveillance carried out from before August 10. This includes important, indeed highly significant, video and audio recordings.
"I can also tell you that since August 10 we have found bomb-making equipment.
"There are chemicals including hydrogen peroxide, electrical components, documents and other items. We have also found a number of video recordings. These are sometimes referred to as martyrdom videos. This has all combined to give us a clearer picture of the alleged plot."
Mr Clarke cautioned that the investigation was far from complete, stressing that its scale is immense and that inquiries will span the globe.
Attempting to give an idea of the size and complexity of the investigation, he said: "There have been so far some 69 searches ... in houses, flats and business premises, vehicles and open spaces.
"As well as the bomb making equipment, we have found more than 400 computers, 200 mobile telephones and 8000 items of removable storage media such as memory sticks, CDs and DVDs. So far, from the computers alone, we have removed some 6000 gigabytes of data.
"The meticulous investigation of all this material will take many months. All the data will be analysed."
Mr Clarke sought to reassure the public that police were doing everything to make the public feel safe and allow them to live their lives without being in constant fear.
However, he added: "We must be realistic. The threat from terrorism is real, it is here, it is deadly and it is enduring.
"As we all look for explanations, we cannot afford to be complacent and ignore the reality of what we face. These are difficult times for all communities, but I can assure you that the police service will not flinch from its duty to protect the public."
Mr Clarke made his statement as Tasnim Aslam, spokeswoman for Pakistan foreign ministry, said the inquiry into the plot was continuing in her country. Pakistan arrested at least seven people in connection with the alleged plot to bomb as many as 10 US-bound jets from Britain. One of the suspects arrested in Pakistan has been identified as Rashid Rauf, a dual British-Pakistani national who authorities here have described as a "key person" in the alleged conspiracy with links to al Qaeda militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mr Rauf's brother Tayib, is one of 23 people held in Britain.
At the weekend, Ms Aslam said an al Qaeda operative based in Afghanistan masterminded the plot, but she refused to give his nationality. Intelligence sources said he was an Arab, but did not specify his country.
Eight charged with conspiracy to murder
The eight charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with an alleged plot to blow up several transatlantic airliners are:
Ahmed Abdullah Ali, 25, from Walthamstow;
Tanvir Hussain, 25, from Leyton, east London;
Umar Islam, 28, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - also known as Brian Young;
Arafat Waheed Khan, 25, from Walthamstow;
Assad Ali Sarwar, 26, from High Wycombe;
Adam Khatib, 19, from Walthamstow;
Ibrahim Savant, 25, from Walthamstow;
Waheed Zaman, 22, from Walthamstow.
The Herald, UK
Peter Clarke, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who leads its anti-terrorist branch, told a news conference in London: "This is the first time we have been able to release information about the progress of the investigation since the morning of the arrests on August 10.
"This is not because we have wanted to withhold information, on the contrary we want to tell the public as much as we can about the terrorist threat.
"But we have now reached the stage where I can give you more details."
Mr Clarke said he was unable to give "a running commentary on the inquiry". Neither was he able to reveal details of the specific evidence against individuals.
However, he said he was able to give an indication of the type of evidence that will be presented in support of the prosecution.
He said: "First there is evidence from surveillance carried out from before August 10. This includes important, indeed highly significant, video and audio recordings.
"I can also tell you that since August 10 we have found bomb-making equipment.
"There are chemicals including hydrogen peroxide, electrical components, documents and other items. We have also found a number of video recordings. These are sometimes referred to as martyrdom videos. This has all combined to give us a clearer picture of the alleged plot."
Mr Clarke cautioned that the investigation was far from complete, stressing that its scale is immense and that inquiries will span the globe.
Attempting to give an idea of the size and complexity of the investigation, he said: "There have been so far some 69 searches ... in houses, flats and business premises, vehicles and open spaces.
"As well as the bomb making equipment, we have found more than 400 computers, 200 mobile telephones and 8000 items of removable storage media such as memory sticks, CDs and DVDs. So far, from the computers alone, we have removed some 6000 gigabytes of data.
"The meticulous investigation of all this material will take many months. All the data will be analysed."
Mr Clarke sought to reassure the public that police were doing everything to make the public feel safe and allow them to live their lives without being in constant fear.
However, he added: "We must be realistic. The threat from terrorism is real, it is here, it is deadly and it is enduring.
"As we all look for explanations, we cannot afford to be complacent and ignore the reality of what we face. These are difficult times for all communities, but I can assure you that the police service will not flinch from its duty to protect the public."
Mr Clarke made his statement as Tasnim Aslam, spokeswoman for Pakistan foreign ministry, said the inquiry into the plot was continuing in her country. Pakistan arrested at least seven people in connection with the alleged plot to bomb as many as 10 US-bound jets from Britain. One of the suspects arrested in Pakistan has been identified as Rashid Rauf, a dual British-Pakistani national who authorities here have described as a "key person" in the alleged conspiracy with links to al Qaeda militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mr Rauf's brother Tayib, is one of 23 people held in Britain.
At the weekend, Ms Aslam said an al Qaeda operative based in Afghanistan masterminded the plot, but she refused to give his nationality. Intelligence sources said he was an Arab, but did not specify his country.
Eight charged with conspiracy to murder
The eight charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with an alleged plot to blow up several transatlantic airliners are:
Ahmed Abdullah Ali, 25, from Walthamstow;
Tanvir Hussain, 25, from Leyton, east London;
Umar Islam, 28, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - also known as Brian Young;
Arafat Waheed Khan, 25, from Walthamstow;
Assad Ali Sarwar, 26, from High Wycombe;
Adam Khatib, 19, from Walthamstow;
Ibrahim Savant, 25, from Walthamstow;
Waheed Zaman, 22, from Walthamstow.
The Herald, UK
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