Three in U.K. Face Terror Charges
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - Three men have been charged with possessing materials that could be used to carry out terrorist acts, police said.
Scotland Yard said Saturday that Rabah Chekat-Bais, 21, Rabah Kadris, in his mid 30s, and Karim Kadouri, 33 - all of no fixed address - were charged under the Terrorism Act with possessing materials for the "preparation, instigation or commission" of terrorism.
Police declined to say what the materials were.
The three appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London last week. They were being held in custody until their next court appearance on Monday.
The Sunday Times newspaper reported that the men had been plotting to release poison gas, possibly cyanide, on the London subway system.
Assistant Editor Nicholas Rufford told Sky News television that the group had been infiltrated by MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence service.
Police would not comment on the newspaper report but said they did not find any gas or other noxious substances when they arrested the men.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, speaking to the British Broadcasting Corp. Sunday, said "there is no evidence whatsoever of bombs or gases."
"It doesn't appear to be that there is any evidence whatsoever there was going to be a gas attack or indeed use of bombs regarding the three people who have been arrested," he said.
The Home Office confirmed the three arrests but said it could not comment on an active court case.
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Underground train drivers' union, said the Tube was still safe.
"We will not be telling our members not to use the Tube on a normal day, because these attacks could have taken place at a museum or football ground or anything of that nature," he told BBC radio Sunday.
Last week Prime Minister Tony Blair said barely a day went by without new intelligence about a threat to British interests - some reliable but some likely misinformation or gossip.
He advised British people to be vigilant against terrorism, but not allow fear to distort normal life.
"If a terrorist thought that all he had to do to shut down the travel industry, for example, was to issue a threat against our airports, we really would be conceding defeat in the war against terrorism," Blair told the annual Lord Mayor's banquet in London's financial district.
Last modified: November 17. 2002 7:21AM
heraldtribune.com |
