The Hindu : Bomb material seized

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004

International

International

Bomb material seized

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, MARCH 30. In what was claimed to be one of the biggest anti-terrorist operations in Britain since the September 11 attacks, police today said they had seized half a ton of a potentially bomb-making material — ammonium nitrate fertilizer which is believed to have been used in previous terrorist attacks such as the Bali bombing in 2002.

Eight people, all British nationals of reportedly Pakistani descent, were arrested under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of being involved in the "commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.''

The arrests followed a series of raids in and around London early on Tuesday. Police said that investigations into the intended use of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, found in a "self-storage'' in West London, were continuing.

Experts said that on its own the chemical was harmless, but it could have a lethal effect if used to make a bomb. They said half a ton was a `massive' amount and if used in a bomb it could kill a lot of people and cause extensive damage. The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said the development was a "timely reminder that the U.K. and its interests abroad remain a target''.

Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's terrorist branch, clarified that the operation was not linked to the recent Madrid bombings, but insisted that the terrorist threat to Britain remained "very real''. "Today's operation is part of continuing and extensive inquiries by police and the security services into alleged international terrorist actions and I must stress that the threat from terrorism remains very real,'' he said.

As the media sought to play up the Muslim identity of the arrested men, Mr. Clarke emphasised that the "overwhelming majority'' of Muslims were "law-abiding and completely rejected all forms of violence.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Third killing in Batticaloa this month

Bomb material seized

The paradox of modern warfare

Renewed attacks in Uzbekistan

The strange tale of Guantanamo chaplain

Mainstream men in pink

Bush welcomes new NATO members

White House changes stance on Rice testimony

Not Al-Qaeda spy chief, says Pakistan

Terror strike pre-empted: Arroyo