The Hindu : International : Blair warns clerics preaching hatred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

International

International

Blair warns clerics preaching hatred

Hasan Suroor

Hopes of breakthrough in London blasts investigation

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has threatened a crackdown on clerics who preach hatred in the name of religion resulting in terrorist acts such as last week's London train bombings.

In his first statement in Parliament since the July 7 outrage, which has claimed more than 50 lives, Mr Blair said the Government would consider clamping down on people "who incite such hatred in our country... this is one of the things we should look at in the next few months''.

He also said new laws to tackle terrorism, already in the pipeline, would be speeded up if the situation demanded more urgent action.

"If, as the fuller picture about these incidents emerges and the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that there are powers which the police and intelligence agencies need immediately to combat terrorism, it is plainly sensible to reserve the right to return to Parliament with an accelerated timetable (for the proposed anti-terror laws),'' Mr Blair said.

His remarks came as hopes of a possible breakthrough in investigations into the bombings were raised after the police raided five homes in the Leeds area of West Yorkshire in what they described as part of an "intelligence-led operation''.

The early morning raids were said to be "significant'' but until late in the afternoon no details were available. The Metropolitan Police Chief Ian Blair confirmed that they were "directly connected to the outrages'' and promised that the culprits would be tracked down. "Our track record is that there has scarcely been a terrorist outrage in London for which we have not found people responsible,'' he said.

Sir Ian repeated the warning that more attacks were likely, saying that London and New York were terrorist targets.

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