Teletext : Men used codewords: judge

Men used codewords: judge

Five Pakistani men arrested in the North West over an alleged bomb plot were denied bail because of a series of suspicious emails, a judge has said.

The five men - among 12 held by police in April's Operation Pathway - were never charged with any offence.

Justifying the decision, Mr Justice Mitting said the men used suspicious codewords in email correspondence.

Liverpool Echo : Liverpool terror suspects held over ‘intercepted email plot’

Liverpool terror suspects held over ‘intercepted email plot’

by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo | August 15, 2009

ANTI-TERROR police swooped on addresses in Liverpool and the North- West after intercepting emails suspected of detailing an al-Qaida bomb plot.

More details about the April raids, which saw 12 men – 11 Pakistani nationals and one Briton – arrested by Special Branch officers, were revealed by a judge who denied some of the suspects bail.

The suspects were arrested as part of Operation Pathway, but never charged with any criminal offences.

Instead, all but the Briton were released into the custody of the UK Border Agency.

Seven are now fighting government attempts to deport them and five applied for bail, including at least two from Liverpool, while their cases are heard.

But High Court Judge Mr Justice Mittings refused their application.

He said a series of emails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men and another attributed to an al-Qaida associate were “central to the open case against the appellants”.

The emails from the man, identified only as XC, to “Sohaib” appear to refer to a “nikah”, or wedding.

In a written statement, Mr Justice Mitting said: “They appear to refer to XC’s interest in named girls and to a nikah (wedding) after 15th and before 20th April, 2009, with one of them, Nadia.

“The assessment of the security service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made, and that the reference to the nikah is ‘most likely’ reference to an intended attack.”

Richard Hermer, QC, for XC, told last month’s hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) the security service’s account of the emails was “far-fetched” and the emails were no more than “innocent social discussions”.

Mr Justice Mitting said the final interpretation of the emails would have to wait until a full SIAC hearing takes place next year.

He said: “On the information, open and closed, which we have now, we are not satisfied that the assessment by the security service of their likely meaning is clearly wrong.”

Mr Justice Mitting added that the “undisputed fact” that no explosive materials have been recovered was “at least a significant gap” in the Government’s case against the men.

“Ultimately, it may prove to be more than that,” he said.

“On any view, it assists the appellants in their denial of participation in attack planning. But at present it does no more than that.”

The Home Secretary’s case also rests on evidence that the five men attended one or both of two meetings on March 23 and April 1 in which the “nikah” was also discussed.

Of the suspects, students Abdul Khan, 26, and Shoaib Khan, 27, from Liverpool, have waived their right to anonymity.

Raids took place in Toxteth, Wavertree, Edge Hill and at John Moores University.

Hope University student Janas Khan, 25, was also among those arrested.

Sunday Express : MI5 Foil Bombers By Cracking Email Code

MI5 FOIL BOMBERS BY CRACKING EMAIL CODE

By Brendan Abbott | August 15, 2009

MI5 believes it foiled an Al Qaeda attack in Britain after intercepting emails using “wedding” as code word for bomb, it was revealed yesterday.

Intelligence officers were convinced a series of ordinary-sounding messages actually referred to a planned terrorist strike around Easter, and that references to the bride “Nadia” was code for a vital component in an explosive device.

The emails were sent to one of 12 Pakistani men arrested in raids across the north-west of England in April.

None of the 12 was charged with any criminal offence but they remain in custody pending deportation to Pakistan. No explosives were found.

The emails were disclosed as Mr Justice Mitting – at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission – gave his reasons for refusing bail to five of the men at a hearing last month. There will be a full hearing later.

Fleetwood Today : 'Al Qaida emails' suspects denied bail

'Al Qaida emails' suspects denied bail

August 15, 2009

Five Pakistani men arrested in the North West over an alleged bomb plot were denied bail because of a series of suspicious emails, a judge has said.
The five - among 12 held by police in April's Operation Pathway - were never charged with any offence and are challenging attempts by the Government to deport them on the grounds that they pose a threat to national security.

Giving the reasons for the decision to deny bail at a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), Mr Justice Mitting said a series of emails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men and another attributed to an al Qaida associate were "central to the open case against the appellants".

The emails from the man, identified only as XC, to "Sohaib" appear to refer to a "nikah", or wedding.

In a written statement, Mr Justice Mitting said: "They appear to refer to XC's interest in named girls and to a nikah (wedding) after 15th and before 20th April 2009 with one of them, Nadia. The assessment of the security service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and that the reference to the nikah is 'most likely' reference to an intended attack."

Mr Justice Mitting said the final interpretation of the emails would have to wait until a full SIAC hearing takes place next year, adding the "undisputed fact" that no explosive materials have been recovered was "at least a significant gap" in the Government's case against the men.

The Home Secretary's case also rests on evidence that the five men attended one or both of two meetings on March 23 and April 1 in which the "nikah" was also discussed.

Lawyers for the men have sought assurances that they will not be arrested and detained indefinitely if they are forced to go back to Pakistan.

Mr Justice Mitting said: "The Secretary of State's case on the issue of safety on return is far from complete. All we can say, for present purposes, is that is it not clear that the Secretary of State will not be able to demonstrate that it is safe to return the appellants to Pakistan."

Of the five men, students Abdul Khan, 26, and Shoaib Khan, 27, from Liverpool, have waived their right to anonymity.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Regional Times : Five Pakistanis denied bail over Al-Qaeda suspicion: judge

Five Pakistanis denied bail over Al-Qaeda suspicion: judge

RT Monitoring Desk | August 15, 2009

LONDON: Five Pakistani men arrested in a major anti-terror swoop in Britain were denied bail due to a series of emails which could have implicated them in an Al-Qaeda plot, a judge revealed on Friday.

The five were among 12 men -- 11 Pakistanis and one Briton -- who were arrested in raids in April but not subsequently charged with any criminal offences. Along with two other men who did not apply for bail, the five are challenging attempts by the British government to deport them on the grounds that they posed a threat to national security. The five were denied bail at a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) at the end of last month -- the reasons for which were revealed Friday. Judge John Mitting said a string of emails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men -- identified only as XC -- and another attributed to an Al-Qaeda associate were "central to the open case of the appellants".

The emails XC sent to "Sohaib" seemed to refer to a "nikah", or wedding, but the security services believe otherwise. "They appear to refer to XC's interest in named girls and to a nikah after 15th and before 20th April 2009 with one of them, Nadia," Mitting said in a written statement. "The assessment of the Security Service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and that the reference to the nikah is 'most likely' reference to an intended attack." The judge said the final interpretation of the emails would have to wait until a full SIAC hearing next year.

News Track (India) : Pak-origin terror suspects used wedding code words for al-Qaeda bombing plot: MI5

Pak-origin terror suspects used wedding code words for al-Qaeda bombing plot: MI5

August 15, 2009

London, Aug. 15 (ANI): British intelligence service MI5 has arrested a group of Pakistan-origin terror suspects who were using code words about a wedding in their emails for an al-Qaeda bomb plot, it has emerged.

One e-mail referred to a girl called Nadia who would be involved in a nikah, or wedding, between April 15 and 20 this year.

MI5 officers who were intercepting their emails concluded that the girls' names were code for explosive ingredients and the wedding was the date of a planned attack, The Times reports.

Details of the claims were revealed as part of a hearing last month of five Pakistani men seeking bail from the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

None of the men, among 12 seized by police in raids across the North West of England in April, has been charged with any criminal offences.

They are challenging government attempts to deport them on the ground that they threaten national security.

Giving the reasons for the decision to refuse bail for the first time yesterday, Justice Mitting said a series of e-mails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men and another attributed to an al-Qaeda associate were "central to the open case against the appellants."

The e-mails from the man, identified only as XC, were written to "Sohaib." In a written statement, Justice Mitting said: "The assessment of the security service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and that the reference to the nikah is 'most likely' reference to an intended attack."

Justice Mitting said the final interpretation of the e-mails would have to wait until a full hearing takes place next year.

He said that the "undisputed fact" that no explosive materials have been recovered was "at least a significant gap" in the Government's case against the men.

Lawyers for the men have sought assurances that they will not be arrested and detained indefinitely if they are forced to go back to Pakistan. (ANI)

Times : Terror suspects used wedding e-mails as 'bomb plot code’ MI5 claims

Terror suspects used wedding e-mails as 'bomb plot code’ MI5 claims

David Brown | August 15, 2009

A group of terror suspects were arrested after MI5 intercepted e-mails about a wedding that officers believe contained codewords for an al-Qaeda bomb plot, a judge revealed yesterday.

One e-mail referred to a girl called Nadia who would be involved in a nikha, or wedding, between April 15 and 20 this year. MI5, which had been monitoring the men, decided that the girls’ names were code for explosive ingredients and the wedding was the date of a planned attack.

Details of the claims were revealed as part of a hearing last month of five Pakistani men seeking bail from the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

None of the men, among 12 seized by police in raids across the North West of England in April, has been charged with any criminal offences. They are challenging government attempts to deport them on the ground that they threaten national security.

Giving the reasons for the decision to refuse bail for the first time yesterday, Mr Justice Mitting said a series of e-mails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men and another attributed to an al-Qaeda associate were “central to the open case against the appellants”.

The e-mails from the man, identified only as XC, were written to “Sohaib”.

In a written statement, Mr Justice Mitting said: “The assessment of the security service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and that the reference to the nikah is ‘most likely’ reference to an intended attack.”

Richard Hermer QC, for XC, told last month’s hearing that the security service’s account of the e-mails was far-fetched and they were no more than innocent social discussions.

Mr Justice Mitting said the final interpretation of the e-mails would have to wait until a full hearing takes place next year.

He said that the “undisputed fact” that no explosive materials have been recovered was “at least a significant gap” in the Government’s case against the men.

Lawyers for the men have sought assurances that they will not be arrested and detained indefinitely if they are forced to go back to Pakistan.

Of the five men, students Abdul Khan, 26, and Shoaib Khan, 27, from Liverpool, have waived their right to anonymity.

Mirror : Coded mail bar to bail

Coded mail bar to bail

August 15, 2009

SUSPECTS

Five men arrested in an anti-terror operation but never charged were refused bail because they exchanged coded emails, officials said yesterday.

Each has been in custody since they were picked up in a series of raids across the North-West in April.

The Government is trying to deport the men, all Pakistanis, who were refused bail last month.

No explosives were found but detainee Shoaib Khan, 27, is said to have emailed an al-Qaeda man with words "most likely" referring to terror acts.

Daily Mail (Pak) : UK court denies bail to Pakistanis

UK court denies bail to Pakistanis

Foreign Desk Report | August 15, 2009

LONDON—Five Pakistani men arrested in a major anti-terror swoop in Britain were denied bail due to a series of emails which could have implicated them in an Al-Qaeda plot, a judge revealed Friday. The five were among 12 men — 11 Pakistanis and one Briton — who were arrested in raids in April but not subsequently charged with any criminal offences.

Along with two other men who did not apply for bail, the five are challenging attempts by the British government to deport them on the grounds that they posed a threat to national security. The five were denied bail at a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) at the end of last month — the reasons for which were revealed Friday.

Judge John Mitting said a string of emails exchanged between an address attributed to one of the men — identified only as XC — and another attributed to an Al-Qaeda associate were “central to the open case of the appellants”. The emails XC sent to “Sohaib” seemed to refer to a “nikah”, or wedding, but the security services believe otherwise.

“They appear to refer to XC’s interest in named girls and to a nikah after 15th and before 20th April 2009 with one of them, Nadia,” Mitting said in a written statement. “The assessment of the Security Service is that references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and that the reference to the nikah is ‘most likely’ reference to an intended attack.”

The judge said the final interpretation of the emails would have to wait until a full SIAC hearing next year.

Daily Times : Pakistanis denied British bail over Qaeda suspicions

Pakistanis denied British bail over Qaeda suspicions

AFP | August 15, 2009

LONDON: Five Pakistani students arrested in a major anti-terror swoop in Britain were denied bail due to a series of emails, which could have implicated them in an Al Qaeda plot, a judge revealed on Friday. Judge John Mitting said a string of emails were exchanged between one of the men – identified only as XC – and an Al Qaeda associate. The emails XC sent to “Sohaib” seemed to refer to a “nikah” but the security services believe otherwise. The Security Service believes references to named girls could be to ingredients from which an explosive device could be made and reference to nikah is ‘most likely’ reference to an intended attack.