UPI : Britain's terror cop to review April raids

Britain's terror cop to review April raids

April 24, 2009

LONDON, April 24 (UPI) -- Britain's terror watchdog will review the police operation that resulted in the arrest and subsequent release of 11 Pakistani nationals and a British Muslim.

Lord Carlile, the man who keeps watch over Britain's terror legislation, said he decided to review the raids that took place across Liverpool and the Northwest earlier this month, the Liverpool Echo reported Friday. Carlile said the review was part of his continuing oversight of terrorism laws and how they are applied, the Guardian Web site said.

"I do not believe a mistake was made," said Peter Fahy, chief constable for Greater Manchester, in the Guardian. "We were faced with a very difficult decision."

Eleven of the 12 men police arrested were in Britain on student visas and have been turned over to immigration officials for deportation.

The 12th suspect, Hamza Shenwari, 41, is a British national believed to be a member of an Islamic group called Tablighi Jamaal that is accused of radicalizing young Muslims.

Carlile says he will review the raids that were coordinated by counter terrorist officers from Manchester, London and MI5, the Guardian reported.

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