PALESTINE AID VOLUNTEERS ARRESTED FOR “TERRORISM” AND AMBULANCE CONFISCTATED
urgent message from Norma Turner
nine members of the viva palestina convoy - delivering humanitarian aid to gaza - were arrested last night under “anti-terrorist” legislation. six have now been released but without passports. three from burnley are still held; plus the ambulance they were driving.
The BBC are scanadlously uncritically reporting the arrests as “terrorists”.
so its ok as far as the BBC are concerned to report Israel’s onslaught on the palestinians as a legitimate conflict - and its ok for the UK to supply arms to Israel and gunboats to maintain the siege of gaza - but if humanitarian aid is on its way to help the people who have lost families, homes, schools, hospitals and livelihoods, then its “terrorism”.
* urgent assistance needed with breaching the BBC (continued) blockade of the truth.
* urgent assistance needed with breaching the anti-terrorism laws in order to free the drivers and vehicles still held.
* and urgent assistance needed to breach the siege of gaza and to assist the convoy getting through.
please pass this on please contact press and BBC and MPs and complain loudly
see www.vivapalestina.org for updates
I saw the report on the BBC - you would never have gathered it had anything to do with Viv Palestina. Bastards. And another example of how “war on terror” legislation is used/misused.
Comment by Faust — 14 February, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
Why is it terrorist-related? Is the aid for Hamas?
Comment by Colin — 14 February, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
Unbelievable. Looks like the UK is further on its way towards a police state than I would have imagined. (Not that it’s better here in the US, where giving money to any charity operating in Palestine carries risks.)
Comment by christian h. — 14 February, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
Just like the BBC the only thing they say is 9 arrests made on vehicles
But failed to say there were only two aid vehicles and another and the six from the aid convoy were released!!!! without any charge!!!! the reason why they did not do no wrong
and the other three labeled as TERROIST the only thing they had which they could find is a laptop and the half of the constabulary surrounding the area
How pathetic
Comment by Anonymous — 14 February, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
BBC are reporting the searching of houses in Burnley and that the convoy organisers claim “not to know” the three currently being held.
The arrests were on the M65 near Preston, presumably because the vehicles would have been on the M61 in a few minutes and outside the jurisdiction of the Lancashire Police, who it is assumed had the three under surveillance.
Comment by Prinkipo Exile — 14 February, 2009 @ 8:37 pm
Report from the East Lancashire local paper:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4126663.Three_men_being_questioned_under_terrorism_act_after_swoop_on_M65/
Comment by Prinkipo Exile — 14 February, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Good work police! These are the people terrorism legislation was introduced for. The convoy is going to support terrorists!
Comment by Welldone Police — 14 February, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Sky News is reporting that “All three in custody are from the Burnley area and have recently converted to Islam,”
Comment by Alan Sharples — 14 February, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
“Terrorism legislation” was adopted to curtail civil liberties and push this country closer to fascism. The fact that it was used against an anti-Nazi pensioner who heckled Blair ought to tell you something. This country is overtaking Berlusconi and gaining on the Third Reich.
Comment by Faust — 15 February, 2009 @ 10:58 am
Is it actually illegal to convert to Islam?
Comment by Faust — 15 February, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Faust, its not illegal to convert to Islam or indeed any religion in this country. We are not an islamic state, yet!
Comment by Erik Von Daniken — 15 February, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Then why is conversion to Islam being treated as relevant to an arrest over alleged terrorism? Actually, even Islamic states of the past have tolerated religious minorities, though they required them to pay more tax.
Comment by Faust — 15 February, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
They didn’t even always demand that they pay more tax. And compared to medieval christiandom the experiance of the Islamic medival period was considerably liberal.
Comment by johng — 15 February, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
the fact that this country is becoming narrow minded and judgemental on other race and religion after listening to everything the media says is disgraceful and disgusting! I think people need to get there facts straight and then make their minds up! islam can not always be put in the frame for terrorism because there are others ie/israel…zeonists who are blatantly committing terrorist acts in front of our faces…but for some reason its OK as long as its them and not muslims!!
Comment by Micheal — 16 February, 2009 @ 12:11 am
I have no idea why people of this country are arrested with out question or any proof of allegation in israel and our government fully aware has nothing to say and do…I mean being called a terrorist for taking over baby clothes and food for suffering civilians is beyond me…how rong and stupid can you be!
Comment by Micheal — 16 February, 2009 @ 12:21 am
everyone knows that the the convoy is full of aid going to the poor civilians who have suffered in the isreali attacks, the only thing they cannot take is how it was possible to get this convoy together so quickly even though the media ie bbc chose not to broadcast the appeal, therefore they had to make a few arrests to make the whole thing look bad and of course describe them as muslim terrorists (no suprise!)Released without charge! well again there you go no suprise there then hey
Comment by sam — 16 February, 2009 @ 1:05 am
From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, the local paper for Blackburn, Burnley and East Lancashire:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4128407.Anger_over_East_Lancashire_terror_swoop/
Anger over East Lancashire terror swoop
9:00am Monday 16th February 2009
By Nafeesa Shan »
MUSLIM community leaders have been left shocked and angry after anti-terror police swooped on East Lancashire aid vehicles bound for Gaza.
Nine men were arrested by officers under the Terrorism Act 2006 after three vehicles were stopped on the M65 on Friday evening.
Last night police were given four more days to question three of the men, aged 36, 29 and 36, after releasing the other six without charge.
It has now emerged that the aid in the vehicles, including children’s toys and medicines, had been collected by the Muslim community in Blackburn.
Today the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal five of the six released men were prominent figures in Blackburn’s Muslim community, believed to be from the Little Harwood area.
They had been chosen to go overland to Gaza as part of a 100 vehicle convoy, which left London on Saturday, led by MP George Galloway.
The three men still being questioned, who are from Burnley, were said to have been given a last-minute lift with the group as a favour.
They were only due to go as far as London.
Coun Salim Mulla, senior vice-chair of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: “I don’t know the three people from Burnley but we received a call where we were asked if the other lads could join them to drive down to London.
“They were not going to Gaza.
“We are very angry about the way the police carried out the operation on the M65.
“If they had suspicions about the three people from Burnley why did they not arrest them before? Why on the motorway?
“We work hard to build strong community relationships and community cohesion.
“This creates distrust within the community for the police.
“The community is very, very angry, it has never been so angry in East Lancashire.”
Coun Mulla said the aid had been collected over the last couple of weeks from people across the town.
He said “There was a convoy of vehicles travelling to Palestine from London on Saturday taking aid to the children of Gaza.
“We had vehicles donated to us, which were to be left with the people in Palestine, and they had been filled with toys, blankets, medicines and other essentials packed by ourselves.
“Children who had too many toys sacrificed them and gave some of them to us. Some people who had shoes they hadn’t worn donated them to the cause.
“We were fortunate these vans were donated to us. The Muslim community are fantastic supporters of humanitarian causes.
“Five people from Blackburn were hand picked to go and we chose these people because they were respected members of the community in Blackburn and we stressed to them they were representing us in Gaza.”
Steps are now in place to obtain the five passports belonging to the men from the police to enable the ‘respected’ individuals to continue with the journey and join the convoy in Europe.
It is believed the police still have their passports and mobile phones.
At the weekend a meeting of the Lancashire Council of Mosques and key leaders of the community was called to discuss the incident The meeting was held at a secret location in the Audley Range and Queen’s Park area and 20 people attended.
A decision was also made by the council to pull out of a meeting at Burnley Police station on Saturday afternoon where officers held a briefing.
Coun Mulla added: “Terrorism has no religion, we will go out of our way to get rid of this evil.
“The police have a responsibilty to make sure the community is safe and to live a peaceful life. We support that too.”
Audley Coun Salim Lorgat, who will tonight meet council bosses to discuss the issue, said he was very concerned about what had happened.
He said: “Everyone feels quite strongly about this issue in Blackburn. People are wondering why the police didn’t move earlier.”
Today, detectives were due to continue interviewing the Burnley trio on suspicion of terrorism. Detectives have until Thursday evening to question the men.
At the weekend five homes in the town were also searched by police.
Two properties in Rectory Road and homes in Clive Street, Gordon Street and Robinson Street, all in the Daneshouse and Stoneyholme areas of Burnley, were sealed off as uniform, plain-clothes and forensic officers worked.
In Rectory Road, two end-terrace houses and three vehicles were cordoned off with police tape.
It is understood two men, thought to be in their 40s, live in the houses.
Burnley Councillor Zahir Ahmed, who lives close by, said: “These men are our neighbours. Their kids come round our house and our kids go round theirs.
“There’s nothing extraordinary about them at all.
“They have lived in this road for 15 to 20 years - it is not as if it is someone new.”
He urged fellow residents to “respect” the police in their investigation.
Yesterday police said the aid in the vehicles seized, which were flying the Palestinian flag and had a sign saying From Blackburn (UK) to Gaza, would be released as soon as possible.
A spokeswoman said: “The cargo from these vehicles is now being thoroughly checked by search officers who are working as quickly as they can to ensure that the parcels can be released and continue on to their destination.”
Some reports suggested the men were arrested in connection with alleged terror offences abroad. However, police have not confirmed this.
A spokesman for Viva Palestina, the group organising the convoy, said: “We are concerned about the arrests, but until such time as things become clearer it’s very difficult to say more.
“The police haven’t been in touch with us about it and we don’t have any personal knowledge of the people involved.”
Comment by Prinkipo Exile — 16 February, 2009 @ 10:19 am
From the Lancashire Evening Post, the local paper covering Preston and Central Lancashire, an earlier article that may be updated before today’s final edition is due out at midday. (This paper is not related to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph previously quoted from and is owned by a different company by the way - the two papers tend to avoid reporting on each other’s ‘patch’ and when stories do overlap, they collect their information independently. Because the arrests were actually in the Preston area, it has chosen to report the story this time.)
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Police-granted-extra-time-to.4981017.jp
Police granted extra time to quiz terror suspects
Published Date: 14 February 2009
By Chris Visser
Three men continue to be quizzed by police on Sunday following a dramatic terror swoop near Preston.
Nine men travelling towards Preston were seized by police close to junction 1 of the M65 at 9pm on Friday.
They were arrested in connection with terrorism offences but six were later released without charge.
Three men - who all live in Burnley - remain in custody.
Police have been granted six days to hold the suspects before either charging them or releasing them by Thursday.
The vehicles were travelling to join up with a convoy organised by Viva Palestina starting in London which was headed for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.
Police say the three men in custody are aged 36, 29 and 26.
Five houses in Burnley were searched on Saturday by specialist officers.
They include addresses on Gordon Street, Robinson Street and Clive Street, and two on Rectory Road.
A police spokeswoman said: “They can be questioned for up to 48 hours.
“After that they need to be charged or released, or we need to have an extension granted.”
Pictures from the M65 - courtesy of MJP Media - appeared to show two vans had been pulled over by police.
On one of the vans were signs saying ‘Stop Killing Children’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
Another was adorned with the Palestinian flag.
Officers from Lancashire Police, Greater Manchester Police and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit held a briefing at 10am on Saturday.
The M65 - close to the junction with the M61 - was closed off following the operation.
A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said the men were arrested “on suspicion of commiting offences under the Terrorism Act 2006.”
Chief Superintendent Neil Smith, Divisional Commander for Pennine Division, said: “This is a very sensitive time for all our communities and we are working hard to ensure everyone is kept up to date with as much information as we can give.
“We will endeavour to carry out any searches as quickly as possible to minimise impact on the area concerned. However, enquiries of this nature are complex and may take time to resolve.
“I would like to thank local residents affected by these searches for their cooperation and ask that they remain patient. We will ensure people are kept updated in relation to the investigation as and when we can.”
Do you know any of the men involved in the incident? Are you part of the Gaza-bound convoy? Call our Newsdesk on (01772) 838107 or email andy.sykes@lep.co.uk
Comment by Prinkipo Exile — 16 February, 2009 @ 10:26 am
I wonder whether it is an attempt to intimidate people who bring aid to Gaza through channels other than those officially approved.
Comment by Faust — 16 February, 2009 @ 10:39 am
I work in a service station, and they came in then drove past, these were just young men who I was having a laugh and a joke with, they didn’t seem like terrorists to me. On sunday 15th I found out some had been arrested and I was gobsmacked, they weren’t shouting kill the israeli’s or any disgusting slogans, they seemed like they were concerned for the palestines and wanted to help. I’m disgusted by this, was this the first time anyone was going to use a donated ambulance as part of a terrorist plot, I don’t bloody think so.
Comment by John Smith — 16 February, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
I agree when the BBC first reported this they said was that these guys were stopped by police for suspected terrorism. They mentioned very little about what they were actually doing or their motives. I think the BBC has turned from a reliable news source to a figure head in the corporate media. Rather than providing the truth and taking views, they manipulate the truth and make views.
Its also absolutely appaling that they refused to broadcast the Gaza aid message. They did this for Comic Relief and Children in Need, the latter being involved for charity fraud within the last few years. Its double standard!
Comment by Shamoon Bhana — 27 February, 2009 @ 2:09 pm