Terrorists planning attacks inside British prisons
It’s bad enough that Islamic terrorists can practically operate freely within British borders, but inside British prisons too? According to the Quilliam think tank, mismanagement by the Prison Service is helping al Qaeda and “strengthening jihadist movements.” The London Times writes:
Abu Qatada, described by MI5 as “Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe,” has published fatwas—religious rulings—on the Internet from Long Lartin prison, in Worcestershire, calling for holy war and the murder of moderate Muslims.
Long Lartin is supposed to be one of the most secure prisons in Britain. The Times article provides other examples:
Abu Doha—said to be al Qaeda’s main recruiter in Europe—has taken courses in Belmarsh prison, south London, enabling him to mentor other inmates.
Abu Hamza, jailed in 2006 for inciting murder, has preached radical sermons to followers using water pipes in his Belmarsh cell, and Rachid Ramda, the Algerian leader of the Paris Métro bomb plot, led Friday prayers in the same jail …. In October 2006, a Libyan detainee wanted in Italy on terrorism charges used telephone boxes in Long Lartin to speak live on an Islamic television channel.
One of the most appalling things about the report is that prison authorities allow these radical preachers to spread their hatred. The Times writes:
Using eyewitness accounts from inside jail and official prison inspection reports, Quilliam says some leading Islamist figures are given mentoring courses to teach them how to counsel fellow inmates and are allowed to lead Friday prayers.
Others are “empowered” by the prison staff, who treat them as leaders or representatives of Muslim inmates. Some manage to give television interviews or are able to inflame their followers through Internet discussions. Others lead Muslim gangs who bully fellow inmates into conversion.
The report concluded that “Islamist extremists are running rings around a Prison Service which often seems clueless about the nature of the extremist threat. If this situation is not tackled, British prisons risk becoming universities of terror.”
