Search the Internet          Tips  Links: Terror in America

Women Al Qaeda suspects arrested in raids in Britain

Two women were among the four persons arrested in the drive against the Al Qaeda's secret money-making operation in Britain, which funded Saudi extremist Osama bin Laden's terrorist attacks.

The women, thought to be in their late twenties, were rounded up in early-morning raids in Leicester along with two men on Friday. All are believed to be of Algerian origin.

They are the first female suspects arrested in Britain since the investigation began after the September 11 attacks in America.

Al Qaeda was thought to be a deeply chauvinist operation whose members did not trust women with any important assignments.

A man of 27, who was arrested in northwest London, was driven to Leicester on Friday where anti-terrorist detectives are questioning suspects at various police stations.

A total of 17 suspects were picked up till Friday evening.

Leicester police on Saturday said that nine people were being held under anti-terrorism laws while the other eight are being questioned about alleged immigration offences.

During the questioning, Al Qaeda agents reportedly produced hundreds of fake credit cards and passports for use by the network. The counterfeiting factories are understood to have been run from family homes in Leicester, which has been used as a base by some of Laden's key lieutenants since 1998.

The production of false passports and credit cards was crucial to Laden's worldwide schemes and police still have no idea of the full scale of the deception.

PTI

America's War on Terror: The Complete Coverage
The Attack on US Cities: The Complete Coverage

The Terrorism Weblog: Latest Stories from Around the World

External Link:
For further coverage, please visit www.saja.org/roundupsept11.html

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report