UK terrorist recruiter found guilty

In February Mohamed Hamid (UID 497456) was found guilty of training individuals in secret camps situated within Great Britain. Hamid is also accused of having trained four of the failed July 2005 suicide bombers and is reported to have been a key figure in the extremist network within the United Kingdom. He was also found guilty of soliciting murder and providing terrorism training. He was, however, cleared of a charge relating to speeches promoting terrorism and of possession of terrorist related articles. Seven other individuals have been convicted in parallel trials related to the training camps. He and the former leader of the Finsbury Park mosque Atlila Ahmet (UID 492394) will be sentenced at a later date. Check out Hamid's online profile and the Display Graph to see more of his extensive network.

Germany sentences terror group co-founder

Last month German authorities sentenced Thaer Alhalah (UID 594277) to two years behind bars. Alhalah is reported to have co-founded a terror group which was to have conducted training camps in Sudan. It transpired that he used online chat groups to contact the other group members as well as telephone calls. His sentencing formed part of a plea bargain agreement with the German prosecutors. The co-founders of the group were Abdelali Miftah (UID 594276) and Redoune el-Habhab (UID 471048) who in January 2008 was sentenced to 5 years in jail, but is reportedly appealing his sentence.

France makes more ETA arrests

Last month French authorities made a number of significant arrests in a French town on the south Atlantic coast, involving suspected ETA members. Two of those detained Mikel San Sebastian (UID 780058) and Joseba Iturbide (UID 780059) are reported to be prime suspects in the 2006 Madrid Airport bombings. Other arrests followed and Jose Antonio Martinez (UID 804805) and partner Asuncion Bengoechea (UID 804806) were charged with habouring the two suspects. Martinez is also purported to be an important member of ETA's financial support structure and it is believed he traveled to Mexico in the 1990's to raise money for the Basque separatist group.

Five detained in Ireland

Late last month, authorities in Ireland swooped on the houses of individuals believed to be members of the Irish National Liberation Army (UID 60759) - a splinter group of the IRA. Gareth Dunne (UID 810527), Gerard Kelleher (UID810526), Edward McGarringle (UID 810525), John McGrossan (UID 810524) and Neil Myles (UID 810528) are accused of plotting to kidnap a Cork businessman and his family. Our dedicated Terrorist and Insurgency Research Unit analysts are monitoring the news surrounding this case and will update the relevant profiles as soon as more information becomes available.

UK deports alleged financial controller of PKK

British authorities have deported one of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) (UID 1734) key members. Bozkur Selman (UID 790033) who appears on the UK HM Treasury watch list was detained by the British security services in January and later deported. Reports suggest that Bozkur may now be residing in France. Bozkur allegedly handled the finances of the PKK. The organisation is purportedly involved in human trafficking, money laundering, fraud and narcotics trafficking. Could this individual be placing monies through your institution?

US man denied bail on appeal

A US court has upheld the October 2007 ruling to deny bail to Rahmat Abdhir (UID 682074) who is accused of sending funds and military equipment to his brother in the Philippines. Abdhir's brother is Zulkifli bin Abdul Hir (UID 183049) a senior member of Jemaa Islamiyah (UID 57652) and the head of Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) (UID 239582). It is reported that the brothers communicated via the internet. In 2003 the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) froze the assets of Hir. In March 2007 Hir was added to the US Most Wanted Terrorist list and he appears on numerous other watch lists, in contrast his brother Rahmat Abdhir is not currently on any government watch list.

Senior Taliban commander killed

At the end of February it was reported that Afghan authorities had killed a number of Taliban (UID 7257) operatives including the senior commander Mullah Naqibullah (UID 778852). Naqibullah had managed on two occasions in recent years to escape from Afghan prisons. It was reported that the clash happened in Helmand Province during a raid to eradicate opium poppy growing in the area. Police also seized a large number of weapons and ammunition.

Suspected eco-terrorist on trial

The Earth Liberation Front (UID 31515) is accused of a 2001 arson attack on the Centre for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington, Seattle. The ensuring damage resulted in a cost of US$7 million to replace the lost building. Last month Briana Waters (UID 442992) stood trial accused of being the 'look out' for the alleged eco-terrorist cell. She is the first to stand trial. Water's denies involvement.

"The fact is, terrorists and all serious criminals often need to cross borders. Not only to travel to the country where they intend to carry out an attack, but for a number of other activities that feed into the process of preparing terrorists attacks — terrorists need to raise money, to transfer money, to receive or provide training, to recruit, to obtain certain substances or equipment. The leaders and terrorist trainers also need to escape in order to strike us again. All of these activities are all likely to require some extent of traveling – especially international. Enhancing border security is therefore not only an indispensable strategy to prevent terrorist attacks, but it also contributes to disrupting the innermost functioning of terrorist organizations "

Is Combating the Financing of Terrorism Worthwhile?
by Matthew Levitt

Combating terror finance is often hailed as one of the true successes in the “war on terror.” But is it? Even after six years of following and freezing terrorists’ funds, American and European officials warn Al Qaeda still has both the capability and intent to conduct devastating attacks.

Academic Ibrahim Warde recently commented, “This whole hunt for terrorist money has been driven by politics and bureaucracy, not reality.” Ward’s latest book, The Price of Fear, denounces such efforts as a waste of time or worse, ruining innocents and hampering world trade. Warde’s doubts are shared by others. Over the past year I have lectured in London, Brussels and Berlin on the utility of combating terror finance. I found receptive audiences among government officials and some bankers, but near universal incredulity among academics and analysts.

Read More...

In February 2008 the United Nations updated its watch lists with the following. On 2008-02-12 they amended a number of individuals' associated to the Taliban and al-Qaida. On 2008-02-22 amendments were made to three individuals and one entity within the al-Qaida section.

In February 2008, the UK Treasury issued four terrorism related press releases. They removed one individual and three entities from the terrorism watch list on 2008-02-11 The UK Treasury also made amendments to eight individuals on their Al-Qaida watch list on the 2008-02-12. On the 2008-02-25 they amended a further three individuals and one entity on the Al-Qaida watch list.

The European Union made no updates to its terrorism watch list in February.

The US Treasury OFAC added one individual and made changes to the entry for the Salafist Group for Call and Combat on 2008-02-21. Four individuals were added to OFAC's SDN list on the 2008-02-28

EVENTS:

6-7 March, 2008

11-13 March, 2008

16-21 March, 2008

WORLD-CHECK NEWS

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