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Subscribe to RSSLONDON -- British officials arrested a terror suspect after he traveled close to the Olympic Park in East London five times, a U.K. newspaper reported on Sunday, capping off a week of heightened security concerns in the run-up to the games later this month.
The Sunday Telegraph reported without citing its sources that the suspected terrorist, believed to be a would-be suicide bomber with links to al-Qaida, had been taken into custody after crossing through the park five times.
Security sources told NBC News, however, that the suspect never got into the park.
Authorities in London are actively seeking out potential threats and have made numerous arrests ahead of the Olympics. NBC's Annabel Roberts reports.
Police did confirm that a man had been arrested for breaching anti-terrorism restrictions.
"A man appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday 28 June charged with five counts of breaching a terrorism prevention and investigation measure contrary to the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011," police told NBC News in a statement.
The suspect, known only as CF, was arrested on May 22 and released on bail, police told NBC News. The Telegraph reported he had been arrested on Saturday.
The newspaper reported that the man had been under surveillance for years after having reportedly traveled to Somalia to train with al-Qaida-linked militants and who attempted to visit Afghanistan for the same reason.
'In the line of fire': UK confirms 6 London Olympic missile defense sites
A source at Britain's Home Office, the equivalent of the United States' Department of Homeland Security, told NBC News:
"I understand he was arrested at home. He breached (a TPIM) order five times with different rail journeys. But to stress, these were never incursions onto the park, just trips on public transport taken by thousands of other people every day. He got no restricted access."
British police say they have released without charge one of six people being held for an alleged plot to launch a terrorist attack. NBNC's Annabel Roberts reports.
Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures are legal orders that restrict suspect's movements, computer use and who they can meet.
London beefs up security before Olympics
CF had been wearing an electronic tag that traces his movements via GPS. NBC News tried without success to reach the suspect's lawyer.
Rising tensions
The report's prominence -- it ran as the newspaper's top story -- underlined the British public's, or at least the media's, focus on security threats to the London Olympics, which are due to start on July 27.
On Friday, police announced that seven men had been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a routine vehicle search turned up firearms and weapons in central England. On Thursday, officers in London detained six other terror suspects using stun guns and smoke grenades in an early-morning swoop on a home close to London's Olympic Park.
Also on Thursday, armed police evacuated around 50 people and closed a major toll road in both directions in Central England after a passenger on the bus was reportedly seen pouring liquid into a box, which then started smoking. The event turned out to be a false alarm caused by a passenger using an electronic cigarette that emitted a vapor.
Scotland Yard and the Royal marines teamed up in a show of strength against terrorists who might target the Olympics, practiced high speed drills using helicopters and boats on the River Thames.
Security have told NBC News to expect an increase in sensitivity in the pre-Olympic period, which could result in an increased number of raids and arrests. These operations, the sources said, should not necessarily be seen as a sign of significantly more terror plots.
The issue of security is a particularly relevant one to Olympics organizers. The decision to award the Olympics to London was announced on July 6, 2005. Just a day later, London suffered its worst peacetime attack when four suicide bombers killed 52 commuters.
Brits revel in gloom ahead of London Olympics, but don't believe the gripe
And the games will see the country's largest peacetime security operation and involve tens of thousands of security officials, with 13,500 military personnel, 12,000 police and 10,000 private contractors.
Intelligence officials say there has been an expected increase in chatter among extremist groups ahead of the games, but there are still no specific or credible threats targeting the Olympics. The terror level is labeled substantial, a notch below severe. A substantial threat level indicates that an attack is a strong possibility.
NBC News' Nanette van der Laan and Marie Hagen contributed to this report.
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The Brits are to the point of shear paranoia that someone or some group is going to try and launch a terror attack aimed at the Olympic Games. The security measures they have in place are extremely tight and they are rounding up anyone with any ties what-so-ever, no matter how remote, to any terrorist group. They are determined to make sure that nothing happens during the games to damage London's image or cause any problems for the games or any of the athletes. Hopefully all of their planning and security measures will be effective and the games will go off without a hitch.
"Did terror suspect go near Olympic Park five times?"
Now people will watch the Olympics for the same reason that people watch NASCAR...hoping to see a fiery explosion.
One cannot be paranoid when dealing with A.Q. The Brits have a lot in common with our Libby-ians in the U.S.
I guess the Brits can't ship seedy types to Australia anymore - so what remote islands does that leave?
This is why you don't make threats (like some here do), somebody somewhere is going to check you out. Homeland Security can come check out my dull steak knife collection, but only if they buy me new ones.
It takes me four months to figure out how to hook up my stereo - I wouldn't make past my front door with a bomb strapped to my body.
The CIA and Military should use old beat up farts like myself for war and not these kids who just started life - but they better get me a motorized wheelchair cuz I ain't marching no 300 miles in the desert. But then maybe they have seen me shoot a gun... you think they waste bullets now... lol.
London has an image?
British invented their problems trying to be smart!
They gave asylum to many Muslims with criminal and terrorism backgrounds wanted in their own nations.
When British were requested to extradite criminals, those asking got big British lectures on human rights, death sentences, poor/biased legal system and so on.
Abu Qatada was convicted of terrorist offsenses in his native Jordan.
In his case, the great "guest of honor" with a large family got huge doles.
Only job he was doing in Britain was spreading Islamic extremism and terrorism.
Then the great "human right's" champions got fed up and made him run. His family in Britain ended up far richer in the whole process!
There are many Pakis, Somalians and other radicals and terrorists doing their "holy" jobs!
Criminal ungrateful and backstabber Gen Mush is in London. Paki President Zardari's one foot is in Britain!
Now British are trying to be too smart and are making big shows of providing security to Olympics!
You lay down with dogs, you get fleas.
Just lock up every muslim during the olympic games! Then accidentally lose the keys when the games are finished!
Test runs before the games???
Did he think he was in training for an event??? Sadly, maybe...
--But let us lock up all the different Christians then, they have killed far more the last 1250 years than the Muslims have since they came around--Be careful now the Muslims could just as well have been a new type of Christian as we have seen 10,000 times!
I will stick to molecules and Atoms--I have seen them, I have never seen any God--and my mind does not need one. But religions sure are very dangerous, in turning people into war mongers!.
AAANNNNDDDD Here We Have Our Derail!!!
Get off it already. Here's a little gem for you.
http://thereligionofpeace.com/
here's another.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/29/iran-quash-death-sentences-drinking-alcohol
I'm feeling generous today. Let's take a look at past Olympics games.
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/munich-olympics-israeli-athletes-terrorist-attack-forty-years-later
there is always a blogger, who will comment about bad Christians, whenever anyone comments on the radical, crazy,6th century mentality, murderous bastards Muslim radicals; here is something Bundgaard should know; we are at war with the Muslim fundamentalist movement, the modern war started in the late 1800's at a place called Khartoum, it has continued ever since,(french foreign legion, British army, British India army, Russian army, American army, and it will continue until we either destroy them or they destroy us, it is as simple as that.
"
So they have a bombing suspect then they release him on bail? What to come back to court say maybe after the Olympics.???? Does anyone else have a problem with this????
HA HA Bull Crap. If Homeland Security picked this guy up he would be tucked away for atleast a year and without being charged, seeing a judge or even a lawyer.
Who writes this crap anyway
Christians are bad! If that is so who made Britain what it is?
Are the Christians going to a Muslim nation or the other way around with their Ramadan style soap operas?
Even in thinking/posting there have to be some limits to nonsense/madness!
Watch out, Terrorist Muslims are known for testing the boundaries of what they can get on board airplanes and such. They will continue to test, and when they find a way to breach, they tell others.
I think he should be locked up for the duration of the Olympics if he was warned of the boundary in advance.
Personally, I would deport anyone suspect permanently. These are new and very dangerous times, especially in dealing with these guys.
The time has come to put political correctness away to insure the safety of Britons. When it comes to worrying about a foreigner immigrants feelings v Britons obligation to native Britons, I have to side with the people who have called it home for 1,000s of years.
terrorist should have their
own olympic games...he'd blowed up real good...
I suppose after the games, the rooftop missiles will be removed and the 35,000 security agents will take off their Kevlar suits, helmets and masks, swap their WMD for truncheons and whistles and go back to the duties of dispersing rowdy revellers and football drinkers, and the Brits will relax and move around freely without fear of harassment, and Muslims can mingle at the shops with the smiling tolerant public, and cops will help old ladies across the street. At least, that's the story in my comic called "Guide to Heaven, suitable for ages 3 to 5".
Your words are beautifully written, but I'm still trying to grasp your point....
Point is "There is a chance the police will keep up their surveillance of the public because they enjoy the adrenalin rush, ie. lost of freedom permanently".
CF had been wearing an electronic tag that traces his movements via GPS. NBC News tried without success to reach the suspect's lawyer. "Where is Rupert Murdock when someone needs him"?
If you have a need for Rupert - the terrorists have already won. Rupe is probably all doped up staring at the cob webs on the ceiling, zombies have more life left in them than Rupert does.
What about CCTVs all around Britain these days?
Here ya go bob. The nicest thing that I can say about suicide bombers is that they can only do it once - as is evidenced here in this animated demonstration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEYYYMuwCyA
@Chefaz: That must be video that terrorists use to learn how to make explosives!
LOL!!! good one, Josh!!!
chefaz...daffy blowed up real good...
Brit in the pit- what WMD is it that the police are carring in London? MP5 SMGs? You may think me picky, but I kind of like when people use correct terms when talking about things like this and don't try to score cheap points by throwing terms like Weapons of Mass Destruction where they don't belong. That is unless you are claiming that British cops went from batons to Nucler, Biological and Chemical weapons over night. You are not saying that? Are you?
Wow, you still don't believe. It's pretty much common knowledge anymore that .........let me just say that you need to read up on them quite a bit. Read up on the real reasons for going into Iraq.
Do yourself a favor. Stay far away from biased sites as much as possible. There are a lot of lies out there. People will say anything, true, or not to push their agenda. The smear campaign against Bush was ridiculously effective. History will be better to him than we all have been.
Frankly, he took down a tyrant that attacked 7 countries, and his death toll at home and abroad is estimated to be near 2 million lives. Hitler and Stalin would have been proud.
The fear and paranoia is having almost the same effect as an actual successful terrorist operation. Either way the last 20 years, anti-terrorism is a huge part of any security budget when it comes to events on a global stage. Bottom line is the good guys can never truly "win".
wonder what music ... will play...for the opening...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxchPg3Ty9s
Seriously, Moesh, "paranoia"? Doesn't "paranoia" imply at least touch of irrationality and or delusion? There is no irrationality or delusion in fearing Muslim terrorists. I think that after 1,400 years and 270,000,000-400,000,000 slaughtered by Islamists, "paranoia" is simply not applicable. And, try 40 years. Are you old enough to remember the Munich Olympics?
I agree with Pray Hard.
British have huge Muslims with their baggages from basket case nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia and other nations.
Many are not much educated. Many are not useful to any society any where in the world!
There are many "no go" streets to non-Muslims and these are expanding gradually in many cities.
When the threats are real and worse are yet to come, where is the question of paranoia?
Doesn't praying imply at least a touch of irrationality and/or delusion?
flocker, Yes, but they are correct.
"live , and let live" dude. Isn't that what we want to do ?
the tighter the better. same with women.
; )
So far so good and it sounds like the Brits are as alert as can be expected for such a global event against their presence in the Afghanistan war. They were awarded the summer olympics long before Afghanistan and now they have to put billions into twice the security any other country would have to do due to their military involvements arond the globe. If they get through this without a glitch it will be purely luck. They can't think for a second a terrorist attack will only take place in the Oympic village. Sure it's where the masses will be and the ultimate target for them but while the British police are concentrating so much effort on the main target they could be overlooking someplace as simple as a train station or airport that will be filled with just as many people attending the games combined with the usual daily commuters in and out of London. When the games are over and they tally up the daily cost to provide security for this event you can bet they will NEVER bid to host the olympics again. Hosting world events such as the olympics will become a thing of the past for nations that choose to involve themselves in being the unwated "peace keepers" of the world. At the same time when it comes times for the olympic comittee to choose who will get the bid for both the winter and summer olympics they will be more prone to choose countries that are nuetral and not part of any future politics in military involvement.
Almost through "The Black Banners" and actually the Brits, with their laws and non stop immigration of Middle Eastern refugees it will be amazing if nothing happens. Londonistan is where everyone heads to if they are not actively involved with Jihad, lots of top A.Q. who "slipped" or were let go intentionally according to the author live quite openly. If anyone wants to understand even a little bit about our global enemy take a good look at what Ali Soufan has written. Amazing to read, quite a fellow and quite believable.
...and it only took the London cops SIX TIMES to catch him! Wow. What incredible security -- caught him on the SIXTH PASS!
well i figure they were tracking him close...to get to his terrorist links in the middle east...before the bust ...
He was disguised as a Muslim so they never suspected.
The guy was riding public transport past the park. What's to catch?
He was warned not to. He is a suspected terrorist, and knows it, and it is probably for a good reason. That usually means he is friends with known terrorists somehow.
He should have taken a different rout, or he does have the option to leave the country.
What better venue for a crybaby Muslim attention whore than the 40th anniversary of the ruination of the Munich Olympics by other crybaby Muslim attention whores? You can bet that the Islamic vermin are wetting their panties and drooling blood with attempts to create havoc at the London Olympics. I hope they don't succeed, but in a pansy-a**ed country like the UK, there is a possibility that they'll do it.
Your comment demonstrates how ignornance works.
I'll bet bragging rights something evil happens. He obviously is suspected for a reason. He probably has acquaintances, friends, affiliations, or is e-mailing some known killers.
The terror level is labeled substantial, a notch below severe. A substantial threat level indicates that an attack is a strong possibility.
This should quell any fears the crowds attending or the athletes may have had! All this activity are just tests by the terrorists to find weaknesses and holes in the security. But the real threat is the possibility someone may be able to bring a dirty bomb into the stadium via the River Thames and thwart security because any radiation reading picked up will be disregarded as the stadium grounds and banks/berms lining the river/entrances to the stadium are impregnated with radioactive waste. Of course a dirty bomb could already be entombed into the underbelly of the stadium during construction and is set to go off (during the opening ceremony) at the time all Omega watches are set for...which is? You'll have to look it up if you want to know...Just Sayin'
that's pathetic!!! the court releases that loser from jail and he continuously monitors the olympic area! the court should have known that loser is a risk!!! so why let him out on bail? just confiscate all of his personal belongings in his home, get a warrant to monitor all of his family members and close friends, freeze all of his bank accounts and create a new law which states any amount expended by the 'people' aka government for investigation and prosecution shall be reimbursed by those who are convicted. if we don't stand up to those bullies, we will continue to allow them to become more aggressive in their schizophrenic behaviours.
uk courts not are . dont know there laws.but him going back to the park 5 times. could have been dry run practice ya think
In double standards, hypocrisy and idiocy British are creating a new record.
They are trying to run Olympic games with missile shields all around.
Were they sleeping till now? They should have taken the security measures long time back instead of in the last minute!
Why should the British permit the wanted criminals like those in Syrian Human Rights Observatory?
Most of their children will become another bunch of mad Islamic bigots or criminals just like many Pakis doing their holy Islamic jobs these days right in Britain!
Turns out the best way to protect the Muslim population. That and gratuitous clubbing of Brit citizens.
Call it what it is.......a bunch of Muslims trying to screw something up. If it were not for political correctness, the problem would be handled. Ship 'em all out, and no, it is not the the same as the Jews....the Jews were a straw man/ imagined threat. The Muslims are a proven bunch or terrorist dogs....ship 'em all out and send them to the middle east where they friggin' belong! This is not "stereo-typing; these are just the facts. They are too friggin' stupid to rule themselves, so ship them away and let them kill each other.
Send the Muslims back to their own nations. They can help their original nations better.
They will be happy with their Sharia Laws and we will have less problems without some of the biggest liabilities non-Muslim societies and nations are facing.
We will be happier!
If british people were suspected of being terrorists for several years and living in an islamic country, the secret police or Taliban would have just shot them a long time ago. Why , under the name of being civilized, do we put up with extremists in our midst?
Because we are suppose to be nations of laws and rights. With freedom comes RISK.
With Islam comes immunity.
With hate comes ignorance.
With buildings comes airliners stuck in them.
with airlines comes tennis shoes...with fuses stuck in them...
with soup comes crackers(you can stick them in the soup or not).
Sure; Their freedom, our risk. ("our" implying our Brittish brothers).
With Islam comes death.
Did terror suspect go near Olympic Park five times?
Albeit, sometimes starting a conversation with a question is OK, but for a news agency to phrase the above question like it did just seems moronic at best...They're asking us if the terror suspect went by 5 times...pathetic...you would think they had no journalism people on staff and the editor's 4 year old was working the desk....Oh well, 80,000 in attendance at the opening ceremony, 4 billion viewers watching on TV...the stage is set and I pray nothing bad happens...Just sayin'
This Islamic group is intent on destroying anything that represents the opposite of their view of the world. That the verbiage of the article starts with a question and is debated is foolish. These people want to kill you and anything that is not Islamic. Whether or not the sentence structure is appropriate is not the issue. Finding, eliminating the threat of extremist Islam is the point. Let's get to work!
I'm sure glad they profile in the UK ! LMFAO
I wish it were legal here.
English should be mandatory to become a United States citizen.
I would like to see an amendment for that added to the constitution.
So they arrested him because he took 5 different train rides to and from the Park. Which is public transportation that is used every day by thousands of people correct? He never went into a restricted area he merely traveled by train to and from the Olympic Park area so he was arrested....Hmmmmm
Good work boys I feel so much safer
They don't have our laws,
He is a foreigner terrorism suspect,
Briton has had plenty of terrorism bombings in the past,
The Olympics have had terrorism in the past, the groups,
People he is affiliated with has been a perpetrator of thousands of bombings and hijackings in the past,
Briton is host to nearly every countrys Olympic heroes and VIP's at this time,
He was warned not to come within 5 miles of the Olympics,
He has done just that 5 times,
Briton has an obligation to provide all these potential targets of terrorism the heightened level of safety,
There is a good chance he is up to something, there a slim chance he is just ignoring them or ignorant.
So, I'm wondering what is it, you don't get ?
This seems ridiculous.. And a complete trashing of rights. The guy rode public transit on a public route. How can that be a breach of security? Or an act of terrorism?
I understand and support fighting terrorists and killers, but not like this. I fear the government and this kind of BS far more then any terrorist.
With freedom comes risk, I WANT THE RISK AND THE FREEDOM.
"The guy rode public transit on a public route."
Just like the suicide attacks in '05 - there's no wild thinking here. I have the right to ride the subway and get where I'm going.
He always had his prayer rug so the authorities never noticed him. One time he forgets and he is mistaken for a Brit subject and obvious terrorist.
Seriously, Freedom4Everyone. There's a spectrum from free but risky to safe but totalitarian. To me, this leans a little too far in the totalitarianism direction. You can't just pluck somebody with alleged ties to terrorism out of his home because he rode public transport past a particular area 5 times. I myself drive through the same intersections 4 times a day on my way to and from work - it's a flimsy excuse to arrest someone, at best. If they're wrong about his terrorist ties, what have they done to that guy's freedom, and moreover, freedom in the UK?
william-360414
I am glad to see someone realizes the problem the way it is without the baby pablem that's being fed to the masses. The UK has districts which are under shari law, a breeding and hiding place for these extremests. They also have 5 elected islamic ministers in their government to protect them. The UK needs a deportation program, if you commit a crime or support/hide those who do you are shipped back to islam land no lawyers or court proceedings they can hide behind. Lets hope the games end without any human life being lost to extremists that believe they get a couple of vergins for blowing up infedels.
The empire is reaping what it has sown.
vergins
Un-armed police. Man, that is about THE most stupid thing I have ever seen in my life. The U.S. is without a doubt following the Brits lead on a lot of this PC panty waist liberal communist BS. The only thing the American police are waiting for to disarm is when and after the gov disarms the citizens. Then, like the Brits, they will lay down their arms and the criminals will dominate us all.
You win: paranoid delusional comment of the day!
Jimee Boy, get back in your make believe 200mph car and sling your brains out. Wouldja?
Nobody catches you, do they?
No way baby! No way!
7/27/2012=9/11 7+2=9 and 7+2+0 X 1+2=11. This isnt about muslium terrorists, but thats what the media wants you to believe. Its about the Bilderberg's and the Illuminate's plan to destroy the world, so that they can have their one world government, and control us with the new world order. If you live anywhere near London, I would get out NOW!! Goto youtube and search 100,000 to die at the London olympic games and believe what you want.
Jimee Johnson where are you? This is the most paranoid comment of the day. Charles, stay away from sharp objects and take your meds.
Lol, wow, yeah, Jimee must have stopped reading at that last one.
Now, Charles Berg-3202650 sounds like a potential bomber.
That's the most concise and to the point post today.............blank. Can't support it or disagree with it. It is perfection.
I concur. We should all be able to communicate so eloquently. Post of the day.
The continuing and steadily cultivated climate of fear effectively serves those who seek to exercise dominance over an increasingly ignorant and economically depressed populace. These security measures are ultimately designed more for the control of local populations than they are geared towards preventing terrorist attacks.
Every abusive government or organization needs a "devil" to draw attention away from the steady elimination of their liberties and deteriorating quality of life. Muslim extremists have filled the present requirement nicely.
Couldn't have worded it better myself.
Probably just a British subject wandering too close to something having to do with the Olympics. Accidently driving in the traffic lanes reserved for high party officials or complaining about greasy $11 fish and chips might draw a roadside execution.
Jimee Johnson, you sound like the typical head in the sand liberal that has made the UK the disaster that it is. Go to Chuck Shepherd's NEWS OF THE WIERD to see how messed up that county is. A direction Obama is trying to take us.
Let me get this straight, laramie - you're concerned about socialism and too much government control, but you're happy with the government plucking people off the streets just because they're suspected of being terrorists? No offense, but wow, that's stupid. Actually, no, go ahead and take offense.