Terror suspect challenges Olympic Park ban
An Islamic terrorism suspect restricted from crossing through London’s Olympic Park is reportedly challenging the order after breaching the government-imposed ban five times.
The 24-year-old served two months in prison, was deemed a risk to national security and subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) — legal orders which restrict movements, contacts and computer use.
CF – as he is referred to in court documents – is a suspected militant for Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-allied Shebab rebels, The Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Mirror reported on Sunday. The papers referred to him as a British jihadist from a large Somali family in north London.
Home Secretary Theresa May said in court papers that if it were it not for his TPIM restrictions, CF “would re-engage in terrorism-related activities, either in the UK or Somalia”.
His previous sentence was for absconding before he was placed under the TPIM restrictions and ordered to live in Norwich, eastern England. The suspect is tagged and his movements are tracked by authorities. A lawyer for the Home Office said CF was committed to “Islamist extremism”.
Terrorism arrests
The revelations come after a week of tension in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, culminating in the arrests of 13 men in London, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
Detectives have been granted additional time to question a 43-year-old man arrested after a routine car inspection revealed hidden guns and other weapons. He was one of seven men arrested are the vehicle was impounded for having no insurance. Warrants of further detention have been obtained for the six suspects.
The West Midlands investigation follows a separate counterterrorism operation in London which led to the arrest of six men. Among those detained were reportedly a former police community support officer who is a Muslim convert.
A seventh suspect, a 30-year-old woman, was freed without charge.
Challenge to government order
In the case involving CF, officers arrested him in June and charged him with five separate breaches of an order that bans him from using a train that passes through the Olympic Park in east London. He will be prosecuted later this year.
According to London’s High Court list, CF will appear before Mr Justice Lloyd Jones at 10:30am BST on Monday. He is expected to challenge the banning order, the newspapers reported.
The Crown Prosecution Service CF is to appear in criminal court over the breaches of the government on 27 July – the same day as the London 2012 opening ceremony.