Sean O’Neill
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A senior al-Qaeda terrorist who plotted a wave of car bomb attacks in Britain is feared to have passed on his plans to other militants from prison.
Dhiren Barot, who is serving 30 years for conspiracy to murder, wielded huge influence over other imprisoned terror suspects and tried to convert nonMuslim inmates to his brand of radical Islam.
The Times has learnt that the authorities were so concerned about his ability to radicalise other prisoners that he was moved out of Belmarsh jail in southeast London. Growing numbers of inmates were attending Friday prayers in the high-security prison, and it was believed that terrorists from different wings were using the facility to exchange messages and indoctrinate other prisoners.
Barot was transferred to Frankland jail, Durham, where he demanded to be given the right to lead Friday prayers. His demands were rejected.
Barot was the author of the Gas Limos Project, a plan to blow up hotels and London landmarks with stretch limousines packed with gas cylinders, petrol and nails. It was thwarted by a series of raids in August 2004.
A British Hindu who converted to Islam, Barot trained in Afghanistan under Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of 9/11. He wrote a book about the need for Muslims to wage a terrorist campaign against the West. It was published in Britain under his nom de guerre, Essa al-Hindi.
Barot pleaded guilty to planning a bombing campaign in November last year. Even as his defence team attempted to mitigate for him, he insisted that his plans could and would have worked. A security source told The Times: “Nothing would delight him more than to see his plans reach fruition, even if he is behind bars.”
Counter-terrorist agencies have also been concerned that two men who absconded while under terrorist control orders have been visiting high-security inmates in Belmarsh. Lamine and Ibrahim Adam have been on the run for six weeks and the public have been told not to approach them. Their brother, Anthony Garcia, was convicted in April for his part in a fertiliser bomb plot to attack London. Zeeshan Siddiqui, another associate of the fertiliser bomb cell, is another control order absconder whose whereabouts are unknown. Siddiqui had terror training in Pakistan with members of the gang and Mohammed Sidique Khan, the leader of the 7/7 bombers.
“We thought they would all go overseas, but it is not inconceivable that, given their contacts with terrorists here, they might attempt to do something in this country,” the source said.
After sentencing Barot to life last November, Mr Justice Butterfield said that he would have to serve at least 40 years in jail. The judge said that Barot’s plans would have caused carnage on a “colossal and unprecedented scale” if successful.
He told Barot, who had worked as an airline ticketing clerk in Piccadilly: “Your intention was not simply to cause damage, panic or fear. Your intention was to murder, but it went further. It was designed to strike at the very heart of democracy and the security of the State, and, if successful, would have affected thousands personally, millions indirectly and ultimately the whole nation of the US and the UK.”
The judge added: “You have devoted most of your adult life to seeking means to bring death and destruction to the Western world.”
Key facts
3 vehicles used in terror attacks
4 meetings of Cobra, Whitehall’s emergency contingencies committee
6 number of suspects arrested
1 person under guard in critical condition in hospital
19 locations searched
450 Sporting venues advised by police in recent months on
counter-terror measures
400 Shopping centres advised by police in recent months on
counter-terror measures
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So...how's that Israel boycott working out for you?
Lily, NY, NY
Here in the USA we have an expression: a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged. We shall soon see how many muggings are necessary before it applies in the UK as well.
Dan , NEW YORK, USA
Stick him in solitary, throw the key away.....
sarah, Wellington,
I wonder if Barot only passes on his plans to those imprisoned with him, or whether he manages to pass on those plans to those on the outside who can make them come to pass.
In the second case we should ask HOW he passes on his plans and orders.
Does the Government give him the public phone and the 10p wo activate it?
elixelx, elx, spain
As a NON-MUSLIM Indian, please allow me to apologise for the existence of the &()&&( who holds a passport of my country, and who has attacked yours.
Please note that the majority of Indians are NOT MUSLIMS, and hence, NOT TERRORISTS..
These 'Indian' muslims are as Indian as Pervez Musharaff and hate us infidels, and keep blowing our country up. Now they've started with yours. The Indian government will, heopfully, print our religion on our passport soon enough, so that its clear to all of y'all which one of 'us' is a terrorist. Or maybe, just a POTENTIAL TERRORIST emblazoned on the cover page of passports of 'Indian' muslims.
Please observe the use of the quotes around 'Indian'. We apologise; we should have put all of them on a boat to Pakistan, cuz they're Pa*** through and through anyway.
- An ashamed NON-MUSLIM Indian
NON-MUSLIM INDIAN, Glasgow, Scotland
Indeed; imprison in isolation cells, for live. None of that business of releasing after x number of years.
Douglas Vleeshhouwer, Orpington, Kent
Prisons are universities for crime, and terrorist crimes are no different. What do you think these people do all day other than sit around thinking about how they went wrong, and how they'll get it right next time?
Jack , austin, TX, usa
Controlled Explosions are absolutely stupid.
There are tons of missing uranium in circulation that has been bought/stolen from the old solviet union.
Put a litre in a box and secure it with tape and a bit of speaker wire and set it in a public place.
The idiots in uniforms will blow it up for you because it is a suspicious package and that is how they handle suspicous packages. The result is that London will have to be evacuated for 5000 years.
Duffaukid, houston, usa/tx
So, from reading the article above, I see that two men who have "absconded while under terrorist control orders" have "been visiting high-security inmates in Belmarsh"?
I'm sorry but how can people who are effectively 'on the run' walk into a high-secruity establishment, visit an inmate then simply go on their way again without triggering some form of alarm bell or being comprehensively vetted beforehand is beyond me.
Joe P, Cape Town,
It would be better if mr. Dhiren Barot could serve his sentence in a prison in an Arab country, instead of a 5 star prison in Britain. Perhaps that would help him to learn repentance.
l.karremans, heusden,
Keep these prisoners in solitary confinement, a la Guantanamo.
Rosemary, London, UK
Solitary confinement with very basic cells facing out to open countryside with a restricted television service installed in each cell would solve all these problems, make prison work!
Sam Blake, London,
When you go to prison, you lose rights. Rights to "pray" should be amongst those taken away.
Paul, London,
Facts and logic don't come into it. It is what you believe that counts. Ask the terrorists or Mr Blair.
There was an 'Age of reason' for a short while' but that was a blip. Darwin proved the theory of 'Survival of the fittest' but we are ignoring it at our peril. It seems that the latest plot was organised by a terrorist asserting his rights.
Brian Gilbert, Hampton, Middx
Control Orders - They seem to be "lack of control" orders. They are served on people in the hope they will "go abroad" ? What world is the Home Office living in. Prosecute and imprison, in isolation, those who wish to bomb the country
Rob, Ipswich, Suffolk