-Caveat Lector- >From the Sunday Times, http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/Sunday-Times/stinwenws02012.html?99 9 - September 5 1999 BRITAIN London-based Muslim calls for holy war Mark Macaskill and Nicholas Rufford A MUSLIM cleric is running the risk of being deported after calling for attacks with biological weapons on western targets. Omar Bakri Muhammad, a refugee and father of seven living in north London, has emerged as the extreme voice of international Muslim fanaticism. He is a friend of Abu Hamza, the mullah with metal claws for hands, who was linked to the Britons imprisoned in Yemen on terrorist charges. In an open letter read out in mosques across Britain and published on the internet, Bakri called on Muslims to rise up in a jihad, or holy war, against America and its allies. Bakri, who has claimed disability benefit and income support, addressed his call to Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist suspected of bombing two American embassies and murdering 256 people. Bakri invited Bin Laden to "aim your weapons at occupying forces". "May Allah protect you and grant you victory," he said. He later advocated the use of germ agents against westerners occupying holy lands. The letter was taken off the internet after American officials complained. David Lidington, shadow Home Office minister, said Bakri's "grotesque" remarks would cause offence to most people, including British Muslims, and called on the government to take appropriate action. The Home Office was studying a copy of Bakri's letter last night. "We do not discuss individual cases, but the home secretary has powers under the Immigration Act to refuse entry or deport nationals if he is satisfied that a person's presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good," it said. Bakri, 41, the founder of Al-Muhajiroun - the Emigrants - came to Britain from Saudi Arabia in 1985, where he was threatened with arrest after preaching jihad. He was granted asylum. He uses an orange disability badge in his car and has a free public transport travel permit. Last week Bakri said that civilian casualties were inevitable in a holy war: "Using any biological weapons in self-defence is, in Islam, permissible, and I believe that we are currently operating under a defensive jihad. Obviously, we regret what could happen to innocent people, but there are always people who are war casualties or, if you like, victims of war." War cry: Bakri advocates germ warfare against the West His open letter to Bin Laden was posted on his own website and read in mosques in Sheffield, Bradford, Leicester and London. Yossef Bodansky, director of the United States Task Force on Terrorism, said: "Bakri knows that his letter will be acted upon and that is why he has written it." It amounted to an incitement to violence. Bodansky said Bin Laden had taken encouragement from Bakri's message and had issued a reply that was read out in mosques in Pakistan and Britain. The American government is offering a reward of $5m for information leading to the capture of Bin Laden, who is blamed for terrorist attacks on American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, last year. Bakri first came to the attention of the British government in 1991, when he allegedly called for the assassination of John Major for Britain's part in the Gulf war. He says the British are a legitimate target "because London called for the destruction of the Khalifate [the international Islamic state]". He reserves his harshest words for America and for the "terrorist, blaspheming, Jewish, murdering, pirate state of Israel". He works from an office in a business park in Tottenham, north London. The office is registered as Info 2000 Software Ltd, but when The Sunday Times called last week he admitted the name was a cover. He spends his days using the internet to rally support for his holy war and is planning a rally at the Albert Hall later this month. British Muslims backed calls for action against him. Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, a national publication, said: "We are concerned by the statements he is making. They damage our position in the community and create a negative image of Muslims." Ahmed & Co, Bakri's solicitor, said Bakri "strongly takes issue with the wild and erroneous interpretations placed by Bodansky on the contents of his open letter to Bin Laden". He also "publicly condemns" terrorism, it said. oOne of the three suspects held in Britain in connection with the American embassy bombings was accused yesterday of swearing allegiance to the Al Quade group, headed by Bin Laden. Washington is seeking extradition of Khalid Al Fawwaz, 36, a leading member of the London-based Advice and Reformation Committee, which the FBI claims was a front for Al Quade. Additional reporting: Kevin Dowling -- Dan S DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. 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