Cablegate: United Kingdom: 2000 Annual Terrorism Report

O 281706Z DEC 00
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1020
INFO AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
AMCONSUL BELFAST
AMCONSUL EDINBURGH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 008980

S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER UK
SUBJECT: UNITED KINGDOM: 2000 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 217248

1. THE UNITED KINGDOM CONTINUED ITS AGGRESSIVE EFFORTS
AGAINST DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN 2000. IT
PASSED A NEW TERRORISM LAW THAT GIVES THE GOVERNMENT EXPANDED
POWERS TO FIGHT BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TERRORISM, AND IT
CONTINUED ITS CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES TO
BRING TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE.

A. RESPONSE OF THE UK JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO ACTS OF
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC
TERRORISM DURING 2000: TWELVE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CHARGED
BASED ON THEIR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN THE FEBRUARY 7
HIJACKING OF AN AFGHAN ARIANA AIRLINER THAT LANDED AT
STANSTED AIRPORT. THE CHARGES INCLUDE HIJACKING, FALSE
IMPRISONMENT, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO CAUSE
FEAR OF VIOLENCE, AND POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVES. THEIR TRIAL
IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 15, 2001. FOLLOWING A
U.S.-UK INITIATIVE, THE TRIAL OF TWO LIBYANS CHARGED WITH THE
BOMBING IN 1988 OF PAN AM 103 OVER LOCKERBIE SCOTLAND BEGAN
IN MAY 2000 IN A SCOTTISH COURT SITTING IN THE NETHERLANDS.
THE ACCUSED ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER, BREACH OF THE UK
AVIATION SECURITY ACT, AND CONSPIRACY. AT YEAR END, THE
TRIAL CONTINUES.

IN APRIL, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM THE UNITED STATES,
THE GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE CONDUCTED SEARCHES AT TWO
LOCATIONS IN MANCHESTER IDENTIFIED AS RESIDENCES OF TWO
INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED HAS HAVING BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH USAMA
BIN LADEN AND AL-QUEDA. IN NOVEMBER, TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE
ARRESTED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR CONSPIRACY TO CAUSE EXPLOSIONS
UNDER THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT. THE SUBJECTS, MOINUL
ABEDIN AND FAISAL MUSTAFA, FACE LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN THE UK
IF CONVICTED.

DURING 2000, HMG CONTINUED ITS INVESTIGATIONS OF TERRORIST
MURDERS RELATING TO THE TROUBLES IN NORTHERN IRELAND. THESE
INCLUDE THE 1998 BOMBING IN OMAGH, WHICH KILLED 29 PERSONS,
AND THE MARCH, 1999 MURDER OF ROSEMARY NELSON, A DEFENSE
LAWYER. OFFICIALS MADE PUBLIC SOME OF THE INFORMATION THEY
HAVE COLLECTED ON BOTH CASES AND APPEALED FOR WITNESSES TO
COME FORWARD WITH EVIDENCE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SUSPECTS TO
BE PROSECUTED.

HMG ALSO PRESSES OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO PROSECUTE SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS. IT CONTINUES TO PURSUE THE CASES OF BRITISH AND
AMERICAN CITIZENS MURDERED IN YEMEN IN 1998 AND THE MURDER OF
BRITISH CITIZENS IN UGANDA IN 1999. IT IS WORKING WITH GREEK
OFFICIALS TO BRING TO JUSTICE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
MURDER IN ATHENS ON JUNE 8 OF THE BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHE
BRIGADIER SAUNDERS. THE 17 NOVEMBER GROUP HAS CLAIMED CREDIT
FOR THE MURDER. HMG IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
YEMEN TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON
THE BRITISH EMBASSY THERE IN OCTOBER, AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF SAUDI ARABIA RELATIVE TO THE ATTACKS AND MURDER OF BRITISH
CITIZENS IN THAT COUNTRY.

B. UK RECORD OF EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: THE UK
CONTINUES TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE UNITED STATES IN REGARD
TO THE U.S. REQUEST FOR EXTRADITION OF INDIVIDUALS INDICTED
IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ON TERRORISM-RELATED
CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE 1998 EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN
NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM. KHALED AL-FAWWAZ, IBRAHIM HUSSEIN
ABDEL HADI EIDAROUS, AND ABEL MOHAMMED ABDUL ALMAGID BARY
HAVE ALL BEEN FOUND BY UK COURTS TO BE SUBJECT TO EXTRADITION
TO THE U.S. THEIR APPEALS TO THIS FINDING ARE CURRENTLY
BEFORE BRITISH COURTS. HMG IS ALSO COOPERATING WITH A
REQUEST BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT SEEKING THE EXTRADITION OF
RASHID RAMDA, AN ALGERIAN WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A SERIES
OF BOMBINGS IN FRANCE.

C. IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS: IT IS HMG POLICY TO
PROSECUTE AND/OR EXTRADITE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. HMG PURSUES
THIS POLICY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS, THE 1951 CONVENTION ON REFUGEES, AND UK ASYLUM
LAWS. UNLIKE U.S. LAW, BRITISH LAW DOES NOT GIVE UK
AUTHORITIES EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN TERRORISM CASES.

D. UK RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION TO TERRORIST
INCIDENTS: HMG CONSISTENTLY CONDEMNS ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM
AND PRESSES OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP STRONG
COUNTERTERRORIST MEASURES. UK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE
WORKING CLOSELY ON THE GROUND WITH BOTH GREEK AND SAUDI
OFFICIALS TO ASSIST THE HOST GOVERNMENTS IN THEIR
INVESTIGATIONS INTO ATTACKS ON BRITISH SUBJECTS OR INTERESTS.
HMG CONSULTS WITH AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENTS
THAT ARE PREPARED TO DEVELOP AND PURSUE POLICIES TO FIGHT
TERRORISM.

E. MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY HMG IN 2000:

IN JULY, A NEW UK-WIDE TERRORISM ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW,
EXTENDING MECHANISMS AND POWERS THAT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED TO
DEAL WITH TERRORISM RELATING TO NORTHERN IRELAND TO ALL FORMS
OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TERRORISM ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM.
THE LAW, WHICH COMES INTO FORCE IN FEBRUARY 2001, REPLACES
THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT OF
1989 AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT OF
1996 (AMENDED IN 1998).

THE NEW LAW WILL APPLY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TO
ALL FORMS OF INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM. IT WIDENS
THE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM TO INCLUDE ACTIONS OR THREATS OF
ACTION THAT ARE DESIGNED TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT OR
INTIMIDATE THE PUBLIC TO ADVANCE A POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, OR
IDEOLOGICAL CAUSE AND THAT INVOLVE SERIOUS VIOLANCE AGAINST A
PERSON OR SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, ENDANGERS A PERSON'S
LIFE, CREATES A SERIOUS RISK TO THE HEALTH OR SAFETY OF THE
PUBLIC, OR IS DESIGNED TO SERIOUSLY INTERFERE WITH AN
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE ACT GIVES THE POLICE SPECIAL ARREST
POWERS IN TERRORIST CASES AND ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO
PROSCRIBE ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH ANY FORM OF
INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND TO PROSECUTE
INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OR SUPPORT SUCH ORGANIZATIONS
OR THEIR ACTIVITIES. THE LAW ENHANCES THE GOVERNMENT'S POWER
TO SEIZE RESOURCES RELATING TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

A NEW REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT, WHICH BECAME
LAW IN JULY 2000, ESTABLISHES ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTERCEPTION
OF COMMUNICATIONS AND A STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE AUTHORIZATION
AND USE OF COVERT SURVEILLANCE. THE ACT GIVES ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS NEEDED LEVERAGE IN DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS OR
GROUPS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN TERRORIST-RELATED
ACTIVITIES WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC FROM UNNECESSARY
INVASIONS OF THEIR PRIVACY. BRITISH OFFICIALS HAVE INITIATED
COOPERATIVE EFFORTS WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO ASSIST THEM
IN BRINGING TO JUSTICE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS RESPONSIBLE FOR
TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND TO DETER ACTS OF TERRORISM.

HMG SIGNED THE UN CONVENTION ON TERRORIST BOMBING ON JANUARY
10, 2000, THE FIRST DAY THE CONVENTION WAS OPENED FOR
SIGNING. IT IS COMMITTED TO RATIFYING THAT CONVENTION AND
THE CONVENTION ON TERRORIST FINANCING, WHICH WAS SIGNED IN
1998, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

F. SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS, OR
TERRORIST GROUPS: HMG DOES NOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF TERRORISM
OR ANY TERRORISTS. IT ACTIVELY OPPOSES INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM, TERRORISTS AND TERRORIST GROUPS. THE GOVERNMENT
IS COMMITTED TO PREVENTING THE UK BEING USED AS A BASE FOR
TERRORISM, INCLUDING AS A SOURCE FOR FUNDING OF TERRORIST
ACTIVITIES ABROAD. THE NEW TERRORISM ACT WILL ENHANCE HMG
AUTHORITIES' ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

G. PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF TERRORIST-SUPPORTING
COUNTRIES ON A TERRORIST ISSUE: HMG HAS NOT MADE ANY
STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF U.S.-DESIGNATED STATE SPONSORS OF
TERRORISM ON TERRORISM-RELATED ISSUES. IT CONSISTENTLY
SPEAKS OUT PUBLICLY IN OPPOSITION TO TERRORISM AND USES ITS
DIALOGUE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THOSE IDENTIFIED AS
SUPPORTING OR TOLERATING TERRORISM, TO DO THE SAME.

H. SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE UK'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM
DURING 2000: THE UK REMAINS RESOLUTELY OPPOSED TO TERRORISM
IN ALL FORMS.

I. U.S COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND INITIATIVESS PURSUED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH HMG: HMG COOPERATES CLOSELY WITH THE U.S.
AT ALL LEVELS ON COUNTERTERRORISM POLICIES AND OPERATIONS,
BOTH BILATERALLY AND THROUGH INTERNATIONAL FORA, INCLUDING
THE G8 AND THE UN. THIS COOPERATION INCLUDES REGULAR
BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS ON POLICY AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES.

WASHINGTON'S CLOSE TIES TO BOTH LONDON AND DUBLIN FACILITATED
OUR CONTINUING KEY ROLE IN FACILITATING THE PEACE PROCESS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND. THE RESULT OF THE CLOSE COOPERATION HAS
BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND
CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARD NORMALIZATION OF POLITICAL,
POLICING AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS AS CALLED FOR IN THE GOOD
FRIDAY AGREEMENT. U.S. OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY
WITH BRITISH AND IRISH COUNTERPARTS TO CONTAIN THE CONTINUED
TERRORIST THREAT PRESENTED BY DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN AND
LOYALIST PARAMILITARY GROUPS. INCIDENTS OR ATTEMPTS DURING
2000 INCLUDE INTRACOMMUNITY FEUDS AND PUNISHMENT ATTACKS ON
CIVILIANS AS WELL AS ACTIONS AGAINST POLICE, SECURITY AND
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND PERSONNEL IN BOTH NORTHERN IRELAND
AND GREAT BRITAIN. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS DETERMINED THE
REAL IRA, THE CONTINUITY IRA, THE RED HAND DEFENDERS, AND THE
ORANGE VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT MAINTAINING A TOTAL AND UNEQUIVOCAL
CEASE-FIRE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT.

IN DECEMBER, HMG JOINED THE U.S. IN VOTING IN THE UNSC FOR
SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED ON THE TALIBAN. IT HAS SUPPORTED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EU COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY AND ENCOURAGED
USE OF THE G8 MECHANISM TO INCREASE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
IN COUNTERING TERRORISM.

J. COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. IN THE INVESTIGATION OR
PROSECUTION OF ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S.
CITIZENS OR INTERESTS: COOPERATION BETWEEN THE USG AND HMG
HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO THE UNITED STATES IN CONNECTION WITH
ITS INVESTIGATION INTO USAMA BIN LADEN AND AL-QAEDA
ORGANIZATION. HMG CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE USG TO
ENSURE THAT KHALID AL-FAWWAZ, ABDEL MOHAMMED ABDUL ALMADGID
BARY, AND IBRAHIM EIDAROUS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN INDICTED IN
THE U.S. ON TERRORISM-RELATED CHARGES, ARE EXTRADITED TO THE
U.S. U.S.-UK COOPERATION HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN BRINGING TO
TRIAL THE TWO LIBYANS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOMBING
OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103 IN 1988.

K. PREVENTION OF TERRORIST ACTS AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS IN THE
UK: THE USG AND HMG SHARE INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE TERRORIST
THREATS AND SPONSOR REGULAR BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS, JOINT
TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND EXERCISES WHICH FURTHER STRENGTHEN
COOPERATIVE EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO TERRORIST ACTS
OR SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM.

2. EMBASSY LONDON IS ALSO FORWARDING BY FAX SUGGESTED
REVISIONS TO THE TEXT OF APPENDIX B OF 'PATTERNS OF GLOBAL
TERRORISM - 1999', WHICH PROVIDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
TERRORIST GROUPS, AND LANGUAGE PROVIDED BY HMG REGARDING
WHETHER CERTAIN OF THOSE GROUPS IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE
CONSIDERED TO BE ON CEASEFIRE.

3. EMBASSY LONDON REQUESTS THAT WE BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REVIEW THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE MAIN TEXT AND SECTIONS OF
THE APPENDICES OF THE 2000 REPORT THAT DEAL WITH THE UK,
INCLUDING NORTHERN IRELAND, PRIOR TO PUBLICATION OF THE
REPORT. WE WILL COORDINATE THIS REVIEW WITH CONSULATE
GENERAL BELFAST TO ENSURE THAT ALL STATEMENTS AND
DESCRIPTIONS ARE CURRENT AND ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF
PUBLICATION.

LADER

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