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17/06/2008
Heathrow Worker Has 'Terror' Conviction Quashed
A former Heathrow airport worker who made history as the first GB woman to be convicted of possession of information that would be of use to terrorists - alleged terror manuals - has had her conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal.
Samina Malik, 24, was accused of collecting information "likely to be useful to those preparing a terrorist act".
The conviction has now been quashed after prosecution lawyers said it was "unsafe".
Ms Malik, who did not appear in court, was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months in December 2007.
She was the first woman to be convicted under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Sue Hemming, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Since Ms Malik's conviction, the law has been clarified by the Court of Appeal.
"The result is that some of the 21 documents we relied on in Ms Malik's trial would no longer be held capable of giving practical assistance to terrorists.
"However other documents in her possession, including 'the al-Qaida Manual', 'the Terrorist's Handbook', 'the Mujahideen Poisons Handbook' and several military manuals, clearly retain that potential. We therefore have no doubt that it was right to bring this prosecution.
"Nevertheless, taking into account the time Ms Malik spent on remand before her first trial, and the likely non-custodial sentence she would receive upon conviction in a retrial, we have decided not to seek a retrial on those manuals," Ms Hemming said.
She also added that Ms Malik was "not prosecuted for her poetry" but for "possessing documents that could provide practical assistance to terrorists".
Ms Hemming also said that Ms Malik had supplied information about airport security procedures to Sohail Qureshi who was later arrested for trying to board a flight to Pakistan carrying equipment he admitted he was taking to terrorists in Pakistan.
It is understood that Ms Malik posted extremist poems on websites under the screen name "the Lyrical Terrorist," but remained adamant that they were "meaningless".
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Islamic extremists could receive counselling instead of criminal charges under new Government plans to 'deradicalise' religious fanatics.
It is understood the move is part of a £12.5 milion Home Office plan which will give councils guidance about how to prevent extremism spreading.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "A key element of our strategy aims to stop people getting involved in extremist violence."
See: First Female Jailed For Terrorist Offences
(DS)
Samina Malik, 24, was accused of collecting information "likely to be useful to those preparing a terrorist act".
The conviction has now been quashed after prosecution lawyers said it was "unsafe".
Ms Malik, who did not appear in court, was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months in December 2007.
She was the first woman to be convicted under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Sue Hemming, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Since Ms Malik's conviction, the law has been clarified by the Court of Appeal.
"The result is that some of the 21 documents we relied on in Ms Malik's trial would no longer be held capable of giving practical assistance to terrorists.
"However other documents in her possession, including 'the al-Qaida Manual', 'the Terrorist's Handbook', 'the Mujahideen Poisons Handbook' and several military manuals, clearly retain that potential. We therefore have no doubt that it was right to bring this prosecution.
"Nevertheless, taking into account the time Ms Malik spent on remand before her first trial, and the likely non-custodial sentence she would receive upon conviction in a retrial, we have decided not to seek a retrial on those manuals," Ms Hemming said.
She also added that Ms Malik was "not prosecuted for her poetry" but for "possessing documents that could provide practical assistance to terrorists".
Ms Hemming also said that Ms Malik had supplied information about airport security procedures to Sohail Qureshi who was later arrested for trying to board a flight to Pakistan carrying equipment he admitted he was taking to terrorists in Pakistan.
It is understood that Ms Malik posted extremist poems on websites under the screen name "the Lyrical Terrorist," but remained adamant that they were "meaningless".
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Islamic extremists could receive counselling instead of criminal charges under new Government plans to 'deradicalise' religious fanatics.
It is understood the move is part of a £12.5 milion Home Office plan which will give councils guidance about how to prevent extremism spreading.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "A key element of our strategy aims to stop people getting involved in extremist violence."
See: First Female Jailed For Terrorist Offences
(DS)
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Police have been granted five more days to question four men arrested on Tuesday in connection with an 'Islamist-related' terrorism investigation. The men, all aged 20 and 21, were arrested during a series of raids in London. Detectives have now been given until next Tuesday to continue questioning the men.
Police Can Hold Terror Suspects For Five More Days
Police have been granted five more days to question four men arrested on Tuesday in connection with an 'Islamist-related' terrorism investigation. The men, all aged 20 and 21, were arrested during a series of raids in London. Detectives have now been given until next Tuesday to continue questioning the men.
15 January 2014
Police Granted Warrant To Hold Terror Suspects
Police have been granted more time to question two men suspected of terrorism offences relating to activities in Syria. Two 21-year-old men were arrested on Monday at Heathrow Airport after arriving on a flight from Istanbul. It is understood that the men are from Handsworth in Birmingham.
Police Granted Warrant To Hold Terror Suspects
Police have been granted more time to question two men suspected of terrorism offences relating to activities in Syria. Two 21-year-old men were arrested on Monday at Heathrow Airport after arriving on a flight from Istanbul. It is understood that the men are from Handsworth in Birmingham.
04 November 2013
Police Hunt For Wanted Terror Suspect
A wanted terror suspect, who is subject to a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpim) notice, was last seen leaving a mosque after changing into a burka in Acton on Friday. Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, 27, was seen in CCTV images leaving with his face and body fully covered by the Islamic garment. He is the second person to breach a Tpim.
Police Hunt For Wanted Terror Suspect
A wanted terror suspect, who is subject to a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpim) notice, was last seen leaving a mosque after changing into a burka in Acton on Friday. Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, 27, was seen in CCTV images leaving with his face and body fully covered by the Islamic garment. He is the second person to breach a Tpim.
16 February 2009
Police Given Longer To Quiz Terror Suspects
Police in England have been granted a further six days to quiz terror suspects with alleged links to a Gaza aid convoy. Three men, held by police in Lancashire, were detained following a series of raids at homes in Burnley. On Friday a total of nine men were arrested on a Preston motorway. Six were later released without charge.
Police Given Longer To Quiz Terror Suspects
Police in England have been granted a further six days to quiz terror suspects with alleged links to a Gaza aid convoy. Three men, held by police in Lancashire, were detained following a series of raids at homes in Burnley. On Friday a total of nine men were arrested on a Preston motorway. Six were later released without charge.
22 October 2007
Commons Grilling On Terror Laws
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith is to be questioned about the government's plans for tighter anti-terror laws. She is to appear before the cross-party House of Commons Home Affairs Committee and will be expected to explain how ministers plan to take forward the issue of the maximum detention limit before charge for terror suspects.
Commons Grilling On Terror Laws
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith is to be questioned about the government's plans for tighter anti-terror laws. She is to appear before the cross-party House of Commons Home Affairs Committee and will be expected to explain how ministers plan to take forward the issue of the maximum detention limit before charge for terror suspects.
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