London police raid under scrutiny

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation while the British media have questioned the circumstances of the London anti-terrorism raid two days ago.

On Sunday, police questioned the two suspects, one of whom was shot in the Friday dawn operation, but The Mail on Sunday questioned whether the massive scale of the raid was justified.

“A tip from an informant, grandiosely described as ‘intelligence’, suggested a serious danger,” the newspaper said in a leader column. “But it is the manner in which the arrest was carried out that is questionable.

“Were the extraordinary numbers of officers really needed? Was the shooting a justified use of extreme force, or a needless bungle?”

Security services told The Sunday Telegraph that they were searching for a device capable of releasing sarin gas similar to the one that killed 12 people and affected more than 5,000 on the Tokyo subway in 1995.

According to their lawyers, brothers Abul Koyair, 20, and Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23, deny any involvement in terrorism after they were arrested during the raid in Forest Gate, east London.

Weak and tired

Kahar, who was shot during the raid, was moved on Sunday from Royal London Hospital to Paddington Green high security police station.

His lawyer, Kate Roxburgh, said on Sunday evening he was still too weak to face questioning.

“He’s very tired. He’s feeling sick. He’s not especially well, but he is keen to be interviewed and get this over with,” she said.

Police have declined to comment on news reports that experts were hunting for evidence of chemical or biological weapons as they continue to search the terraced house.

They have also been given permission to hold both men until Wednesday.

According to The Sunday Times, which cited Scotland Yard sources, there had been “specific intelligence” which suggested that a single bomb overlaid with cyanide was being prepared at the address.

AFP