Three British Muslims were convicted yesterday of plotting to commit “mass murder on an unimaginable scale” by blowing up transatlantic airliners in an attempt to kill thousands of people in the air and on the ground, reports The Independent.
“Last night, senior Scotland Yard detectives told The Independent that, if the plot had been successful, the death toll could easily have exceeded the 2,752 people killed in the 9/11 attacks on the US in 2001.
“The terror cell, operating under guidance from jihadist overseers in Pakistan and inspired by al-Qa’ida, planned to simultaneously detonate liquid bombs disguised in soft drink bottles on board at least seven flights from Heathrow to North American cities, a court heard.
“The conspiracy was thwarted in August 2006 by the biggest counter-terror operation ever mounted in the UK. It brought chaos to Heathrow and led to new, worldwide restrictions on passengers’ hand luggage, with a ban on the carrying of liquids on to aircraft….
“The jury found Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain (See photo) guilty of conspiracy to commit murder.”
We have to acknowledge that Brits are different from Americans. Aah…that American flourish and the British understatement! The British media and the Brits are handling with wonderful restraint their own terrorism story which, in a manner of speaking, more chilling than 9/11 twin tower attacks.
Yes…yes…the planned attacks could not be implemented in Britain. But that probably happened because the British rely more on their sophisticated intelligence network, and not on brute force, for ensuring security.
Meanwhile here’s how web of intelligence led to Pakistan…Click here…
The British police was on its toes and watched the plot unfold, then pounced…The preparations were meticulous, the bombs potentially deadly. Click here to read the thrilling intelligence work…
I have received a direct comment on my post from Vlasta Molak. Here it goes: “This is a case for psychiatrists! Why would kids who grew up in GB in hard working families fall for the fundamentalists’ extremism, which is contrary to the mainstream Muslim teachings?
“Is it a lack of work and future prospects? Is it patriarchal upbringing? Is it frustration in their ability to comprehend the complexities of the Western world, while the simplistic religious explanations comfort them?
“Perhaps a parallel could be drawn with why American youth in inner cities turns to crime and violence? Maybe work is the answer? It appears that being idle for young people, especially young men, may be detrimental to their feelings of social belonging and thus turn against the society at large. Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us here?”
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.