Chief Inspector Gavin Wong says: “I would ask that we all continue to discourage anyone from attempting to travel to Syria or other areas of conflict. While the motive may be honourable, the reality is that these areas are hugely dangerous, and it can be an opportunity to radicalise vulnerable people.”
“While the motive may be honourable…” Would a British Chief Inspector have said that about Germans in Britain traveling to join the Nazis in 1942?
He is saying this because Muslims in the UK have insisted that they were only traveling to Syria, or planning to do so, for humanitarian motives. Many times Muslims who have been discovered to be involved with the Islamic State or other jihad terror groups have made this claim to try to exonerate themselves. At a time when Muslims from Britain are in the Islamic State calling upon other Muslims from Britain to come join their jihad, and when almost all of Syria is a hot war zone in which humanitarian work is next to impossible, it is extraordinarily naive for Gavin Wong to take this claim at face value, as if it were the primary reason why Muslims are traveling to Syria.
Also, the Islamic State has called for the murder of British military personnel and civilians. It is, therefore, at war with Britain. Traveling to Syria to join it should be seen as an act of treason and dealt with accordingly. But the British political class would have to be sane for that to happen.
“BREAKING NEWS: Man, 27, arrested in Slough this morning on suspicion of financing terrorism,” by Dan Bloom, Daily Mail, November 13, 2014:
Counter-terror police have arrested a 27-year-old man who is accused of financing plots abroad.
The suspect was held this morning in Slough, Berkshire, under Section 17 of the Terrorism Act after an investigation by specialist officers.
It relates to ‘conflicts overseas’, a top officer said – as he sounded a warning against travelling to Syria, where hundreds of British extremists are fighting with Islamist groups.
The South East Counter Terrorism Unit carried out the investigation as officers from Thames Valley Police moved to reassure locals.
Superintendent Simon Bowden said: ‘I would like to reassure the community that this investigation should have very little impact on local residents.
‘The arrest was pre-planned and was not made in response to any immediate threat to public safety in Slough.
‘We will continue to work with our partners and community in the interests of public safety
‘I would ask that we all continue to discourage anyone from attempting to travel to Syria or other areas of conflict.’
There have been a string of arrests after Home Secretary Theresa May warned hundreds of Britons were travelling to fight with jihadis in Iraq and Syria.
The arrest comes less than a week after four men were held in London on suspicion of a terror plot.
The men aged between 19 and 27 were detained in west London and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday and Friday – days before Remembrance Sunday.
Scotland Yard refused to comment on suggestions that the commemorations could have been the target of any plot.
Today’s arrest is the latest in a string of raids by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit.
A 26-year-old man was held in Slough in July accused of financing terrorist acts.
Two Slough homes were also raided in September as part of inquiries into seven terror suspects arrested in Holyhead, North Wales, but they were later released without charge.
And six people were arrested across the region on October 14 on suspicion of terror crimes in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Greenwich, London and Farnborough, Surrey.
Tuhin Shahensha, 26, and Mustakim Jaman, 23 – both from Southsea, Portsmouth – were charged with preparing terrorist acts. Two suspects remain on bail and two were released without charge.
There is no indication the arrests are related to the one carried out today.
Chief Inspector Gavin Wong said previously: ‘I would ask that we all continue to discourage anyone from attempting to travel to Syria or other areas of conflict.
‘While the motive may be honourable, the reality is that these areas are hugely dangerous, and it can be an opportunity to radicalise vulnerable people.’