Security fear as al-Qaeda suspect is held in Belfast

This Observer story on the Al-Qaeda suspect in Belfast reveals that jihadists may be entering Britain through Northern Ireland. (Thanks to Jeffrey Imm).

Jaybe Ofrasio, who has been charged with raising money for Jemaa Islamiya, stands accused of being a senior lieutenant in the al-Qaeda-linked terror group. He and his family have denied they have any connections to the Islamist movement. . . .

The presence of an alleged Islamist terror activist in Northern Ireland has raised fears among the security services on both sides of the Irish border that the island is becoming a convenient 'back door' to the UK.

In Dublin, the Garda Siochana have kept several Islamic radicals under surveillance. A number of Algerian men have been questioned in connection with an investigation into al-Qaeda's financing throughout Western Europe. In October 2002 two Libyans and one Algerian were arrested on charges of fundraising and providing fake passports to al-Qaeda.

Ofrasio was arrested at his house in Hawthorn Street, West Belfast, last Friday. He has been living there since moving from Mindanao in the southern Philippines last July.

Posted by Robert at February 8, 2004 7:25 AM
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