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Issue 265, Friday 27 May 2011 - 23 Jumad al-Akhar 1432 Muslim plot against Pope never existed, Govt’s terror laws watchdog rules By Elham Asaad Buaras & Hamed Chapman
The Government’s terror laws watchdog has ruled the six street cleaners arrested during Pope Benedict’s UK visit last September were never involved in a plot. Ruling on May 15, David Anderson QC said the arrests were partly prompted by “barely credible” sources but said the arrests were lawful. The six men, aged between 26 and 44, all North African Muslims, were arrested on September 17 last year on suspicion of plotting to harm the Pope during a visit which began the day before. The men were released without charge, having been held for between 33 and 42 hours. “There is no reason to believe, with the benefit of hindsight, that any of the arrested men was involved in a plot to kill the Pope, or indeed that any such plot existed,” said Anderson in his report. The investigation began the day before the arrests when officers received a tip-off from someone saying that he had heard five of the six men discussing a possible attack on Pope. The alleged plot would involve stopping the Pope mobile and killing those around it, even if the Pontiff himself were to survive. Media monitoring groups say Anderson’s ruling combined with the men’s acquittal has accentuated The Express’s Islamophobic coverage of the arrests. In its coverage The Express said, “Islamic terrorists disguised as street cleaners” failing to investigate the men actually worked for Veolia Environmental Services. And despite not making reference to any evidence which suggests the men has any terror links The Express said it was, “Feared plotters with links to Al Qaeda planned ‘a double blow to the infidel’ by assassinating the head of the Roman Catholic Church and slaughtering hundreds of pilgrims and well- wishers.” The Express also questioned the legality of the men’s stay in the UK: “An investigation is also under way to determine if the foreign nationals had entered Britain legally and were entitled to work here.” Tabloid Watch said the newspaper had “used its front page to smear six men as Islamic terrorists with links to Al-Qaeda. A front page correction, retraction and apology must follow.” Tabloid Watch also called for the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) to act. “It would be understandable if they [the men arrested] didn’t want to remain in the public spotlight, let’s hope they do complain. But if they don’t, the PCC should consider acting anyway.” The Daily Telegraph’s subheading on May 16, this year, reporting on Anderson’s report, read, “Street cleaners arrested over an alleged plot to kill the Pope were said to have been overheard threatening to kill a Christian for every page of the Koran”. Innocent Muslims will continue to be arrested under draconian terror laws
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