[Times-UK] Sean O'Neill, Tim Reid, and Michael Evans - The al-Qaeda leader who is thought to have devised the plan for the July 7 suicide bombings in London and an array of terrorist plots against Britain was captured by the Americans last year. Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, 45, a former major in Saddam Hussein's army, was apprehended as he tried to enter Iraq from Iran and was transferred last week to the "high-value detainee program" at Guantanamo Bay. Abd al-Hadi recognized the potential for turning young Muslim radicals from Britain who wanted to become mujahidin in Afghanistan or Iraq into terrorists who could carry out attacks in their home country. He realized that their knowledge of Britain, possession of British passports, and natural command of English made them ideal recruits. After al-Qaeda restructured its operations in Pakistan's tribal areas, he sought out young Britons for instruction at training camps.
2007-04-30 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive