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American Morning

British Authorities Have Arrested 17 Terror Suspects Over Past Several Days, Most in City of Leicester

Aired January 18, 2002 - 09:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we have been reporting this morning, British authorities have arrested 17 terror suspects over the past several days, including four more just this morning, most of them in the industrial city of Leicester.

CNN's Matthew Chance joins us now from Leicester with the latest.

CNN's Matthew Chance joins us now from Leicester with the latest -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Anderson.

The focus of this European arm at least of the investigation into links into terrorism does appear to have moved somewhat toward Britain, more specifically toward this central English city of Leicester, about 100 miles north of London itself. In a first for the British authorities, there has been a trial here in the past 36 hours, two Algerian men going before court. A very active community here in Leicester, as you can see. Two Algerian men going before court accused of being members of the Al Qaeda network. That, of course, illegal here a banned organization here in Britain.

As you mention, there have also been those arrests, bringing to 16 the number of people being detained by the British authorities. Another one was detained earlier in London as well. So that's 17 over the past 24 hours or so detained people in connection, not necessarily with the September 11th attacks, but perhaps with other kinds of information the authorities are bringing together here to try and piece together exactly what the situation here.

The police say they've issued a number of other warrants as well to search other houses in Leicester. The Muslim community here has been expressing their shock that this could possibly be Islamic militants, that could be Al Qaeda operatives in their midst. They've totally rejected any knowledge of this taking place. Police, though, say they are continuing their investigations.

Anderson, back to you.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Matthew, you mentioned the reaction of the Muslim community. How about the non-Muslim community there. Has there been a strong reaction in Leicester? CHANCE: Among the Muslim community, there has been, as I mentioned, some shock expressed there. Speaking to members of that Muslim community, iman Mulan (ph), Shahid Razi (ph) is iman of the Leicester central mosque. I had a quick chat with him earlier.

Let's have a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a possibility, of course. I will not characterize Leicester as a breeding ground for terrorism. These youngsters who are deprived of jobs, and services and so many of the facilities and all these. The Muslim community constitute a large number of unemployed people. So these things may lead to some external things, which we do not teach, which Muslims do not represent at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHANCE: The Muslim community here acknowledging there are a lot of social problems in Leicester, but denying that this is any kind of hotbed or breeding ground for Islamic militancy.

The police, though, say they are continuing investigations, Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Matthew Chance in Leicester, thanks very much.

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