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CNN Saturday Morning News

England Arrests Suspected Islamic Militants

Aired January 19, 2002 - 08:05   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More than a dozen people were arrested this week in the central England city of Leicester. It's part of an ongoing anti-terrorism investigation. Leicester's Muslim community is reacting to concerns that Islamic militants may be targeting the town to further their cause.

We get the story from CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Moderate Islamic community or fertile recruitment ground for militant groups? For the Muslims of Leicester, the spate of arrests of suspected militants by the British authorities poses the question. Leaders say their community is shocked al Qaeda operatives could be in their midst.

MAULANA SHAHID RAZA, IMAM, LEICESTER CENTER MOSQUE: I feel sad because it will damage to some extent that image of Leicester where Muslims have always been living as a peaceful community. But I must, too, highlight that they should be a fringe group, a very, very small group of people who can be disruptive in their attitude or approach. But definitely the vast majority of the Muslims in the city they are peace loving, observing the teachings of Islam.

CHANCE: While police continue raids on addresses across this midland city, little has been disclosed about who's been taken into custody. Tough anti-terrorism laws mean some of the detentions can be extended for long periods.

Earlier, in a first for Britain, two Algerian men appeared in a Leicester court on charges of being members of the al Qaeda network, now a banned organization in Britain.

(on camera): Community leaders are stressing that particularly the Algerians who have been arrested are not representative of the Muslim community in Leicester as a whole. But there are genuine concerns here that the attention created by the arrests could further sour already fragile communal relations here.

(voice-over): At this traditional English cafe in the town center, there's already resentment that ethnic minorities are set to become the majority in the city. The national census predicts it will take just 10 years. Here, the latest arrests are only heightening mistrust. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You never know, but they're all being tarred by the same brush and it's wrong, I agree. But if you can't differentiate between one and the other, they're all going to be tarred and that's how it goes.

CHANCE: Back at the mosque, the hope is for tolerance and understanding. With investigations continuing and more arrests possible, this unwelcome attention may continue to focus here.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Leicester, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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