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October 23, 2006
Scotland: Muslim Charged For Terrorist Websites
We reported earlier that a 20-year old Muslim was arrested from a house in Alva, Clackmannanshire in Scotland. 60 police, some armed, had used a battering ram to enter the house, where they arrested Mohammed Atif Siddique. The incident took place on April 13 at around 7 am.
Siddique was a student of computing at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, which lies close to Glasgow's Central Mosque. While at home, Siddique attended a mosque in nearby Alloa. Neighbours had described him as a "nice fellow".
The reasons for Siddique's arrest in April were not given, though it was revealed by the Scotsman that he had been under police surveillance for several weeks before he was taken to Govan police station in Glasgow. This is where terror suspects are processed under the terms of the UK's Terrorism Act 2000.
Siddique lived at home with his family in a four-bedroom house (pictured) in Myretoun Gates, opposite the home of the local MP, Gordon Banks. His family owned a shop in the neighborhood.
The Telegraph reported that on April 28, Mohammed Atif Siddique had been released without charge.
Since then, things appear to have changed dramatically. The Scotsman now reports that Mohammed Atif Siddique has had a court hearing today in which he was charged with terrorism offenses.
He is accused of five charges under the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006. He is charged with setting up websites, where he showed how to make and use firearms and explosives. He is charged with using the websites to distribute publications which could encourage acts of terrorism.
It is also alleged that, between March 1, 2003 and April 13, 2006, he had possessed articles in circumstances which gave rise to a "reasonable suspicion they were connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism".
Two weeks after he had been arrested in April, Siddique had faced a special court which convened inside Falkirk police station. He had made no plea nor declaration.
Today, he was excused attending the pre-trial hearing in Glasgow, held at the High Court.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 23, 2006 8:42 PM
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