April 26, 2008

Who is "G", al Qaeda's Man in London? MOHAMMED AL GHABRA

The British press is under a gag order not to reveal the name of al Qaeda's main fundraiser and go between in Britain. The man, identified only as "G", was one of five who had successfully challenged in the British High Court the government's powers to freeze terrorist suspects assets.

For instance, this Times piece:

The man, who can be identified only as G, is one of five people who challenged the Treasury’s powers to freeze terrorist suspects’ bank accounts in a successful High Court action...

The judge banned publication of G’s name but The Times is aware of his identity, which is published on a United Nations Security Council list of terrorist suspects linked to al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

Under U.N. Resolution 1267 and its subsequent addendums, the Security Council:

obliged all States to freeze the assets, prevent the entry into or the transit through their territories, and prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale and transfer of arms and military equipment, technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities, with regard to the individuals and entities included on the Consolidated List.

Al Ghabra's activities are described by the U.S. Treasury Department:

Al Ghabra has organized travel to Pakistan for individuals seeking to meet with senior al Qaida individuals and to undertake jihad training. Several of these individuals have returned to the UK to engage in covert activity on behalf of al Qaida. Additionally, Al Ghabra has provided material support and facilitated the travel of UK-based individuals to Iraq to support the insurgents fight against coalition forces....

Apart from the financial and logistical support activities that led to his designation, Al Ghabra maintains contact with a significant number of terrorists, including senior al Qaida officials in Pakistan...

Al Ghabra is also in regular contact with UK-based Islamist extremists and has been involved in the radicalizing of individuals in the UK through the distribution of extremist media.

Why it is that a British judge ordered that al Ghabra and four others identity be kept secret when they are so well known is a mystery.

Al Ghabra's name appears on a list put together by the Security Council which directs that his assets are to be frozen and which Britain is obliged to follow. His passport number is even public information. Here is how that information appears on the list of individuals known to be al Qaeda or Taliban operatives:

QI.A.228.06. Name: 1: MOHAMMED 2: AL GHABRA 3: na 4: na
Title: na Designation: na DOB: 1 Jun. 1980 POB: Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: British Passport no.: British passport number 094629366 National identification no.: na Address: East London, United Kingdom Listed on: 12 Dec. 2006 Other information: na

The list may not be complete and some of the information as to their whereabouts may be outdated, but it is likely that the four other individuals involved in the lawsuit are on that list. Please feel free to leave corrections in the comments or e-mail me directly.

The fact that I was able to identify G so easily makes one wonder if these kind of gag orders are effective? And, in fact, doesn't the public have a right to know who the UN has designated a terrorist? Especially when that terrorist may be living next door or down the street?