Canadian Muslim linked to London 'bomb plot'

1.00pm

A plot by suspected al Qaeda supporters to carry out a bomb attack in London has been linked to a computer specialist in Canada charged with terrorist offences.

Mohammad Momin Khawaja, 29, who is of Pakistani descent, has been charged with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack in London and the Canadian capital Ottawa.

He was arrested in Ottawa on Monday by officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who searched his home for bombs. Relatives said that the Canadian-born man had recently visited London to see relatives.

The dramatic international development came the day after eight men were arrested in London and the Home Counties as part of MI5's biggest operation against suspected Islamic extremists.

Half a tonne of fertiliser, which could be used to build a bomb, was seized in west London. The security services and police believe they have foiled a plan to build a large vehicle bomb. Potential targets are understood to have included a shopping complex on the M25.

Khawaja was arrested in Canada 12 hours before the 6.30am raids in Britain. He was charged on Tuesday with participating in or contributing to the activities of a terrorist group and facilitating terrorist activity.

Khawaja's father has written a number of books critical of American foreign policy and of western influence on Middle East politics since coming to Canada more than 30 years ago from Pakistan.

Khawaja was remanded in custody until Friday. The charges state that between 10 November 2003, and 29 March this year, Mr Khawaja "did knowingly participate in or contribute to, directly or indirectly, an activity of a terrorist group, for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a terrorist group to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity" in Ottawa and London.

He is also accused that in the same period and in those same cities, he "did knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity".

Khawaja was arrested during an operation that included armed police at the Canadian government's department of foreign affairs where he was doing private work as a software developer.

Qasim Khawaja, 26, the suspect's brother said the police searched bombs and bomb-making material at their house.

"The door was blown open and guys with masks and guns came in, told us to get down on the ground," he said.

Two other brothers, Tanzeel, 20, and Mohsan, 18, were arrested, but released. Their mother, Azra, and a sister, Sabeen, 27, were questioned.

Khawaja's father, Dr Mahboob A Khawaja, the director of a polytechnical institute in Saudi Arabia, is the author of a book about Islamic fundamentalism "Muslims and the West".

He has written academic essays on conflict resolution in which he accuses the West of decrying Islamic fundamentalism without attempting to understand it. Dr Khawaja said his son's arrest was "nothing more than a hoax to create embarrassment".

The family of three of the eight men arrested during the British raids - all of whom are British citizens of Pakistani descent - claimed the suspects were innocent.

One of the men held yesterday was Omar Khyam, 22, a computer student, who had captained the Sussex under-18s cricket team.

His brother Shujah Khyam, 17, and their cousin Ahmad Khan, 18, were held in raids in Crawley, Sussex.

The suspects were questioned yesterday at the high security Paddington Green police station in London.

Ansar Khan, 48, the father of Ahmad and the uncle of Omar said there was "absolutely no truth" in the allegations against his son and nephews. He said: "These boys are the cricketers, the Manchester United fans. Fish and chips is their favourite food."

Mr Khan accused the police of acting "like terrorists" when they raided his home. Mr Khan said his son was a "very quiet boy" and a "good Muslim" who prayed five times a day.

Mr Khan claimed that operatives from MI5 had recently approached his nephews, Omar and Shujah, and told them they should leave the UK and go to Pakistan.

Mr Ahmad said an MI5 agent told him that Omar and Shujah had been associating with the "wrong sort of people" and wanted them to leave the country in order to free up manpower. The claim has been denied by anti-terrorist sources.

In 2000, when Omar was 18, he told his mother he was going to France on a study trip but instead travelled to Pakistan. His family flew out and brought him back to Crawley after about six weeks.

Relatives in the Pakistan army helped in the search.

At the time Mr Khan said: "This was not a boy who was political. He loved Britain. He talked of playing cricket for England."

Police have taken five computers and eight or nine laptops from an internet cafe in Crawley, the proprietor said.

The eight suspects, aged 17 to 32, are being held under the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of "being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".

The ammonium nitrate fertiliser - the same explosive ingredient used in terror attacks in Bali, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Africa and the United States - was found at a self-storage unit in Hanwell, west London.

Among the addresses raided by New Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch were the Luton homes of Aftab Manzoor, 25, and Afzal Munir, 23.

The two men were reported to have been killed in Kabul while fighting with the Taleban during the war in Afghanistan.

In Spain Angel Acebes, the Interior Minister, said a possible connection to one of the British suspects and the Madrid bombings was being investigated. Scotland Yard has said there is no link between the two.

- INDEPENDENT