Haroon Rashid Aswat
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Haroon Rashid Aswat (born ca. 1979 in Britain) is a British citizen of Indian origin. He is alleged to have ties to al Qaeda. [1]
[edit] Possible role in the London transit bombing of July 7th, 2005
In the first two weeks following the July 7, 2005 bombings Police sources initially told newspapers that Aswat made some 20 mobile phone calls to two of the suspected bombers, Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, one just hours before the blasts.[2]
On July 31, 2005, following a more thorough forensic analysis of the remains of the bombers' phones, The Times reported that[1]:
"British investigators, examining whether telephone calls were made between the London bombers and Aswat before the attacks of 7/7, caution that the calls may have been made to a phone linked to Aswat, rather than the man himself."
[edit] Possible role in setting up a training camp in Oregon in 1999
Aswat is reported to have first come to the attention of American counter-terrorism officials in 2002, because they believed he helped set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon in the United States in 1999.[3][4]
According to The Sunday Herald, by 1999, Aswat was calling himself a "hit man" for bin Laden.[3]
[edit] Believed KIA in Afghanistan in 2003
Aswat's passport was found on a man killed in action in Afghanistan in early 2003.[3][5] American and British counterterrorism officials believed the dead man was Aswat.
[edit] Resurfaces in South Africa in 2005
Local South African newspapers who interviewed his neighbors and co-workers reported that Aswat had been living an outwardly quiet life in South Africa for at least five months.[6]
[edit] Evades capture
The New York Times quotes unnamed security officials that when Aswat's presence was brought to the attention of American authorities they wanted to subject him to an extraordinary rendition.[5]
The New York Times sources said British officials objected[5]:
"The discussion was whether or not they would render him.
"He's got U.K. papers, and they said you can't render somebody with U.K. papers."
Aswat subsequently evaded surveillance in South Africa, and slipped back in to Britain, though the channel port of Felixstowe, in late June of 2005.[7] Aswat left Britain, through London's Heathrow airport on July 7, 2005, hours before the bombers struck on that day.
On July 29, 2005, during an interview on Fox News a former US prosecutor named John Loftus, asserted that Aswat was a double agent, backed by Britain's MI6.[8] Loftus claimed that MI6 intervened to protect Aswat while he was trying to evade capture.
[edit] Capture, and extradition to the United Kingdom
Aswat was reported to have been captured in Pakistan, shortly after the bombings.[9] Aswat was, however, arrested in Zambia, on July 20, 2005.[6][10] He was deported from Zambia to the UK on 7 August 2005 and arrested on his arrival.[4]
Following Aswat's capture his family issued a press release that stated[11]:
"He has not lived at this house and we have not had contact with him for many years
"There is no story that we can provide.'"
[edit] Extradition to the United States
Once Aswat was transferred to the United Kingdom he was held in detention on a U.S. arrest warrant.[12][13][14] American justice officials sought to try Aswat for his alleged role in setting up the Oregon training camp in 1999.
A British judge approved Aswat's extradition on November 30, 2006, discounting the concern Aswat's lawyers expressed that there was "a real risk" Aswat would face inhumane treatment in U.S. custody.[15][16]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Richard Woods et al.. "Tangled web that still leaves worrying loose ends", The Times, July 31, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ Zahid Hussain, Daniel McGrory Sean O’Neill. "Top al-Qaeda Briton called Tube bombers before attack", The Times, July 21, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ a b c Liam McDougall. "Brains behind terror plot may be Brit the security services thought", Sunday Herald, July 31, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ a b Letta Tayler, Colby Itkowitz. "Raids nab rest of 4 bombs suspects: Arrests made in London and Rome", Los Angeles Times, July 30, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ a b c William K. Rashbaum, Raymond Bonner. "Suspect in London fatal blasts eluded arrest", International Herald Tribune, Saturday, July 30, 2005.
- ^ a b "UK blast mastermind sold CDs in Johannesburg", rediff, August 2, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ "7/7 'Mr Big' seized,]", The Sun, 28 July 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ Michael Meacher. "Britain now faces its own blowback: Intelligence interests may thwart the July bombings investigation", The Guardian, Saturday September 10, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
- ^ "British Al Qaeda suspect 'called bombers'", Daily Mail, July 21, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ "Bombings mastermind held in Zambia", Daily Mail, July 29, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ "U.K. Gov't Plans Tough Terror Laws", Fox News, Thursday, July 21, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ Simon Freeman. "British al-Qaeda suspect facing extradition to US", The Times, August 8, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ "'Al-Qaida' Briton faces extradition to US", The Guardian, Thursday January 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ James Sturcke. "10 detained over 'threat to national security'", The Guardian, Thursday August 11, 2005.
- ^ "British terror suspects lose extradition battle", Daily Mail, November 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
- ^ "UK terror suspects lose extradition battle", The Guardian, Thursday November 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
[edit] External links
- Yard plays down bomb arrest reports, Daily Mail, 28 July 2005
- As 3 Nations Consulted, Terror Suspect Eluded Arrest, The New York Times, 28 July 2005
- "CNN BREAKING NEWS: Major Anti-Terror Operation Under Way in West London", CNN, July 29, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- Francis Elliott. "7/7 one year on: Why did it happen? The big questions still need answers", July 2, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
