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Bakri 'supports terror on internet'
15.11.06Exiled Islamic cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed is allegedly using a variety of pseudonyms to broadcast support for terrorism in the UK via the internet, it has been claimed.
Bakri, who was banned from the UK last August, apparently praised the July 7 bombers and, in a chatroom conversation, appeared to advocate an attack on Dublin airport, according to an investigation by the BBC.
In one recent broadcast, he said the 7/7 suicide bombers were "in paradise", the joint File On 4/Newsnight investigation claimed.
He also reportedly said: "How can you condemn those great men - it's not something so bad, something so good. Something so good to be involved in."
The BBC said Bakri's chatroom had been infiltrated by a group called Vigil, including former police and security service personnel, which aims to disrupt extremist activity.
Asked by one of its undercover operatives whether Dublin Airport should be a terrorist target because US troops transit there on the way to Iraq, Bakri allegedly said in response: "Hit the target and hit it very hard, that issue should be understood. Your situation there is quite difficult therefore the answer lies in your question."
Vigil claims in the programme that the UK authorities have been slow to deal with the broadcasts.
One academic, who is a member of Vigil, said he went to the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist hotline with more than 100 hours of material from the chatroom only to be told to contact his local police station.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty told File On 4 he would examine the details of the claims.
"Glorifying terrorism on the internet is an offence and we are trying to deal with it and keep up with it."
