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Suicide bomber from Ealing is first in a new wave of Islamic terror
Rashid Razaq16 Feb 2009
A British university student who became a suicide bomber in Somalia is believed to be the first in an outbreak of Islamic terrorism.
The 21-year-old from Ealing reportedly blew himself up at a military checkpoint killing up to 20 soldiers in the southern Somali town of Baidoa.
Raised in Britain, the bomber dropped out of a business studies course at Oxford Brookes University to travel to his country of origin in October 2007.
A member of al-Shabaab, a youth militia fighting to impose Islamic Sharia law, the man recorded a martyrdom video before his trip imploring fellow British Somalis to follow his example.
In the video he says: "Oh my people, know that I am doing this martyrdom operation for the sake of Allah. I advise you to migrate to Somalia and wage war against your enemies. Death in honour is better than life in humiliation."
The bomber, whose family still lives in London, is the first reported case of a Somali based in Britain carrying out terrorist acts in the east African country.
However it is unclear whether British security services are aware of the case, which happened when the Somali prime minister was staying at a hotel near the checkpoint.
Jihadist websites claimed more than 20 Ethiopian soldiers were killed. The same group was reported to have killed six aid workers in December.
The killings come amid warnings that dozens of Islamic extremists have returned to Britain from terror training camps in Somalia.
MI5 director-general Jonathan Evans has raised concerns that Somali-trained militants could be plotting to carry out attacks in Britain or attempting to attract new recruits.
Yassin Omar and Ramzi Mohammed, two of the four men convicted of the failed 21 July 2005 London Underground bombings, came to Britain as asylum seekers.
The Somali community in Britain numbers around 250,000, the largest in Europe, with the bulk of those coming to the country as refugees within the last 20 years.
Peter Neumann, a terrorism expert at the Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London, said: "The numbers I hear (going from Britain to Somalia) are 50, 60 or 70 but in reality we don't know.
"You don't need big numbers for terrorism. Somalia will never become another Pakistan, but that does not mean it is not a threat."
Reader views (5)
jane, i think thats a pooor excuse for blowing up people, im from india originally, proud to be british, this country has done more for me than india ever did. and as for colonial rule, countries have been waging war against each other for centuries, enjoying the spoils as they come. the brits did a lot for india, and have been one of the most tolerant nations in the world, considering we are meant to be a christian nation, we have been too kind, just visit toer hamlets or oldham, you'll see how asians discriminate against asians, and their views on 'goras' or 'white' people are incendiary, rude and racist.
- Sarah, london, 17/02/2009 14:01
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Fred, Horsham,
Agreed why not Saudi Arabia ??
A country which takes no refugees permanently - Saudi Arabia has so little people - and vast stretches of land - they could easily resettle the Palestinian refugees - the whole of Gaza for. ex. could fit into one little tiny corner of that country -
As for the Somalians - America has taken thousands - Britain has done its share - and in repayment we have had a few involved in the week after the 7/7 bombing - trying to commit martyrdom in the country that has given them refuge.
There seems to be a thing with some Somalis who are just not grateful for being given asylum in the UK - one young lady on TV docu. was saying she felt she could get a better deal if she was sent to the US !!
I have heard similar stories of Somali dissatisfaction with the UK from others - even my own story where an elderly Somali lady told me that everyone should speak Arabic and not English.
Sometimes if you give something away too easily people may not be thankful !!
- Sue, London, 16/02/2009 16:10
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Fred: Because the UK is known throughout the immigrant world as the easiset counrty to claim asylum / immigrate to. We have no standards for entry hence the many problems that exist today because of a flawed immigration system.
- Nick Nack Paddy Mac, Kiburn, London UK, 16/02/2009 15:38
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It has to do with colonization. We build our country on their resources and man power. Interfered with their politics, installed a puppet government who looks after our interest.
So in reality we messed them up and countries like turkey did not.
- Jane Johnson, hayes, 16/02/2009 14:43
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How on earth can these people be refugees? Aren't they and the British immigration authorities aware that there are safer countries closer than Somalia? Why not Turkey for instance. Same religion. You don't think it could be anything to do with benefits do you?
- Fred, Horsham, 16/02/2009 11:12
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