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MI5 ‘threatened Muslim men to turn them into informants’
Peter Dominiczak21 May 2009
Five Muslim community workers from north London today claimed MI5 blackmailed and harassed them in an attempt to make them informants.
The men claim security service agents said they would face detention abroad if they did not agree to work for MI5. Three of the men said they were detained at foreign airports while on family holidays last year.
The men, who all work with disadvantaged youths at the Kentish Town Community Organisation, also allege that on their return they were accused of links to Islamic terrorism and that the threat of detention would be lifted only if they became informants.
When the men refused, they said they were then subjected to intimidating phone calls and threats. Adydarus Elmi, a 23-year-old cinema worker from Camden who alleges similar treatment, claims an MI5 agent told him: “If you do not want anything to happen to your family you will co-operate.”
The men, none of whom has been arrested for a terror-related offence, have complained to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which oversees the work of the security services.
Labour MP Frank Dobson said some of the methods used by MI5 “may be counter-productive”.
Reader views (13)
They also use organised stalking which involves using police informers to stalk and harass Somalis. I know personally of two who have been stalked for four years and third whom I heard went back to Hergeisa to get away from this.
Police informers in London consist of other ethnic minority communities penetrated by MI5 and are used to undermine and inform on their own communities. Because the authorities in the UK consider the Somali community to be insular and quiet community, they feel that there maybe something going on such as terrorist plots.
Further still, the objective of harvesting MI5 informers from the Somali community, controlled through duress, is about using them to ultimately access Somali oil and gas ahead of any potential Chinese, Russian or Indian interests in future.
- T. Huggles, London, 24/05/2009 23:25
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Might I remind the glib Mr. Paddy Mac of Kilburn that it wasn't so long ago that his own neighbours were treated in a similar manner for the obviously abominable crime of being Irish. How quickly some forget.
- Dr. Jonathan Glover, St. John's Wood, 21/05/2009 15:57
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I was the subject of the same threat from Scotland Yard 10 years ago even if it was me who were pushing them to take ations against the danger of the radicalism from terrorists suspects in a certain mosque...Many officers of the security services are simply arrogant and uncompetant with no common sense at all...
- Fab Bro, london, uk, 21/05/2009 15:25
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And this is how they thwart terrorism, no sympathy here, just glad MI5 are doing there job.
- Nick Nack Paddy Mac, Kilburn, London UK, 21/05/2009 15:10
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It is the work of the MI5 to do this - but who monitors them to see what their agenda may be. We shouldn't laugh because it could be us next and who will look out for us. I believe this is called insitutional racism.
- Andrew Robertson, London, 21/05/2009 13:33
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Choo choo, choo choo.........
Can you hear it?
It's the compensation gravy train on its way again.
And no it's not run by Virgin or WAGN, it's all of us the UK taxpayer.
- P Staker, London, 21/05/2009 13:29
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They'll be asking for damages next,they all start of making complaints about so called mistreatment and then ask for damages
- Linda, italy, 21/05/2009 12:34
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They'll be asking for damages next,I always thought the secret services worked like that and can see no wrong in it.
- Linda, italy, 21/05/2009 12:30
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HA HA!
Well...isn't that what all security services do?
And excuse me, but I'm glad to hear that MI5 are doing their job!
- Ml, London UK, 21/05/2009 12:29
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MI5 are a secret security service designed to protect this country by covert means, what were we expecting, flowers and chocolates?
Sib, the difference in the analogy you use is that our security services and military are at the beck and call of a democratically elected government - they don't keep a dictatorship in power by force and intimidation. They work for the country as a whole, not against it.
- John, London, 21/05/2009 12:19
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By that rational people of UK should not mind if Mugabe regime does the same in Zimbabwe, securiry forces using intimidation to get what they want, oh hang on that IS what they do and guess what Uk not happy. Lets get over ourslves shall we.
- Sib, swindon, uk, 21/05/2009 12:01
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Sorry for the people who were harassed but quite frankly I'm relieved to hear that MI5 are 'out there' doing this kind of thing - albeit seemingly a bit clumsily.
- Real, London, 21/05/2009 10:53
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Is this not how you would expect MI5 to act?
Frank Dobson has to say that in the PC times we live in, rather lame really. MI5 must think these people know something before they are approached thus they are they can not be sweetness and light, need to start getting tough and allow MI5 to do a very difficult job
- Gary, Brentwood, 21/05/2009 10:41
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