London Mayor Boris Johnson has called for tougher controls over terror suspects after the "absurd" escape of Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed, who managed to evade surveillance by changing into a burqa.
Boris Johnson dismisses calls for burqa ban
Boris Johnson has questioned whether burqas should be allowed in British classrooms and courts, but stopped short of suggesting a ban altogether.
The debate into the full-face veil has reopened after terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed managed to evade surveillance by leaving a London mosque wearing a burqa that covered his face and body.
"I certainly think it's a bit much to ask teachers or judges to deal with people who have their faces covered," he told listeners to his regular phone-in on LBC.
"That seems to me to not be how we do things in this country and it is absolutely reasonable to say that face veils, burkas, whatever, should not be acceptable in state-funded classrooms in this country and nor should they be acceptable in the system of British justice."
However, the London Mayor stated his belief that authorities should not ban items of dress altogether, and suggested that you "might as well ban balaclavas and ski masks" if the burqa was banned.
Calls for tougher terror controls after 'absurd' escape
London Mayor Boris Johnson has called for tougher controls over terror suspects after the "absurd" escape of Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed who managed to evade surveillance by wearing a burqa.
Mr Johnson told LBC radio that it was clear that Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpims) were not working as they should if a "fellow can get into a burqa and evade his invigilators".
The mayor said it was clear to him - though unconfirmed by the police - that Mohamed had been able to contact supporters to help him escape, despite being under the order.
"This guy Mohamed was obviously helped to escape. I don't believe for a minute that he did it on his own. He was in contact with people who are sympathisers."
"Characters such as him - and even if he doesn't pose an immediate threat to this country, it is plain he is a danger - should be more closely invigilated than they currently are and I am sure that is a point that Theresa May will be taking up very actively."
Mr Johnson blamed "coalition politics" for watering down the previous control order system and urged Home Secretary Theresa May to be tough with the Liberal Democrats over the policy.
Terror suspect 'cleared of tag tamper on day of escape'
Terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed is believed to have been cleared of tampering with his electronic monitoring tag on the day he went missing from a mosque, the Press Association reported
It is understood the 27-year-old Somalian Mohammed was cleared at the Old Bailey of tampering with his tag on the day he disappeared, disguised as a burqa-wearing woman to escape surveillance.
The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation had revealed that criminal charges were dropped on Friday against a number of Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpim) subjects for allegedly tampering with security tags, but did not specify whether Mohamed was one of those involved.
The Crown Prosecution Service would not comment on named individuals but said in a statement that the cases of three Tpim subjects had recently been discontinued. There were outstanding alleged offences against one of the three, known as CC, who is due to stand trial in April, they added.
[http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-11-03/terror-suspect-mohammed-ahmed-mohamed-hunted-by-police/]
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