Boris Johnson joins calls for tougher controls over terror suspects as the search for Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed intensifies.
Mohamed was last seen on Friday afternoon
The Metropolitan Police, MI5 and the UK Border Agency have combined forces to find a terror suspect who escaped from his government minders after changing into a burka.
Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed disappeared on Friday while visiting the An-Noor Masjid and Community Centre in Acton, west London.
The 27-year-old, who is subject to a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure (Tpim) order restricting his movements, arrived at the centre in Western-style clothing at 10am.
He was last seen at 3.15pm that day.
Mohamed is understood to have links to the Somali-based al Shabaab militant group, which carried out the attack on Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.
Police have issued an image of him leaving the community centre disguised as a woman.
However, doubts have been raised as to whether it is actually Mohamed as he is 5ft 8 (1.72cm) tall and of medium build and the figure in the picture is quite burly.
Mohamed's escape has been a huge embarrassment for Home Secretary Theresa May, who has insisted he does not pose "a direct threat" to members of the public.
Mohamed is the second terror suspect under a Tpim order to go missing. The first, Ibrahim Magag, made off in a taxi on Boxing Day in 2012 and has never been caught.
Along with 28-year-old Magag and others, Mohamed is thought to be a member of a UK-based network that raises money and provides equipment for terrorism.
London Mayor Boris Johnson has joined calls for tougher controls over terror suspects after Mohamed's "absurd" escape.
Mr Johnson said: "Plainly (Tpims) are not working in the way we would like them to work in the sense that this guy Mohamed was able to flee in absurd circumstances.
"If a fellow can get into a burka and evade his invigilators in the way that Mohamed has done, then we clearly need to look at how it is working.
"Depending on how much of a risk you are deemed to pose, you should be deprived of contact with networks that might help you with any end you desire.
"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."
On the day of his disappearance, Mohamed was cleared at the Old Bailey of tampering with his electronic tag, it is understood.
[http://news.sky.com/story/1164607/burka-terror-suspect-mohamed-hunt-stepped-up]
www.iactts.com
No comments:
Post a Comment