This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8414254.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Film of 'terror targets' released Film of 'terror targets' released
(about 1 hour later)
A suspected al-Qaeda gang was caught after a man was spotted filming potential targets on a mobile phone, police have said. Police have released footage which they say was made by a suspected terror cell filming potential targets.
Police believe the Algerian gang was conducting reconnaissance for a plot to target train stations in London and shopping centres in England and Wales. They believe an Algerian gang was conducting reconnaissance for a plot to target train stations in London.
Five men were arrested last year after one man was caught filming and acting suspiciously at Liverpool Street. It was released amid a continuing row with photographers over the rights to take pictures in public places.
The footage was released to explain why police may stop people who are filming. Previous terror cases have involved potential bombers who filmed targets, but campaigners say terror laws are being use to harass photographers.
City of London Police, who led the investigation, said the filming was an example of "hostile reconnaissance". City of London Police released the footage of what it called "hostile reconnaissance" to illustrate why police may stop photographers.
It released footage recorded on one man's mobile phone as he travelled around London. The footage was recorded on a man's mobile phone as he travelled around London in July, 2008. Five men were arrested after he was caught filming and acting suspiciously at Liverpool Street station, police said.
Jailed Shopping centres
It showed him examining Oxford Circus, Mornington Crescent and Camden Town Tube stations. He had filmed underground maps and lifts, CCTV cameras, entrances and exits of stations. The footage showed him examining Oxford Circus, Mornington Crescent and Camden Town Tube stations. He had filmed underground maps and lifts, CCTV cameras, entrances and exits of stations.
Extensive footage was also recorded at Liverpool Street railway station and at the Broadgate Circle shopping and restaurant plaza.Extensive footage was also recorded at Liverpool Street railway station and at the Broadgate Circle shopping and restaurant plaza.
During the video, the man gave a muttered running commentary in an obscure North African dialect.
A translator said the man said at one point: "There are cameras there, there are cameras everywhere."
The 7/7 bombers conduct reconaissance a week before the attacks
Police discovered the gang also visited shopping centres in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Bluewater in Kent, and Bridgend, south Wales.Police discovered the gang also visited shopping centres in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Bluewater in Kent, and Bridgend, south Wales.
Two men were subsequently convicted of a huge mobile phone and luxury goods fraud scam and deported after serving prison sentences.Two men were subsequently convicted of a huge mobile phone and luxury goods fraud scam and deported after serving prison sentences.
The 7/7 bombers conduct reconaissance a week before the attacks
The police said the CPS had decided there was sufficient evidence to bring terrorism charges, but it was not in the public interest because they would have received the same sentence as for fraud.The police said the CPS had decided there was sufficient evidence to bring terrorism charges, but it was not in the public interest because they would have received the same sentence as for fraud.
Police believe the men may have been a fundraising and research arm of an al Qaeda-linked group in North Africa.Police believe the men may have been a fundraising and research arm of an al Qaeda-linked group in North Africa.
Det Supt Chris Greany, head of counter-terrorism at City of London Police, said: "Hostile reconnaissance footage is a tradable commodity within terrorist circles.Det Supt Chris Greany, head of counter-terrorism at City of London Police, said: "Hostile reconnaissance footage is a tradable commodity within terrorist circles.
"The actual attack team do not have to expose themselves to the risk of being disrupted. We want to set a balance between the challenges of policing and legitimate photography by tourists and the media.""The actual attack team do not have to expose themselves to the risk of being disrupted. We want to set a balance between the challenges of policing and legitimate photography by tourists and the media."
The footage was released following criticism of police for stopping and searching people taking photographs at tourist hotspots.
It has been claimed police are misusing terrorism legislation to target tourists, photographers and the media in busy public places.
Police discovered that the 7 July 2005 London suicide bombers carried out reconnaissance of the Underground trains network prior to their attacks, one of the trips being a week before they struck.Police discovered that the 7 July 2005 London suicide bombers carried out reconnaissance of the Underground trains network prior to their attacks, one of the trips being a week before they struck.
Law 'misused'
The National Union of Journalists and the British Press Photographers' Association claim counter-terrorism laws are being used to harass photographers.
In some cases photographers' images are deleted or individuals told photography of public buildings and officers in uniform is banned.
A demonstration over the issue took place in February, with hundreds of photographers gathering outside New Scotland Yard.
They said an amendment to the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 could be interpreted as banning photographs of police and certain places and leave them open to arrest.
Shami Chakrabarti, of Liberty, said the law has "always been an accident waiting repeatedly to happen" and Parliament should step in to revise it.