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British Police Arrest Former Guantánamo Detainee British Police Arrest Former Guantánamo Detainee
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — The British police said on Tuesday that they had arrested Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, along with three other people from the Midlands region of England on suspicion of terrorism offenses related to the war in Syria, where, intelligence officials say, hundreds of British militants have been drawn to the fight against President Bashar al-Assad.LONDON — The British police said on Tuesday that they had arrested Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, along with three other people from the Midlands region of England on suspicion of terrorism offenses related to the war in Syria, where, intelligence officials say, hundreds of British militants have been drawn to the fight against President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr. Begg, 45, was one of the last Britons held at the naval base in Cuba before his release and return home in early 2005. At the time, lawyers said that he and a fellow detainee, Feroz Abbasi, had been held in solitary confinement for nearly two years. He had been detained in Pakistan in 2002 and had lived in Afghanistan a year earlier when the United States-led war against the Taliban began.Mr. Begg, 45, was one of the last Britons held at the naval base in Cuba before his release and return home in early 2005. At the time, lawyers said that he and a fellow detainee, Feroz Abbasi, had been held in solitary confinement for nearly two years. He had been detained in Pakistan in 2002 and had lived in Afghanistan a year earlier when the United States-led war against the Taliban began.
The West Midlands Police in Birmingham said that Mr. Begg was detained with a 44-year-old woman and her 20-year-old son from the city’s Sparkhill district, along with a 36-year-old man from the nearby Solihull area. The other three detainees were not identified by name.The West Midlands Police in Birmingham said that Mr. Begg was detained with a 44-year-old woman and her 20-year-old son from the city’s Sparkhill district, along with a 36-year-old man from the nearby Solihull area. The other three detainees were not identified by name.
“We can confirm that Moazzam Begg was arrested this morning,” a police statement said. “We are confirming this name as a result of the anticipated high public interest to accredited media.”“We can confirm that Moazzam Begg was arrested this morning,” a police statement said. “We are confirming this name as a result of the anticipated high public interest to accredited media.”
Identifying Mr. Begg does “not imply any guilt,” the statement said. Counterterrorism police were said to be searching the detainees’ homes and to have confiscated vehicles and electronic equipment. Identifying Mr. Begg does “not imply any guilt,” the statement said. Counterterrorism police officers were said to be searching the detainees’ homes and to have confiscated vehicles and electronic equipment.
A senior counterterrorism officer, Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, said that all four arrests were connected and had been made on the basis of intelligence reports. There had been no immediate risk to public safety, the officer said.A senior counterterrorism officer, Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, said that all four arrests were connected and had been made on the basis of intelligence reports. There had been no immediate risk to public safety, the officer said.
“We continue to urge anyone planning to travel to Syria to read the advice issued by the Foreign Office,” the officer said, referring to official guidance to avoid all travel to Syria.“We continue to urge anyone planning to travel to Syria to read the advice issued by the Foreign Office,” the officer said, referring to official guidance to avoid all travel to Syria.
While the British authorities have expressed concern about their nationals fighting with jihadist groups in Syria, Mr. Begg is by far the most prominent of those detained in connection with the war in Syria. The police said that he is suspected of attending a terrorist training camp and of "facilitating terrorism overseas.” While the British authorities have expressed concern about their nationals’ fighting with jihadist groups in Syria, Mr. Begg is by far the most prominent of those detained in connection with the war in Syria. The police said that he was suspected of attending a terrorist training camp and of “facilitating terrorism overseas.”
News of Mr. Begg’s arrest is certain to stir debate among rights activists who opposed his detention at Guantánamo Bay and supported his protestations that he never participated in any form of terrorism. He is currently a director of a nonprofit advocacy group campaigning for the release of mostly Muslim detainees. News of Mr. Begg’s arrest is certain to stir debate among rights activists who opposed his detention at Guantánamo Bay and supported his protestations that he never participated in any form of terrorism. He is currently a director of a nonprofit advocacy group campaigning for the release of detainees, most of them Muslims.