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Lee Rigby’s Killers Had Figured in Inquiries, but Report Calls Response ‘Inadequate’ Lee Rigby’s Killers Had Figured in Inquiries, but Report Calls Response ‘Inadequate’
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — The two men who killed a soldier on a London street last year had figured in seven investigations by British intelligence agencies, and one of the men had threatened online to commit just such a murder five months before the attack, lawmakers said in a report issued on Tuesday. LONDON — The two men who killed a soldier on a London street last year had figured in seven investigations by British intelligence agencies, and one of the men had threatened online to commit just such a murder five months before the attack, lawmakers said in a report issued on Tuesday.
A parliamentary committee investigating the brutal killing of the soldier, Lee Rigby, in May 2013 listed numerous failings by intelligence agencies but nonetheless concluded that given what was known at the time, they were not in a position to prevent the murder. A parliamentary committee investigating the killing of the soldier, Lee Rigby, in May 2013 listed numerous failings by intelligence agencies but nonetheless concluded that given what was known at the time, they had not been in a position to stop the murder.
It did, however, blame an unnamed American technology company for failing to tell the British authorities about the online threats, which came to light only after the murder. Facebook, which was identified by British news media outlets as the company in question, declined to comment on the case, but issued a statement saying it took measures to prevent its services from being used by terrorists. It did, however, blame an unidentified American technology company for failing to tell the British authorities about the online threats, which came to light only after the murder. Facebook, which was identified by British news outlets as the company in question, declined to comment on the case but issued a statement saying it took measures to prevent its services from being used by terrorists.
The attackers, Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 23, were sentenced to life in prison in February for killing Mr. Rigby, who was run over by a car in broad daylight and then stabbed to death in the Woolwich area of southeast London. Mr. Adebowale was ordered to serve a minimum of 45 years and Mr. Adebolajo was given the full life term. The attackers, Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 23, were sentenced in February for killing Mr. Rigby, who was run over by a car in broad daylight and then stabbed to death in the Woolwich area of southeast London. Mr. Adebowale was ordered to serve a minimum of 45 years, and Mr. Adebolajo was given a full life term.
Tuesday’s parliamentary report ignited a political debate over the responsibility of technology companies to aid spy agencies at a time when the British government is seeking more powers over them. Tuesday’s report ignited a political debate over the responsibility of technology companies to aid spy agencies at a time when the British government is seeking more powers over them.
Speaking before Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron said Internet company networks “are being used to plot murder and mayhem,” and it was their “social responsibility” to act. Speaking before Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron said that Internet companies’ networks were “being used to plot murder and mayhem,” and that it was their “social responsibility” to act.
Mr. Cameron also said Britain would spend an additional 130 million pounds — about $204 million — over two years to try to prevent “lone wolf” terror attacks. Mr. Cameron also said Britain would spend an additional 130 million pounds, or about $204 million, over two years to try to prevent “lone wolf” terrorist attacks.
After reviewing hundreds of secret documents, the parliamentary committee reported that the two attackers had, between them, appeared in seven different investigations by British agencies, and criticized delays, errors and the agencies’ failure to follow proper procedures and record decisions. After reviewing hundreds of secret documents, the parliamentary committee reported that the two attackers had, between them, appeared in seven inquiries by British agencies, and it criticized delays, errors and the agencies’ failure to follow procedures and record decisions.
Mr. Adebolajo was a high priority for the British domestic intelligence agency MI5 during two investigations, the report said, though intrusive monitoring of him ended about a month before the murder. The investigations revealed no evidence that an attack had been planned, it said.Mr. Adebolajo was a high priority for the British domestic intelligence agency MI5 during two investigations, the report said, though intrusive monitoring of him ended about a month before the murder. The investigations revealed no evidence that an attack had been planned, it said.
The report also pointed to failings by British intelligence services in monitoring Mr. Adebolajo after his arrest in Kenya in 2010, where he had been detained because it was believed that he was trying to travel to Somalia to join the Shabab militant Islamic group. The response of the British intelligence services was “inadequate,” the committee said. A significant number of Britons are thought to have traveled to Iraq and Syria to join militants there.The report also pointed to failings by British intelligence services in monitoring Mr. Adebolajo after his arrest in Kenya in 2010, where he had been detained because it was believed that he was trying to travel to Somalia to join the Shabab militant Islamic group. The response of the British intelligence services was “inadequate,” the committee said. A significant number of Britons are thought to have traveled to Iraq and Syria to join militants there.
The report said Mr. Adebolajo had claimed that during his detention he was mistreated by Kenyan authorities, beaten and threatened with electrocution and rape. The report said Mr. Adebolajo had claimed that during his detention, he was mistreated by the Kenyan authorities, beaten and threatened with electrocution and rape.
“They failed to investigate his allegations of mistreatment,” the report said, adding that the agencies did not grant him “sufficient priority upon his return to the U.K.” and did not seem to take the claims seriously.“They failed to investigate his allegations of mistreatment,” the report said, adding that the agencies did not grant him “sufficient priority upon his return to the U.K.” and did not seem to take the claims seriously.
The report concluded, “Given what the agencies knew at the time, they were not in a position to prevent the murder” of Mr. Rigby, who was a fusilier, a type of infantryman.The report concluded, “Given what the agencies knew at the time, they were not in a position to prevent the murder” of Mr. Rigby, who was a fusilier, a type of infantryman.
However, the report highlighted an online exchange in December 2012 between Mr. Adebowale and an extremist overseas, in which Mr. Adebowale expressed his intent to kill a soldier.However, the report highlighted an online exchange in December 2012 between Mr. Adebowale and an extremist overseas, in which Mr. Adebowale expressed his intent to kill a soldier.
At the time, the American technology company had disabled eight of Mr. Adebowale’s accounts because of online comments, some of which suggested terrorist intent, the report said. But not all of his accounts were disabled, and the company did not inform the British intelligence agencies. At the time, the American technology company had disabled eight of Mr. Adebowale’s accounts because of online comments, some of which suggested terrorist intent, the report said. But not all of his accounts were disabled, and the company did not inform British intelligence.
“The party which could have made a difference was the company on whose platform the exchange took place,” the report said. “However, this company does not appear to regard itself as under any obligation to ensure that its systems identify such exchanges, or to take action or notify the authorities when its communications services appear to be used by terrorists.”“The party which could have made a difference was the company on whose platform the exchange took place,” the report said. “However, this company does not appear to regard itself as under any obligation to ensure that its systems identify such exchanges, or to take action or notify the authorities when its communications services appear to be used by terrorists.”
“There is therefore a risk that, however unintentionally, it provides a safe haven for terrorists to communicate within,” it added.“There is therefore a risk that, however unintentionally, it provides a safe haven for terrorists to communicate within,” it added.
The report said none of the major American companies it had approached proactively monitor and review suspicious content or believe that they must comply with British warrants. The report said that none of the major American companies it had approached proactively monitored and reviewed suspicious content or believed they must comply with British warrants.
Technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo and Twitter, “need to play their part,” Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee, said at a news conference after the publication of the report.Technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo and Twitter, “need to play their part,” Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee, said at a news conference after the publication of the report.
Mr. Rifkind said he was unable to name the company that had hosted Mr. Adebowale’s conversation because information about the exchange had been provided in confidence to British intelligence agencies by a source whom he did not name. Mr. Rifkind said he could not name the company that had hosted Mr. Adebowale’s conversation because information about it had been given in confidence to British intelligence agencies by a source he did not name.
Responding to a BBC report that it was the company responsible, Facebook said it did not comment on individual cases but was “horrified by the vicious murder” of Mr. Rigby. “Facebook’s policies are clear: we do not allow terrorist content on the site and take steps to prevent people from using our service for these purposes,” it said in a statement. Responding to a BBC report that it was the company responsible, Facebook said it did not comment on individual cases but was “horrified by the vicious murder” of Mr. Rigby. “Facebook’s policies are clear: We do not allow terrorist content on the site and take steps to prevent people from using our service for these purposes,” it said in a statement.
In a statement issued by Cage, an advocacy group that says it opposes the war on terror, Jeremiah Adebolajo, brother of Michael Adebolajo, said it was “opportunistic” to use the report to expand the scope of online monitoring. In a statement issued by Cage, an advocacy group that opposes the war on terror, Jeremiah Adebolajo, brother of Michael Adebolajo, said it was “opportunistic” to use the report to expand the scope of online monitoring.
“This report is nothing more than a distraction from the motives behind the attack and a way to put a particular segment of British society under further pressure and surveillance,” the statement said.“This report is nothing more than a distraction from the motives behind the attack and a way to put a particular segment of British society under further pressure and surveillance,” the statement said.