Authors: John Mannion
As he sat in front of the TV, he recalled one particular meeting hosted by the cleric – a man he had come to respect for his learned views. The cleric had gathered his students around him as he always did on these occasions. But this time he spoke with even greater passion and emotion than usual.
‘What you must remember about the country in which you live is that, while we refer to Britain as the ‘’Little Satan”, this country was the first global super power. Her influence stretched to the corners of the world. She was a mighty military, industrial and financial power, the likes of which the world had never seen before. Britain ruled over one quarter of the world as a colonial power and controlled the seven seas. Her influence was unsurpassed until the dawn of the ‘’Great Satan”, her offspring, America, and therefore this country must bear the responsibility for many of the world’s evils to this day. She, along with other European Imperial powers, took it upon themselves to redraw the map of the world as they saw fit in an effort to divide and rule over subjugated peoples the world over. Remember, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has described Britain as the most evil and treacherous amongst the Western nations. Britain’s Intelligence assets are a major factor in the ‘’Special Relationship” between America and Britain. Britain’s Intelligence input and the BBC are seen by Islamic leaders as a major source of the continued anti-Islamic posture among the nations of the West. It brings to mind the old Iranian proverb, ‘’If you trip over a pebble, you can be sure it was put there by an Englishman”. Remember also Britain’s involvement in the 1953 coup which deposed the popular elected Prime Minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, and installed the tyrant Shah! When our brothers strike against this country, they are attacking a septic sore on the face of God’s earth. This country is now in its death throes. It is a corrupt, morally bankrupt place. Its leaders are bereft of ideas. Its people have turned to drink, drugs and debauchery to fill the empty void in their soulless bodies. Its leaders have no moral compass and appease our, so-called, more moderate brothers by granting them Sharia Councils to arbitrate on civil disputes within our communities. Banks are establishing facilities to accommodate followers of the Islamic faith. This, my brothers, we must see as the first cracks in the armour of these cowards; the first steps towards victory. The victory and domination of Allah. God’s blessings be upon him, and his teachings, in this godforsaken nation.’
As he recalled this meeting, an epiphany in his life – a Christian would liken it to Paul’s on the road to Damascus – he knew that was the moment he had set out on his road. A road that would lead him to God.
During the summer months of the previous year, Ahmed had finally taken a road. A road chosen by a small percentage of disaffected young British-born Muslims. A road to direct action against the nation of his birth. He had told his parents and sisters that he intended to spend several months in Pakistan doing good works among those stricken by disease and poverty.
The training camp was somewhere in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban and Al Qaeda use this area as a launching pad against neighbouring Afghanistan, and as a training ground for terrorist activities worldwide. It is a crucible of terror. Intelligence reports indicate several thousand British-born Muslims have travelled to Pakistan to undertake terrorist training – many have returned to the UK to plot acts of terror. In the ten years since the Terrorism Act came into force there have been more than two hundred convictions in Britain related to terrorist plots. Seventy-five per cent of major plots in the UK have their roots here. In this region the writ of neither Pakistan nor Afghan government holds sway. The tribal lands stretching along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border are remote, lawless and violent. They have long been a breeding ground for Jihad. Dominated by the Pashtun, also known as Pathans, a people divided into many tribes and clans who are at home either side of the border; a border they see as artificial, effectively created by the British. It is easy to effect a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan from here. The people of the frontier have always been fierce fighters, and their motivation has remained the same, whether they are fighting the British, the Soviets or a Pakistan government. As they see it, they are fighting for their home territory against an invader.
Peshawar, Pakistan’s oldest city, is capital of the Northwest Frontier and gateway to the Khyber Pass. The city has long been a centre for smugglers, drug traffickers, gun runners and Jihadists. The Taliban’s growing influence is apparent everywhere. Women out of doors are completely covered and the billboards are censored. The exit from the western side of the city leads to the tribal areas. In the tribal areas the Taliban’s influence is greatest. Girls’ schools have been closed, and women are allowed outside their homes only with a male relative in attendance. There are punishment floggings and executions of local elders and religious leaders. Taliban checkpoints are everywhere. The terrain in this region can be difficult, and indeed menacing, with Taliban and Al Qaeda training camps and bomb factories dotted both sides of the border. An army can hide in these hills and there are thousands of Taliban hidden away here. It is ideal territory to fight an insurgency campaign, but very difficult to prosecute counter-insurgency operations. As a twist of irony, the area is renowned for its beauty, with high craggy snow peaked mountains rising to more than 18,000 feet. Around the fertile valleys, their sides lined with terraced orchards and fields, there are twisting ravines, foaming rock-strewn torrents, waterfalls and green forests, green meadows and clear lakes. The summers are hot, with 40 degrees Celsius being typical, and the winters ranging from mild to freezing temperatures.
On arrival at the training camp, the recruits were instructed that at no time were they to discuss their backgrounds or anything to do with how they had come to be there. They were never to give their family names, only to use first names. Ahmed and the other new recruits had reached the training camp, via different routes, by early afternoon. Once all had arrived, they assembled for a brief ‘induction’ covering rules and routines. Their training, they were told, would start early the following morning and would be very intense. Then they were dismissed and told to ‘settle in’.
The training, which began next day, was varied and demanding, both mentally and physically. Ahmed and the others learned the motivating factors behind a terror campaign. That a terrorist campaign must bring extensive media coverage; that it should have a destabilising effect on a nation’s economy, its financial institutions, and its political establishment, ideally bringing about oppressive measures by that establishment that impinge on the liberties of the mass of the population. Finally, that it must bring fear into the daily lives of that population. All with the aim of bringing about the changes sought by the perpetrators of these actions. The impetus to bring about a change to the world order was increased for those at the training camp at this time. The Pakistan Army, on its side of the border, had begun a military campaign, after growing pressure from the Americans, to establish the writ of the Pakistan government. On the Afghan side of the border, the Americans and their allies had intensified their operations. The effects of this conflict, going on around them, could be seen and felt inside the training camp. There was a palpable tension in the air and constant activity, over and above anything attributable to a training regime.
For the trainees in the camp, there were daily teachings from the Koran. Emphasis was placed on interpretations from that Holy Book, which could be used to bring the appropriate understanding of its texts into the contexts of the mission the young recruits were about to embark upon. They learned the military tactics and training required to execute effective military operations in a hostile environment. The military aspect of the training would not be entirely unfamiliar to young military recruits the world over! Physical fitness, cleanliness and familiarisation with the use of firearms and explosives. There was additionally training in reconnaissance and counter surveillance tactics.
Ahmed enjoyed the camaraderie of the camp and all aspects of the training. His leadership qualities soon shone through, as did his proficiency in weapons handling and his understanding and use of home-made explosives in IED’s. The explosives used in training were not the sort used by conventional military forces. The terrorist had to make use of readily available materials in his operational environment. The use of TNT, for example, used in mining, was now strictly controlled. They, therefore, used products which could be bought in a local store – weed killer, fertilizer, sugar, batteries. Ahmed learned that a small amount of Semtex could be used to trigger a larger quantity of poorer grade explosives. The use of mobile phones and other remote controls and timers was also explained. The recruits trained in the use of small arms, including the Russian AK47 semi-automatic assault rifle – the terrorist’s weapon of choice worldwide; reliable, simple to operate and maintain, although not tremendously accurate. They learned how to use the Russian RPG 7 (Anti Armour and Bunker Buster) weapon.
‘This, my brothers, is a shoulder-launched, muzzle-loaded, lightweight, one- man operated weapon, which fires rocket propelled grenades and can be fitted with telescopic and night vision sights. This weapon, when used with a PG-7VR charge, can penetrate steel, brickwork and reinforced concrete. It is effective against moving targets at 300 metres, stationary targets at 500 metres and is an excellent close quarter combat weapon.’
This weapon, as Ahmed was later to realise, would be of particular importance in his forthcoming mission.
The final part of the training involved an introduction to the cell structure used in terrorist operations.
‘You will become part of a cell. The cell system is used for security reasons. No member of an individual cell knows any member of another cell. No cell knows anything of the operations that another cell is involved in. The only contact with the organisation you will have outside of your own cell will be with the Regional Commander, who will give your cell leader instructions as and when necessary. These instructions will be communicated by various means. This may be by internet phone calls. These messages are sent via various routers. The messages are divided into packets which are then reassembled at the final destination. They cannot be intercepted. We may also communicate via hidden computer message. Steganography. Messages within messages or photographs. Embedded text and pictures on images posted on publicly available websites. Your cell leader will have the means to decode messages sent via this medium. The Regional Commander will initiate first contact with your cell leader. You may be part of an Attack Cell. Other cells in the organisation are the Reconnaissance Cell and the Planning Cell, which will also acquire and make any explosives you may need and supply weapons. All cells will communicate through the Regional Commander and only the Regional Commander.’
On completion of his training, Ahmed was called to a final meeting with the senior instructor, a middle-aged man with a bushy beard which had started to grey.
‘Brother Ahmed, you have adjusted well to your new calling. You have proved to be a diligent student in all aspects of your training. It has been decided that you will lead an attack cell in an audacious operation which will strike terror into the very heart of the Little Satan. On your return to Britain you will be contacted with further instructions. I must warn you that some time may elapse. Your contact will go by the name Salim. Let me now introduce you to the members of your team.’
Ahmed and the instructor entered an adjoining room where Ahmed was formally introduced to five other young Britons who had, like him, just completed their training.
‘You six will now be returning to Britain. You will form an attack cell, one of many which lie in wait for the call to Jihad. That call will come soon enough my brothers. You must be patient. Your time will come to strike a mortal blow against the Little Satan. You will set up base in Swindon, Wiltshire. Your cell will be led by Brother Ahmed, who will be contacted when the time comes. Allah be praised.’
Ahmed and the members of his attack cell had, like the members of eight other attack cells which had recently undergone training at the camp, been selected, not only for their abilities during training but because none of them had ever been active politically either in their own communities or while at university. They were, therefore, unlikely to have come to the attention of the overstretched British security apparatus. On their return to Britain, these six man cells were instructed to blend in with their local communities and to keep a very low profile, attending religious services but avoiding contact with the more fundamentalist and politically active members of the Islamic community.
On the plane home to Britain, Ahmed felt a warm feeling of satisfaction within himself. He was proud of his recent achievements and buoyed by his newly-acquired skills. He was confident in both his leadership abilities and that he had chosen the right path. However, lurking underneath these positive feelings lay a glimmer of self doubt. He prayed that he would be worthy of his calling and not betray the trust now placed in him.
Ed stood among the desks, surrounded by his team, all of whom had spent many hours diligently viewing the vast amount of CCTV footage which had been delivered to their corner of the open plan office. Ed’s team focused on footage gathered from in and around Regent’s Park Underground Station. Unfortunately the camera at the station entrance was not working. The officers would not be able to see their witness arrive at the station or the arrival of the man who had caused her such concern. It had now been more than 12 hours since the explosion. Barely lifting their eyes from the screens, they were becoming weary, their eyes leaden from the glare of their VDU’s. Much of the footage was unclear. Faces were hidden by headgear and within the throng of jostling passengers. Several individuals matched the description given by the young woman.