Cameron blasts terrorism strategy

SLG · Cameron blasts terrorism strategy

Cameron blasts terrorism strategy
CATHERINE MacLEOD and DEBORAH SUMMERS

The political consensus in the wake of the alleged jets bomb plot was shattered yesterday when Conservative leader David Cameron attacked the government's counter terrorism strategy.
As police revealed details of another arrest, Mr Cameron said the government was not doing enough to protect national security or fight Islamic extremism.
But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott hit back, accusing Mr Cameron of playing politics with terrorism and undermining national unity.
The row came as it emerged thousands of bags have gone missing at British airports since the security alert began.
The largest carrier British Airways said 10,000 bags checked in by its customers were missing, half of them still piled up at airports waiting to be reunited with their owners.
Meanwhile, Scotland Yard disclosed last night that a 25th person had been arrested in the Thames Valley area over the alleged plot. The person was held at 12.55pm yesterday on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and remains in custody at a Thames Valley police station. A total of 24 people are now in custody.
News of the latest arrest came as Muslim MPs spoke out against reported plans to introduce airport security screening – or "passenger profiling" – on ethnic and religious grounds after meeting Mr Prescott. Labour MP Shahid Malik warned such screening would "unduly antagonise the overwhelming majority of Muslims".
Mr Cameron used a specially-convened press conference in London to attack the government.
Wanting to inflict maximum political damage on Gordon Brown, Tony Blair's most likely successor, the Tory leader condemned the Chancellor's decision to freeze Home Office funding. He also called for intercept evidence to be allowed in courts, tougher action to deport preachers of hate as well and the enforcement of existing anti-terror laws. Mr Cameron said: "They have done things that they should not have done, like freezing the Home Office budget for the next three years.
"Then there are things they have not done which they simply must do, like making intercept evidence available in court. Then there are the things they said they would do which they have not done, like following through on the Prime Minister's 12-point security plan."
Mr Prescott said the intervention beggared belief. "At a time when we should all stand united in the face of alleged terrorist threats, he seeks to undermine that unity," he said.
The Treasury accused the Tory leader of playing politics with the terror threat, but Mr Cameron, who is unlikely to have made such an intervention without reference to a focus group, was unrepentant.
Muslim MPs meeting Mr Prescott warned the government that the UK's foreign policy was being exploited by extremists to brainwash young Muslims. They also expressed anger over reported plans to introduce "passenger profiling" at airports.
Speaking to The Herald after the meeting in Whitehall, Mohammed Sarwar, Glasgow Central MP, said: "I told the Deputy Prime Minister bluntly that not only the Muslim community but members of the Labour Party and community groups did not support the foreign policy. I told him we need to win the hearts and minds of people by supporting an independent foreign policy."
Pakistan last night said it may extradite Rashid Rauf, the Briton arrested over the alleged London terrorist plot.
Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said London has made no request for his extradition. She added: "We do not have any extradition treaty but yes, because he is a British national, the possibility of his extradition remains there."

http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/68036.html