Saturday, March 31, 2012

Britain deports two convicted Islamist extremists who were convicted of possessing 'chilling' terror manuals


Britain yesterday managed to boot out two convicted Islamist extremists in a rare victory for common sense.

Christian Emde and Robert Baum, who are both German nationals, were convicted of possessing documents useful to terrorism.

They included a ‘chilling’ article on how to make a bomb.

The pair has been intercepted and arrested by police as they tried to enter the UK at Dover last July.

Plotters: Robert BaumChristian Emde
Plotters: Robert Baum, left, and Christian Emde, right, were found in possession of documents linked terrorism but have now been sent back home

Ministers have been fighting a losing battle to deport a string of international terror suspects – including Al Qaeda hate preacher Abu Qatada.

But, with Germany considered a safe country by the courts, the Home Office was able to put the two extremists on a plane.

Immigration minister Damian Green said: ‘We refuse to tolerate foreign nationals breaking our laws.

    ‘These men were found guilty of committing serious offences and abusing the privilege extended to them as EU citizens of being allowed to come to the UK.

    ‘It is right that they have been swiftly deported and they will not be allowed to return.’

    Emde and Baum had a computer and hard drive with material that has appeared in key trials linked to online radicalisation.

    Judge Peter Rook described the material they had in the possession as ‘chilling reading'.

    Emde admitted four counts of having documents that were likely to be useful for terrorism and was jailed for 16 months. 

    Baum admitted one similar charge and was jailed for 12 months.

    The men were found carrying euros worth £2,467 which Judge Rook said should be paid towards the prosecution costs.

    The documents they were carrying were electronic copies of Inspire magazine, an English publication launched by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

    The magazine was designed to appeal to Western English-speaking recruits to al-Qaeda and its articles are widely available and shared online.

    The authorities are still battling to deport hate preacher Abu Qatada
    Drain on resources: The authorities are still battling to deport hate preacher Abu Qatada
    Emde's articles included 'How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom' which was eight pages of instructions on home-made explosive devices.

    Another article detailed how to modify a car so that it could become the 'ultimate moving machine' for an attack on the 'enemies of Allah' in a city centre.

    The article recommended attaching blades to a truck so that the driver could cause maximum carnage as quickly as possible. 

    Baum's article was an ideological essay called 39 Ways to Participate in Jihad.

    Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse said Emde did not appear to be planning any terrorism himself, but given the amount of material on his hard drive, he did have more than a 'casual interest' in the subject.

    Emde and Baum, both from the town of Solingen in western Germany, have been placed on UK watch lists.

    Should they attempt to re-enter the country, will be refused entry and removed in line with the terms of their deportation orders.

    The saga over Qatada, who Britain has been trying to deport to Jordan for years, shows no sign of ending.

     European judges have ruled he cannot be kicked out in case some of the evidence used against him in a pending terror trial has been obtained by torture.

    The Home Secretary is trying to negotiate assurances from Jordan that he will be properly treated.

     He is currently on a 22-hour curfew, living at an address in Wembley, north London, at taxpayers’ expense.


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