45 doctors planned terror raids in chatroom

A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist chat site, media reported on Thursday. Police found details of the discussions on a site run by a three-strong "cyber-terrorist" gang at the home of Younis Tsouli (23), in south-east London on Wednesday.

The three "cyber terrorists"—Tariq Daou, Tsouli and Waseem Mughal—are facing lengthy jail sentences after admitting to using the Net to spread al-Qaeda propaganda, inciting Muslims to a violent holy war and to murder non-believers. They are the first defendants in Britain to be convicted of inciting terrorist murder on the Internet.

Tsouli had come to the UK with his family from Morocco in 2001.Tariq Daour is a biochemistry student and Waseem Mughal, a law student.

One message read: "We are 45 doctors and we are determined to undertake jihad and take the battle inside America. "The first target which will be penetrated by nine brothers is the naval base which gives shelter to the ship Kennedy," The Daily Telegraph reported.

This is thought to have been a reference to the USS John F Kennedy, which is often at Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida. The message discussed targets at the base, adding: "These are clubs for naked women which are opposite the First and Third units."

The three had close links with the al-Qaeda in Iraq, believed they had to fight against a global conspiracy to wipe out Islam and waged "cyber-jihad" on websites run from their bedrooms.

Tsouli promoted the ideology of Osama bin Laden via email and radical web sites. He said in one message he was "very happy" about the July 7 bombings in London in 2005.

The trio created chat forums to direct willing fighters to Iraq and discuss murderous bomb attacks around the world, police alleged. Films of hostages and beheadings were also found.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Google Maps leads Chinese man abducted 23 yrs ago back home

Pak Army Chief Kayani meets Nawaz Sharif

US treasury dept knew of IRS inquiry in 2012: Official

Amend law to include Sikhs, Hindus in hate crime victims: US to FBI