Report: Al-Qaeda Terror Suspect Arrested After Crossing Olympics Park 5 Times

A suspected terrorist thought to be planning a suicide bombing was arrested after authorities learned he had crossed the Olympic Park five times, according to The Telegraph. The British newspaper reports this is not the suspect’s first run in with the MI5:

The 24 year-old has previously tried to get to Afghanistan, allegedly for terrorist training, and is suspected of fighting for the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab, which has been responsible for thousands of deaths, including those of Western aid workers. He is accused of trying to recruit other Britons to its cause.

A Home Office lawyer warned after his discovery in the Olympic area that the man - known as CF - wanted to “re-engage in terrorism-related activities, either in the UK or Somalia” and is “determined to continue to adhere to his Islamist extremist agenda”.

His detention is the most serious security alert yet to hit the Olympic Park.

With only three weeks until the opening of the Olympic Games, British authorities have stepped up monitoring of suspicious activities in order to prevent any terrorist acts during the sporting event.

News of this latest detention comes just one day after security officials arrested a 22-year-old woman suspected of engaging terrorist activities. She was the seventh person detained since last Thursday on suspicion of planning a major terrorist attack. Prior to that, two Muslim converts were arrested in London who authorities believe were plotting an attack on the Olympic canoeing site.

The Telegraph reports that Olympic Park which is located in east London “will be protected by the largest peacetime security operation ever seen in Britain when the event begins on July 27.”

CF was apprehended after he had violated restrictions on his movement imposed by legal orders known as “Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (Tpim).” He was wearing a monitoring device tracked by GPS which revealed his presence on five occasions at the Olympic Park from which he had been ordered to stay away.  Sources tell The Telegraph that he is being charged with five breaches between April and May of the order which barred him from using the London Overground rail which passes through the center of Olympic Park.

The paper describes CF’s extensive file:

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has compiled a case against CF which says he attempted to travel to Afghanistan to fight jihad and take part in suicide operations in 2008.

He was prosecuted in Britain but absconded during his trial in June 2009 and fled to Somalia. In his absence he was acquitted of any crime.

Officials claim CF, who comes from a large family of Somali origin from north London, attended a terrorist training camp and fought alongside jihadis from the al-Qaeda group al-Shabaab.

British authorities tell the paper that CF is linked to a group of six other British citizens trained by the former leader of al Qaeda in Somalia Saleh Nabhan who before he was killed in 2009 by Navy SEALs was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.