1 1 THE SCOTS TERROR DEN KIT Janice Burns; Exclusive

POLICE found chilling evidence of an Islamic terror cell during last month's raids in Edinburgh, court papers claim.

The seven Algerians now awaiting trial are suspected of plotting major destruction in the capital.

Maps of sites in the city were found in flats linked to the men.

Police discovered a video tape and diagrams linked to Jenners department store in Princes Street. False passports and driving licences were also found at the flats, and bank accounts linked to the men had been set up in a large number of different names.

Officers found al-Qaeda literature, and military training videos with footage of Osama bin Laden giving instructions to his followers. And a large framed photo of the World Trade Centre burning on September 11 took pride of place in one of the men's flats.

The seven suspects were held on December 18 in armed police raids in Edinburgh and London. Anti- terrorist officers had been keeping them under surveillance for four months.

News of the arrests led to fears that an attack on Edinburgh's New Year street party was being planned.

Police played down the alleged threat and kept quiet about the raids.

But details of the evidence found were revealed at a private hearing to decide if the suspects should face trial.

A police insider said: "The police found maps of specific locations in Edinburgh, detailed diagrams, and videos of buildings in the city.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2003

Answers

"There were military training videos featuring Osama Bin Laden, along with a load of false documentation including passports and driving licences.

"There was also literature on al-Qaeda and many, many different bank accounts in many, many different names.

"There was a suggestion that Jenners was a target, but this is not in the summary of evidence.

"Police are convinced there is a network throughout the country which includes Edinburgh."

The suspects first appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Christmas Eve. Security was tight, with a heavy police presence, a helicopter overhead, and strict searches at the court entrance.

The charge sheet at that hearing gave no details of the evidence. It said only that items had been found at various addresses.

It accused the men of breaking Section 57 of the Terrorism Act, which says that "a person commits an offence if he possesses an article in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion that his possession is for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism".

But there was concern that the sheriff would need more information before he could send the men for trial.

And the accused asked for full details of what they were being charged with.

The Record's police source said: "Police had been playing this down because they didn't want to panic people.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2003

"But they were forced to disclose vital evidence to get the men fully committed for trial."

A second pre-trial hearing was held, in private, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Hogmanay. This time, details of the evidence were read, and the seven suspects were given copies before being sent for trial at the High Court at a later date.

The suspects with flats in Edinburgh are Karim Benamghar, 31, and Salah Moullef, 32, both of Albion Road, and Hakim Ziem, 31, of Easter Road.

The others are Abdellah Abdelhafid, 33, and Sofiane Lahamar Hassim Ziem, 29, of London, Mourad Idir Abes, 27, of Oxford, and Ghalem Belhadj, 36, a prisoner.

All are being held at Kilmarnock jail. They are accused of possessing articles which could give rise to suspicion of terrorism, and could face up to 10 years jail if convicted.

It has been claimed that the seven suspects have links to three other men, arrested in London over an alleged plot to mount a gas attack on the Tube.

The men are also thought to be linked to Abu Qatada, a fanatical Islamic cleric believed to be bin Laden's "ambassador in Europe".

Qatada was arrested at a London flat in October and is being held without charge under emergency anti-terror laws.

An eighth Algerian man has appeared separately at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Karim Ziem, 18, of Broughton Road, Edinburgh, is also charged with breaking Section 57 of the Terrorism Act. He made no plea and was held in custody.

The Edinburgh arrests followed a string of warnings that al-Qaeda supporters were planning attacks in Britain and Europe.

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2003

Scotland was never targeted by the IRA, and its people have grown up believing terrorism is a foreign problem. But experts have warned that al-Qaeda does not respect borders and Scots cannot afford to be complacent.

Prime Minister Tony Blair used his New Year message to warn that Britain faces a massive terror threat in 2003.

Talking about global terrorism and the looming war with Iraq, Blair said: "I cannot recall a time when Britain was confronted, simultaneously, by such a range of difficult and, in some cases, dangerous problems."

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2003