SpainConnection

From 911Encyclopedia:

One of the few connections, which suggested a possible link between spanish terror cells and associates of Bin Laden. One of them is Abu Qatada. Abu Qatada and his family is secretly moved to a safe house by the British government where he is being lodged, fed and clothed by the government, and is still there. "The deal is that Abu Qatada is deprived of contact with extremists in London and Europe but can't be arrested or expelled because no one officially knows where he is," says a source, whose claims were corroborated by French authorities. The British are doing this to avoid a "hot potato" trial. [Time, 7/7/02] A British official says "we wouldn't give an awful lot of credence" to the story. [Guardian, 7/8/02] Qatada has already been sentenced to death in abstentia in Jordan, and is wanted in the US, Spain, France and Algeria as well. [Guardian, 2/14/02] In November (2002), while Qatada was still living openly in Britain, a Spanish judge expressed disbelief that Qatada hadn't been arrested already. Qatada has been connected to a Spanish al-Qaeda cell that may have met with Atta (see July 8-19, 2001). [Observer, 11/25/01] http://www.geocities.com/spdster2003/timeline16.html Abu Qatada in an June 2002 interview with CBS Canada: CBC: In Canada we have many Algerians. I'm told that many Algerians consider you to be the spiritual father of the Armed Islamic Group GIA from Algeria. Why would they say that? Abu Qatada: This accusation is being repeated. I was told that I am the spiritual father for Algeria and then for Al Qaeda. It looks like this accusation of being the spiritual father is a new accusation practiced by the security systems because they do not have any tangible or organizational links between any of these organizations and me. ...First of all, there is no group that belongs to me. I am a Muslim who deals with all Muslims and there is no organization between me and any other group. But I think that the future will produce to the Western nations people and Muslims who are more violent than the ones existing now. The West will lament us because we were more tolerant in our dealing with them. It is in the best interest of the West if such generation didn't come to being because of unjust and coercive practices. CBC: We spoke earlier about your hatred to America. What was your reaction to the events of 9/11? Did you think America got what was coming to them? Abu Qatada: I was surprised by this action, and I don't think, until now, that a Muslim did it; therefore we cannot judge an absent person. We should bring the person who carried out this act and judge him after asking him about what he did. Until now, America did not ask itself "why is this happening to us?" http://www.cbc.ca/national/news/recruiters/qatada_interview.html