Prescott lets slip that some suspects won't face serious charges (UK)

[donsu]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/16/nterror216.xml


John Prescott let slip yesterday that some of the 24 people arrested last week over the alleged transatlantic terror plot will not face serious charges.

The Deputy Prime Minister made the admission during talks with Labour's Muslim MPs on how best to tackle Islamic extremism. During the 90-minute meeting, Mr Prescott briefed the MPs that the police only had enough evidence to bring serious charges against some suspects but not others.

His comments are likely to infuriate officers involved in the huge investigation into the alleged plans to detonate bombs on flights. They came as the police made a further arrest in the Thames Valley area under the Terrorism Act 2000. Concern had already been voiced about Government interference after the Treasury last week published the names of 19 suspects whose assets had been frozen after the arrests.

-snip-

Neil Gerrard, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, who also attended yesterday's meeting, confirmed that Mr Prescott had briefed them about the investigation. "I would be surprised if everyone arrested was charged," he said. A huge operation is still under way in connection with the investigation. Anti-terrorism police officers have so far raided 46 residential and business premises in London, the West Midlands and Thames Valley.
-snip-
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are we surprised

no

[Straight Shooter]

1. I wonder how much of that has to do with the rush to arrest.

This is much more serious than the Miami 7, but now it looks like the investigation was seriously compromised by the insistence of bush to arrest immediately.