Rift between security agencies?

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, OCT. 16. Though several European countries are encouraging security and police agencies to co-ordinate with their counterparts in other European countries and in the U.S. in the campaign against terrorism, tensions have cropped up between agencies.

Some German police officers were reportedly ``very annoyed'' with the approach and attitude of senior FBI officers stationed in the country, which is now emerging as the favourite ``hide-out'' of suspected terrorists from West Asia. It is now revealed that some of them had entered Germany in the early Nineties, travelling on to the U.S. after taking a few flying lessons.

German police officers are reported to be sore that since the September 11 attacks, FBI officers have refused to share information with them. Key terrorists stayed at apartments in Hamburg and used it as their base. German and American investigators believe that three of the hijackers had lived in Hamburg. FBI officers have reportedly even been posing as journalists to gather evidence and this has irked the German police officers who feel such undercover activities destabilised their work.

U.S. diplomats in Berlin deny that there are any tensions between the security agencies. The German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder's office has appealed to German agencies to show ``greater engagement''. On the pan-European front, governments have launched efforts to track down terrorist finances. Several European countries have now stepped up investigations into companies and individuals mentioned in an American list of alleged associates of Osama Bin Laden. The U.S. list published last Friday covers 21 groups and individuals, including businesses and charitable institutions that act as a front for Al-Qaeda.

The Islamic culture institute in Milan has been described as the ``main Al-Qaeda station house in Europe'' by the U.S. intelligence but the director of the institute has refuted the allegation. The Right-wing Northern League, which is part of the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Silvio Berlusconi's Government has demanded that the institute be closed down.

Several European countries are in the process of introducing sweeping anti-terrorism legislation. Governments are also working on creating special task forces to track down terrorist finances.

There is unease in liberal quarters about introducing drastic legislation which might violate human rights.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Anti-terror agenda may overshadow APEC meet
Next     : All not well between Saudi Arabia, U.S.