International   

Our citizens not involved in Mumbai attacks: U.K.

LONDON: While British security agencies were on Saturday investigating the possibility of any U.K. “connection” to the Mumbai terror attacks, the government insisted that there was, as yet, no evidence that any Briton or person of British origin was involved.

The Foreign Office told The Hindu the Indian authorities themselves had now said that there was no evidence that Britons were behind the attacks.

“We’ve been speaking to the Indian authorities at a high level. They have said there is no evidence that any of the attackers was British,” said a spokesperson.

The claim about a British link was reportedly first made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh, but on Saturday, he told Sky News there was “no authentic evidence” and when asked whether he ruled out the involvement of any British citizen, he said: “Yes.” However, he added the nationality of all the attackers had not yet been fully established. As the media buzzed with speculation with some newspapers suggesting that up to seven Britons — mostly from the predominantly Pakistani immigrant towns of north England — may have been involved, Prime Minister Gordon cautioned against “jumping to conclusions.”

He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but at “no point” did Mr. Singh raise the issue.

“At no point has the Prime Minister of India suggested to me that there is evidence at this stage of any terrorist of British origins, but obviously these are huge investigations that are being done and I think it will be premature to draw any conclusions at all,” said Mr. Brown, reiterating Britain’s “steadfast” support to Indian authorities.

He said the Mumbai attacks underlined the importance of strengthening India-U.K. cooperation in combating terrorism.

“Obviously, when you have terrorists operating in one country, they may be getting support from another country or coming from another country, and it is very important that we strengthen the cooperation between India and Britain in dealing with these instances of terrorist attacks,” he said.

Britain’s Counter-Terrorism Unit rejected speculation that some of the attackers were from Bradford and Leeds where the July 7 London bombings were planned. “At this stage we are not in receipt of any intelligence or information linking the events in India to our area,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, as a team from Scotland Yard flew to Mumbai, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said British detectives would help Indian authorities with investigations into the source of the plot. “In terms of the origins of the attack, the planning of the attack, the groups that were responsible for the attack that is something we are intensely looking at,” he said. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the government would “do anything we can to help Indian authorities through what is obviously a very difficult time.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Our citizens not involved in Mumbai attacks: U.K.
“Al-Qaeda instructors trained attackers”
Nepal to tighten security
Sarkozy: unflinching support to India
Singapore will engage India on Mumbai fallout
Security at Colombo hotels to be strengthened
Saudi King: oil must be $75 per barrel
Canada’s opposition may topple government
Reprieve for stranded Indians in Thailand

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu