Ryan McGee owned terrorist literature, made a bomb in his bedroom

On Wednesday November 27th the publication of The Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill was launched which outlines measures to tackle “extremists” would-be bombers and place restrictions on British “jihadists” travelling to and from the UK. This coincided with the release of the official Inquiry report into the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale.

Russia Today reported,

“Home Secretary Theresa May outlined the nine principal elements of the bill, which is the seventh major counter-terror law introduced in Britain since 9/11. However, there have been concerns over a number of proposals, as suspects could use loopholes to avoid the measures.

The bill is aimed at tackling the growing threat posed by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) which, according to May, have given “energy and a renewed sense of purpose to subversive Islamist organizations and radical leaders” in Britain. She added that the UK faces a greater terror threat than ever before”

Recently the media highlighted the case of two brothers, Mohommod Nawaz, 30, and Hamza Nawaz, 24, both from Stratford, east London, who were sentenced to four-and-a-half years and three years respectively and who became the first Britons to be jailed for terrorism training in Syria. As the BBC stated,

“they had admitted conspiracy to attend a terrorism training camp in 2013”

However,

“the judge said the men’s “focus” was the regime in Syria rather than attacks in the UK and there was no evidence either man had taken part in fighting”

Cage is an independent advocacy organisation working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror. In its report “Blowback- Foreign Fighters and the threat they pose” Cage pointed out that “that there is no empirical evidence to suggest that blowback from Syria or Iraq will occur in the UK.”

Who is the threat?

Examine the case of Ryan McGee, 20, who previously served with 5th Battalion The Rifles at a UK Base in Germany now jailed for 2 years for constructing a nail bomb containing shrapnel in his bedroom. While there was no evidence produced in court that the two Nawaz brother posed any threat to the UK, ironically, the two brothers received higher sentences than McGee who had moved from the thought to the action phase by actually creating a potentially deadly weapon. Whether he would have gone on to use if not arrested is something we will never know.

We do know that McGee had an obsession with right-wing groups namely, English Defence League (EDL), British National Party (BNP) and Ku Klux Klan (KKK). His reading material included terrorist literature and a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook, containing instructions for the manufacture of explosives. As well as expressing racist comments, he also harbored a desire to, “drag every last immigrant into the fires of hell” (alongside himself) and had watched a video of men being executed under a swastika flag. The fact that he is white probably saved him from being labelled a terrorist. Had he been Muslim the outcome would likely have been very different.

McGee’s home-made bomb contained 181 metal screws and bits of glass

In 2013, Channel 4 posed the question, “Are British soldiers joining the English Defence League?” The answer was yes. The MOD claimed in a statement to the program, that Queens Regulations forbid regular service personnel in uniform taking “any active part in the affairs of any political organisation, party or movement and they are not to participate in political marches or demonstrations”. However Stephen Lennon aka Tommy Robinson claimed at that time, he “received messages of support from every regiment in this country on a weekly basis”. He added,

“our military are trained to fight against Sharia and then when they come home are they supposed to turn that off? They’re trained to fight and battle this. We’re the only ones that dare speak up against Islamist ideology.”

Far right party Britain First are seen to adopt a para-military style, wearing uniforms, training for combat and are known to be recruiting former soldiers. The potential teaming up of men of a similar ideology to McGee with a far-right group could turn out to be a serious threat to the UK creating friction between communities and the potential for violence.

We also know from a Guardian investigation that “Britain’s military police, the Royal Military Police, have started at least 126 investigations into incidents in which British troops are alleged to have killed or injured Afghan civilians since January 2005”. Should we be concerned at how these soldiers will or are behaving once back on home soil? There are numerous examples of returning soldiers terrorizing their own families.

Culverhouse killed his 20 month old daughter

Take the example of Lance Corporal Liam Culverhouse who served in Afghanistan and was said to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when he caused the death of Khloe Abrams his 20 month old daughter. He was given a six year sentence after the toddler was identified as having severe brain damage and fractures to her skull, ribs and limbs.

Then we hear the story of Lynn Adams, highlighted in the Telegraph who was attacked by her husband who also has PTSD. She states,

“one night he was in the mood for an argument. I had to work the next day, so I went to sleep in the spare room. He followed me and suddenly his fist came from nowhere and smashed into my face, breaking all my front teeth”

Her husband Dave (who served a 7 month prison sentence) described himself as being,

“like a ticking time bomb, never knowing when there will be a trigger and I’ll be back in the theatre of war again”

This is indeed very worrying for Lynn but also for the community at large. What if a trigger occured with a member of the public? How far might a former soldier go when temporarily taken back in his mindto a state of fear and combat? Theresa May as usual is putting all her energy into the “Muslim threat” but there does not appear to be any mention of concerns regarding returning soldiers and far-right radicalization or threat to home and society.

Veterans with former British National Party (BNP) Chairman Nick Griffin known for his right wing views

Is Britain supporting terrorism through private security companies?

So is Britain supporting terrorism either in an advisory, training capacity or through sending former soldiers to do the dirty work of alleged terrorist states. Some ex soldiers join private security firms such as G4S around the globe. The company has a history of allegations against employees for both physical and mental abuse of those for whom it provides services including prisons and immigration/ detention centres. Allegations have surfaced in relation to the role of G4S in a prison in a South Africa where inmates claim they had been subjected to electric shocks and forced injections. There are further serious allegations regarding G4S role supporting Israel’s brutal occupation,

“G4S operates and maintains security systems at the Ofer prison, located in the occupied West Bank, and for the Kishon and Moskobiyyeh detention/interrogation facilities, at which human rights organisations have documented systematic torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners, including child prisoners, held in solitary confinement.”

See “G4S must end its complicity in Israel’s abuse of child prisoners” details on following link,

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/g4s-complicity-israel-abuse-child-prisoners

The risk to civilians from those working for private security firms including ex military, often goes unchecked and worse still, actually covered up as I found out when I wrote a report for Barbed Wire Britain on abuse of asylum seekers in the UK under the services of G4S. I recall the case of a terrified asylum seeker who had been handcuffed to be delivered to an airport for deportation and who had his knee hit with a metal wheelclamp so severely he was deemed not fit to fly and airport staff ordered those guarding him to take him directly to hospital.

Let us not forget the death of Angolan deportee Jimmy Mubenga who died under the supervision of three G4S security guards pinned down as he suffocated at the back of a plane.

It is also clear that G4S now have a role in Afghanistan. We know one of the two security guards killed in a recent bombing in Kabul was allegedly Mr Jessiman, a former British soldier who once served with 5 Scots, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was believed to be working for private security firm G4S as a bodyguard looking after the Diplomatic convoy, according to the Daily Mail.

Should we be concerned then that radicalized soldiers with far right tendencies might be travelling abroad under the employment of private security firms putting others at risk? Again we come to the question of monitoring and whether travel restrictions should apply?

Then there are the mercenaries. The Guardian reported on James Hughes, from Reading, Berkshire and Jamie Read from Newmains, north Lanarkshire allegedly working as mercenaries in Rojavs, Syria fighting alongside the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, the YPG defending Kobani. Hughes, a former British infantryman had served in Afghanistan while Read had trained with the French army. Why does Prime Minister David Cameron feel there is a fundamental difference between fighting for the Kurds and joining Isis when both are linked with terrorism.

With the introduction of this new Counter Terrorism and Security Bill, it appears the legislation is likely to be interpreted through parameters which view one group of fighters as acceptable and another group as extremist and terrorists. We have the crazy situation where Muslims returning from fighting in Syria could now be criminalized or made stateless and restrictions placed on movement while former British soldiers are hailed in a positive light with no punishment for serving as mercenaries. Ironically those in the armed services returning from combat zones in a volatile state, suffering PTSD are left with no monitoring, may support far-right paramilitary style groups, be employed by dubious private security firms and find a new career as a mercenary. So to reiterate, who is the threat to society?

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.