Furore over Abu Hamza son's job on Tube

[SO19]

Furore over Abu Hamza son's job on Tube
By Times Online and PA News

London Underground was accused of a security blunder today after it emerged that the convicted terrorist son of the jailed Islamic cleric Abu Hamza managed to get a job on the network.

Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25, who was jailed for three years in Yemen in 1999 for allegedly plotting a bombing campaign, worked for a subcontractor of the network’s maintenance company Tube Lines.

Checks were carried out before he took up the post and it is thought he met the employment requirements as he had no criminal convictions in the UK. He has since left the job.

The Sun newspaper claimed Mostafa, who was convicted in Yemen of plotting to sabotage economic and tourist sites, including British and US targets, was sacked when fellow Tube staff discovered his identity.

A Tube Lines spokesman refused to comment on the reasons for his departure.

Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, criticised the employment of Hamza’s son and said potential employees on the Underground network should be barred if they had any terrorism-related convictions anywhere in the world.

"The key point here is that terrorism is an international crime," he said. "Whether or not somebody has a conviction in the UK is not the end of the story. If somebody has a conviction for terrorism anywhere in the world, in my view, that should be a bar on them working in certain jobs.

"Bearing in mind what happened on 7/7, he should not have been working on the Underground."

David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: "Anyone convicted of terrorism anywhere in the world should not be allowed access to our public transport infrastructure. What John Reid should now do is show that the vetting procedures in place for staff working on London Underground are truly effective."

London’s Tube system was attacked by suicide bombers on July 7 last year, when 52 innocent commuters were killed in four explosions on three Underground trains and a bus.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, initially responding to the row at his weekly press conference, defended Mr Mostafa, but was later forced into a U-turn.

He said: "The son of Abu Hamza has been working for a contractor of London Underground. No one can be blamed for what their parents do. All we ask is to respect the laws of Britain and do not hurt anyone.

"Has he broken any law here in Britain? The answer is no and we are happy to have him working for us."

However the Mayor's office later put out a statement backing the dismissal, reversing his earlier position: "In this country a person cannot be sacked for what their parents do. It is the actions of Mohammed Kamel Mostafa himself which are relevant.

"However, Mr Mostafa has convictions in Yemen. These must be taken into account. They should have been brought to light by those doing the security checks, the failure to do so must be investigated. As he failed to declare these to the subcontractor they are correct to dismiss him."

A Tube Lines spokesman said: "Tube Lines can confirm that the individual in question was employed by one of our contractors. The contractor has confirmed that he met the relevant employment requirements of London Underground and UK legislation and that his pass was issued by an accredited supplier.

"Under the requirements, Tube Lines and its contractors are required to validate the probity of the people they employ, in terms of competence and right to work in the UK. Tube Lines requires all employees to declare convictions or charges against them, as does the contractor in question."

Abu Hamza was jailed for seven years in February for incitement to murder and inciting racial hatred.

John Taylor, who lost his 24-year-old daughter in the July 7 bombings, told The Sun: "This man is a convicted terrorist and he has been allowed access to some of the most sensitive parts of the Tube."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 77,00.html

[going grey!]

You could'nt make it up!.
It's time to leave me thinks.

[jE^_^]

doesnt suprise me!!