Forest Gate raid

Early on Friday, 2 June 2006, police raided two houses on Lansdown Road, Forest Gate, London, acting on intelligence that there was a chemical weapon located at the premises.{{cite news | date = 3 June 2006 | title = Raid police hunt chemical device | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5042724.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-07| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060628003209/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5042724.stm| archivedate= 28 June 2006 | url-status=live}} Under the authority of the Terrorism Act, they arrested brothers Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23, and Abdul Koyair, 20.{{cite news | date = 5 June 2006 | title = Police await shot terror suspect | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5047200.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-07| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060621210522/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5047200.stm| archivedate= 21 June 2006 | url-status=live}} During the raid, Kahar was shot in the shoulder (some sources mention "chest"{{cite news | date = 13 June 2006 | title = Reaction to raid brothers' claims | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5076206.stm | work = BBC News | accessdate = 2006-07-15 | archive-date = 20 November 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231120150742/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5076206.stm | url-status = live }} based on Kahar's comment of "There was blood coming down my chest."{{cite news | date = 13 June 2006 | title = Raid brother tells of death fears | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5075352.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-07-15| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060701053218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5075352.stm| archivedate= 1 July 2006 | url-status=live}}) by the police and was taken to the Royal London Hospital. Initial press rumours suggested that he had been shot by his brother,{{cite news | date = 4 June 2006 | title = Police terror shooting questioned | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5045104.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-30| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060710220117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5045104.stm| archivedate= 10 July 2006 | url-status=live}} but the police later stated that the shot had been fired accidentally by the armed officer leading the operation.{{cite news | date=5 June 2006 | title=Terror raid shooting accidental, say police | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,29389-2211260,00.html | work=The Times | access-date=2006-06-07 | location=London | first1=Stewart | last1=Tendler | first2=Michael | last2=Evans | first3=Daniel | last3=McGrory | archive-date=12 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112221452/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,29389-2211260,00.html | url-status=dead }} Two hundred and fifty police officers were involved in the raid.{{cite news | date = 4 June 2006 | title = Men in gas masks, a broken window, then a single shot | url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jun/03/terrorism.world | work = The Guardian | accessdate = 2006-06-13 | location = London | first = Hugh | last = Muir | archive-date = 20 November 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231120150628/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jun/03/terrorism.world | url-status = live }}

In the same raid, an unnamed and unrelated family, renting a neighbouring terraced house from the father of the two arrested men, was also raided in conditions that have been described by their lawyer as "as lawless as the wild west."{{cite news | author = Audrey Gillan and Hugh Muir | date = 5 June 2006 | title = Lawyer condemns 'wild west' police raid | url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jun/05/terrorism.world | work = The Guardian | accessdate = 2006-06-07 | location = London | archive-date = 20 November 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231120150626/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jun/05/terrorism.world | url-status = live }}

Nearby roads were closed to the public for several days whilst investigations were carried out,{{cite news | date = 3 June 2006 | author = Rajeev Syal and Sean O'Neill | title = Police struck rapidly after chillingly precise tip-off | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2209032,00.html | work = The Times | access-date = 2006-06-07 | location = London | archive-date = 12 January 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080112134453/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2209032,00.html | url-status = dead }} and a prohibition on aircraft flying below 2,500 ft was imposed on the area.

However, no chemical materials were found{{cite news | date = 7 June 2006 | title = House raid police had 'no choice' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5049800.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-07| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060615032211/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5049800.stm| archivedate= 15 June 2006 | url-status=live}} and the two brothers were released without charge on the evening of 9 June.{{cite news | date = 10 June 2006 | title = Two held in terror raid released | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5066166.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-10| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060613054709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5066166.stm| archivedate= 13 June 2006 | url-status=live}} After the two men gave a press conference on 13 June, the Metropolitan Police apologised for the "hurt" caused.{{cite news | date = 13 June 2006 | title = Raid police apologise for 'hurt' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5077198.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-13| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060616043833/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5077198.stm| archivedate= 16 June 2006 | url-status=live}}

The Metropolitan Police revealed under freedom of information legislation that what was known as Operation Volga had cost £2,211,600, including £864,300 on overtime payments for the dozens of police officers involved, £90,000 on hotel bills, and £120,000 for repairs to the damage caused to the houses by the police.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/03/nterr03.xml|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110224030449/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1530402/Chemical-bomb-raid-that-found-nothing-cost-2.2m.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2011|title= 'Chemical bomb' raid that found nothing cost £2.2m|first=John|last=Steele|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 October 2006|accessdate=2006-10-12 | location=London}}{{cite news | title = Forest Gate terror raid cost £2m | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5401386.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-10-03 | date=3 October 2006| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061108233718/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5401386.stm| archivedate= 8 November 2006 | url-status=live}}

It has been alleged that a British Muslim, Abu Bakr Mansha, who was jailed in January 2006 on terrorism charges and who grew up in the neighbourhood, had provided the intelligence "trigger" for the raid,{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/tm_objectid=17249190%26method=full%26siteid=62484-name_page.html|date=18 June 2006|title=Was MI5 Trigger for Bungled Terror Swoop... A Prisoner with IQ of 69|first=Susie|last=Boniface|authorlink=Susie Boniface|work=The Sunday Mirror|accessdate=2006-10-12|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120150749/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/|url-status=dead}} although this has been denied by his lawyer.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5112388.stm|work=BBC News|date=24 June 2006|title=Terror raid intelligence denial|accessdate=2006-10-12|archive-date=27 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627102553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5112388.stm|url-status=live}}

Protests by Muslim groups were held outside Scotland Yard on Friday 9 June{{cite news | date = 9 June 2006 | title = Muslims protest over terror raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5064454.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060612234638/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5064454.stm| archivedate= 12 June 2006 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | date = 9 June 2006 | author = Michael Horsnell | title = Family's fears at East London terror protest | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1083353.ece | work = The Times | access-date = 2006-06-11 | archive-date = 4 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604041700/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1083353.ece | url-status = dead }} and on Sunday 11 June, where a sister of those arrested said that she hoped that the protests would "highlight the fact no other innocent family should be forced to go through the same nightmare."{{cite news | date = 11 June 2006 | title = Muslims protest over terror raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5069048.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060615011515/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5069048.stm| archivedate= 15 June 2006 | url-status=live}}

On 18 June 2006, approximately 5,000 people from a broad cross-section of local communities marched throughout Newham to Forest Gate Police Station in a protest against the violent nature in which the raids had taken place.{{cite news | date = 18 June 2006 | title = Marchers demand apology over raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5092452.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-18| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060621232926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5092452.stm| archivedate= 21 June 2006 | url-status=live}} The march was organised by a coalition of local groups, including the main support group to the families Newham Monitoring Project.

Reactions to the raid were mixed. Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman said that they had "no choice but to act" but also apologised for the "disruption and inconvenience" the raid caused.{{cite news | date = 8 June 2006 | author = Adam Fresco | title = Scotland Yard apologises for terror raid disruption | url = https://www.thetimes.com/article/scotland-yard-apologises-for-terror-raid-disruption-33q5x53mz0t | work = The Times | access-date = 2006-06-11 | location = London | archive-date = 26 December 2022 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20221226110124/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scotland-yard-apologises-for-terror-raid-disruption-33q5x53mz0t | url-status = live }} The Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the releases, but hoped "lessons would be learned".{{cite news | date = 11 June 2006 | title = Opinion divided as brothers freed | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5066470.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060612234649/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5066470.stm| archivedate= 12 June 2006 | url-status=live}}

The then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said that he supported the police "101%", adding that "You can only imagine if they fail to take action and something terrible happened what outcry would be then, so they are in an impossible situation."{{cite news | date = 3 June 2006 | title = Blair defends police terror raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5053618.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060613061344/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5053618.stm| archivedate= 13 June 2006 | url-status=live}} The prime minister also defended police chief Ian Blair, when several papers called on him to resign over the raid.{{cite news | date = 12 June 2006 | title = Met chief defended amid raid row | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5071010.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-13| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060613142004/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5071010.stm| archivedate= 13 June 2006 | url-status=live}} A solicitor for the two men said that they planned to sue the Metropolitan Police,{{cite news | date = 11 June 2006 | title = Terror raid pair may sue police | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5068500.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-06-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060708163028/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5068500.stm| archivedate= 8 July 2006 | url-status=live}} for a figure which lawyers estimated could be as high as £500,000,{{cite news | date = 11 June 2006 | author = David Leppard | title = 'Terror raid' brothers could get £500,000 in damages | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article673680.ece | work = The Sunday Times | access-date = 2006-06-11 | location = London | archive-date = 4 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604041708/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article673680.ece | url-status = dead }} but at a press conference on 13 June 2006 Abdul Kahar said that suing the police was "not even in our heads", and they were more interested in an apology. As of 21 July 2006, he had not returned to the house.{{cite web | date = 21 July 2007 | title = Mr Kahar interviewed on Today Program | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today4_forest_gate_20060721.ram | format = RAM | work = BBC News | accessdate = 2006-07-21 | archive-date = 29 June 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080629220529/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today4_forest_gate_20060721.ram | url-status = live }}

The shooting was referred to Independent Police Complaints Commission,{{cite web | date = 2 June 2006 | title = IPCC to Investigate Forest Gate Firearms Incident | url = http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr020606_forest | publisher = Independent Police Complaints Commission | accessdate = 2006-06-11 | archive-date = 28 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928005538/http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr020606_forest | url-status = live }} who prepared a leaflet about its enquiry for distribution to homes and other locations in the area.{{cite web | date = 8 June 2006 | title = Independent Police Complaints Commission Update Leaflet for East London Residents | url = http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr080606_forest | publisher = Independent Police Complaints Commission | accessdate = 2006-06-11 | archive-date = 28 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928005348/http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr080606_forest | url-status = live }} On 10 July 2006, the IPCC confirmed that there would be a second inquiry regarding claims made by neighbours of the house raided.{{cite news | date = 10 July 2006 | title = Second inquiry into terror raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5164748.stm |work=BBC News| accessdate = 2006-07-10| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060712184837/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5164748.stm| archivedate= 12 July 2006 | url-status=live}}

On 3 August 2006, the Independent Police Complaints Commission concluded that the shooting was an "accident". They said that based on forensic evidence, "there is no evidence of intent or recklessness on the part of the firearms officer and that no offence was committed in the firing of the weapon." Scotland Yard released a statement saying it regretted that an accidental discharge had caused injury.

It also emerged on 3 August that Mohammed Abdul Kahar had been investigated by police on suspicion of knowingly possessing pornographic pictures of children, and was in custody at a London police station. He strenuously denied the allegations.{{cite news | date = 3 August 2006 | title = Terror raid shooting 'accidental' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5242564.stm | work = BBC News | accessdate = 2006-08-03 | archive-date = 8 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070108172010/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5242564.stm | url-status = live }} On the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, no charges were brought against him.{{cite news | date = 27 October 2006 | title = No charges for Forest Gate victim | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6092624.stm | work = BBC News | accessdate = 2006-08-03 | archive-date = 16 February 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070216025538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6092624.stm | url-status = live }}

On 13 February 2007, the IPCC released its second inquiry. The IPCC concluded that the police had not used excessive force given the intelligence they used, but that they should have changed their response once it became clear that the situation was under control and there was no imminent threat. The IPCC upheld complaints about the treatment of suspects in custody, particularly over the withholding of medication from Mr Abdulkahar. The IPCC also concluded that the high-profile nature of the raid merited a high-profile apology, and urged the Metropolitan Police to publicly apologise to the two families involved. Families involved in the raid criticised the IPCC for failing to investigate how the police had obtained and handled the erroneous intelligence that led to the raid.{{cite news | date = 13 February 2007 | title = Police criticised for terror raid | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6356931.stm | work = BBC News | accessdate = 2007-11-10 | archive-date = 23 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823195756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6356931.stm | url-status = live }}

• Taking Liberties – Documentary about the implications of anti terrorism legislation on civil rights in the UK.

• In the Channel 4 film Britz, the Muslim British protagonist agrees to work for the MI5 and to carry out privacy-invading actions to collect evidence from suspected terrorists, but solely under the condition that the evidence supplied against them is adequate. He directly references the Forest Gate Incident as a case where it was not.

{{reflist}}

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Category:2006 in London

Category:Counterterrorism in the United Kingdom

Raid

Category:History of the London Borough of Newham

Category:June 2006 in the United Kingdom

Category:Law enforcement in England and Wales

Category:Politics of the London Borough of Newham