NPR: Doctors Arrested in British Terrorism Investigation

Doctors Arrested in British Terrorism Investigation

There's been a lot of speculation during the past few days about the nature of the foiled terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow. But some of the most illuminating comments I've heard came from John Ydstie's interview on Morning Edition today with Kim Sengupta, a reporter for The Independent in London.

When Sengupta was asked about the fact that many of those arrested so far in the investigation are doctors or in the medical profession, he observed that they appeared to have been chosen because they were working in a respected field. If their profession made those responsible less likely to be viewed suspiciously, that could help explain why they were undetected by British counterterrorism officials.

Sengupta noted those accused also may have exploited the shortage of doctors in Britain's National Health Service, as there are fewer checks on medical professionals who want to come and work in the UK than most other immigrants. As Sengupta said, this shows a "degree of focus and imagination, almost, on the part of the terrorists."

Der Spiegel reports that one result of this outcome is that thousands of foreign doctors now working in Britain are under suspicion.

And The Washington Post reports that the style of attack foiled in the UK is what many U.S. counterterrorism experts believe will likely happen in the United States: "relatively unsophisticated, near-simultaneous attacks ... designed more to provoke widespread fear and panic than to cause major losses of life."

4:40 PM ET | 07- 3-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

It is quite fortunate that with the help of civilans and the EMT personnel these attacks were mitigated. However, it is curious that we have not heard an outcry against these plots by muslim britons. It may very well be the case that after such attacks or plans of attacks by either U.K. born muslims or recent immigrants, the muslim community in the U.K. would experience something akin to racial profiling. Although, it may be the case that any outcrys by muslims deploring these events have been overshadowed by the interesting development that these terrorists were medical doctors. Does anyone have a sense of how U.K. and European muslims are responding to these events?

Sent by E.L. Gulbranson | 6:31 PM ET | 07-04-2007

Actually, it is not the case at all that British Muslims were quiet. Leading British Muslim groups condemned the plots immediately, as the Independent reported:

Campaigners from the British Muslim Initiative issued a statement damning the incidents. A spokesman said: "We urge all British Muslims to fully co-operate with the authorities to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators."

Meanwhile, many Muslims were reassured by the calm response of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who did not use the word "Muslim" or the phrase "war on terror" any time over the past few days as the Washington Post reports. Muslim leaders say that Brown's calm approach was a welcome relief from the kind of heated rhetoric they were use to from Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair. One leading Muslim politician said the contrast between the two men was "amazing."

Sent by Tom Regan | 6:58 PM ET | 07-04-2007

Thank you for the insight into this issue. The candor of Mr. Brown's comments are very reassuring in light of this sensitive aspect of the "war on terrorism".

Sent by E.L. Gulbranson | 7:58 PM ET | 07-04-2007

Whosoever did this dastardly act is a crime against humanity. It is hoped that concrete and irrefutable evidence shall be collected against the perpetrators to ensure that innocent are not victimised on mere suspicion. UK has also to review its law for capital punishment and those indulging in such heinous crimes deserve nothing less than death penalty.

Sent by SS Rao | 10:43 PM ET | 07-04-2007

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