Iraq Attacks 'Organised In London'

Make what you will of this Glasgow Sunday Herald report, but there are precedents. For years the Hamas military command was based in London.

The meeting, entitled 'Islamic Movement and Iraq' was instigated by the Iraqi Islamic Party without the knowledge or approval of the US-appointed governing council in Iraq, was subjected to a complete media blackout and held under maximum secrecy.

The Iraqi Islamic party is London-based but works underground in Iraq, and is currently in contact with a number of Iraqi opposition factions inside Iraq to 'come together to stand up to the occupation and its agents'.

'Those present at the meeting asserted that Sunni resistance alone was not enough for turning the balance of power with the occupying forces, so, they agreed to find the necessary means and move the Shiite resistance from peaceful protests to a much more effective role', said the source.

'Some were already resident in the UK, but many travelled from cities in Europe', confirmed the French source.

Asked how, given British security concerns, such movement would have been possible, the source said: 'It would have been easy for some because many represent legitimate moderate Islamic groups, but in reality are connected to militant organisations like Hezbollah to whom they would report back directly'.

There's also a report in Islam Online. According to the BBC the Iraqi Islamic Party have a seat on the Iraqi Governing Council, held by Mohsen Abdel Hamid.

There's a useful link to the various groupings at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).