Turkish Press : British watchdog freezes accounts of charity amid terror probe

British watchdog freezes accounts of charity amid terror probe

August 24, 2006

LONDON (AFP) -- Britain's charity watchdog said it has frozen the bank accounts of the aid group Crescent Relief as part of a probe into whether money was diverted to an alleged plot to blow up US-bound planes.

The Charity Commission said it opened a formal inquiry following media reports potentially linking suspects in the plot to Crescent Relief, which raised funds for earthquake relief in Pakistan.

"The inquiry will focus on whether or not the charity's funds, or funds raised on its behalf, were used unlawfully. It will also consider the financial policies and practices of the charity," the commission said in a statement.

"As a temporary and protective measure, the commission has frozen the bank accounts of the charity," the independent regulator for England and Wales, adding that the charity would have to obtain its permission to use any funds.

The Charity Commission told AFP at the weekend it was evaluating media reports of links between the charity and the alleged airline conspiracy which British police said they foiled on August 10.

The Times newspaper said Saturday that Crescent Relief, which mobilized for the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan, was founded in 2000 by Abdul Rauf, the father of Rashid Rauf, who is being held in Pakistan over the plot.

Pakistan's foreign ministry has said that Rashid Rauf was unconnected with any charities involved with the earthquake, while denying a separate report that a Pakistani charity had diverted quake relief to the plot.

Rashid's brother Tayib Rauf was arrested in the central city of Birmingham in an August 10 dragnet in Britain when police arrested a total of 24 suspects in London, outside the capital and Birmingham.

Tayib Rauf was not among 11 people charged in London this week, but he remains among nine others still being held by police for questioning.

Pakistani officials said last week that they had also detained Abdul Rauf, 52, at Islamabad airport, though it was unclear whether he was arrested for questioning in the case or whether he himself was a suspect.

The Times said that Crescent Relief may prove links between the Rauf family and the five people arrested in High Wycombe, northwest of London, on August 10.

The Times said the charity was operating in High Wycombe when all five suspects were helping with the earthquake relief effort.

The commission could not say how long the inquiry would take, but promised a full report of its findings.

Phone calls to Crescent Relief went unanswered Thursday.

London's Metropolitan Police, which is leading the probe into the alleged airliner conspiracy, declined to comment on the statement.

But Kenneth Dibble, director of the watchdog's Legal and Charity Services, said his commission was "working with law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of allegations of possible terrorist abuse of Crescent Relief funds.

"The allegations made are very serious, and we are taking this action to protect the charity's funds while the investigation is under way," he said in a statement.