Britain Won't Target Extremist Mosques

[Judi Lynn]

Britain Won't Target Extremist Mosques

By Associated Press
December 15, 2005, 2:32 PM EST

LONDON -- The British government Thursday dropped a key part of the anti-terrorism legislation proposed after the deadly July 7 suicide bombings on London's transit system, abandoning its effort to let police shut down extremist mosques.

The plan, introduced a month after four suspected suicide bombers killed 52 bus and Underground passengers, had been criticized by police and religious organizations.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said in a written statement to the House of Commons that he was dropping the proposal "although we will keep the matter under review."

The proposal would have given police powers to temporarily close places of worship being used by extremists. The trustee or owner would then be served with an order to halt radical activity.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-britain-terrorism,0,5402110.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines