Suicide bomber Salman Abedi used money from his mother's bank account who continued to claim benefits despite moving to Libya. AFP
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi used money from his mother's bank account who continued to claim benefits despite moving to Libya. AFP
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi used money from his mother's bank account who continued to claim benefits despite moving to Libya. AFP
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi used money from his mother's bank account who continued to claim benefits despite moving to Libya. AFP

Investigators advised to use ‘Al Capone’ fraud tactics to penetrate terrorist cells


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

Law enforcement should devote more resources to investigating extremist suspects for minor fraud to penetrate and disrupt terrorist cells, new research advises.

The tactic of pinpointing terrorist targets through minor financial crimes, championed in the US, is under-used elsewhere, a research paper published on Thursday said.

European-based terrorists have continued to exploit generous welfare provisions across the continent to help prepare for attacks but high-volume financial crimes remain a low priority for hard-pressed police forces.

The US-led financial "War on Terrorism" that followed the September 11 attacks on America used sanctions, asset freezing and other measures to limit funding to groups such as Al Qaeda.

Terrorist groups and lone-wolf extremists have been forced to turn to alternative methods such as fraud to finance and plan attacks.

But investigation agencies have failed to share financial information to keep up with the threat, said Prof Nicholas Ryder, a UK terrorist funding expert.

Immigration offences, identity theft, credit card scams, and tax and benefit fraud have all been used by extremists to prepare the ground for attacks, Prof Ryder said in Fraud-Enabled Terrorism Financing: A Neglected Dossier.

Scammers have included Amedy Coulibaly, one of the key players in the terrorist attacks in Paris in January 2015, who secured a €6,000 ($7,000) loan a month earlier using a fraudulent pay slip.

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi, who killed 22 people in Manchester, England, in a 2017 attack, used his mother’s credit card and student loans to help finance the bombing.

His mother continued to claim housing and other benefits from the British state despite moving to Libya in 2016.

The problem is not new. The 2005 terrorist attacks on the London transport network, which killed 52 people, were financed largely through loan fraud by the ringleader of the suicide bombings, an official report said.

Tax authorities also reportedly linked a major fraud to one of the terrorists who detonated a bomb two years later. But the officials failed to alert police or security services.

Prof Ryder said that a review of UK terrorism-related prosecutions between 2016 and 2019 suggested that evidence from financial investigations continued to be missed.

Of 114 terrorism-related prosecutions, only three were related to fraud.

“Fraud continues to be used to support terrorist groups across Europe," the report said.

"Terrorists have exploited the benefits afforded by the EU to its citizens, including access to credit, manipulated welfare payments and exposed loopholes in the funding of higher education.

“By contrast, in the US, law enforcement agencies have used fraud investigations, arrests and prosecutions to disrupt terrorists.”

The US has had success in tackling organised crime using a strategy that led to the downfall of infamous US gangster, Al Capone.

In 1931, Capone was convicted and jailed for tax evasion, only after traditional law enforcement techniques had failed.

American gangster Al Capone, left, with US Marshall Laubenheimar. Getty
American gangster Al Capone, left, with US Marshall Laubenheimar. Getty

The convictions of four Somali immigrants in 2013 for sending money to Al Shabab to finance terrorist attacks highlighted the US approach, said Prof Ryder.

US law enforcement intercepted dozens of calls between a member of the immigrant group and one of Al Shabab’s most prominent leaders about sending money.

Prosecutors said the case proved efforts to “detect and disrupt terrorist financing. and prevent the violence that goes along with it, has paid off”.

Prof Ryder said the UK government had identified a problem but failed to deal with it.

“The UK has a long history of treating fraud as an afterthought,” he said. “If you look at the US there is a more joined-up approach. We’re missing a trick here in the UK.”

The National  reported on Thursday how ISIS is seeking to exploit the gems trade and elephant poaching to finance its operations.

Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.

Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.

The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.

Fixture and table

UAE finals day: Friday, April 13 at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

  • 3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
  • 6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

 

UAE Premiership – final standings

  1. Dubai Exiles
  2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins
  3. Jebel Ali Dragons
  4. Dubai Hurricanes
  5. Dubai Sports City Eagles
  6. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Kalra's feat
  • Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
  • Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
  • Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
  • Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.