Islamists to honor 9/11 hijackers

The British-based Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun is holding a conference on the second anniversary of September 11 to honor the 19 terrorists who hijacked the commercial jets used in attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

A poster touting the event to be held at four locations in England includes photographs of the al Qaeda hijackers and refers to them as “The Magnificent 19” — a word play on the 1960 film “The Magnificent Seven.”

Omar bin Bakri Muhammad, the group’s leader, told the London Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that participants will discuss the motives of the hijackers, whom he called “heroes.”

The conference, being held in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Lester, will examine the root causes of the September 11 attacks and warned that if they still exist “the results might be similar to what happened in September [11] but in different methods,” according to the newspaper’s quotes of Bakri.

A message from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden also will be read, the newspaper reported. The speech will be called “Jawami al-Kalam,” or compilations of words, drawn from earlier television messages by the al Qaeda leader.

Bakri, a Syrian-born British citizen, is viewed by U.S. officials as a key British contact of bin Laden, the attack’s mastermind who is believed to be in hiding somewhere along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The U.S. government has offered a $25 million reward for his capture.

One British parliamentarian has called for the government to ban the conferences.

Steve Atkins, a spokesman for the British Embassy, said a similar event was held last year and that the group’s activities are protected by free-speech laws.

“Everyone is allowed to express an opinion so long as it stops sort of incitement and stops short of acts of terrorism,” Mr. Atkins said.

Like last year’s conference, British police are expected to be called out for the conference because anti-Islamist demonstrators are expected, Mr. Atkins said.

As for Bakri, Mr. Atkins said: “The police and security services are fully aware of this individual and his organization, Al-Muhajiroun.

“The home secretary has already made it clear that his and their activities are closely monitored. Anyone breaking the law, whether provisions of the Terrorism Act, the Race Relations Act or the Public Order Act, will be prosecuted.”

In the newspaper interview, Bakri was asked about a phrase on the conference poster that said the United Nations is “a legitimate target.”

“They are legitimate targets because it represents the right-hand tool of the world Crusades led by America and its allies against Islam and the Muslims,” he was quoted as saying.

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