George Galloway’s ‘Viva Palestina‘ Convoy to Gaza has got off to a good start:
Two vans were surrounded as part of an intelligence-led operation connected to a potential threat of terrorism overseas, police said.
The vehicles, one an old ambulance, bore an image of the Palestinian flag and signs saying “Stop Killing Children, Free Palestine” and “From Blackburn (UK) to Gaza”.
With medical supplies and clothes on board, it is believed the men were planning to drive to London and then on to the Gaza Strip.
But counter-terrorism officers surrounded them near Preston, just over 20-miles into their journey.
Five properties in Burnley were then raided by police who removed a computer from one of the houses.
Six of the arrested men have been released, while three men, aged 26, 29 and 36, remain in custody but have not been charged.
Sky News correspondent Tom Parmenter said: “These nine-men were part of a community effort to help send aid from the Lancashire town to the Gaza strip.
…
“All three in custody are from the Burnley area and we also understand locally that they had recently converted to Islam,” Parmenter said.
This is early days. Let us see if charges are brought.
