17 year old Brit Arrested for Allegedly having the Anarchist Cookbook

[Hobbit Porn]

From here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7030096.stm


Boy in court on terror charges

The teenager faces charges under the Terrorism Act 2000
A British teenager who is accused of possessing material for terrorist purposes has appeared in court.

It is alleged he had a copy of the "Anarchists' Cookbook", containing instructions on how to make home-made explosives.

His next court hearing has been set for 25 October.

The teenager faces two charges under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The first charge relates to the possession of material for terrorist purposes in October last year.

The second relates to the collection or possession of information useful in the preparation of an act of terrorism.

He stood in the dock wearing a baggy, blue hooded top and only spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.

After the 40-minute hearing, the teenager was released on bail under several conditions.

A second 17-year-old who is facing similar charges has already been remanded in custody and will also appear at the Crown Court on 25 October.

----
I wonder if it was the actual book or one of the many many variations of the electronic forms.

[Bugger]

That sucks! Someone in the U.K. has not heard of free speech and freedom of information, which would certainly be a defense against the charge. In most other countries, including mine, possession of that book would not be an offense. He probably innocently downloaded the book from the internet, probably thinking it was political in nature, and not even suspecting that it contaiined instructions on home-made explosives. The right-wing pigs who brought the charge probably "have it in for him" for political reasons.

[Charles Owlen Picket]

What in God's name has happened to England? A young man goes before the Court due to possession of a damn book? What EXACTLY is the Terrorism Act 2000? Does it allow the possession of a book to become an offense in and of itself????

And to beat all Hell it was a crap-book......

[festergrump]

Oh, dear. Next they'll be arresting the local door to door encyclopedia salesman for possession of knowledge with intent to distribute. :rolleyes:

On any schoolyard in the near future:

"Psst. Hey kid. Wanna buy some books? Shhh. Yeah, they're real. Keep it down. man. I got more where that came from, too... a whole totebag full of 'em. Tell your friends. I read one 6 hours ago and I'm still feeling a little smarter."

And I guess selling a crapbook would be like selling bunk acid blotter?

Truly scary what the world is coming to. [sigh] I guess we all knew deep down it was coming but didn't want to believe it could get so far out of hand so quickly, huh?

[teshilo]

You have copy of Anarchist Cookbook? You can be isolated (extracted ) from society as potential self-destructor...:D:D This is joke.In world hungreds of humans read and study textbooks and manuals more good than these CRAAP...:mad::mad: Also can arrest students who read Urbanski,Lewis etc..

[megalomania]

This sounds like something is missing. I would hope the British government is not so foul and loathsome as to arrest a child merely for having a book.

In the usual cases like this the accused actually blew something up, or hurt someone, then they nab him with the book, the appropriate chapter highlighted with the device he just used. Walking into a hardware store, showing the clerk the book, and pointing out "I need two end caps, a length of pipe, and some fuse just like this picture in the book" might also get you into trouble.

UK law is of course different than US law, but I would think they would have to specifically enact legislation placing this book on an illegal list, stop all sales of the book, pull all copies from library shelves, and warn people that posession of this book is now illegal. If they can make something illegal with the rap of a gavel without giving possessors a chance to rid themselves of the offending material they would make instant criminals of many people without their knowledge.

The question now is has this book, and others like, been specifically made illegal in the UK? Or is there more to this story than what the media has said?

EDIT: I just found this very chilling snippet from the Terrorism Act 2000, section 58...

Collection of Information
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) In this section “record” includes a photographic or electronic record.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, to a fine or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

(5) A court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order the forfeiture of any document or record containing information of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

(6) Before making an order under subsection (5) a court must give an opportunity to be heard to any person, other than the convicted person, who claims to be the owner of or otherwise interested in anything which can be forfeited under that subsection.

(7) An order under subsection (5) shall not come into force until there is no further possibility of it being varied, or set aside, on appeal (disregarding any power of a court to grant leave to appeal out of time).

There you have it folks, it is illegal to collect information in the UK. Rather sneaky how they word that. I found a few examples on wiki of how this law has been abused by brit police to harass and criminalize innocent people. One woman was charged with violating the Terrorism Act for walking on a bike path.

UK Forum members had better begin caching your "information" because your government has started a war on knowledge.

[nbk2000]

Thought-Crime!

England doesn't have a First Amendment right to freedom of the press, and has never had anything like it, so this is possible there.

When the story is the same, but in the US, that's when there's going to be some real problems.

If they can make something illegal with the rap of a gavel without giving possessors a chance to rid themselves of the offending material they would make instant criminals of many people without their knowledge.

Ah, but that's what They want!

By having secret laws and judgments, they can make it so that ANYONE can be charged with an offense, making everyone a de facto criminal, to be punished/pressured/scape-goated as needed.

[Enkidu]

Also recovered was a file on a computer in the defendant's bedroom entitled the Anarchist's Cookbook.

It was an eBook.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Yorkshire-teenager-in-court-on.3214623.jp

The article also states that he had just returned from Pakistan, which is probably the reason he was arrested and the reason he got the extra scrutiny in the first place.

"Psst. Hey kid. Wanna buy some books? Shhh. Yeah, they're real. Keep it down, man. I got more where that came from, too... a whole totebag full of 'em. Tell your friends. I read one 6 hours ago and I'm still feeling a little smarter."

:D :D

[Nighthawkinlight]

Collection of Information
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) In this section “record” includes a photographic or electronic record.

So with this it appears that anyone in the UK who has visited a website with any remote type of information pertaining to weapons manufacture could be arrested! The part that gets me is: "record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism"
That is so vague that it could be used in almost any situation. 90% of this forum could be useful to a wannabe terrorist, even though any actual terrorist would never have to open a web browser to cause destruction. Does that mean now that anyone in the UK who has a part of this forum on their favorites list could be arrested?
Certainly glad to be in the US right now...

[McGinnis]

Perhaps I just missed this rather important piece of information (though I specifically looked for it), but... was possession of the book the reason he was arrested, or simply supporting "evidence" for some other charge/suspicion? The articles all fail to mention any other evidence.

As usual the news outlets don't actually ask the important questions or display objectivity, thus ignoring such "minor details". If the reason he was arrested in the first place was possession of the book, then that leads me to ask... how did they know he had it?

[simply RED]

The western states have forgotten that knowledge and high tech production keep the economy growing. This way we are just becoming a market for crap produced in China, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Taiwan....

[Charles Owlen Picket]

This sounds like something is missing. I would hope the British government is not so foul and loathsome as to arrest a child merely for having a book.

This sounds somewhat like the Finistein Bill. However the burden of proof that the material is DIRECTLY involved in the perpetration of a crime [and was so designed] is a tough thing to prove.

I could very well be incorrect here. After reviewing some of the bizarre instances of gov't cover-up agenda involved in the siege on Waco I am open minded as to the lengths any gov't will go to keep itself from being lambasted.

Obviously there are issues in this arrest that are not being presented.

[LibertyOrDeath]

Collection of Information
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) In this section “record” includes a photographic or electronic record.
Let's see...got any chemistry books? They're likely to be useful in bomb-making.

How about books on circuits? They're likely to be useful in constructing a remote detonation system.

Have any maps of large cities in your car? Those would be useful in plotting a terrorist attack.

Possess all of the above? Off with your head!

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.In other words, your rightful masters can arrest you at any time as described above, but if you can excuse yourself, then you might be found not guilty. In other words, you're guilty until proven innocent. This is pure slavery, the division of a society into lords and serfs: those who can do as they wish, and those who have to explain their actions or face punishment.

The US is headed rapidly in this direction as well. Look at places like California or the giant prison camp known as New York City -- that's the future of the rest of the country, if not worse. It will be quite ironic if we reach that point around the time the Orwellian-named "Freedom Tower" is completed in what's now probably the most unfree city in an increasingly unfree America.

They'll manage to do to the First Amendment what they've done to the Second and most of the rest of the Bill of Rights: "interpret" it to mean what they want it to mean.

First look at the Second Amendment. It was meant to affirm the right of all citizens to keep military arms in order to be able to overthrow their own government, if necessary. What does it mean now? To most government pricks and their legal "experts," it means either (1) the right of the military to keep arms (namely, the National Guard), or (2) the right of citizens to play games with firearms (hunting, target shooting). Both interpretations are, of course, plainly absurd from every logical and historical viewpoint. Besides, even if there were no Constitution, no one has any a priori right to govern without the consent of the governed -- and that means the governed MUST be armed.

They'll try to subvert the First Amendment in a similar way. Although up to this point it's taken less abuse than other individual rights in the US, eventually they're going to come up with excuses to limit it: "The Founders never would have intended for individuals to have the knowledge to make explosives or other weapons," blah blah blah. The truth is that they most certainly would have intended that. Just because someone is affiliated with a government, that doesn't make him more trustworthy than someone who isn't. And we see how governments abuse their power at home and overseas, killing many more people than common criminals could ever hope to achieve. So why shouldn't we have access to the same knowledge that "our" government has? They're human beings just like us, and certainly no better.

Sorry for the rant, but the arrogance of government shitheads gets my blood boiling. :mad:

[festergrump]

They'll try to subvert the First Amendment in a similar way. Although up to this point it's taken less abuse than other individual rights in the US, eventually they're going to come up with excuses to limit it...

Been doing it since I've been alive (maybe much longer). Google "Free Speech Zones" and see what you come up with.

Here's a few noteworthy ones just off the first page alone of google hits:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/11423prs20030923.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Free_speech_zone
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/speech/pubcollege/topic.aspx?topic=free-speech_zones

I could have sworn we Americans had the right to assemble and speak freely wherever the hell we wanted last I read the US Constitution... :mad:

Of course, college campuses are havens for liberal minded assholes, so that's pretty much a given that they'd try this sort of thing there and get away with it, but everywhere else is still free America, right?

BTW, nice rant, LoD. I think I like it when you get mad. No offense. :)

[megalomania]

The impression I get from the story is that he was arrested for mere posession of a book. Let me reiterate that:

A minor child was arrested for mere posession of a book!

What constitutes terrorist material? Textbooks on energetic chemistry? Engineering books on demolitions? Electronics magazines? Any plans, blueprints, schematics, or drawings for any weapons parts? Caches of "undesirable" websites? Probably all of the above.

Strictly speaking the Anarchist's Arsenal does expressly advocate violence and destruction. Of course so does the bible come to think of it...

I suppose legally the USA is still a terrorist colony according to UK law. When will we extradite Bush?

[Bugger]

There is an on-line version (2000) of it here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7572/Anarchists-Cook-Book

There are versions of it available as Torrent downloads:
http://www.torrentportal.com/details/747924/The+Oktoberfest+Cookbook.pdf.torrent.html
http://www.mininova.org/tor/399172
http://www.torrentz.com/6ee8ba5f7e0176c551baf5d194587c0f4196e273
http://www.fulldls.com/related-ebooks-25593.html (2007 edition)
http://www.ebookee.com/torrents-page100.html (ditto)
http://torrentz.ws/search/Anabolics-2007-pdf
http://www.mybittorrent.com/info/521928/

I neither confirm or deny whether I have it!!

[Charles Owlen Picket]

They unabashedly spell out the almost pathologically debased idea that a simple book can influence behavior. The "nanny-State" mentality of those that would ascribe a gun to jump off a table and fire of it's own volition ("Gun Violence") is so damn stupid when examined in the light of day and clear thought....

"A British teenager who is accused of possessing material for terrorist purposes has appeared in court.

The 17-year-old, who was arrested in the Dewsbury area of West Yorkshire on Monday, was given bail after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

It is alleged he had a copy of the "Anarchists' Cookbook", containing instructions on how to make home-made explosives.

The teenager faces two charges under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The first charge relates to the possession of material for terrorist purposes in October last year.

The second relates to the collection or possession of information useful in the preparation of an act of terrorism. "


Good Lord...."possession of material for terrorist purposes", who is the fucking "King" that decides that? This is such a slippery slope that it is a farce! That a book describes a behavior; a law is passed to circumvent that by making the BOOK ILLEGAL!!!?? The Old Testament describes all sorts of murder and mayhem....The New Testament does a good job as well.... The Brits must be embarrassed by this stupid shit. They should have stood their ground when their Princes, Queens and such tried to disarm them. The Aussies will be next of course.

Picture the concept of a "collection or possession of information useful in the preparation of an act of terrorism" and making CD's with a bunch of PDF files from most any collection [that anyone may have who posts on this board would have] ....Jesus; everyone is in violation of that Orwellian bullshit! The actual danger that this set of laws represents is staggering. We really ARE talking about books now!
Not KNIVES (which were next on the "hit-list" when the UK's gun laws started getting ridiculous) nor clubs or anything related to the implementation of an action, but a written word is now verbotten.

I think there is NO QUESTION that the collecting of simple information as it relates to "restricted subjects" is a VERY important thing. IMO, one of the most important things someone can do at this time is to COLLECT INFORMATION as it actually may not exist for people to gather in the future.

[Jacks Complete]

If it doesn't mention other charges, there won't be any. Odds are they will have dropped those as "too hard" to prove, so go for the simple possession offence, as there is not a lot you can do about it.

It's a charming fact of the UK today that you can be effectively disappeared for a month on suspicion of whatever, with no access to a lawyer. We got that from the US PatRiot Act, by way of (iirc) 5 sets of "anti-terror" legislation in 6 years. (And the police want to up that period of disappearance to 3 months, saying they can't prove a case that fast!)

We had the Bill of Rights (on which the Declaration of Independence is based) but by simply ignoring and hiding it, and not telling the people about it, it has been forgotten and the law has been perverted by those who would do the people wrong.

We also have the "Free Speech" zones. Well, actually, we have one - Hyde Park Corner. And the first thing Parliament did after passing one of the terror acts so they could ban public assembly without permission and demonstrations? They banned demonstrations within 1000 meters of the "home of democracy", as the MPs felt it was annoying to have to see protesters! They also made the whole of London (not just the smaller City of London) a permantent "terror zone" where special rules apply.

Notice also that this kid (17 I'd say was adult, really, but I know plenty of 25 year olds who are kids inside - just like they want you to be) was arrested in Yorkshire, and dragged to London to face a bail hearing! They shipped him about 5 hours from home, then let him go. I can feel fairly sure this guy will now be thinking "How can I get back at these oppressive bastards?"!

[Emil]

You know this whole incident does not surprise me one little bit.

The UK is undoubtedly going down the pan very fast, and it's practically already hit rock bottom. This sort of behavior solidifies that statement.

It's absolutely pathetic that any person should even be arrested for possessing a book. I mean, unless their is any evidence to support that it was going to be used in a bad manner, which in this case I highly doubt, then they should stop being so stupid.
I expect the 17 year old is just a curious lad who had heard about the book, and wanted to see what it was about. What's wrong with that??? NOTHING. But of course those fucking pigs and government puppets instantly brand him a terrorist.

This is where this country has gone wrong. The law has wasted too much time penalizing road users than going after the thousands of scummy little shit bag youths we have running around causing mayhem, shooting and stabbing each other. There is just no respect left in this place anymore. But why you ask?? Because giving thousands of people a year a £60 fine for doing 6 mph over the limit pays off a lot better, and is a lot easier than any other work out there for them.

The other problem is there is no deterrent for many crimes in the UK. Punishments are pathetic, and the wrong people get the wrong sentences. E.g. Pedophiles and sex offenders should be locked up for life, or be lined up and shot. But no, what they do is slap them on the wrist, give them a 5 year sentence (which will allow them out in 3 or 4), and then they are back onto the streets in no time. Then they wonder why the crime rates are increasing beyond belief.

Who knows eh?? I’ll never understand it, and I Don’t think I’m the only one.

[tmp]

They really went off the deep end with this one. Especially for a crapbook !
The U.S. has similar regards for people in different ways. Yeah, the pork love
writing their damn traffic tickets. It helps fill the coffers for a money-hungry
government to fund the socialist agenda and pass even more repressive laws
against us. Murderers have been set free while those who have the nerve to
defy the state's stupid gun control laws go to jail ! The ideas of freedom
mean little to politicians unless you're a member of a "disenfranchised" group.
In other words, the laws are written against conservative, white,
heterosexual people and rigidly enforced. All other groups get leniency or a
free pass unless they outrage others within their group. Even that is not a
guarantee they won't get a free pass.

[Hirudinea]

Bugger -- There is an on-line version (2000) of it here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7572/Anarchists-Cook-Book

Yeah, now I can be a terrorist too! :D

I suppose legally the USA is still a terrorist colony according to UK law.

I believe that was settled in the Treaty of Paris in the 1780's, but you still owe me compensation, with compound interest from the Treaty of Paris, I'll take in in 10s and 20s, oh and make it in a good currency, like the Euro or somthing. ;)

Sorry to be so flip, but this whole topic in incredible, arresting someone for the possession of a book, and not even a good book? Did this person try to make anything from the book? Was he in a terrorist group? Had he make threats against anyone? This is truly insane!

[mrtnira]

Unfortunately, the way the law reads here, it seems anything can be used to validate support to terrorism or its preparation. A phone book fits this definition:

"Collection of Information
(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind."

Wow, with such broad definitions, that's a big net that allows any and everyone to come under the light of suspicion. "Possesses a document or record containing information of that kind." Phone books fit that just fine because these lists information such as potential target names, numbers, addresses, and places of necessary equipment sales and acquisition, and so on. Likewise, a karate book or video tape, can be either for fitness,personal interest, or preparation to storm the Bastille, in any case, it's of potential use to Al Qeda, even if to just one of them simply becasue it's about hand-to-hand combat! Soccer moms of the world, look out! Little Billy's after school karate class could be construed as a recruitment center for extremism! You're all under arrest.

Of course, that last comment is a little silly, but it gets the point across.

This law appears to be missing acts which indicate direct motive to commit, like acquiring the material ability to commit terrorist acts and training for it, versus being an archivist, historian, non-government civilian security specialist, or armchair adventurist simply reading about it from personal interest.

Information is neutral; it's the actors who make it good or bad. The problem with making information illegal, is that it removes the total brain power of the population from the fight against terrorism. There is never a perfect world; the enemy will also use the same data against the Forces of Order and the civil society they seek to protect. However, criminalizing information is the first step to the self-inflicted wound of preventing interested citizens from bringing their brain power to the fight against extremism.

I hope there is more to their law than criminalizing information, so that some progressive action and acquisition of material ability, which demonstrates intent, is also necessary before someone is arrested.

[Charles Owlen Picket]

That's actually the "big step". Some people don't see information as neutral in scope and element. I have heard many people say something to the effect that information about pyrotechnics was simply a "cover" for something sinister or that any energetic material referenced in literature was inappropriate.
"Why do you want to know how to make a bomb?" is a typical response to the sighting of a book on energetic materials. (Picture the attractive suburban dwelling female liberal with hand on hip dressed in trendy short skirt - no leather or animal products of course.)

"I don't want to make a fucking bomb; I have an interest in both chemistry, physics, and detonation modeling from a variety of perspectives..."
"And I am not hurting you in the least, nor am I a threat; mind your own business".

But they won't mind their own business...these are the types who stand on trails so motorcyclists can't drive by or the type who make noise so the hunter looses game.... They are radical PC and they know that they know better than you what is correct for the country; no matter the facts. They are very tough to talk to.

[ex1ge]

England's democracy doesn't work because the population is very happy to bend over and take a dose of restraint up the arse, in the USA, if they tried to bring out a national ban on all pistols, I can only imagine the outcry. Yet when this happened in England in 1997, a few thousand or so firearms users made a fuss, but the "concerned mother" majority swung the public opinion in the favour of gun control and here we are today.
In England we are not educated about rights and freedoms, I have not once been taught about the actual contents of the Bill of Rights. We are taught how to push paper and how to move through life without making waves, there is no patriotism enstilled into young people's minds.
The government will get away with this, and will in any further cases brought before a court, due to the belief that the persuit of knowledge is not a valid excuse for holding such material.
In regard to the Anarchist's Cookbook, somehow I think The Preparatory Manual of Explosives would be somewhat more useful, available from your friendly bookstore Rapidshare (http://rs227.rapidshare.com/files/72313012/TPME.rar) and on the FTP.
But don't be tempted to order it unless you intend on the government coming down on you like a ton of bricks.