Jamaicans on terror watch list

Several of the persons being watched by the United States, according to confidential diplomatic cables from the United States Embassy in Kingston, are suspected associates of controversial Muslim Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal. Many are suspected of narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and human trafficking. Others have been labelled radical Muslims and criminal deportees.

From the cables, it appears that there were fears that at least two terrorist attacks were being planned for the resort towns of Montego Bay, St James, and Ocho Rios, St Ann.

A 31-year-old Jamaican male is identified as "a radical Muslim suspected of involvement in a Montego Bay bombing plot."

Another man is marked as "suspected in threats against cruise ships in Ocho Rios". The cables gave no details of the plots.

Meanwhile, el-Faisal's name is a recurrent theme in two diplomatic cables, one sent January 7, 2010 and the other, February 10, 2010, from Kingston to Washington.

Born Trevor William Forest, in St James, el-Faisal is a radical extremist Muslim cleric who preached in the United Kingdom until he was convicted of stirring up racial hatred and urging his followers to murder Jews, Hindus, Christians, and Americans.

banned under Terrorism Act

Also on the list is a man the US Embassy notes "as having been convicted of terror finance in the UK and is a known associate of el-Faisal and Omar Bakri Mohammed".

The man, who is of Jamaican parentage, was banned under Britain's Terrorism Act 2006 for the glorification of terrorism in the United Kingdom.

He was convicted on April 17, 2008 on charges of terrorist fund-raising and inciting terrorism overseas, and sentenced to four and a half years in jail.

He was released in May 2009, after serving three and a half years, including time on remand.

Two men listed as Spanish Town gang members are said to have "used the mosque as avenue to enter United States for Islamic training," one cable claimed, while noting that one of the two "is also allegedly involved in narcotics".

A 51-year-old west Kingston man is said to have entered the United States in the same manner. He is said to be "a west Kingston gang member" who is "involved in narcotics and is a suspected murderer".

In the case of a 52-year-old man, the embassy said he is "very dangerous" and that intelligence sources "recommend immediate revocation of visa". The man was said to be a close associate of el-Faisal.