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UK Tamil Tigers head found guilty | UK Tamil Tigers head found guilty |
(20 minutes later) | |
The head of the Tamil Tigers in the UK has been convicted of two terrorism charges at Kingston Crown Court. | The head of the Tamil Tigers in the UK has been convicted of two terrorism charges at Kingston Crown Court. |
But the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on three other charges against , 52, Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar of south London. | |
He was found guilty of supplying bomb-making equipment for the terrorist organisation and receiving documents for the purpose of terrorism. | He was found guilty of supplying bomb-making equipment for the terrorist organisation and receiving documents for the purpose of terrorism. |
The Tamil Tigers became a banned organisation in the UK in 2000. | The Tamil Tigers became a banned organisation in the UK in 2000. |
The jury was also unable to reach a verdict on one charge against co-accused Jegatheeswaran Muraleetharan. | The jury was also unable to reach a verdict on one charge against co-accused Jegatheeswaran Muraleetharan. |
'Terrorist purpose' | 'Terrorist purpose' |
Chrishanthakumar, known as Shantham, is a property valuer from Norbury, in south London, and the founder of the British Tamil Association. | |
The court was told he had been warned by the UK authorities in 2004 after he bought boots and handcuffs for the Tigers' police force, the court heard. | The court was told he had been warned by the UK authorities in 2004 after he bought boots and handcuffs for the Tigers' police force, the court heard. |
Prosecutors said that despite this, he continued supplying electrical components for the Tamil Tigers, including some which had "an obvious terrorist purpose". | Prosecutors said that despite this, he continued supplying electrical components for the Tamil Tigers, including some which had "an obvious terrorist purpose". |
But the jury of five men and seven women was unable to reach a verdict on three other charges against him. | But the jury of five men and seven women was unable to reach a verdict on three other charges against him. |
The CPS will decide next week whether there will be a re-trial. | The CPS will decide next week whether there will be a re-trial. |
On 6 April another co-accused, Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, 34, of Mitcham, south London, was cleared of receiving electronic items for use in terrorism. | |
The Tamil Tigers have waged an armed campaign for more than 30 years to try to create an independent Tamil state on the island of Sri Lanka. | The Tamil Tigers have waged an armed campaign for more than 30 years to try to create an independent Tamil state on the island of Sri Lanka. |
There are 300,000 Tamils living in the UK, half of them in London. | There are 300,000 Tamils living in the UK, half of them in London. |
On 11 April 100,000 protesters marched through the city calling for an end to war in Sri Lanka. |