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Anti-terror plan targets internet | Anti-terror plan targets internet |
(30 minutes later) | |
Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to work together to make the internet a "more hostile" place for terrorists. | Ministers from the six largest European Union countries have agreed to work together to make the internet a "more hostile" place for terrorists. |
Home Secretary John Reid said they would seek to crack down on people using the web to share information on explosives or spread propaganda. | |
The ministers also pledged to fight international VAT fraud, following a meeting near Stratford-upon-Avon. | The ministers also pledged to fight international VAT fraud, following a meeting near Stratford-upon-Avon. |
This cost the UK £3bn a year, some of which funded terrorism, Mr Reid said. | This cost the UK £3bn a year, some of which funded terrorism, Mr Reid said. |
He said the interior ministers wanted to use the internet and other media to target young audiences with messages from "secular Muslim" role models, rather than those believing in radical ideologies. | He said the interior ministers wanted to use the internet and other media to target young audiences with messages from "secular Muslim" role models, rather than those believing in radical ideologies. |
'Pre-empt attacks' | 'Pre-empt attacks' |
Mr Reid was speaking after a two day summit with interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK - known collectively as the G6. | Mr Reid was speaking after a two day summit with interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK - known collectively as the G6. |
He said police would try to "pre-empt the next attack and attempted attack" by terrorists. | He said police would try to "pre-empt the next attack and attempted attack" by terrorists. |
There would be a "continuing struggle where the terrorists try to get ahead of us and we try to get ahead of them". | There would be a "continuing struggle where the terrorists try to get ahead of us and we try to get ahead of them". |
The ministers were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5. | The ministers were addressed by the head of Britain's security service MI5. |
Mr Reid said the terrorism threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat". | Mr Reid said the terrorism threat came "particularly from those who would through a perverted use of Islam constitute a terrorist threat". |
'Bomb plot' | 'Bomb plot' |
However, he added that "the enemy is terrorism; the enemy is not Islam". | However, he added that "the enemy is terrorism; the enemy is not Islam". |
The ministers discussed how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities. | The ministers discussed how to encourage dialogue with Muslim communities. |
Using the example of August's alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights, Mr Reid said greater international co-operation was vital to preventing further attacks. | Using the example of August's alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights, Mr Reid said greater international co-operation was vital to preventing further attacks. |
The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman added. | The meeting was aimed at sharing ideas and "best practice" rather than taking concrete decisions, a spokesman added. |
Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo also briefed the minister on the efforts of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down on so-called "carousel" VAT fraud. | Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo also briefed the minister on the efforts of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down on so-called "carousel" VAT fraud. |
A Home Office spokesman said the gangs carrying out this type of fraud were "well-organised, well-resourced, innovative and known to be involved in wider criminality". | A Home Office spokesman said the gangs carrying out this type of fraud were "well-organised, well-resourced, innovative and known to be involved in wider criminality". |
High-value items | High-value items |
In a carousel fraud, goods - usually small, high-value items such as mobile phones and computer chips - are imported into a country and VAT is charged when they are sold. | In a carousel fraud, goods - usually small, high-value items such as mobile phones and computer chips - are imported into a country and VAT is charged when they are sold. |
But the importer pockets the VAT and vanishes without making the payment due to the Treasury. | But the importer pockets the VAT and vanishes without making the payment due to the Treasury. |
The goods can then be re-exported, at which point HM Revenue and Customs pays the exporter a VAT rebate. | The goods can then be re-exported, at which point HM Revenue and Customs pays the exporter a VAT rebate. |
In the worst cases, the whole chain is crooked and the goods are repeatedly imported and exported, hence the "carousel" term. | In the worst cases, the whole chain is crooked and the goods are repeatedly imported and exported, hence the "carousel" term. |
Mr Reid also said, after the two day summit, that all EU members would continue to set their own immigration policies but would "interact" more. | Mr Reid also said, after the two day summit, that all EU members would continue to set their own immigration policies but would "interact" more. |
He said people-smuggling, often for prostitution or enforced labour, was an "affront to civilisation". | He said people-smuggling, often for prostitution or enforced labour, was an "affront to civilisation". |
The G6 group has no formal decision-making powers and is not an official body of the EU. | The G6 group has no formal decision-making powers and is not an official body of the EU. |
But it can make agreements on cross-border co-operation without needing EU approval. | But it can make agreements on cross-border co-operation without needing EU approval. |
It represents three-quarters of the EU's population and was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined. It meets two to three times a year. | It represents three-quarters of the EU's population and was established in 2003 - initially as G5 before Poland joined. It meets two to three times a year. |