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Community angry at raids that led to no terror charges Martin Wainwright Police and members of Manchester's Kurdish community meet today in an attempt to mend fences after angry protests over last month's huge anti-terrorism operation in the city. Friends and neighbours of 10 people who were later released without charge after being detained when hundreds of officers carried out early morning raids, say that the community has been smeared by rumours of a plan to attack a Manchester United match against Liverpool. One of those arrested, Iraqi Kurd asylum seeker Rabaz Ali Mohammed,
23, said that he was "I am very angry because I was kept for seven to eight days and I need to have an answer why I was arrested," he said. "I would be more happy to be killed by a terrorist than named as a terrorist." The raids centred on the Dolphin takeaway and homes across Manchester. There were also raids in Rochdale, Coventry and Rotherham. Eight men, including three brothers, were held, along with one woman and a 16-year-old youth. The swoop, involving four police forces and the security services, was defended yesterday by the Greater Manchester police, which said "credible intelligence" triggered the raids. A spokesman said: "The decision to act was difficult and sensitive and we took it after a great deal of deliberation and examination of alternatives. We still believe we made the right decision to take the action we did. The operation was not a mistake." Assistant chief constable Dave Whatton said related inquiries were continuing, but denied that the alleged link to United's Old Trafford ground - the main cause of concern among the city's Kurds - had come from the police. The story was carried in almost all the local and national media, after claims that tickets for the Liverpool game had been seized in the raid. Mr Ali, who is now staying with friends in another part of Manchester, said that United posters, used-ticket stubs and a fixture list had been taken from his flat. He regularly went to matches and said he had been a fan "since I was a boy". The police acknowledged yesterday that the rumours had caused "fallout" for
the Kurdish A spokesman said: "We are conscious of the concerns of the
Kurdish communities and have "We have not, and will not, comment on speculation about
possible alleged targets. That is a "We have never confirmed or denied that Old Trafford football ground was a target. Security was stepped up at the match between Manchester United and Liverpool because of media speculation about the ground being a potential target. It was purely for reassurance purposes." Mr Ali said that he was considering legal action after being held for a week, along with the other people arrested. He is on police bail until June over separate allegations that he has been working illegally. He fled from Iraq three years ago and said that his parents, two brothers and two sisters had been murdered by the regime there. Other victims of the fallout after the raids include Muhammed Tahir, of AK computers, next to the Dolphin, who claimed that he had lost about £40,000 after being forced to close for several days while police searched the takeaway and its accommodation. Greater Manchester police said: "We would obviously be prepared
to speak to Mr Ali about his
concerns. If he wishes to make a complaint against us, we have
mechanisms in place to
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