News • 24 November 2002

Bondi+ plus Joe Zahra arrested in London underground

LONDON - Bondi+ member and private investigator Joe Zahra had more than his fair share of adventures this month.

What was to be a peaceful break in London turned out to be a tour of the capital’s anti-terrorist enforcing units, when Joe Zahra was arrested on 7 November for acting ‘very suspiciously’ in a London underground.

British Transport Police told MaltaToday that Mr Zahra had been filming with a video camera at Victoria station when he was apprehended. Mr Zahra’s behaviour was deemed very suspicious and warranting arrest.

The Bondi+ detective told the police officers who apprehended him that he was a journalist, and was taken to the police station to be searched.

A collection of Palestinian visiting cards found in Mr Zahra’s clothes soon aroused more suspicion and he was held for questioning. He was then told that his camera had been retained and that he could collect it the day after from Baker Street station.

At Baker Street station however, Joe Zahra was asked to wait in an investigation room where plainclothes policemen read him his rights, arresting him under the Terrorism Act. He was told that he was suspected of possessing information that could be used for a terrorist organisation or for the preparation of a similar attack.

Joe Zahra was handcuffed and taken to Paddington police station.

He was later released.

British Transport Police press liason officer Simon Loobin told MaltaToday that no charges would be brought against Mr Zahra.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Mr Joe Zahra would not divulge any details on his arrest. He said that it had all been a mistake.