An Islamic fundamentalist lawyer has said that Ireland is a "legitimate" target for a terrorist attack

United Press International:

Anjem Choudary, speaking at a debate Thursday at Dublin's Trinity College, claimed Ireland was open to attack because of the government's decision to allow U.S. troops to refuel at Shannon Airport, the Irish Independent reported Friday.

"If you are going to allow your country to be used to refuel a U.S. plane which is going on a bombing raid, what do you expect our reaction to be? This is not neutrality," he said.

"A U.S. pilot is no different from the Irish person who allows the plane to land. They are collaborators," said Choudary, who is under police surveillance in Britain.

Another Muslim extremist, Umran Javed, told the debate that although he did not see an attack on Ireland as likely, retaliation would come "swiftly" if Ireland increased its support for the United States.

The comments came only hours after the head of Scotland Yard, Sir Ian Blair, warned that Dublin is as much at risk of a major terrorist attack as other large cities.

Senior Irish police are studying Choudary's remarks to determine if they represent an incitement to hatred.

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