FBI shuts down 'IRA' website

As the hysteria-driven "war against terrorism" heads fast towards fever pitch, the crackdown on terror may be leaving some innocent casualties in its wake.

This week, a website which allegedly supports the Real IRA was closed down by the FBI.

The site, IRAradio.com, run by New York residents John McDonagh and Travis Towle, apparently broadcasts a weekly radio programme called Radio Free Eireann.

However, the site has been closed indefinitely at the bequest of the FBI under suspicion that it is in support of the IRA splinter group, the Real IRA.

A holding page protests against the closure, claiming that IRA Radio stands for Irish Republican Activists.

"This is a news web site! We do not and will not support terrorism of any kind anywhere!!! This web site is for Irish news & media coverage with regard to the ongoing British presence in the occupied six counties of Ireland with a view toward correcting misrepresentations," it reads.

An accompanying explanation adds reasons for the shutdown: "President Bush recently signed a new law that lets the FBI, CIA & OHS seize assets without any notice and/or any real un-reasonable evidence of ANY company or person that helps, supports, or does anything that can be called or labelled terrorism or is found to be connected to terrorism in any way or means possible."

The Real IRA is banned from raising cash in the US, and anyone found supporting it can be prosecuted and jailed.

But while the site claims not to support terrorism of any kind, a quick look at its source code makes one wonder why it features "bombs", "blowing up british", "down with the brits", "freedom" and "unrepentant fenian bastards" in the meta tags.

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