Terror threat to 'crowded areas' David Leppard The Sunday Times (London) December 11, 2005 <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1920067,00.html> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1920067,00.html
SCOTLAND YARD has issued a nationwide alert that Islamist terrorist cells may be plotting a Christmas bombing campaign. The warning was distributed to police chiefs nine days ago by the Yard’s anti-terrorist branch. It follows a series of operations by police and MI5 aimed at disrupting possible attacks by terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda. The latest warning was sent to the chief constables of the 51 forces in Britain on December 2. It said there was evidence to suggest that Islamist terrorists were planning to carry out bomb attacks against “crowded areas†such as shopping centres, football grounds and train stations. Senior officers say the alert is not routine and are to increase patrols and searches of potential suspects. Whitehall officials say Britain remains on the second highest state of alert, Severe (specific). It was raised from the third highest state, Severe (general) to the highest, Critical, on July 7, the day of the London suicide bombings. It was due to have been lowered on July 21, but the four failed attacks of that day delayed the decision. It was reduced to Severe (specific) in mid-August. Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, revealed two weeks ago that since then police had foiled two further attacks on Britain. Senior police officers have briefed the cabinet that the threat remained high. Blair said police are preparing for attacks in the next few months. “The sky is dark,†he said. “Intelligence exists to suggest that other groups will attempt to attack Britain in the coming months.†Terrorists linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, are feared to have established a network in Britain. Some are involved in recruiting young Muslim men to travel to Iraq to fight the coalition. Others are believed to be planning suicide attacks in Britain itself. Patrick Mercer, the Tory homeland security spokesman, said he was concerned about further attacks against the underground system: “The government needs to explain what further efforts it plans to make the tube safer.†[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/g0CDCD/tzNLAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
