| Submit your comments on this article |
| Britain |
| Al-Qaeda may be planning holiday bombing campaign |
| 2005-12-11 |
| 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 Yardâs 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 âcrowded areasâ 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. âThe sky is dark,â he said. âIntelligence exists to suggest that other groups will attempt to attack Britain in the coming months.â 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: âThe government needs to explain what further efforts it plans to make the tube safer.â |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 well, at least AQ is not too PC to acknowledge Christmas (/irony) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-11 15:24 |
| #2 Watch out for gifts where the bearer says you will get a bang out of it. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-12-11 15:03 |
| #1 Just a guess on my part, but I suspect that Al Qaeda is planning a bombing attack anytime they think they can make it happen. Given the pressure worldwide on them, just getting them off is hard enough. The bombing in Jordan is an example of that thinking. They'll take it when they can get it. |
| Posted by: Jerong Unavigum8192 2005-12-11 08:43 |