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| Britain |
| Bobbie Boss: London Terror Attack ’Inevitable’ |
| 2004-03-17 |
| via CNSNews London - A terrorist attack on Britain by Islamic militants is inevitable, the chief of London’s police force said Tuesday in comments backed up by the city’s mayor. Speaking to a press conference, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said that terrorists have already been caught trying to attack London since the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. "Since Sept. 11 there have been 520 arrests, half have been charged with an offense and there are 90 about to go through to court," he said. "We do know that we have actually stopped terrorist attacks happening in London but, as the prime minister and home secretary have said, there is an inevitability that some sort of attack will get through -- but my job is to make sure that does not happen." He was speaking in the wake of bombings in Madrid that killed more than 200 people last week. After suspicion initially fell on domestic terror group ETA, evidence was found pointing to al Qaeda links. Spain and Britain have been the main U.S. allies in the war in Iraq. In Britain, patrols on subways and trains have been stepped up, and London police are using undercover officers to guard the Underground or "Tube" for the first time. But Stevens warned that the public must be vigilant everywhere "We are not just talking about the Tube and the rail system," Stevens said. "We are talking about London in general. We are talking about buses, nightclubs, pubs and roads. We know from experience in Bali that al Qaeda attack clubs. There is a need for everyone to be alert." Stevens said that a major attack "will not be easy to handle" but that police are drawing on more than three decades of experience tackling terror groups such as the IRA. Earlier, U.K. Home Secretary David Blunkett said it was "quite likely" a terror attack is currently being planned against Britain. "We are at no greater risk now than we were before the World Trade Center attack, because they had already planned for it, before the Afghanistan war, before the Iraqi conflict and before last Thursday," Blunkett told the BBC. Echoing Stevens’ statements, London Mayor Ken Livingstone told the press conference that it would be "miraculous" if the British capital did not suffer an attack. "We have known all along there are people trying to come here and take lives. Everything we have done has been simply to protect life. There are people out there who will take life in the hundreds and thousands," Livingstone said. Livingstone said, however, that London is one of the safest cities in the world and pointed out that most potential terror targets are covered by police CCTV cameras. I hope the Brits get a pass, but with bad actors like Hamza, it’s not likely. I was surprised that "Red Ken" didn’t blame Bush... then it hit me: He would welcome an attack. Then he could blame Bush in a setting of high drama (with hair mussed and some charcoal rubbed on his cheek for effect) and do his best Rudy Giuliani bit... Methinks he dreams of bigger things on his horizon. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #7 If it was pre-dawn, then it was the Fajr! The first time is a singular experience. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-17 11:25:45 PM |
| #6 I pesonally have never heard it, so presume they don't - Regent's Park Mosque btw. I once slept on a roof in Istanbul next to a massive mosque - the one in the postcards - only to be woken in the depths of night by some crazed mullah wailing at a 1000 decebels in my ear. Truly frightening. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-3-17 9:12:33 AM |
| #5 Do they broadcast the call to prayers from that Moskkk? Since it's your workplace, you're not likely to endure it, but there's nothing quite like having the Fajr (the first of the 5 daily prayers) called at about 3:30 AM - and the volume set to wake the dead. Something I would only wish on a Muslim. Maybe thats why Islamos are always so cranky. Not enough sleep. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-3-17 8:46:15 AM |
| #4 Do they broadcast the call to prayers from that Moskkk? Since it's your workplace, you're not likely to endure it, but there's nothing quite like having the Fajr (the first of the 5 daily prayers) called at about 3:30 AM - and the volume set to wake the dead. Something I would only wish on a Muslim. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-17 8:28:40 AM |
| #3 Good thinking. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-3-17 8:12:36 AM |
| #2 join in the mass lynching that follows,hell if i were you i'd have a high power cross bow and a supply of large rocks at hand in my office desk just ready and waiting for the seige |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-3-17 8:08:12 AM |
| #1 I just hope the fact I work right next to the biggest Mosque in London may save me. I may, however, be crushed in the mass lynchings that follow. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2004-3-17 8:03:12 AM |