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| International-UN-NGOs |
| G8 summit safety fears after security plan leak |
| 2005-06-20 |
| THE government was last night facing demands to reassess the security threat to the G8 summit after plans to protect the world's most powerful people were leaked. Confidential documents detailing the assessment of the terrorist threat - including from chemical or radiological attack - were passed on by a member of the intelligence community in an apparent attempt to embarrass UK ministers. The whistleblower said he was appalled by the "complacency" towards security. The documents were said to include an analysis of the hotel's possible vulnerability and the likely positioning of security forces. The report stated that the blueprint, drawn up for what is known as Operation Sorbus, included a list of vulnerable areas at the venue. It showed reinforced fencing to keep out potential protesters and suicide bombers and aerial photographs of the venue marking likely terrorist targets. But Tayside Police yesterday dismissed as "nonsense" suggestions that the leak had exposed flaws in the preparations for the summit in July. Willie Bald, the Tayside Police Assistant Chief Constable, said any suggestion that preparations for the event had been thrown into disarray following the leak was "nonsense". "We can see no reason why someone genuinely concerned about security plans for the summit would see any benefit in speaking to the press," he said. He added: "No such concerns have been raised with Tayside Police and to say ministers, or indeed anyone involved in the preparations for the summit, are approaching the event with complacency could not be further from the truth." Mr Bald said he was confident of the "comprehensive security operation" in place to protect the world leaders, including Tony Blair and the United States president, George Bush. The whistleblower reportedly leaked the plans to shock ministers, who he believed had taken security arrangements at the summit for granted. He was quoted in the paper saying: "I have been increasingly appalled by the air of complacency surrounding this event, particularly as displayed by ministers. "The release of a portion of non-operational material is intended as a wake-up call before that complacency becomes truly dangerous." The leaked plans also reportedly contained the location of a special forces base, the placing of troops and a wrangle between the US and the UK over the deployment of surface-to-air missiles. David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said the leak was potentially an "immensely serious breach of national security". He added: "The immediate task for the Home Secretary must be to reappraise all aspects of security at the G8 in light of this breach." Last night a Downing Street spokeswoman said the government did not comment on security arrangements, but the leak casts further doubt over the security arrangements made for Gleneagles, the cost of which has been put in some estimates at £100 million. Amid continued speculation on the scale of the threat posed by protestors, there were also reports yesterday that teams of riot police from Northern Ireland will be drafted into Scotland. Despite July being the height of the loyalist marching season, police from the province will be brought in to help in Edinburgh - where Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof has called for a million people to protest - and around Gleneagles itself. There has also been confusion over the level of security around the hotel. Tayside Police confirmed on Friday that a second inner security cordon will be put in place around the hotel. The authorities refused to go into details of the new cordon, which they claimed had always been part of their plans, but it was likely to be inside the five-mile fence already erected round Gleneagles. During the huge security operation in Edinburgh, police are planning to secure the Scottish Parliament building, as well as the official Royal residence of Holyroodhouse, by building a fence around them. The security operation in Scotland will involve about 5,000 extra police officers drafted in from forces across England and Wales. Last week there was a dispute over whether protestors could march close to the hotel itself. The police officer in charge of security has given the green light for protesters to demonstrate next to the fence. John Vine, Tayside's Chief Constable, said protesters would be free to demonstrate along the perimeter fence provided they did not break the law. But Perth and Kinross Council has refused to grant permission for a march past the hotel, saying public safety would be put at risk. Instead, the council has said it will allow a rally for up to 4,500 people in nearby Auchterarder on the opening day of the summit. Mike Yardley, an independent expert, said release of the leaked information was a criminal act and could potentially be used by protesters and terrorists to cause chaos at the event. But Yardley said the release of such "specific" information was not in the public interest. "Information like this could be used by a range of people, from low-grade risk globalisation protesters to something much more serious." |
| Posted by:too true |
| #2 The real question is, what will they wear UNDER the kilts. If anything. Which reminds me of the old Scottish joke about the drunk asleep beside the road, the young women passing by and a hair ribbon, with the Scotsman waking up the next morning to muse, "I dinna know where ye've been lad but ye've ta'en first prize ..." (no photos provided LOL) |
| Posted by: too true 2005-06-20 20:22 |
| #1 Who cares, let's get down to brass tacks.... what are they gonna wear for the group shot? Kilts? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-20 16:54 |