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London faces lockdown to thwart third terror strike
Edited for new information.THOUSANDS of police marksmen will be on Londonâs streets and rooftops again today after warnings that another team of suicide bombers is plotting a third attack on the capital. The new group is believed to be made up of British Muslims who were understood to be close to staging an attack on the Underground network last week. According to security sources the men are thought to be of Pakistani origin but born and brought up in [England]. They have links with the Leeds-based terrorist cell that staged the July 7 attacks. Even with the transport system so heavily guarded, police and intelligence sources believe that the bombers are intent on once more attacking Londonâs bus and Underground network. US security sources said yesterday that this third group of would-be bombers met at Finsbury Park mosque in North London, where some of the July 7 terrorists are also known to have stayed. There are reports that this team originally planned to strike last Thursday, which is why more than 6,000 police, half of them armed, were present at Underground stations. Scotland Yard said at the time that this exercise, the biggest since the Second World War, was to test their resources and reassure a nervous public. As commuters return to work today police chiefs say that the arrest of five suspected bombers in house raids in Birmingham, London and Rome has not ended this threat. There is concern among ministers and police at how long officers can continue such an intensive operation to âlock downâ London while a threat remains. Although reinforcements have been brought in and leave has been cancelled, resources are stretched to keep up the guard on the capital, which is costing £500,000 a day. Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, admitted that his officers were âvery, very tiredâ. Hopefully the continuing string of arrests will take care of this threat quickly, and the police can take a well-earned break. Posted by: trailing wife 2005-08-01 |
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