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| Britain |
| Turns out 7/7 ringleader was linked to a terror cell after all ... |
| 2006-05-08 |
| Britain's intelligence services will face a fresh barrage of criticism on Thursday when a parliamentary committee publishes a report into the London terror attacks that shows a direct link between the bombers' ringleader and a terrorist cell. The Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has been studying the lessons of the 7 July bombings and will make wide-ranging recommendations on how the security services should adapt to the changing face of terrorism. Its report will be published alongside the government's official account into the bombings, which confirms that the four bombers - all from the north of England - carried out a cheap and simple plot to bomb London using techniques they had found on the internet. The ISC has found there was a direct link between the bombers' ringleader, Sidique Khan, who killed six people when he blew himself up on a tube train at Edgware Road, and a terrorist cell that had been under surveillance by the security services. The revelation will prove damaging. Previously it was believed Khan was linked to the cell only through a third party. That he had direct links to the group under surveillance raises questions over why he was not placed under closer supervision. After the London bombings, it emerged that Khan travelled to Pakistan, where he met with radical Muslim groups. But the committee heard that, though the intelligence agencies had been monitoring Khan in the UK, they did not believe him to be a terrorist threat, instead thinking he was intent on committing fraud. The ISC report also looks at how the Foreign Office deals with warnings from overseas of potential attacks. It raises questions over the paucity of intelligence-sharing between British and Pakistani intelligence services. According to those familiar with its contents, the report will also say that intelligence failures surrounding the London bombings were chiefly down to a lack of resources. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 So long as the coppers believe they'll be punished if they so much as look at a suspect cross-eyed, let alone actually arrest one, this will continue. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Blair is much better about protecting Britain outside her borders than within. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-05-08 13:00 |
| #2 According to those familiar with its contents, the report will also say that intelligence failures surrounding the London bombings were chiefly down to a lack of resources. Best resourse any country has is the brains of its people. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-05-08 07:56 |
| #1 That ol' manpower excuse is beginning to wear thin - so long as we don't upset the UK Pakistani community who gives a f*ck about a few commuters on the tube. Once again in the UK the Asshats are protected to the detriment of the law-abiding. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2006-05-08 04:01 |