A secret intelligence report has revealed that security chiefs believe al-Qaeda may target New Year celebrations across Britain, The Telegraph has learned.
The document, which has been distributed to every military base in Britain warns that "crowded places or events" are under "a severe threat" of attack from terrorist bombers. The report, which is marked "restricted", is understood to have been compiled by military intelligence specialists, MI5 and Special Branch officers.
Under the heading "International Terrorism", the report warns that military personnel and establishments within the Government Security Zone in central London, which includes Horse Guards in Whitehall, and Buckingham and St James's Palaces, face a "substantial" threat of attack. It says military bases across the country are also facing a similar threat.
The report, which is part of a monthly security update for the armed forces, adds that the threat "comes from al-Qaeda and associated terrorist groups". It continues: "Targeting against US and UK interests both at home and abroad remains a priority for al-Qaeda. Their attacks - including the Madrid train bombings in March - have been against soft targets with the aim of creating as many casualties as possible."
The investigations by MI5 have disrupted Al Qaeda plots in England before. I only hope this investigation has done the same because they arrested 10 Al Qaeda suspects just last week. In September, the Leader of the Commons (Peter Hain) warned of an Al Qaeda plot to detonate a dirty bomb in Westminister. While these two may be entirely unrelated, it does give reason for pause.
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I'm a Londoner and from my experience 'secret intelligence report' leaks such as this are basically just the UK's covert equivalent of America's colour-coded threat alerts.
After the desired effect of a contained but real panic is achieved, i.e. within a few days time, it'll be revealed how flimsy the evidence that prompted this threat was (of course that latter piece of news isn't covered nearly as thoroughly by the media).
PS....
>they arrested 10 Al Qaeda suspects just last week
....did they??? I don't remember anything about that in domestic news
Posted by: Martin at December 27, 2004 11:48 AM (ll2pj)
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Coo! Blimey! I've lost me 'ead!
There really is no such thing as evil people, no bombs, I am a crazy britisher, stiff upper lip and all tha'!
Scuse me whilst I bury me 'ead in the sand.
I dont know much really, but since I'm British I'll speak with authority about EVERYTHING!
I'm so damned smart, then, arent I? Well, it is '
July 7th, 2005 and it looks like you (of course) were wrong. It just took longer than you thought, didnt it, then? And do you know why? Because the people in authority were doing a great job on arresting those arses and kept them from their dirty work! N, of course now you will say, Oh, look what a terrible job they did! But YOU didnt want them to arrest anybody, now, did ya then?
You dont know if you are coming or going because your whole outlook is the same as a little kid.
When are you going to grow up?
Tom
Posted by: Tom at July 07, 2005 10:25 AM (N5S5I)
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i think what these people do is horrific and disgusting and they dont think about innocent lives they are just selfish
Posted by: anonymous at July 07, 2005 12:04 PM (XfUdJ)
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that tom person is a bit of a cunt now, he is probly one of those american patriots
"im american and im a dumb ass fat geriatric fuck and i dont know what end is my arse and what end is my head cos shit seems to come outta both ends'
tom grow up you cunt the brits are a million times better than america
FASCIST COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!
and you ruined our language, go burn in your christianty hell with you NRA ass lovers
Posted by: tommy gun at July 07, 2005 01:20 PM (uOgL8)
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i think all ilegal immagrents should not be allowed in this country and should also be sent home!! i am only 13 and not at all racist in any way, but i have grown to know that al qaeda are in our country, living on our social, taking our tax, but still have plans to bomb us!! Its time tony blair stopped being such a sissy and own up to the probelems we have in this country! In my school we have illegal immagrents and they pretend not to able to speak english, but today, when a boy in my class was winding lul up (one of the imegrents) she said to him the worst swearwords on easrth, but yet said she didnt understand when it came to work!! i think the england and the u.k are fed up with being 3rd class citezens and foreigners in our own country.
amie x
Posted by: amie gazzard at July 07, 2005 01:55 PM (rr3CE)
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Amie:
Excuse by my english to me.I try write in your idiom for you.
I am latinoamerican and I live there. I think you realy are racist with only 13 year. Is not your fault. When the world is divided in very rich and extra poor, the last want to go rich`s country . Why very much countries are poor?. I question you. Why very much peoples dont have you same religion? I think you will say: it does not matter to me.I only want they to go at your countries.
Then you could come back to UK.
Posted by: saludos at July 08, 2005 07:27 AM (qEBes)
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Is it just me, or is the bombing of Britons provoking a stronger affective response than did the bombing of Spanish people?
Posted by: chirurgia estetica at August 03, 2005 09:51 AM (eqOC/)
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it is not correct to say that all muslims are terrorists yet all terrorists are muslim and it is the backin that they gain from their community which has led up to the events of all the terror attacks all over the world. all the ectremists should be shot or deported as they live in their petty minded world; ignorant of the suffering they cause.
Posted by: Rebeca at August 10, 2005 09:19 AM (bbeZf)
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rebeca wat you say is true but is it really worthy to shoot people. i am a muslim but i dont agree to any of the things which most of my religion says as its just so right winged. im geting dizzy niow what medicine is the best for that
Posted by: Mariam at August 10, 2005 09:22 AM (bbeZf)
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