Counter-terrorist officers say London is in danger

Malaysia News.Net
Sunday 20th December, 2009

Senior security officials in England have warned Islamist terrorists may be planning a Mumbai-style attack on London.

A senior officer from SO15, the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command, has given the blunt warning that the attacks may take place
early next year.

In a briefing with London emergency officials, the officer said companies should expect shooting and hostage taking with handguns and bombs.

He told the authorities that commandos in the city are unprepared to cope with such an assault.

The SO15 warning follows intelligence on recent online discussions by jihadists who suggested using machineguns and bombs to strike at nightclubs, sporting venues and Jewish centres at a time when no Muslims or children are around.

The Sunday Times reported that the warning came after British officials detected the increase in communications captured by electronic eavesdropping agencies.

The paper said Britain’s security establishment was now of the view that it had intercepted a definite plot to carry out a firearms attack on London, but was worried that forces would be unprepared to meet the challenge, with commandos likely to arrive too late to save lives.

Participants at a joint exercise held earlier this year by police, military and intelligence services concluded that the capability doesn’t exist to deal with that situation should it arise.

The paper suggested that the Metropolitan Police, who are responsible for securing the British capital, are struggling to draw up effective plans to deal with the challenge of mass shootings followed by a prolonged siege with terrorists.

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