Al-Qaeda spies in UK ("Secret report" seen by paper)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 1, 2004 | TOM NEWTON DUNN

[Stoat]

Al-Qaeda spies in UK

Threat ... Guards in London
 

By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence EditorAL-Qaeda agents are spying on UK military bases to plan a terror spectacular, military chiefs have warned.

A leaked secret report — seen by The Sun — reveals men of Middle Eastern appearance have been seen near several sites in the past two months.

Troops are on their second highest level of security alert amid fears of a revenge attack for Britain’s role in Iraq.

Guards and cavalry barracks in Central London are thought to be at high risk. Suspect activity has also been detected outside a Royal Gurkha Rifles barracks in Dover, Kent.

On three occasions groups of men were spotted taking photos of the Gurkha base and last month a man was reportedly asking questions.

The classified document was issued to commanding officers a month ago by military intelligence, with the help of MI5 and Special Branch.

After detailing the reports, it adds: “The threat to Service personnel is real. Personnel are advised against disclosing their identity by wearing uniform in public.

“Targeting against UK and US interests, both at home and abroad, remains a priority for AQ (Al-Qaeda).” The MoD refused to comment.
 

[piasa]

fyi

[leadhead]

...men of Middle Eastern appearance have been seen near several sites ...

Last time I was in the UK, ..men of Middle Eastern appearance..were driving the buses, taxis and underground; running all the small shops in the Midlands; and seemed to be half the UK army.

Proof again that British intelligence operations exist only in fiction writer's heads

[Stoat]

It's true that this statement is rather meaningless. If they had said something such as "Middle Eastern men acting suspiciously" or "Middle Eastern men carrying RPG's in one hand, Korans in the other and wearing "Osama Rocks!" T-shirts" then it might have been a bit more interesting.
Overall, this article isn't the most informative but I thought that readers might like to see it anyway and get what little out of it that they can :-)

[nw_arizona_granny]

Sounds as though they use the same tactics there as here.

[DB]

If anything is going to happen, it will be today...

[agere_contra]

The Sun is a comic. This thread has more words in it, and longer ones, than an normal issue of the Sun. We're not talking the Daily Telegraph here.

[expatpat]

Don't knock the Sun, when there is the Mirror. Sure, the Sun is a tabloid, like the Mirror, but it is on the right side on the EU and the the Bush administration.