Posted on 12/23/2003 11:46:53 AM PST by TexKat
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens has urged the UK public to be vigilant to potential terrorist activity over the festive period.
He said the activity and the actual threat has taken a "quantum leap" since September 11.
Asked whether activity by the security services had prevented terrorist incidents over the last year, Sir John said: "That is absolutely right, there is no doubt about that.
"The hard work has been successful, but we must not be complacent. We really must be vigilant," he said.
Sir John was asked about comments by US homeland security director Tom Ridge, who warned that terrorists were planning attacks similar in scale to September 11.
He warned that while he had not got warnings like that, the security level in this country was raised six weeks ago "for good reason".
Sir John said: "Six weeks ago the necessary actions were taken, we have raised our level. There is an immense amount of activity going on even as I speak in terms of ensuring that people's security is there and more of that will go on over Christmas and the New Year."
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said he had no reservations about the detention of some terrorist suspects in the UK without trial.
"In relation to people in this country, people have been detained for good reasons. Those good reasons are necessary in the dangerous times in which we live.
"I'm afraid those kind of powers, draconian as they appear to some, are absolutely necessary for what we are dealing with at the moment."
Asked whether he was concerned that the use of such powers might alienate the Islamic community, Sir John said: "The dangerous times we are living in mean that it is up to all of us to work together. Without doing that, we just will not be able to deal with the threat.
Sir John Stevens: 'take care'
Around 3,000 police officers will be on duty for New Year's Eve in central London, Scotland Yard has said.
Sir John Stevens: 'take care' The figure is around 500 more than last year amid on-going fears of a terrorist attack. Patrols will be boosted around key locations in the capital during the celebrations.
Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "We would say to people, be alert, be vigilant and take care.
"If you see anything suspicious tell a police officer. We have no specific information which makes us think there is a specific threat but generally there is a high level of alert nationally.
Mr Hogan-Howe said police expected crowds of around 100,000, many of them gathering in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Parliament Square.
Mayor Ken Livingstone has also organised a fireworks display near the Millennium Wheel.
Mr Hogan-Howe said the extra officers this year were "firstly because of the general security alert and secondly we have to anticipate the firework display, we have to anticipate crowd dynamics and have contingencies".
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens earlier urged the public to be vigilant to potential terrorist activity over the festive period.
Sir John said the security level in this country was raised six weeks ago "for good reason".
Asked whether activity by the security services had prevented terrorist incidents over the last year, Sir John said: "That is absolutely right, there is no doubt about that. The hard work has been successful, but we must not be complacent."
-- Triumph of the Postmodern: The Third World War Revisited. p. 27
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Britain must take great care not to let the American state of heightened alert permit a lowering of the guard in the much more vulnerable UK. With the exception of striking an American college bowl or professional playoff football game, it is extremely unlikely the Islamic entente will attack the US.
On the other hand Britain remains the critical link in the Western alliance during the Third World War. A successful Islamic entente strike versus London has the capacity to deliver a knockout blow to the Brits and effectively collapse the hard earned momentum Western forces have garnered in Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia and the Philippines.
The Brits have scored a number of remarkable COIN successes during the last month -- the threat to British ports has now been neutralised. However security at Heathrow and Gatwick remains behind the curve and the probability of a massive catastrophic assault versus "The City" has increased with sophisticated weapon infiltration into the UK from the Balkans.
Should the Islamic entente successfully launch this next attack then the war will indeed go on another decade. The fate of the world now in the hands of the British security services...
The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles.
Try Ipecac for that Doc.
The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles. BULLSHIT!
I have watched your BS for over two years now. Everything you have predicted has NEVER come true. You have been wrong on anything involving the Balkans and the Middle East.
I hope Allah's suitcase doesn't blow up your a$$. Your credibility is suspect. Your rantings have never produced anything close to what you predicted.
The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles.
CAUTION! Europe is waking up... You should tremble... Fusion.
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