London - The Home Office is buying 12,000 new personal protection suits for police to wear in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear terror attack, the government confirmed Friday.
But the Home Office insisted the move, which increases the number of officers trained to 'dirty bombs' from some 7,000, was not in response to any specific threat.
"Public safety is our top priority and that's why we are committed to ensuring that as technology advances, we will provide the most up-to-date equipment to the police," a spokeswoman said.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty suggested that the figure of 12,000 came from a "guess" at what kind of threat officers could face and an assessment of the cover required nationally and for each police force. The new protective gear will replace existing suits, which currently are available to about 5 per cent of the total number of police officers.
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http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0612290546190305.htm
ON THE NET...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hofstad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hofstadtgroup
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hofstadgroup
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=alaqsafoundation
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Note: The following postt is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1760070/posts
EU: DUTCH GROUP PUT ON TERROR LIST
AKI ^ | 12/29/06
Posted on 12/29/2006 2:52:48 PM PST by Valin
Brussels, 29 Dec. (AKI) - The European Union has placed the Dutch 'Hofstad Group' and its nine members on the bloc's terrorism black list meaning all their financial assets are frozen and the group can no longer gain access to bank accounts or insurance in EU countries, Radio Netherlands reported on Friday. The move follows a request by the Dutch finance minister Gerrit Zalm.
The group’s financial assets were frozen in the Netherlands earlier this year when its nine members were jailed on terrorism charges. Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch Moroccan considered to be the Hofstadt group's leader, is serving a life-sentence for the November 2004 murder of Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh, who offended many Muslims with a short film that suggested Islam condoned violence against women.
The EU's list includes another Dutch organisation, the al-Aqsa Foundation, which is suspected of channelling money to terrorist groups.