Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Botched London plot leaves 'gold mine' of clues
The Sunday Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 07/01/07

Posted on 06/30/2007 4:21:08 PM PDT by Pokey78

Teams of forensic scientists are poring over two "gold mines" - the Mercedes cars filled with petrol, gas and nails which failed to explode in central London.

Last night, scores of specialists were taking the vehicles apart at secret locations, confident they will find crucial clues to the identity of the terrorists. Police expect to find DNA from the bombers and to secure evidence about where the bomb material came from.

The car bombs are of the kind used on a daily basis in Iraq but, unlike attacks there, the militants operating in London were not suicide bombers prepared to sacrifice themselves for their cause.

It is the first time that so-called vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices have been used in an attack in Britain since the IRA abandoned its terror campaign. The IRA, however, always tested its bombs before embarking on a mission. It appeared the London bombers had been unable to try theirs out, as both failed to explode.

The decision not to use suicide bombers is regarded as noteworthy because it makes the planning of operations far more complex. It may also suggest a shortage of volunteers prepared to die in al-Qaeda's pursuit of global holy war.

As the search for the bombers continued last night, some reports said it was centring on Birmingham, home to 140,000 Muslims.

In May, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, spoke of a "growing problem of cultural separatism" between the white and Muslim communities, after he spent 24 hours with a family in a largely Muslim suburb of the city.

Mr Cameron said that, while visiting a Birmingham mosque, he had been asked "some depressing questions about who was really responsible for 9/11 and even 7/7 - that it was a CIA plot; that Jews had been told to leave the twin towers".

The extent to which young Muslims are becoming radicalised, and the speed at which it can happen, have caused alarm. MI5 is aware of 1,700 terrorist suspects active in Britain. Peter Clarke, the Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner, spoke before the London attacks of a "very, very concerning intelligence picture".

Fears of a car bombing in Britain have been growing after two planned al-Qaeda attacks were thwarted three years ago. One gang, assembling a fertiliser bomb, was secretly recorded early in 2004 planning to target the Ministry of Sound nightclub in central London. Four months later, a separate gang, planning to use gas cylinder bombs, was rounded up. The latest plot brings to mind Dhiren Barot, 36, an Indian-born Londoner who, after his arrest, admitted writing a document called Rough presentation for the gas limos project. The document, found on a terrorist's laptop seized by Pakistani police three years ago, detailed plans for a gas attack on London. Barot was jailed for life in November.

The two Mercedes involved in Friday's failed attacks were left near the Tiger Tiger nightclub, on the Haymarket, and in nearby Cockspur Street, site of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The type of bombs used suggest that al-Qaeda militants have been unable to get hold of Semtex, the high explosive that was commonly used by the IRA. Had the car bombs detonated, however, they would have created a fireball the size of a large house and spread a shockwave for 400 yards.

Scotland Yard said it had hundreds of images of the two cars from CCTV cameras, and the fact that the bombs did not go off will provide "first-class information".

Security sources have told The Sunday Telegraph that mobile phones found in the cars were intended to be used to detonate the bombs. Each phone had been called twice but, due to technical failings, the devices had not exploded.

"The cars have given us two marvellous pieces of evidence. They are gold mines," said one senior police source. "But if they had gone off, hundreds of lives could have been lost. We were very lucky."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: britain; carbomb; england; eurabia; globaljihad; greatbritain; haymarketcarbombs; jihadineurope; london; londonbombing; terrorism; uk; ukmuslims; unitedkingdom; waronterror; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 06/30/2007 4:21:10 PM PDT by Pokey78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
We were very lucky
2 posted on 06/30/2007 4:22:53 PM PDT by kinoxi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78

bump


3 posted on 06/30/2007 4:30:14 PM PDT by lowbridge (If You’re Gonna Burn Our Flag, Wrap Yourself in It First /No Oil for Pacifists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
1-Round up ALL suspects associated with potential attackers.
2-Detain and interrogate
3-Extract actionable intelligence
4-Operate based on sound intelligence information
5-Detain with charge until suspects are no longer a danger, or turn them into assets.
6-Repeat as necessary.
4 posted on 06/30/2007 4:32:32 PM PDT by Gideon T. Reader (DEMOCRATS: Not quite American. PALESTINIANS: A proud history of mindless violence since 1964.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gideon T. Reader

7-Use your fancy racks and iron maidens that you keep hidden in the Tower. If you’re too prudish to use the equipment, you can always hang, draw and quarter them.


5 posted on 06/30/2007 4:39:26 PM PDT by 353FMG (America first, last and always.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78; dennisw; Yehuda; aculeus; dighton; Jeremiah Jr
Each phone had been called twice but, due to technical failings, the devices had not exploded.

Looks like the handiwork of Palestinians.

6 posted on 06/30/2007 4:39:59 PM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78

If the Muslims hate England and the West so much, why do they keep coming? Crate them up and ship them back.


7 posted on 06/30/2007 4:43:18 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Withhold Taxes - Starve a Liberal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
"growing problem of cultural separatism" between the white and Muslim communities"

Admitting these reprobates into Western societies is nothing less than suicidal insanity.

8 posted on 06/30/2007 4:45:21 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Elections have consequences.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78

It does absolutely no good to keep swatting at the flies if you do nothing to eliminate the steaming pile of dung in the corner - Saudi Arabia and their madrasas.


9 posted on 06/30/2007 4:46:48 PM PDT by anonsquared
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
can you imagine a car "filled with gasoline" failing to explode?

Even an atheist would have to think twice. And how incompetent can a terrorist be? No wonder all they can do successfully is blow themselves up and fly planes into things.

10 posted on 06/30/2007 4:48:04 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Thank you St. Jude.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
...the militants operating in London were not suicide bombers prepared to sacrifice themselves for their cause.

I guess that means they won't be rewarded with 72 virgins.

11 posted on 06/30/2007 4:52:06 PM PDT by vox humana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the invisib1e hand
"We were very lucky."
Maybe it wasn't just luck.
12 posted on 06/30/2007 4:52:10 PM PDT by Qout
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Qout
oh, three devices failed.

Impossible.

13 posted on 06/30/2007 4:55:41 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Thank you St. Jude.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: the invisib1e hand

A fourth if you count the sick bastard’s defective vest.


14 posted on 06/30/2007 4:58:11 PM PDT by kinoxi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
BUMPER STICKER BETRAYS LONDON BOMBERS IDENTITY


15 posted on 06/30/2007 4:59:58 PM PDT by the right reverend
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the right reverend
They were going to blow up a perfectly good Mercedes???

Couldn't they have chosen an old Fiat, or something?

16 posted on 06/30/2007 5:30:23 PM PDT by BlueDragon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: BlueDragon
On the front bumper, was this other, dead give-away sticker;


17 posted on 06/30/2007 5:34:06 PM PDT by BlueDragon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
"The car bombs are of the kind used on a daily basis in Iraq."

They are?? This is news to me. Sounds to me like left wing propaganda.

18 posted on 06/30/2007 5:38:29 PM PDT by norwaypinesavage (Planting trees to offset carbon emissions is like drinking water to offset rising ocean levels)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78

http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftMje.html


19 posted on 06/30/2007 5:43:10 PM PDT by Overtaxed (If you’re gonna burn our Flag, wrap Yourself in It First)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pokey78
Each phone had been called twice but, due to technical failings, the devices had not exploded.

Oh, I bet they've been called a lot more times than that.

I think "gold mine" was the term he used.

Welcome to your new quarters, gentlemen. The arrow points to Mecca.

20 posted on 06/30/2007 5:57:32 PM PDT by InMemoriam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson