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Security chiefs' 'nightmare scenario' (UK)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6258930.stm ^

Posted on 07/02/2007 2:33:08 PM PDT by traumer

Three terrorist attacks have been launched in the UK, two in central London and another at Glasgow Airport.

What is the significance of a British terror target outside London?

It is interesting and it is also worrying that this attack has taken place in Glasgow because up until yesterday (Saturday) all the successful attacks were only in London.

Now suddenly we have Glasgow. It seems clear that in these particular attacks, both in London and the one in Glasgow, there is a Scottish connection.

Of course, Gordon Brown, the new prime minister is also of Scottish origin. There was intelligence that when Tony Blair retired and Gordon Brown took over the country may possibly face some kind of terrorist attack.

This has now happened in a co-ordinated way and obviously there is some kind of linkage between what happened in London and in Glasgow.

I think at the moment it is speculation, but it is very unusual. There has never been any evidence that outside London any kind of attack was planned.

Now once this has started, it's Glasgow yesterday, it could be Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea, wherever.

What is worrying is that for the security services this is a nightmare scenario.

Initially, the threat was apparently from abroad, from al-Qaeda operating from Pakistan or wherever.

Then we realised there were individuals born and brought up in the UK who are being recruited but again the target was London. Now the target is outside London.

What is also worrying is that the head of MI5 said quite recently that there are something like 2,000 identifiable individuals actively engaged in plotting terrorist attacks, that there are some 200 known networks involved in at least 30 terrorist plots.

That is quite a large threat.

MJ Gohel is director of international policy think tank the Asia-Pacific Foundation and on the board of the Centre for Terrorism and Political Violence at St Andrews University


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: enemywithin; gla; haymarketcarbombs; infiltration; jihadineurope; murder; perfectstorm; terrorism; wot

1 posted on 07/02/2007 2:33:10 PM PDT by traumer
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To: traumer

... there is a Scottish connection.
Of course, Gordon Brown, the new prime minister is also of Scottish origin.


2 posted on 07/02/2007 2:35:08 PM PDT by traumer
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To: traumer

It is a complex threat if you sit back and wait to get hit again.

Cripes, this ain’t rocket science.


3 posted on 07/02/2007 2:35:08 PM PDT by xDGx
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To: traumer

Prestwick Airport is also in Glasgow...


4 posted on 07/02/2007 2:35:20 PM PDT by johnny7 ("But that one on the far left... he had crazy eyes")
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To: traumer
John Gibson, Fox News, just reported that there are five doctors in custody now.
5 posted on 07/02/2007 2:41:35 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: traumer

bump


6 posted on 07/02/2007 2:45:56 PM PDT by VOA
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To: traumer
Security chiefs' 'nightmare scenario'

Not being allowed to profile!

7 posted on 07/02/2007 2:47:59 PM PDT by airborne (COULTER: Actually, my favorite candidate is [Rep.] Duncan Hunter [R-CA], and he is magnificent.)
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To: traumer

“Welcome to the Bumper Sticker War, Gordon, let’s see what you are made of” seems to be the theme. Totally predictable, and it was known about ahead of time if the latest reports are credible. They were minutes away from foiling it, I believe.


8 posted on 07/02/2007 3:42:19 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Brian J. Marotta, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub, (1948-2007) Rest In Peace, our FRiend)
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To: traumer

Hey, the Brits let them all in there with the understanding that the jihadis could preach their hate from Britian just as long as they didnt attack Britian. That was then, this is now. Multiculturalism and diversity are mental disorders.

Semper Fi’
Jarhead


9 posted on 07/02/2007 3:45:15 PM PDT by Buffettfan
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To: blam
John Gibson, Fox News, just reported that there are five doctors in custody now.

Which leads me to wonder why such a low-tech attack when presumably they had the education and access to resources for some really nasty bio or chemical weapons.

Jack

10 posted on 07/02/2007 3:48:59 PM PDT by JackOfVA
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To: JackOfVA
"Which leads me to wonder why such a low-tech attack when presumably they had the education and access to resources for some really nasty bio or chemical weapons."

Yup. Something seems to be missing here...like common sense. They were looking for a firey, showy explosion...images.

11 posted on 07/02/2007 4:04:01 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: blam
They were trying to get cute by setting off a fuel air explosion....not a normal car bombing. The timing was off....if it had worked....hundreds would have been dead in London alone.

The Brits got lucky.

12 posted on 07/02/2007 4:17:09 PM PDT by Dog
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To: Dog
Debugged
13 posted on 07/02/2007 4:26:21 PM PDT by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: JackOfVA
Which leads me to wonder why such a low-tech attack when presumably they had the education and access to resources for some really nasty bio or chemical weapons.

Access to WMD ? I sure hope our doctors do not have access to them. Granted they probably could have given a large group of people the flu or herpes. Or perhaps they could have written some incorrect prescriptions. I would be more worried about the patients they have been working on. Talk about a sleeper cell.

14 posted on 07/02/2007 4:55:10 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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