BRITAIN ON STANDBY FOR NUKE STRIKE; SECRET PLAN TO EVACUATE MILLIONS IN TERROR ALERT

August 17, 2002 | August 17, 2002 | John Twomey

[Wallaby]

Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.

BRITAIN ON STANDBY FOR NUKE STRIKE; SECRET PLAN TO EVACUATE MILLIONS IN TERROR ALERT

By John Twomey The Express; NEWS; Pg. 8 9 August 17, 2002

PLANS to move millions of people out of Britain's major cities in the event of a terrorist attack have been secretly drawn up, it was revealed yesterday.

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The Al-Muhajiroun group, whose leading supporters include controversial Sheikh Abu Hamza alMasri, has warned Britons that they will "choke on the smoke" of revenge attacks if a strike against Saddam is launched.

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The mass exodus would be launched at centres of population around the country if there was a nuclear or biological strike. In London, emergency nerve centres for the Government, the police and vital financial services have already been built and equipped. They would be ready within hours of a terrorist outrage. The move is in direct response to the September 11 atrocities and a possible terrorist backlash after any military strike against Iraq.

But police stress there is no specific intelligence about an imminent attack. The authorities say they are responding to a general threat.

Details of the emergency plans emerged as pressure was mounting for the deportation of extremist Muslims who openly support the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

The Al-Muhajiroun group, whose leading supporters include controversial Sheikh Abu Hamza alMasri, has warned Britons that they will "choke on the smoke" of revenge attacks if a strike against Saddam is launched.

It is understood Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch is examining material - including videos - linked to the group in case they breach the Terrorism Act. The extremists, who are condemned by the vast majority of Muslims in Britain, want the UK to be incorporated into an Islamic state in Europe.

Emergency plans have been drawn up for major UK cities to ensure that local government and the police can operate effectively in the event of a terrorist attack. They include new measures introduced since September 11 such has no-fly zones over power stations and other vital sites.

A major element of each plan is understood to cover supplies of crucial drugs - including antidotes to known biological weapons - and medical services.

The existence of London's postSeptember 11 plan was revealed in a letter to the all-party Commons Defence Committee by Judith Mayhew, chairman of London Corporation's policy and resources group. "London is currently looking at methods of mass evacuation in certain geographical areas, " she wrote. Details of the exodus plans would be broadcast on radio and TV in a way which would not "overdramatise" the crisis.

Police chiefs believe there could be mass panic if London or other major cities came under attack, particularly from chemical weapons. Areas of dense population or with poor road and rail links would create additional problems.

Methods of dealing with possible outbreaks of public disorder at railway stations and other transport terminals also feature in the plans.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is in overall command of the emergency planning as head of the newly-created Civil Contingencies Committee. But in the event of a disaster the Prime Minister would be in charge, working from the Cobra nerve centre in Whitehall.

Tony Blair recently ordered a GBP 1.4million re-fit of Cobra. It is understood the money will be spent on upgrading communication equipment to link the centre to a network of regional government bunkers dotted around the country. He has ordered the work to be completed before any military action against Saddam.

One expert said last night: "Planning of this kind has been going on for decades, particularly in the face of a Cold War nuclear attack. It is only right that Government is prepared for any nightmare scenario."

[balls]

"Seriously, this says there is no specific threat, so it is so much scaremongering. "

This scaremongering, originated by Bush, has gone much too far. To loosely quote Jay Severin, the Boston talk show host, "there is no 'War on Terrorism'. It's all a sham by George W. Bush who is incapable of showing true leadership and must shoehorn terrorism into every speech he makes to keep up the ratings." Every tiny suspicion of terrorism is magnified today, thanks in part to George Bush. But, terrorism is probably less a threat now than it was in the clinton years. The real problem right now is the economy, stupid, and George Bush will have his head handed to him in September, unless he very soon starts a "rally around the president" war with Iraq.

[Diddle E. Squat]

What "they" know is that they must prepare for as many possible scenarios as possible. It doesn't mean that a nuke strike is likely, but rather possible.

I wouldn't get too worked up about this report. Most diligent people already have a plan for what they would do in a variety of incidents, its just prudent. Glad to see govt's doing the same, just in case.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, right.

BTW, what national election is in September?

[balls]

It doesn't take a national election to render a president irrelevant. If GWB doesn't hold on to the House, he'll be a lame duck for the next two years.

[DugwayDuke]

I think Mr. Squat is correct. One should not get at all worked up about this. I suggest the following explanation. Britain is our only ally who has indicated support for our invastion of Iraq. This is a rather controversial position in Europe. I suggest that stories of this type will be floated from time to time by those who would scare the population and, in so doing, undermine any support for our Iraqi invasion. IOW, propaganda and dis-information. - Duke

[xJones]

The only John Twomey I can find is a playwriter.

John Twomey. Did I find the wrong John Twomey?

[Dog Gone]

But, terrorism is probably less a threat now than it was in the clinton years.

Thanks for sharing.

[Merovingian]

I would submit that a wish that an entire nation met a nuclear devastation is far more obnoxious than harmless namecalling on an anounymous message board.

Precisely...90% of the anti-French on this forum are thoughtless media-brainwashed parrots, and have no direct knowledge of the country..

[Hitlerys uterus]

"But, terrorism is probably less a threat now than it was in the clinton years."

I should think that goes without saying. Klintoon was too busy gettin his crank turned to care if the US suffered at the hands of islamikazee savages.

[ninenot]

Agreed. What the story actually says is that plans for evacuation in case of a nuke exist, and somebody's reviewing them. Blair will evacuate to Cobra.

Geez. I thought the Brits would all stand on the street and give the collective finger to the incoming missiles.

[ninenot]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but GWB is quite concerned about terrorism.

His problem is that Saddam is holding the sleepers until we attack Iraq. At that point, he will unleash them and there will be areas of the USA where chaos reigns, at least briefly.

The economy is sick. Therefore, let us cut taxes by, say, 50% or so. That will help quite a bit.

[Hitlerys uterus]

What's to know? They have proven themselves the cowards of the planet. Worse yet, they have the insufferable gall to be proud of themselves. Now, as anti-semitism is again on the rise in europe, the french lead the charge. Those heroic socialists {the french} are also leading the pack down that ruinous, collectivist road that most of eastern europe has abandoned as unworkable.

Say, is it true they planted trees along all the boulivards so the nazi's can march in the shade next time?

[blam]

US Plans To Evacuate Workers In Case Of Attack (DC)

[mamelukesabre]

I thought it was funny.

Check out the name he/she is posting under.

[mamelukesabre]

OK frechie, don't get your stockings in a bunch.

[Merovingian]

You mean 'Hitler's Uterus'?...LOL Sounds like gender identity problem there..

[Merovingian]

What's a 'frechie'?

[mamelukesabre]

not quite. read it again.

[mamelukesabre]

Oops. That's a typo. It should read "frenchie"

[MJY1288]

I saw an ad in Shotgun News the other day that read "French Military rifles for sale, Like new, only laid down once" :-)