Posted on 09/07/2002 4:18:24 PM PDT by blam
Britain is put on high alert for lone terrorists
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
(Filed: 07/09/2002)
Lone terrorists who want to exploit the anniversary of the September 11 hijacks by attacking British targets are being seen as a significant potential threat, intelligence chiefs have warned.
They fear that unknown bombers or gunmen unconnected to major terrorist groups may be planning to strike. Suicide bombers are also a potential threat.
Behind the police concern lie the cases of Richard Reid, the "shoe bomber", and Kerim Chatty, who is accused in Sweden of trying to hijack a Ryanair flight to London.
Scotland Yard is aware that a deluded, but driven individual, possibly a convert to extremist Islam, can slip through the intelligence net and pose a major threat.
David Veness, the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said there was no intelligence of a specific threat but the anniversary was a "stage" which terrorists might try to use. "An individual who is not part of al-Qa'eda might be drawn to the publicity. It is an additional factor we have to consider," he said.
Anti-terrorist operations will be evident in cities on Wednesday, with armed checkpoints around London.
Officers will be briefed to look for suspicious individuals, while businesses have been warned to tighten security. The threat from Irish dissident terror is also deemed to be high.
Mr Veness said police wanted the public to be on a state of "alert but not alarm".
He warned that the threat might not not only come from such spectacular plots as the Twin Towers attack but from the "traditional" use of bombs and guns.
"Our start point needs to be the protection of the public. We are concerned about the threat from those who have shown they can cause major casualties. That includes individuals acting alone.
"We shouldn't just think about the ghastly spectacular attacks that have already taken place, but also the range of possibilities that smaller groups and individuals may use."
The threat from international terrorism, mainly Islamic extremism, is assessed by the major Western security services as "high" which is one step below the maximum level of imminent. Mr Veness said police wanted the public to be on a state of "alert but not alarm".
In recent weeks businesses in the City of London have been extensively briefed in preparation for the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
There has also been close co-operation between Scotland Yard, British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police, the City of London Police, Royal Parks Police and forces nationwide.
Security will be in place for memorial events and Jewish holidays over the next few days.
'LONDON COULD BE NEXT MASS TERROR TARGET' - BUSH AIDE
Britain Is Put On High Alert Fo[r] Lone Terrorists
Radical {Muslim] Clerics to Celebrate [in London] on 9 / 11
Methinks were all these to come true by 9/11, by 9/12 there might be a few less radical Muslim clerics in Britain.
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