Twin terror threat from Islamic and Irish groups

www.news.telegraph.co.uk | 12-17-02 | John Steele

[doug from upland]

Twin terror threat from Islamic and Irish groups
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
(Filed: 17/12/2002)

Britain faces a twin threat of terror attacks over the Christmas period from Islamic fundamentalist groups linked to al-Qa'eda and dissident Irish republicans, one of Britain's most senior anti-terrorist officers warned yesterday.

London is regarded as a prime target but other cities are vulnerable. Peter Clarke, a Deputy Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard and head of the anti-terrorist branch, said London and the rest of Britain faced a range of terrorist threats from different groups, though he stressed there was no intelligence about a specific threat.

Mr Clarke appealed for vigilance over the Christmas period. The "threat assessment" for both fundamentalist and Irish terror has been classed as high - second only to imminent in a list of six threat levels used by police and security services - for some months.

In particular, police across Europe are on alert for attempted "spectaculars" by followers of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qa'eda, and the emergence of suicide bombers on the streets of western European cities.

Mr Clarke added: "The threat from Irish dissident republican terrorism continues to be of great concern to us." Members of the public were urged to be alert to the danger of suspect packages, objects or vehicles.

Mr Clarke also urged anyone who might have information about possible terrorist activity to contact police, adding: "Terrorists need somewhere to live, somewhere to store equipment, and they need vehicles to move around in. If you let your property or storage space and you have noticed something suspicious please contact us."

• Three Algerian men accused of planning a terrorist attack in London told a court yesterday that they were "100 per cent innocent".

The men, who were arrested in north London last month, each denied a charge of being in possession of cash, travel documents and identity papers for use in the "commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism".

Rabah Chehaj Bias, 21, Rabah Kadre, 35, and Karim Kadouri, 33, all pleaded not guilty at Bow St magistrates court. Sue Hemmings, prosecuting, said the Crown's case was not linked to newspaper reports of a plot to attack the London Underground.

9 December 2002: Terrorist survival classes for pupils at primary school
3 December 2002: Britain put on smallpox terror alert
18 November 2002: Al-Qa'eda 'likely to be planning suicide bomb'
26 October 2002: Detention of foreign terror suspects is ruled legal
10 June 2002: Britain plans anti-terror reserve force

[PoisedWoman]

That interesting TV series, The Agency, aired a show a few days ago--was it Saturday night? -- in which a renegade IRA guy aided and abetted alQaeda. A great program. I hope they can figure out the best time slot for The Agency and keep it on the air.

[doug from upland]

I don't watch TV but I think Mrs. DFU has watched the show. The IRA has been busy around the world spreading their knowledge and three decades of expertise. They are very busy in South America.

The company with which I work, SSAF, has been defending against IRA bombs for over 30 years.

[Prodigal Son]

Linking these two together:

SCOTLAND YARD WARNS OF TERROR THREAT (IRA)

[Lessismore]

"The threat from Irish dissident republican terrorism continues to be of great concern to us."

I would recommend that MI-6 dispatch a suitable number of operatives to Boston to implement a preemptive, extraterritorial, liquidation of the supporters of IRA terrorism who reside in that city.