'Clear terror threat', say ministers (UK)

ITV ^ | 12 Feb 2003

[Happygal]

The Government has reacted angrily to suggestions that the deployment of troops at Heathrow airport is a PR stunt to gain support for war on Iraq.

The country's capital remains on a heightened level of security alert with armed troops patrolling in and around Heathrow airport.

And Kings Cross, one of Britain's busiest train stations, was earlier evacuated because of a suspicious vehicle.

Labour Party chairman Dr Reid was asked if the troop deployment was an over-the-top reaction as a war against Iraq loomed.

He angrily replied: "This is not a game. This is about a threat of the nature that massacred thousands of people in New York.

Later, in an attempt to defuse the situation, he retracted the reference to September 11, saying: "I was attempting to make clear this is not some sort of game, it's not some sort of PR exercise."

He said the reference was not meant to compare New York with the current situation at Heathrow.

"We are not giving a scale of the threat - this is an operational decision," he added.

However, the Government and Scotland Yard have said the "precautionary" security move is linked to fears that al-Qaeda could use the end of the Muslim festival of Eid, which runs until Saturday, as a trigger for an attack.

Experts said it points to a possible missile attack on a plane, similar to the one carried out by al-Qaeda in Kenya last year.

Earlier, Home Secretary David Blunkett said the immediate threats to the country were "not verifiable".

He added, however, that ministers had considered closing Heathrow but decided such an action would have been a victory for terrorists and "catastrophic" for trade and economy.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens told ITV News that the alert is for the whole of London, not just Heathrow.

"This is actually strengthening our resilience in London in terms of the threat we have had and intelligence. This is an alert for the whole of London - what you see at Heathrow is the obvious part of it.

"We wouldn't do this unless it was necessary. It is necessary for the safety of Londoners and people visiting this capital city. It's not just reassurance, it's necessary for the safety of the public."

Checks are also being stepped up elsewhere in the UK. The Greater Manchester force is to strengthen policing at Manchester Airport - including spot checks by armed officers - to reassure the public.

[Happygal]

Sorry idiots. You don't put tanks into an airport as a PR stunt. *Sheeh* Some people!

[Happygal]

Ivan - can you ping your UK list, please? :-)

[Happygal]

BTW..I believe Glenda Jackson has said: 'I'm proud of my party, but ashamed of my Government'.

*Tsk*, another movie 'star' mouth!

[MadIvan]

ping!

[Dec31,1999]

The US is safe for now. They won't attack us yet because an attack would sway the public toward attacking Iraq and/or other religion of terrorism countries. They know what they are doing!

[aristotleman]

Labour Party chairman Dr Reid was asked if the troop deployment was an over-the-top reaction as a war against Iraq loomed.

LOL Dr Reid...........Is that Richard Reids proud dad?

[Dog]

Ivan and Happygal promise you both will stay safe over there...

[Happygal]

Um...I'm not sure. (I'm more in tune with Irish politics than British).

Ivan?

[Happygal]

Ivan and Happygal promise you both will stay safe over there...

Hey! If Al Queida mess with us, we'll have a whole stack of Freeper FRiends on their case. They wouldn't want that! :-)

[MadIvan]

LOL Dr Reid...........Is that Richard Reids proud dad?

No this is Dr Reid, the most invisible Northern Ireland Secretary ever.

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

No this is Dr Reid, the most invisible Northern Ireland Secretary ever.

*ROFL* He must be. I've never heard of him! *LOL*

Psst..don't mind me, I've just been watching Ireland beat Scotland in soccer tonight! RESULT!!!YES!!!

[aristotleman]

Is this Secretary just making noise, or does he really believe that the govt would spent millions in beefed up security, scare the population and the economy, just to "gain support for Iraq"? Are there people who share this view in the UK?

[MadIvan]

I'll bet you can't name the secretary now, darling...he's taking a cue from his predecessor in being invisible. ;)

Love, Ivan

[Mike K]

I flew out of Gatwick this morning and saw no unusual security. There were tanks lining the roads at Heathrow though.

If you were a terrorist, and heard on the radio that Heathrow security was raised, wouldn't you take your Stingers and drive over to Gatwick or Stanstedt?

[Dog]

Shhhhh you don't want to tip off the goat herders..

[ChinaThreat]

What happened to the hard willed Brits that endured Hitler's bombing campaign with an iron jaw?

[riri]

I flew in and out of Gatwick many a' times. Especially pre 9.11. I never felt safe in Britian. One time I had a five hour layover sitting among a group of, at least, 50 Orthodox Jews. Another time they had a bomb scare that kept us outside the building for 90 minutes and they kept moving us further and further away from the buildings. All the employees were freaked out, which naturally freaked me out. Another time, I has a group of missionaries straight from Uganda on my flight, when the Ebola scare was going on. Some guy had a fever and was sweating profusely and they had to get on the loud speaker and ask if there was a Dr. on the plane. I was convinced I was going to get Ebola.

I spend waaay too much time on this board and am waaay too paranoid for that type of travel.

[Mike K]

The Brits that I spoke with (n=6) are 100% signed up for action against Iraq. They wish there were better options but are ready to move. No sane person desires it but lives can be saved by pre-emptive action.