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."

[mitchbert]

They (the gov't) know something and they're trying to set up the mechanism to protect us without making it obvious that they know and avoid scaring the heck out of the population.

Pay attention, folks. Despite the best efforts of the U.S. Military, I'm not convinced Saddam will go down quietly. Horrifically, he may take a significant percentage of the population of Bagdhad down with him.

[Dog Gone]

Every western country needs these kinds of plans. I'm not sure how much help they would be in a real emergency, but it's certain to be of some use.

It's nothing to be alarmed about in a general sense. It's like the escape route which is posted on your hotel room door.

[Don Joe]

"police stress there is no specific intelligence about an imminent attack."

I don't believe that.

[sheik yerbouty]

It won't. Alas, the French have already surrendered.

[PoorMuttly]

This is great. Share the joy.

Roll on.

[McGavin999]

I just heard on FOX that President Bush has just signed off on the evacuation plan for DC. This is getting close.

[justshe]

But you have to admit, the TITLE of this piece:

BRITAIN ON STANDBY FOR NUKE STRIKE;

is just a BIT misleading based on the text in the article:

But police stress there is no specific
intelligence about an imminent attack.

At least that is the way *I* read the words 'on standby'.

[chance33_98]

We are doomed to repeat the mistakes we have made because we have failed to learn the lessons of the past. When there is a threat you consider great eliminate it - but the liberal wusses in power are too worried about the innocents being killed. I guess they do not consider us innocent.

If I build a bomb in my basement capable of taking out the whole neighborhood what will happen? I will be arrested and put where I cannot harm others. But when people like Sodomy Whosinsane does it the liberals bellyache about doing anything. Who then is our real enemy????

[Freedom2specul8]

..

[thinden]

The Express used to be called "The Daily Express." It is regarded as being on the serious end of the London tabloid market and it is struggling in competition with The Daily Mail.

looks like they've scooped the big boys. thanx for the post.

[Dog Gone]

Oh, it's misleading, for sure. I was thinking about the substance of what Britain has done, not how this is being reported.

This is being spun as if London could be wiped out by a nuke later this weekend. That's absurd, but it sells papers.

[Phillip Augustus]

The former, I suspect. Then again, his hatred of France and the French people is hardly unique on this board.

[Hitlerys uterus]

Yeah, I "suspect" a couple of things too, bub. Funny, you don't see this moron calling fellow members names though.

[justshe]

Interesting too, that both Britain and D.C. announce their plans on the same day, no?

[Cold Heat]

LOL! What I see here is nothing more than a civil defense and preparedness document. Nothing more and nothing less. We have the same and they are updateing theirs.

More media BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cold Heat]

PLEASE GOD, LET IT BE FRANCE!

Having given this some thought, I have no objections.:-)

[MadIvan]

Meanwhile the Wallabies got beaten by the Springboks, 33-31. ;)

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

Regards, Ivan

[Phillip Augustus]

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.

[Hitlerys uterus]

Perhaps YOU view the FReeper community as nothing more than an "anonymous message board", but I can assure you that myself and most people here do not. Perhaps if you spent less time cheering on personal attacks on members you might find, as many here have, that FREE REPUBLIC is far more.

As for wishing a nuclear strike on the cowardly, collaborating french, I don't. As I said, if it has to happen to the euroweenies though.....

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I think the West is quietly preparing for the worst.

Well, not too quietly, apparently.