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."

[NerdDad]

It's cool HU. I read it as a sarcastic and humorous post. An irreverent poke at folks who have been less than supportive of US policies. Don't go any deeper than that, it just creates confusion.

[Merovingian]

Oops. That's a typo. It should read "Hitlery's Uterus"...LOL

I see all the same old dusty anti-French comments are being dragged out, nothing original here..

[mamelukesabre]

I never get tired of that joke. It cracks me up every time.

[spetznaz]

I never get tired of that joke. It cracks me up every time.

Me too! LOL.

[Hitlerys uterus]

Yet more personal attacks and name calling from a person who looks up to the french. I am so hurt.

Bwahahahahaha!

[balls]

"Thanks for sharing."

Ok smartass, you miss the point. Terrorism is less of a problem now, but that is all GWB talks about. The economy is of more concern to most people because they are being hit in the pocket right now or are threatened by layoffs; however, a very small number of people are currently affected by terrorism.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

I take this very seriously. The key line for me was "Details of the exodus plans would be broadcast on radio and TV in a way which would not "overdramatise" the crisis."

I lived in the UK for the first 26 years of my life. And these were during the most dangerous cold war years. A television broadcast of this type was never shown - ever.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Geezerette]

You got that right!

g

[Dog Gone]

I don't miss the point at all. You think Bush is making terrorism a big deal for political gain, and minimizing its importance. You think the economy is a much bigger deal.

I have news for you. Most people are doing just fine. Check the unemployment figures. Well over 90% of us are going to our jobs just like we ever have. The stock market concerns us, but so do a lot of things. Especially terrorists who have continually tried to kill us and would still like to if they get the opportunity.

Sorry, but I'm not buying it. The war on terrorism is real. Al-Qaida is real. Bury your head in the political sand if you wish, but don't ask us to join you. We're not that foolish.

[Hitlerys uterus]

I hear the french design their tanks with three reverse gears.

[RaceBannon]

Have the French surrendered yet???

[1234]

YAWN

[balls]

Ask anybody who has a 401K/403b plan and is near retirement what their biggest concerns are. There are a heck of a lot of boomers out there who are wondering how they are going to support themselves in the coming years. These are folks who were in their prime years during the Cold War and Vietnam, and probably also remember the Korean War and the Suez Crisis.

Do you think the media have not hyped terrorism to the degree they should have? Are the politicians not using 9/11 to their advantage? Grow up!

[Hitlerys uterus]

Long time Race! How the hell are ya?

Yeah, this time it was to the Salvation Army!

[Dog Gone]

Grow up? Disagreeing with you is a sign of immaturity on my part? What kind of a debating tactic is that?

Yes, a lot of people have lost a lot of money in their retirement accounts--money that was based on phony baloney stock prices that soared under the Clinton Administration.

Now stock prices are down to where they should have been without the false accounting, or even a bit high, based on historical measures. So those accounts are down to what they would have been without the corporate BS under Clinton.

You want to blame this on Bush, and you think the war on terror is a phony exercise. You're entitled to your opinion, even if you're objectively wrong.

[mlocher]

I don't know, but if there is going to be a terrorist nuclear strike in europe, PLEASE GOD, LET IT BE FRANCE!

i was going to reem you on this, but i see that enough other people have taken you to task already.

but i would wish that you would get a decent screen name.

[meyer]

The stock market concerns us, but so do a lot of things.

And, I'll add, the stock market is not the unit of measure of the economy. Its an indicator and it is linked, but it isn't the whole enchalada.

Unemployment is nowhere near what it was in the 70's. And people survived - in droves. :^)

I suspect that a certain spherical disruptor has decided that by talking down the economy (which he/she likely knows little about), he can deflect attention from an issue that can kill innocent Americans, and thus is of much greater importance than a deflated stock bubble.

[balls]

I am not blaming the stock market on Bush. Nor do I think discussing how these folks landed up in this situation is helpful. I'm merely saying that most people have other things on their minds than the so called "War on Terrorism". (By the way, please excuse me for not listing the epitome of all crises, Cuban Crisis, in my previous rant.)

[Cachelot]

Do you think the media have not hyped terrorism to the degree they should have?

"There's a bømbe for you, Mr. Balls. Did you expect one?"