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Shopping centres on alert for terrorism attack The security services are preparing shopping centres across the country for a successful terrorist attack that would probably result in the deaths of dozens of innocent people. Duncan Gardham 18 Jul 2009 Ibrahim's attempt was the third time in four years that terrorists have targeted the large crowds that gather in these relatively unguarded places. In March 2004 a plot to blow up the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent with half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertiliser was foiled by MI5 and a month after Ibrahim's arrest last year, Nicky Reilly, another Muslim...

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Successful counter-terrorism can be described as a non-event. Nothing happens because we are successful in identifying people who are intent on committing an act or acts of terrorism, and manage to somehow intervene to prevent them from doing so. When we fail to identify and focus our efforts on the right people, however, bad things happen."

FBI Warns of Potential Terror Attacks The FBI and Department of Homeland Security today issued an analytical "note" to U.S. law-enforcement officials cautioning that al-Qaida terrorists have in the past expressed interest in attacking public buildings using a dozen suicide bombers each carrying 20 kilograms of explosives. Authors with the U.S. Office of Intelligence and Analysis added that they have "no credible or specific information that terrorists are planning operations against public buildings in the United States." The FBI and DHS analysts said they were releasing the note because "it is important for local authorities and building owners and...

The Hunt for American al Qaeda The United States is turning up the heat in the hunt for the California boy turned al Qaeda operative, Adam Gadahn, who has been charged with treason and is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. If caught and convicted, Gadahn could face the death penalty. The State Department along with the Department of Diplomatic Security announced the beginning of a publicity campaign in Afghanistan urging locals to provide any information on Gadahn's whereabouts, with a reward if the information leads to his capture. Radio advertisements with information concerning the $1 million reward have...

The man detained over a suspected suicide bomb attack in Exeter was an autistic 22-year-old allegedly radicalised by a gang of suspected Muslim radicals who were being monitored by police and MI5, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. Investigating officers said that Nicky Reilly received a text message of "encouragement" hours before the nailbomb attack in a family restaurant. Police have made the first arrests as the net closed in on the suspected radicals alleged to have groomed the bomber. Sources close to the investigation said that the alleged corruption of a vulnerable young man - who suffered from Asperger's Syndrome,...

* Police discover device in restaurant toilet after explosion * Muslim convert with history of mental illness, held * Police say Nicky Reilly, 22, was 'preyed upon and radicalised' * Armed police search premises in Plymouth By Charlotte Gill Last updated at 10:59 PM on 22nd May 2008 A Muslim convert with a history of mental illness was being held under armed guard tonight after he apparently detonated a nail bomb in a family restaurant. Nicky Reilly, 22, who suffered serious facial injuries in the blast, is thought to have carried out the alleged attack after being 'preyed upon and...

A city centre was evacuated today after two bombs were found - at least one of which exploded - at a busy lunchtime cafe. A man, who is believed to have set off the explosive device, was injured and has been taken into custody. At least one of the devices was believed to be a nail bomb. The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, Stephen Otter, said tonight: "We can now confirm there were two explosive devices found at the scene." He said they were both in the same area of the Giraffe restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre, in...