British Attacks Thwarted?
Don't know if this has been posted yet...
Britain's security services thwarted a September 11-style attack on
targets including Canary Wharf and Heathrow Airport, according to
reports.
The plot is said to have involved pilots being trained to fly into
target buildings including London's famous financial centre and the
world's busiest airport.
It is one of four or five al-Qaeda planned attacks, since 9/11, that
have come to nothing, after the authorities intervened, reports
claim.
The disclosure comes as the Government prepares to unveil a series
of tough law-and-order Bills in tomorrow's Queen's Speech, setting
out the legislative programme for what is expected to be the final
session of the current Parliament.
The speech will contain Bills designed to protect the UK against al-
Qaeda attacks as well as plans for a crackdown on major organised
crime and petty offences which ruin people's lives.
Chief among the measures announced will be a move towards
introducing ID cards and steps to create a nationwide serious crime
agency dubbed the British equivalent of the FBI.
Civil liberties campaigners have expressed alarm at plans by Home
Secretary David Blunkett for the sweeping anti-terror laws should
Labour win the next General Election.
Mr Blunkett revealed a raft of measures at the weekend - from jury-
less anti-terror courts to allowing wire-tap evidence in major
trials - which could be implemented if Labour was re-elected.
He acknowledged that his anti-terror proposals will raise civil
liberties concerns, but insisted that the Government was
acting "proportionately" to protect the public from the threat of an
al-Qaeda attack.
"We will have to take whatever steps are necessary, particularly in
terms of security and intelligence, because it's no good picking the
pieces up - literally - afterwards," he said.
Under his plans, civil orders could be issued against individuals
suspected of planning terrorist acts, restricting their movements
and precluding such activities such as using the internet or
particular banking networks.
Mr Blunkett's comments came after Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Sir John Stevens spoke of his frustration at not being able to talk
about anti-terror successes.
And MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller also spoke publicly about
Britain's success in thwarting fanatics.
Mr Blunkett said he would have to await the outcome of an appeal in
the House of Lords against existing anti-terrorism powers to detain
foreign suspects without trial, before bringing forward new
measures.
In a separate move, he said that he is also considering allowing
wire tap evidence in court cases - including serious criminal trials
as well as for terrorism charges.
In the past the measure has been opposed by the security services,
who fear that they could be forced to disclose secret operations in
court, and Mr Blunkett admits that there are still problems to be
overcome