Secret report: Terror threat worst since 9/11 (Britain)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/25/nterr25.xml

The terrorist threat facing Britain from home-grown al-Qaeda agents is higher than at any time since the September 11 attacks in 2001, secret intelligence documents reveal.

Eliza Manningham-Buller warned there are over 1,600 'identified individuals' engaged in terror plots
The number of British-based Islamic terrorists plotting suicide attacks against "soft" targets in this country is far greater than the Security Services had previously believed, the government paperwork discloses. It is thought the plotters could number more than 2,000.

Under the heading "International Terrorism in the UK", the document - seen by The Sunday Telegraph - states: "The scale of al-Qaeda's ambitions towards attacking the UK and the number of UK extremists prepared to participate in attacks are even greater than we had previously judged."

It warns that terrorist "attack planning" against Britain will increase in 2007, and adds: "We still believe that AQ will continue to seek opportunities for mass casualty attacks against soft targets and key infrastructure. These attacks are likely to involve the use of suicide operatives."

The document, which has been circulated across Whitehall to MI5, Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorist Command, the Home Office, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence, also reveals that al-Qaeda has grown into a world-wide organisation with a foothold in virtually every Muslim country in North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia.

Interesting that Frank Rich in his column today also suggests that much like the summer of 2001 the system is Blinking Red thanks in large part to the diversion of the fight against terrorism to Iraq.

[Fresh_Start]

1. "Secret" - misnomer.

Secret would imply that this is information that the people do not already know. Polls for the last couple of years have said that the people are well aware of the increased threat of terrorism. And they attribute that increased threat in no small measure to their government policies (among other things)

[Phredicles]

2. But... But... I thought we were fighting 'em Over There so we wouldn't

have to fight 'em Over Here. Of course, the mouth-breathers spouting this line seem to regard the UK as There rather than Here.:eyes:

[goforit]

8. LOL!!!

[unhappycamper]

3. Just got off the phone with Captain Obvious and he sez "D'oh." n/t

[IronScorpio5]

4. (UK) Terror threat 'worst since 9/11'

MORE than 2000 home-grown al-Qaeda terrorists are plotting suicide attacks in the UK, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported, citing a secret intelligence document.

The security threat is at its highest level since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US and the planning of attacks against British targets will increase further in 2007, the "Extremist Threat Assessment" document said, according to the newspaper.

"The scale of al-Qaeda's ambitions towards attacking the UK and the number of UK extremists prepared to participate in attacks are even greater than we had previously judged," the Sunday Telegraph reported the document said.

Britain suffered its worst peacetime attack in July 2005 when four British Islamists blew themselves up on London's transport network, killing 52 commuters and wounding hundreds.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21284587-401,00.html


Interesting

[ixion]

5. I hope the brits have alot of duct tape to go with all that fear

:sarcasm:

[aquart]

6. So, they gonna do it all on the same day?

That would be a little impressive. Not to mention messy.

Or do they plan to stagger it, like in Israel? So you never know if it's safe to go for milk or ride a bus? That's marvelously effective. Ask the Palestinians how well it's doing.

Have they asked the IRA for permission to move in on their turf? Did the IRA giggle and say, Go for it?

Let me know when something explodes.

Do those enzyme detergents work on blood and guts?

[IronScorpio5]

7. Not sure about the detergents.....

but the brits are really paranoid about another 7/7.

[goforit]

9. What mischief has Tony been up to. Another MIHOP on it's way,eh?

[Supersedeas]

10. nothing to see here, right Abrams -- back to ANS

[CJCRANE]

11. The War on Terror is bearing fruit.

The terrorists now hate Britain for their "freedoms" too.

[IronScorpio5]

12. Seriously.....

do you think they are overreacting or do they really have a problem on their hands?

[CJCRANE]

13. It's a bit of both.

I personally believe that most major terrorist attacks are facilitated or allowed to happen (like 9/11 or 7/7) and these are used for political gains. But of course real fundamentalists do exist and many British muslims do have links with Pakistan, which is where the original Taliban/al-Qaeda was created (with Western help).

So the threat is real...but Blair (just like *) has more to gain from terrorism and fear than the local muslims do...so it's sort of an unholy alliance - a victory for al-Qaeda is a victory for Bush-Cheney & Blair because it reinforces their "generational war" and police state policies, ordinary people (including muslims) lose.