PDA

View Full Version : Fake bomb 'smuggled into Commons'



Mr Grimsdale
09-17-2004, 03:00 AM
So much for Labours idea of security...

Fake bomb 'smuggled into Commons' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3664314.stm)

The Sun newspaper says an undercover reporter smuggled materials for a fake bomb into the Commons only a day after hunt protesters forced their way in.
The newspaper said its journalist had been working for three weeks in the catering department at Westminster.

Sun managing editor Graham Dudman thinks the stunt exposed "very serious" failings in security at the Commons.

Commons leader Peter Hain is reportedly "absolutely furious" about the latest breach of Westminster security.

Mr Dudman said the undercover reporter had been able to get a job as a waiter using false references - which were not checked in any way but "couldn't have been more bogus".

The materials he smuggled in in the midst of heightened security on Thursday morning included batteries, wire, a timer and plasticine.

Security 'medieval'

Mr Dudman said it "couldn't have been anything other" than a bomb, the only difference being it was 20g of plasticine instead of semtex.

Photographs of the reporter also show him serving tea to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott while undercover at Westminster.

Mr Dudman said only a short time earlier the same reporter's picture had been on the paper's front page after he smuggled a fake bomb onto a plane at Birmingham International Airport.

Mr Hain said the Sun's stunt had confirmed all his worst fears about security in the Commons.

He said: "Frankly, the Sun has done the House a favour by exposing the amateurish and old-fashioned culture which threatened the very cockpit of our democracy.

"It's not just government ministers at risk but the 14,000 other people who work in the Palace of Westminster who are at risk in this modern age of suicide bombers.

"I have immediately asked the security services to close the loophole exposed by the Sun."

Mr Hain called on Thursday for the appointment of a central director of security to oversee the protection of Parliament.

Shadow leader of the House Oliver Heald responded angrily to the Sun's story.

He said: "This is a scandal and it's clear that we need to tighten security at the House.

"What is needed is a whole range of measures to ensure that proper security checks are carried out.

"We are grateful to the Sun for bringing this security breach to the fore."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said the incident showed the need for an overhaul of Commons security, with a greater role for Scotland Yard.

He said: "This completes Britain's worst week of security blunders.

"At best the events could be described as an embarrassment, at worst, they could have had tragic consequences."

BBC chief political correspondent Mark Mardell said it seemed the reporter had managed to smuggle in the equipment "when security was at its highest".

Tights and breeches

He said the claim was embarrassing for the House of Commons security services and would probably work in the government's favour.

He said: "The government feels we need one central figure who's in charge of all of this."

The BBC correspondent said the fact the reporter's bag was not searched was not unusual as a member of staff - but proper checks should have been made before he was given the job.

Mr Hain earlier said a it was time for a new director of security to take over responsibility from the serjeant-at-arms and his staff, who wear tights and knee breeches.

The blunt truth is that the House of Commons is operating as if in a bygone age."

In a statement, he said: "We have had three stark breaches of security - Greenpeace climbing Big Ben, Fathers 4 Justice throwing a flour bomb in the chamber in May and yesterday's hunters invading the chamber for the first time since the 17th century...

"This is the age of the suicide terrorist and our security arrangements are antiquated."

The call for reform was echoed by Metropolitan Police chief Sir John Stevens, who urged a review of the rule banning police from entering the Commons chamber without being invited by the serjeant-at-arms'.

Police have released on bail eight protesters who were arrested on suspicion of forgery, burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and violent disorder after bursting into the Commons.

All eight must return to a central London police station in October.

BigBadBrian
09-17-2004, 09:36 AM
Saw this on the News. Hope you guys get this worked out before we hear about a tragic BIG BOOM! :eek:

ODShowtime
09-17-2004, 11:26 AM
The wedge Al Qaeda has driven between the people of the U.S. and the U.K. will prevent attacks in Britain. At least by the smart, strategic bombers. Crazy fuckers will do anything as we all know.

Good luck chaps!