Britain has prevented Sept 11-style terrorist attack

[ELVIS]

56 minutes ago


LONDON (AFP) - British security services have foiled an Al-Qaeda plot to fly planes into targets in London in a September 11-style attack, Britain's independent ITV News network reported.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20041122/capt.sge.ihh78.221104233952.photo00.photo.default-380x240.jpg

"This is the story of what could have been a nightmare averted," said ITV's political editor Nick Robinson. "A story not of failure, but of success."

"That, at least, is what I am told by a senior authoritative source who says that the security services managed to avert a plot to fly planes into Canary Wharf here, and also into Heathrow Airport," he said.

"I simply do not know the details of how they found out, how they stopped it, how close the plot got, but I am in no doubt that this was a genuine feeling on the behalf of those in the security services that they had managed to foil a plot and make us safer," he added.

ITV News confirmed to AFP that their journalist's "non-attributable source" was in "the arena" of the security services or government, but would not be specific.

Britain's Home Office and London's Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the report.


:elvis:

[FORD]

Does Murdoch own ITV?

[lucky wilbury]

http://www.itv.com/news/index_808807.html

'Security services foil 9/11 attack in UK'
11.28PM, Mon Nov 22 2004


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.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by FORD
Does Murdoch own ITV?

Do you own a brain ??

[ODShowtime]

I could believe this. It seems that M1 or whatever has their shit together. The UK doesn't get attacked much, and Britain has pissed off Muslims for at least a good 100 years or so.

More importantly did they capture the pilots? Are they singing? I know this shit is secret, but those are the most important unanswered questions.

[FORD]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Do you own a brain ??

Still waiting for an answer.....

If there were anything to this story, the BBC and the Guardian would be all over it. Instead, it reads like those hysterical stories that the Moonie Times publishes every 6 weeks or so, claiming some phantom threat that always turns out to be complete bullshit.

Or the screaming FAUX News headlines of 30 year old rusted out empty metal shells which could not possibly be used as WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION FOUND IN IRAQ!!

[Nickdfresh]

It sounds like there is some exaggeration here. I've heard the story is changing into one of an attempted bombing of a plane outbound from Iraq to Britain. (CNN)

Hardly a massive plot akin to Sept. 11th!

[Nickdfresh]

Reports: UK terror attack thwarted
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 Posted: 5:23 AM EST (1023 GMT)

LONDON, England (AP) -- British security services thwarted planned September 11-style terror attacks on Heathrow Airport and skyscrapers in London's Canary Wharf financial district, according to two media reports.

But the stories, which cited unidentified sources, did not say when or where the plots were uncovered, or how close they came to being carried out.

The plans to crash planes into the two targets were among four or five attacks planned by terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, ITV News said Monday night and the Daily Mail newspaper reported in its Tuesday editions.

ITV News also said that British authorities had disrupted training programs for suicide pilots.

Officials at Britain's Home Office and Metropolitan Police in London refused to comment.

A spokesman at Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office said: "We never comment on security matters."

A year and a half ago, British troops in armored vehicles surrounded Heathrow Airport. Blair's government said that the action came in response to specific intelligence.

Pakistan had given British officials intelligence suggesting that al Qaeda had plotted to attack Heathrow airport. The information was found on the computers of two accused members of Osama bin Laden's terror network arrested in Pakistan. The computers held images of Heathrow.

On November 8, the head of the British intelligence service MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller, said that counterterrorism efforts have helped to prevent attacks in Britain since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, but she offered no details.


This February 2003 photograph shows British troops at Heathrow Airport after reports of possible attacks

[Seshmeister]

The story is that the ITN reporter says he doesn't know when it happened, who was involved, what the plan was or how they were caught but he does know(since someone he can't name told him) that the attack was foiled.

He also broke the story last night. By an amazing coincidence Blair announced his equivalent of your Patriot Act today.

See my sig for details...

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
The story is that the ITN reporter says he doesn't know when it happened, who was involved, what the plan was or how they were caught but he does know(since someone he can't name told him) that the attack was foiled.

He also broke the story last night. By an amazing coincidence Blair announced his equivalent of your Patriot Act today.

See my sig for details...

CNN had on a British News producer that was also highly skeptical at the timing of the announcement.

[Pink Spider]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
By an amazing coincidence Blair announced his equivalent of your Patriot Act today.

Are people too stupid to see through formulaic distractions? Of course.

[FORD]

Originally posted by Pink Spider
Are people too stupid to see through formulaic distractions? Of course.

Worked for the BCE so far, so now Poodle's gonna give it a shot.

[ODShowtime]

Originally posted by Seshmeister
By an amazing coincidence Blair announced his equivalent of your Patriot Act today.

I can't seem to find anything on this in my usual sources. Link anyone?

[Pink Spider]

Originally posted by FORD
Worked for the BCE so far, so now Poodle's gonna give it a shot.

You can't leave out Putin. They've all stolen the formula.

[Seshmeister]

The Queens speech is when the Queen reads out a speech written by the government outlining their upcoming legislation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4034543.stm

Crime fight tops Labour's agenda

It is likely to be the last Queen's Speech ahead of an election
Tony Blair has put the fight against crime and terror at the heart of his government's programme in the run up to the next general election.

Home Office Bills - including national ID cards and moves to combat terrorism, drugs and anti-social behaviour - dominated Tuesday's Queen's Speech.

Tory leader Michael Howard said Labour was preoccupied with talk and spin.

The Liberal Democrats accused ministers of creating a "climate of fear," to gain advantage at the ballot box.

Mr Blair told MPs that although security and crime were central to this year's Queen's Speech, it should be taken alongside on-going investment in public services and continuing economic stability.

'Dysfunctional communities'

Earlier, Home Secretary David Blunkett denied the government was "scaremongering," saying it had "played down" the terrorist threat by emphasising "alert over alarm".

And he said tackling anti-social behaviour was the first step to making people feel more secure in their communities and the wider world.


KEY MEASURES
ID cards
Creating Serious Organised Crime Agency
Drug tests for minor offenders
Offering schools more freedom
EU constitution referendum rules

In the House of Commons, Conservative Party leader Mr Howard accused Mr Blunkett of "over hyping" measures to tackle terrorism.

"There is no better example of the government's preoccupation with talk, spin and newspaper headlines," said the Tory leader.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy promised to campaign vigorously against ID cards, saying the �3bn cost would be better spent on extra police.

He also said Labour was failing to live up to its promise of being "tough on the causes of crime" and needed to do more to tackle reoffending.

The Queen's Speech sets out the government's priorities for the coming parliamentary session.

With a general election expected in May, many of the 37 bills and draft bills outlined - more than in the two previous years - are not likely to become law.

The speech contained six separate Home Office Bills, with a further five, from other departments, including law and order elements.

Cherie Blair, left, with Pauline Prescott, watch the speech
Plans include the introduction of national identity cards, with personal data on a microchip, although Mr Blunkett said Parliament would not make a final decision on the issue until "around 2010 or 2012".

There was also a bill to create the new Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), to hunt major drug smugglers, people traffickers and paedophiles.

The speech also signalled a new focus on drug abuse including compulsory drug testing for people arrested for some crimes, and the creation of a new offence of incitement to religious hatred.

And there will be new measures to clamp down on animal rights extremists.

On anti-social behaviour, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill will give local authorities more powers - including levying on-the-spot fines - to deal with graffiti, fly-tipping, abandoned cars and other low level nuisance.

Improved safety

The speech did not set out specific proposals to combat terrorism, but the draft Counter Terrorism Bill is likely to include controversial measures such as no-jury trials for terrorist cases and the use of phone-tap evidence in court.


OTHER KEY MEASURES
Consumer Credit Bill - New rights for borrowers to contest unfair credit terms
Constitutional Reform Bill - creation of a supreme court, scrapping post of Lord Chancellor
Charities Bill - cutting red tape
Road Safety Bill - tougher penalties for drink drivers and dangerous drivers
Animal Welfare Bill - moves to protect circus animals and pets
Railways Bill - scrapping the strategic rail authority
Corporate manslaughter laws

Shami Chakrabarti, from civil rights group Liberty, warned that "cheap" tough legislation would not make Britain safer but would undermine democracy.

The Queen's Speech also outlined laws setting out the rules for a referendum on the EU constitution, currently expected in spring 2006.

Among measures not included in the speech were Lords reform and moves to ban smoking in restaurants and pubs that serve food. They will not come until after the next election.

The Tories say the priorities should be trying to cut taxes while tackling crime, immigration, school discipline and hospital hygiene.

The Lib Dem "alternative" speech is topped with scrapping university tuition fees and replacing the council tax with a local income tax.

[Nickdfresh]

Home Office Bills - including national ID cards and moves to combat terrorism, drugs and anti-social behaviour - dominated Tuesday's Queen's Speech.

Keep those "hooligans" in line!

[BigBadBrian]

Originally posted by ODShowtime
I can't seem to find anything on this in my usual sources. Link anyone?

I saw the Queen make a speech about it....on FOXNEWS. ;)

[BigBadBrian]

Originally posted by BigBadBrian
I saw the Queen make a speech about it....on FOXNEWS. ;)

[BigBadBrian]

Originally posted by BigBadBrian


I saw it on CNN also. :gulp:

Wake up.

[ODShowtime]

Originally posted by BigBadBrian
I saw it on CNN also. :gulp:

Wake up.

I like it better when shesh tells me.