Irish terror attack 'likely' on day of royal wedding

[TonyGosling]

Is it too obvious to suggest that - if MI5 have any hard evidence of his that they might ask for the suspects to be arrested right now?

Irish terror attack 'likely' on day of royal wedding
EXCLUSIVE by David COLLINS 25/04/2011
MI5 has warned senior Government figures that an attack by Irish terror groups is “highly likely” on the day of the royal wedding.
The intelligence service believes a bomb attack may occur in Belfast or Londonderry in a bid to disrupt the celebrations.
It is thought resurgent dissident republican groups – which include the Real IRA, the Oglaigh na hEireann and “the IRA” – are not ready to launch an attack on London.
But latest intelligence reports from MI5 to the Home Office suggest an attack could take place elsewhere on Friday.
A source said: “Recent intelligence points to a terror attack in Northern Ireland on the day of the wedding. This is a very real threat and described as being highly likely....
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royal-wedding/2011/04/25/irish-terror-att ack-likely-on-day-of-royal-wedding-115875-23085014/

http://bcfm.org.uk/wp-content/Podcasts/20110426180001.mp3

[TonyGosling]

A tale of two countries - pre-emptive policing in Britain and Syria

What a difference a mere month makes in the UK media. At the end of March The Independent newspaper produced this article in the wake of the huge TUC anti-cuts protest in London, where the British Home Secretary was castigated for considering greater police powers to prevent such "trouble" again, with particular reference to the forthcoming royal wedding.

At the time former assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard, Andy Hayman, who had served as the head of the Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism squad and was, umm, reportedly a much-esteemed officer before his early resignation, adopted a muscular tone by calling for "snatch squads" and "dawn raids" to be carried out by police against suspected troublemakers. How terribly un-British.

Perhaps I'm starting at shadows, but with the above in mind two interesting aricles appeared in that very same newspaper today.

The first article that caught my eye confirmed there was indeed just such a security crackdown against suspected dissidents in the UK on the eve of the royal wedding. Lynne Owens, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner in charge of the royal policing operation, is quoted as saying:

""We have to be absolutely clear. If anyone comes to London intending to commit criminal acts, we will act quickly, robustly and decisively." She said the Met was working with forces across the country and would use "spotters" to identify those causing trouble."

The article goes on to say:

"As police teams step up their process of "pre-event investigation" and "intelligence gathering", reports have come in from protesters that plain-clothed police are turning up at their homes to warn them against attending Friday's event."

It seems that the poor old Met is having conniptions about potentially embarrassing protesters sullying the pageantry of the royal wedding and is putting our money where its mouth is. Last week The Telegraph also reported that counter-intelligence operations were being conducted against "anarchists" to prevent trouble on 29th April.

Interesting use of language, but I suppose that one newspaper's "protester" will always be another's "anarchist"....

So what of the second article that concerned me? This described the brutal security crackdown in Syria, where the secret police were pre-emptively hunting down and arresting suspected dissidents:

"Syria's feared secret police raided hundreds of homes yesterday as authorities stepped up attempts to crush the pro-reform movement....."

UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague is quoted as saying that:

"Syria is now at a fork in the road... it can choose ever-more violent repression which can only ever bring short-term security for the authorities there."

How much more need I say? Putting aside the fact that Hague seems to have acquired his very own fork(ed tongue), the only discernable difference at this stage is in the sheer scale of the brutality and repression, not the mind-set or intent.

It's a slippery slope.....

http://www.anniemachon.com/annie_machon/2011/04/a-tale-of-two-countrie s-pre-emptive-policing-in-britain-and-syria.html

[cem]

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http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/royalwedding/3549156/SAS-tea ms-dispatched-to-central-London-to-guard-Royal-Wedding.html


SAS squadron is on standby

by Virginia Wheeler and Gordon Smart, The Sun, 27 April 2011


CRACK SAS teams will help guard the Royal Wedding.

"Substantial" numbers of Who Dares Wins soldiers will be sent to central London.

They include the elite regiment's bolstered Counter Terrorism Team - ready to blast their way into buildings if police require them.

There will be more SAS operatives on standby on Friday than at any event for ten years.

At the SAS' Hereford base, a squadron - also including members of the SBS - will be waiting with Chinook helicopters if emergency back-up is needed.

An SAS source said: "The wedding falls under the watch of the police and security services but the SAS have increased their numbers in the capital regardless."

The security operation will involve 5,000 police officers and hundreds of soldiers - though sources suggest there will be many others undercover.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens yesterday said troublemakers would be dealt with "robustly" and urged the public to be "eyes and ears" for officers.

Her appeal came as it emerged another protest group with Middle Eastern links had warned it planned to disrupt the day.

The Met is negotiating with extremist campaign groups Muslims Against Crusades and the English Defence League over proposed demos.

Westminster Abbey closed its doors to the public yesterday and was placed under gun guard.


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