Douggy B 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Police feared 'Al-Qaida terror attack' on UK was planned for Easter • Sources say attack would have taken place by end of Easter weekend • Gordon Brown describes suspected plot as 'very big' • Police guard addresses raided by counterterrorism officers Counterterrorism officials believe an alleged al-Qaida terror plot against the UK, designed to cause mass casualties, was due to be carried out within days, the Guardian has learned. A total of 12 people were arrested across northern England on Wednesday as police carried out a string of raids to thwart an alleged terrorist cell with overseas links. Peter Fahy, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, today confirmed that 11 of those arrested were Pakistani nationals. A secret briefing note accidentally shown to the media yesterday outside Downing Street by the UK's former top counter-terrorist officer Bob Quick, said 10 of those targeted in the operation were on student visas. Sources with knowledge of the investigation - in which arrests were rushed forward after Quick's mistake, which today cost him his job - say the execution of an "al-Qaida driven" plot was "imminent". UK officials say they believe the attack would have been attempted by Easter Monday at the latest. According to counterterrorism sources, it is unclear where and what the terrorists were targeting. Officials regularly point out that intelligence is not always conclusive, but today said they believed that the terror plot was highly ambitious and a big attack was being planned. The source said reports of a northern nightclub or shopping centre being the target were wholly untrue. As searches continued at addresses across northern England, the prime minister, Gordon Brown, described the suspected plot as "very big" and said investigators were examining links with Pakistan. "We know there are links between terrorists in Britain and Pakistan, and that is an important issue for us to follow through," he said. The 12 men were arrested at seven locations across north-west England, and at least another eight addresses in the region were searched. Scores of students witnessed one arrest, carried out at Liverpool John Moores University. Police said one man was detained near the campus. "When I looked, I saw a man on the floor," student Daniel Taylor said. "Police were shouting at him and one of the officers had what looked like a machine gun pointed right into his head." Three men were arrested at Cedar Grove, Liverpool. "I looked and, about midway down the road, there were a load of police officers dressed in black and they were bringing some men out of a house," a resident said. Another man was arrested at a flat in Earle Road, also in Liverpool. Police stood guard outside the flat and forensics officers could be seen through net curtains. Abdul Kassan, 20, who lives next door to the raided flat, was at work in his neighbouring off-licence yesterday when police cars screeched to a halt and officers ran into the building. "We were working in the shop and the police cars suddenly arrived and police got out with guns," he said. "We didn't know what was going on - they just told us to shut the shop. It was about 3.30pm. The officers came into the back of the shop. "The blokes in the flat are new, they've only just moved in, they've all got long beards. "They bought stuff from us and seemed normal. I think they are Pakistani. They looked like students and only seemed to speak a little bit of English." Police also searched a bed and breakfast in Pimlico Road, Clitheroe, today. More than 100 officers, with a helicopter in support, surrounded the Lancashire town's new Homebase store yesterday and arrested two men working for a private security firm. The pair were staying at the B&B but had not been there for long and were unknown to neighbours. The house itself was sealed off and put under police guard as forensic specialists went in and out. The pair's employer has a security contract with Homebase and they were not directly employed by the DIY chain, which only completed the Clitheroe outlet this week. A planned opening by the town's mayor in time for the Easter weekend went ahead today and the store was full of shoppers. The mayor, John Hill, changed his speech to focus on terrorism and community relations in the historic market town. He said: "I would like to stress that the men arrested are not from Clitheroe. "We work extremely well together as a community here and [in] the Ribble Valley, and people should carry on regardless of what has happened. "There is no tension here and we would like it to remain like this." Hill said terrorism "can happen anywhere" and urged people to "remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police". Operation was moved forward after security blunder Fahy admitted that the operation had been rushed forward as a result of the security blunder by Quick, which exposed plans for the operation to the cameras of press photographers. However, Fahy added: "The operation would have been carried out in the subsequent 24 hours. "It got to a point in evaluating what we knew that we had to take action yesterday." Fahy said reports of Old Trafford or the Trafford shopping centre being the targets were "purely speculation" on the part of the media. He added that, from what was known at the moment, there was no particular threat to specific locations and "certainly not the ones mentioned in the media". However, he added that the threat level in the north-west remained high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 If twelve were arrested, I'd bet that a hell of a lot more knew what was going on. But, if people keep their heads in the sand it's only what you'd expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douggy B 0 Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 If twelve were arrested, I'd bet that a hell of a lot more knew what was going on. But, if people keep their heads in the sand it's only what you'd expect. A refusal to accept that it is a problem in the Muslim community is the biggest problem in said community. I work with a few Muslims and it appears it is all a conspiracy apparently. Its all shock and "he was such a nice quiet guy." Normal people don't go out for meetings in cafes starting at midnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Wonder if anyone will be charged this time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are It's sad state of affairs, but this is always my first thought. How many thousands of people are in on these conspiracies btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Wonder if anyone will be charged this time It's a tricky issue though. Look at that guy the USA had in Guantanamo, because they were sure he was a major leader of the Taliban forces in the border regions. They couldn't make much stand up legally and didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him to back to Afghanistan and they then released him. He's now the leader of Taliban forces attacking (and killing) British troops in Helmand province. Although this will undoubtedly incense some of the usual suspects, law does often fail to punish the guilty and/or protect the innocent..... but that is how it has to be (although it'd stand a better chance without muppets in charge that don't understand the concept of a briefcase or a folder). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Wonder if anyone will be charged this time It's a tricky issue though. Look at that guy the USA had in Guantanamo, because they were sure he was a major leader of the Taliban forces in the border regions. They couldn't make much stand up legally and didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him to back to Afghanistan and they then released him. He's now the leader of Taliban forces attacking (and killing) British troops in Helmand province. Although this will undoubtedly incense some of the usual suspects, law does often fail to punish the guilty and/or protect the innocent..... but that is how it has to be (although it'd stand a better chance without muppets in charge that don't understand the concept of a briefcase or a folder). Don't even think that bloke complaining about UK intelligence being complicit in his torture was remotely 'innocent' either fwiw. Not saying that makes torture alright or whatever btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Wonder if anyone will be charged this time It's a tricky issue though. Look at that guy the USA had in Guantanamo, because they were sure he was a major leader of the Taliban forces in the border regions. They couldn't make much stand up legally and didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him to back to Afghanistan and they then released him. He's now the leader of Taliban forces attacking (and killing) British troops in Helmand province. Although this will undoubtedly incense some of the usual suspects, law does often fail to punish the guilty and/or protect the innocent..... but that is how it has to be (although it'd stand a better chance without muppets in charge that don't understand the concept of a briefcase or a folder). Don't even think that bloke complaining about UK intelligence being complicit in his torture was remotely 'innocent' either fwiw. Not saying that makes torture alright or whatever btw. More than 10% of people released from there have gone back into active terrorism/combat roles, probably a much, much higher percentage were in terrorism/combat roles even if it couldn't be legally upheld. Having said that there's been a lot shocking issues with genuinely innocent people there too. But that's why I think Obama is going to have the same issues eventually, unless he can keep the media off the massive new Afghan US prisons he's building to replace Guantanamo (which he has done so far). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are I love you Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are It's sad state of affairs, but this is always my first thought. How many thousands of people are in on these conspiracies btw? There's meewons of em... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are It's sad state of affairs, but this is always my first thought. How many thousands of people are in on these conspiracies btw? There's meewons of em... I meant in reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 So is this "muslim related" terrorism just going to always be a way of life? Are there no circumstances that can change it? Can't we just be friends? Well now that the UK has some vaguely sensible policies (unfortunately married with some ridiculous legislation), maybe the "home grown" side will ease. But until Pakistan is sorted out certainly (it's helping turn Afghanistan into something like another Vietnam too), which will be never most likely, not really. I still think WW3 will be religion based. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douggy B 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Wonder if anyone will be charged this time We could always wait until after they've done their deed and then get em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douggy B 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are It's sad state of affairs, but this is always my first thought. Its all a conspiracy.....wheres my tinfoil hat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I suppose a bomb has to go off to grab some people's attention. Then they wonder how it happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are what we need is to give them all a better house, more benefits, tell them to get their families across to help them settle down, and a pat on the head and say "we understand you". Don't we ? And leave them alone to live their life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 So is this "muslim related" terrorism just going to always be a way of life? Are there no circumstances that can change it? Can't we just be friends? Well now that the UK has some vaguely sensible policies (unfortunately married with some ridiculous legislation), maybe the "home grown" side will ease. But until Pakistan is sorted out certainly (it's helping turn Afghanistan into something like another Vietnam too), which will be never most likely, not really. I still think WW3 will be religion based. I understand it's religeon based for the "followers", but is it not rich lens wargames at the top of the tree. Can no-one look ahead and guess at how this will develop and what the end game will be? Do you really think ww3? I just can't see "the people" going for that " over the trench you go young'un" type war. The fall of Rome, only with Nukes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 70 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Found nothing, nobody charged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douggy B 0 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 Found nothing, nobody charged. IF that is the case, then better to be safe then sorry. What else would they be doing otherwise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 surprised they haven't send tanks to Heathrow - that's what they normally do when the Govt is in a hole - arrest some muslims, leak "a major threat" and hope to scare peopel so they forget what a s*** load the Govt are I love you Rob. I was brought up to be a rotten cynic and ALWAYS start with "who profits" from any action Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Found nothing, nobody charged. IF that is the case, then better to be safe then sorry. What else would they be doing otherwise? doing aal the jobs that English folk think are "beneath them" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Found nothing, nobody charged. IF that is the case, then better to be safe then sorry. What else would they be doing otherwise? attacking innocent white passersby in London I guess.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douggy B 0 Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 (edited) Found nothing, nobody charged. IF that is the case, then better to be safe then sorry. What else would they be doing otherwise? doing aal the jobs that English folk think are "beneath them" They were on student visas, they were unable to work in this country. You love a good cliche don't you? Edited April 12, 2009 by Danny B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Found nothing, nobody charged. IF that is the case, then better to be safe then sorry. What else would they be doing otherwise? It isn't, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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