February 11, 2003

Army deployed to guard London

The army has been drafted in to increase security in London amid concern about al-Qaeda attacks on the capital.

A total of 450 troops have joined 1,000 extra police officers in patrolling Heathrow Airport as part of a tightening of security at sites across the capital.

The precautionary measure has been sparked by concern the Muslim religious festival of Eid - which runs from Wednesday to Saturday - may be used as an excuse to mount attacks, said Scotland Yard.
[...]Muslim groups have criticised the police for making a link between the religious festival and a potential terror threat.
Doesn't their disingenuousness just "slay" you?
As if there were no connection at all between the two and that every terrorist attack we've seen in the last 18 months hasn't been by Islamists?

The "strengthened security" does relate to a "potential threat to the capital", police confirmed.
[...] BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford.

...said an operation on this level was "absolutely unprecedented at Heathrow".

He added there must be a "reasonably specific threat", although the UK was not on the highest state of alert.

Best of British, Britain, but stay alert and aware just the same.
Hope it's a false alarm.