News

HEADLINES:

Scotland Yard prevents 13 terror plots in one year

Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard
24.07.08

Thirteen terrorist networks have been disrupted by Scotland Yard in the past year, possibly foiling planned bombing campaigns, a report out today claims.

During the 12-month period there was an average of one suspected terrorist incident in London every other day, according to the report on Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command.

In total there were 181 recorded incidents, slightly higher than the previous year's figure of 177. Police also took 4,346 calls on the antiterrorism hotline.

The figures were revealed in a document due to be presented to the Metropolitan Police Authority today. The report's author, Superintendent Neil Haynes from Scotland Yard's Specialist Operations unit, said there would have been "significant variation in the impact" that disrupting the networks would have.

He added: "Some cases may result in the foiling of a planned major bombing campaign, others may reduce the funding or resources available to mount such an attack."

Last November, Jonathan Evans, the Director General of security service MI5, said it was aware of around 2,000 people involved in terrorist-related activity in the UK, admitting there could be a further 2,000 people of whom it was unaware.

Link to: Digg Reddit Delicious Facebook

Rebuilding confidence

It says a good deal for the febrile atmosphere that the growing pressure from business is on the Bank of England to arrive at a decision tomorrow rather than wait for Thursday

That awful man Witchell breaks his long silence

Everyone can remember it. Prince Charles, during a reluctant photocall at Klosters in 2005, turned to his two sons and, referring to the BBC's Nicholas Witchell, muttered under his breath: "Bloody people. I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is." Now Witchell himself has broken his silence and responded to this stinging criticism

All stories


On This is London today

Don't miss...

  • Boris Johnson

    The Influentials: London's top fifty

    Our annual survey of London’s 1000 most influential people is free with today’s Evening Standard - here we reveal the chart-toppers
  • Daniel Craig

    White knights

    From film stars and musicians to politicians - fashion-conscious men know there's only one colour for a shirt
  • Oxford Street transformed

    Influential with a brave vision for Oxford Street

    The capital’s main shopping area is about to be given a radical makeover. Here, the woman set to make it happen outlines her ground-breaking plans
  • Anya Hindmarsh

    ‘The It Bag is dead'

    Anya Hindmarch has made a £20 million fortune selling luxury bags. A fashion Influential, here she explains how she will survive now that the bubble has burst

City Briefing

The latest top City stories and Market report emailed to you twice a day.

Read the latest bulletin

Mickey Clark

Podcasts

on the City Markets


Pick of the blogs

Waugh
Paul Waugh - politics
Gordon Brown postpones May elections
Godwin
Richard Godwin - A London Life
The ideal day for a night out