Terrorist alert as fears rise of Ulster reprisals

BY STEWART TENDLER SCOTLAND Yard has issued a national terrorist alert amid fears of a Christmas and millennium mainland campaign of violence by dissident Republicans.

Police have briefed up to 30 organisations and companies and issued warnings to individuals who could be targeted, including leading politicians. Extra police officers are being drafted onto city streets across Great Britain.

Detectives believe that some of the Provisional IRA's most experienced bomb makers and logistic experts are among about 200 hardcore terrorists who could be involved. Their weapons could range from incendiary devices to car or lorry bombs.

Anti-terrorist and Special Branch officers fear that the new terrorist active service units will rely on new operators who have no records and are unknown to Irish and British police. They believe the grouping is based on a coalition of the Real IRA, the Continuity IRA, INLA and some renegade Provisionals.

A senior police source said yesterday: "We now have growing concern about what that threat may mean not only in Ireland but within Great Britain, and we think it would be wise to anticipate that violence could happen anywhere."

Extra security is in place around Westminster, Docklands and the City in London. Businesses have been told to make sure their close-circuit television systems are operating and a new poster campaign urging greater vigilance from the public is being prepared.

-- samIam (dr@seu.ss), November 23, 1999

Answers

See also...

UK government play the terrorist card at last

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001q02

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

*Sigh*

BTW, we have concerns in the US too.

Two important releases from Clark Staten of ERRI. A new warning against anti-US/UN terrorism. (stay alert in Seattle.), interview w/ ex sov biowar scientist.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001mBe

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

Gosh, I didn't realize I'd be branded a terrorist in the UK!

-- Richard Nixon (Iamnot@crook.gop), November 23, 1999.

You are wide of the mark with this.

The whole of my life (with the exception of the last few years) I, and the other inhabitants of the city where I live and work, lived with the shadow of terrorism over us.

When I was a kid, we used to chat in the playground at school about the latest bomb blast, in such and such a pub, or bar, and how many died, and how scary it was.

I worked for some time at our largest airport. Among my duties (as a customer services rep), were spotting "suspect" packages, and helping to evacuate the building during bomb-scares. They used to run about one or two a week. Those duties were a standard part of being a "Fire Marshall". Most anybody could be one. It got you a training course, and a few pennies more per hour.

I have no major point to make about the Irish armed struggle, or anyone elses armed struggle. I dont particularly support them, but then I dont hate them or present any kind of threat to them either. I dont work for the government or the police, or the army. Im just an ordinary bloke going about life. I was however, a target, as any other anonymous member of the public was. That how bombs in pubs work.

But thats not why Im posting. I am writing simply from the point of view of a member of the public, on the ground, in a country which has seen REAL terror. Several times I was closer by than I would've liked when a device was discovered or detonated. Thats life when they're targeting the Capital City, where you work. You have a stiff drink, and then just get on with it.

But the threat is REAL. No paranoia required.

I wonder how many of you can even imagine that scenario.

In any case, the government or police putting the nation on a cautious red alert is NOT a sign of martial law. If it were, we would have been under police control since about 1972. It's just simply a CYA exercise. The timing is critical, since there are people who just dont want peace, and this would be the sort of time when they'd look to throw a spanner in the process. So we're told to be careful, and be vigilant. Just like so many times before. What the .gov dont want to happen is for a bomb to go off when they had their pants down. Thats bad politics. Other than that, it has nothing to do with Joe Public.

And it is not a precursor to martial law.

-- some bloke (in@the.uk), November 23, 1999.

Well said.!!!!!!!!!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), November 23, 1999.

some bloke.....thanks for the up close and personal view point....you're right, of course, we haven't lived in the shadow of terrorism like you describe...and consequently, we're like young unexperienced sophomores; innocent, naive, and trusting. seeing it on TV is not experiencing it, watching movies about it is not living in it. I would think experiencing it is not an edifying thing; rather, it would make you more jumpy and distrustful of everyone, which is too bad.

-- Jay Urban (Jayho99@aol.com), November 23, 1999.

Whoa there, the UK is a contrail free area. There is a real threat from bombers: the only bit that makes me go "hmm" is the warning that they might target utilities. This may - and I say MAY, because you'd have to be awfully brave to screw around with this issue in the UK - be a precursor to scapegoating. May. But probably not.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

Some Bloke is absolutely right. Short memories at work here--how many remember the dreadful Christmas bombings in London's major shopping areas not so many years ago? Even I can't remember how many were killed but I do remember an American was among the dead. It was the equivalent of a bomboutside Macey's. A couple of the major bomb fatalities were in a Manchester shopping area and Brighton (at the UK counterpart of the Republican National Convention), and there was even a mortar attack on the Prime Minister's official residence in London. And, of course, Northern Ireland suffers frequent terrorist attacks from both sides. There are lesser problems: a shopping mall, school or department store can be shut down on a weekly basis because of a terrorist bomb threat.

Anyone who travels here from the UK is aghast at the lack of security at airports, military installations, large department stores, hotels, office buildings and other favorite terrorist targets. The current alert is not what you would consider martial law.

-- A Brit (who's@seen.it), November 23, 1999.

Colin -

"the only bit that makes me go "hmm" is the warning that they might target utilities."

I noticed that too... Seems strange the timing. Mind you, Bill Clinton et al could be right- possibly the terorists will take advantage of any Y2K weakness, real or imagined. What gets me is the award of the George Medal to the RUC. If this threat is real, it seems to be a very antagonistic move. Either that or the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing ....

-- Rob Somerville (merville@globalnet.co.uk), November 23, 1999.

I thought they did away with the RUC and its something else now with a more equal distribution of Catholics/Protestants. Or am I off the wall entirely here? Taz

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), November 23, 1999.

This is from the London Times (July 18th,1999)

snip

Planners fear that computer failures could leave installations vulnerable to criminal or terrorist attack. Armed troops, some with light tanks and heavy weapons, will b deployed to gaurd likely targets such as airports. IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, SOME FORM OF MARTIAL LAW MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN LOCALISED AREAS.

end snip

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 23, 1999.

Hi Rob: these warnings tend to be rather specific, i.e. the RUC, CI- blah and Scotland Yard have some credible evidence that an attack is planned. On balance, and despite my initial cynicism, I think I'll accept this at face value. It WOULD be the ideal time to switch targets, as the Omagh bomb really hurt the republican's cause. Disruption to many is probably better in PR terms than death and maiming to few. It's just a horrid subject. :(

Taz: DOING away. Well, rather, changing somewhat. It's a real no-win situation. The republicans want it disbanded totally NOW, the loyalists want no changes EVER. It'll be a slow, painfull process. :(

Maggie: Erk! Thanks for the post, that's definitely worth chasing up.

The thing to remember is that the UK doesn't have the same view about Westminster as the sometimes-United States seems to have about Washington. We are currently devolving power to the regions rather than tightening central control, and while there ARE communities who've felt the boot and baton round of authority and are rightly distrustful, the majority of the British mainland is much more trustful of the military than the average USA citizen. Profound apologies to those who disagree, this is a purely personal opinion, and I'm not claiming for one second that the British army hasn't been used as boot boys, I'm just talking about the majority of the population. Sorry, I'm really wary of offending people by talking about this, so I'll stop now. :(

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 24, 1999.

ahem. excuse me while I get on my soap box:

If you are a member of some oppressed group, I don't care HOW ANGRY YOU ARE or HOW TERRIBLY YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY SOCIETY. If you resort to violence against innocent civilians and random bystanders--or even incite violence that goes beyond mere self defence--you are not worth the scum on the bottom of my toilet (after a meal of $0.50 bean burritos). I don't deny that different groups of all persuasions have gotten the short end of the stick at times in history or that anger is never justifiable. But if you are planning a little random destruction, I hope they catch you beforehand and beat you to within an inch of your life.

Just because people are on alert for you bloodthirsty types does not mean that "martial law" will inevitably be declared. If you succeed, though, maybe they WILL implement it. All it takes is one bad apple...

-- coprolith (coprolith@fakemail.com), November 24, 1999.

Colin,

To save you time,I found the link to the article.

http://www.sunday- times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/99/07/18/stinwenws01039.html?999

If that doesn't do it,try

http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/5468

Then click on where it says the link.This way you can read the whole article.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 24, 1999.