http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/1999/12/26/stinwenws01007.html?999

LONDON TO BE SEALED DURING Y2K; 7 CONTROLLED ENTRANCES AND EXITS

Anarchist attack fears turn City into no-go area

Nick Fielding and James Clark THE City of London is bracing itself for violent attacks over the millennium holiday after threats by anarchists to start a new Great Fire of London. Police are to isolate the City after receiving a warning of the plan, as well as intelligence about Islamic fundamentalists and Irish republican splinter groups. Access will be possible only through seven tightly controlled entrances and exits. "It will effectively be a no-go area," said a Corporation of London spokesman.

Armed troops will also be on stand-by at three bases around the capital in case of public disorder if the millennium bug causes chaos. The government's emergency planning committee, chaired by Jack Straw, the home secretary, will sit for 24 hours over millennium night and New Year's Day to monitor essential services and public safety. One barracks will be used as a helicopter port. A military communications network, including police and key Whitehall departments, will also stand ready.

Security at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, which will be attended by the Queen, the prime minister and other dignitaries, will be unprecedented. Bridges across the Thames will be closed, tunnels emptied and aircraft forbidden to fly over the site. Up to 32 police vessels will patrol the Thames, including two fire tenders. Members of the navy's elite Special Boat Squadron will be on duty.

Scotland Yard's response is being co-ordinated by a millennium unit involving the anti-

terrorist squad, special branch and liaison between MI5 and MI6, the Home Office and other government departments.

The unit's concerns include Islamic terror groups based in Europe and linked to Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist described by the CIA as the world's most wanted man.

The FBI said this week that one such group, based in Frankfurt, Germany, was planning to send a string of parcel bombs to British and American targets over the holiday period. The warning came as anti-terrorist police in Britain arrested an Algerian asylum-seeker linked to an Islamic terror group. Ramdane Zouabri, 26, has been charged with threatening to kill an Algerian community leader after he was allegedly filmed making calls from a north London telephone box. Zouabri's brother is leader of the Algerian Groupe Islamique Armi (GIA), which killed 30 people on Christmas Eve at a roadblock near Khemis Miliana, west of the Algerian capital, Algiers.

Deputy assistant commissioner Alan Fry, head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, has asked members of the public to be on their guard and to contact police if they notice anything suspicious.

Additional reporting: Adam Nathan; Matthew Campbell, Washington, and Uzi Mahnaimi, Jerusalem

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 26, 1999

Answers

A quick geography lesson for Americans: the CITY of London refers to the most central portion of London. This is like shutting down lower Manhatten when 104 heads of state come to address the UN in New York. Before you get too excited, lets find out how many city blocks are part of the lock down. Considering the Brits want every leader at their stupid, expensive and ugly millenium dome, of course they want to increase security.

-- David Holladay (davidh@brailleplanet.org), December 26, 1999.

I have been in NYC when the UN was blocked off for all heads of state--during the UN anniversary. That was the highest security I've seen with traffic blocked off from many streets and baracades in front of the UN. The avenue was closed down except for official traffic. Getting around was a big mess. But so it goes.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 26, 1999.

As david says the "City" of London is just one square mile.

I know the area well - it is the home of the oligarchs, the LBMA (Gold), BOE, Stock Market, all major Robber Barrons...

It was decimated by an IRA bomb 15-20 yrs ago and they have never forgotten what havoc can be reaked by a well placed bomb -

I'm glad I'm working on New Years' Evil - behind tight security :o)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 26, 1999.

P.S.

David, the ugly waste of money Dome (a masonic symbol right opposite another masonic symbol, the Canary Wharf building), is not actually in the City lock-down area, it is across the river, but as you say it will be guarded like fort knox...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 26, 1999.

My ISP who is also a friend told me months ago they wanted to shut down Broadway for Y2k in NYC. Word got out and Giuliani denied it and it went on the back burner. Chances are high the authorities may ask B'WAY to close down early or cancel shows regardless of what Rudy G said on TV. Few more days and we will see.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), December 26, 1999.