London threat level recently reduced-Guardian

[BeyondGeography]

Gauging the threat

Richard Norton-Taylor examines the state of readiness of Britain's security forces ahead of today's explosions in London

The Guardian
Thursday July 7, 2005

Security, intelligence and police chiefs were braced for an attack on London, which they said they regarded as inevitable.

However, Whitehall's Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre early last month reduced the threat level from al-Qaida terrorism, from "severe-general" to "substantial".

Security and intelligence officials appear to have assumed that no terrorist group's leadership had the ability to order a coordinated attack.

<snip> Security officials insisted this morning that the downgrading of the threat level would not have affected the response of the police or emergency services.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1523399,00.html

[NorthernSpy]

1. famous last words, as they say

However, Whitehall's Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre early last month reduced the threat level from al-Qaida terrorism, from "severe-general" to "substantial".

Security and intelligence officials appear to have assumed that no terrorist group's leadership had the ability to order a coordinated attack.

:think:


Today is an awful day.