London: Warnings of a Mumbai-style attack

London: Warnings of a Mumbai-style attack


Scotland Yard has warned businesses in London to expect a Mumbai-style attack on the capital.


In a briefing in the City of London 12 days ago, a senior detective from SO15, the Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command, said: “Mumbai is coming to London.”


The detective said companies should anticipate a shooting and hostage-taking raid “involving a small number of gunmen with handguns and improvised explosive devices”.


The warning — the bluntest issued by police — has underlined an assessment that a terrorist cell may be preparing an attack on London early next year.


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Security sources said concerns had been raised by “chatter” on a prominent jihadist website two weeks ago.


One contributor suggested fighters could use automatic weapons to strike places such as nightclubs, sporting venues and Jewish centres.


In an online discussion hosted on December 2, another contributor invited suggestions for carrying out “guerrilla warfare” and proposed “a group of mujaheddin raid police stations and fire at them”.


Another said: “Make sure that all those at the location are of age, that there are no children and so on. Insist on the locations and times where no Muslims or children are to be expected.


“If machine guns are available, and explosive and expertise for [explosives] are not available, this is a good way ... The [Mumbai] operation is the ideal scenario for operations you are talking about.”


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Patrick Mercer, chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee, said the threat was “very real”.


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Source: Times Online