| Key findings of two reports, both published on 11 May, on the bomb attacks in London on 7 July 2005, in which four suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured hundreds of others: PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE The 45-page parliamentary intelligence and security committee report found: If MI5 and MI6 had had more resources, the chances of stopping the attack could have been higher MI5 had come across two of the bombers, Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, on the peripheries of other investigations But information on the pair was limited, so MI5 "understandably" decided to concentrate on other priorities Tanweer and Khan had both visited Pakistan, where it was "likely" they had contact with al-Qaeda figures, and some operational training � The blasts were caused by home-made organic peroxide-based devices - dangerous to manufacture but not requiring a great deal of expertise � After the attacks, MI5 found it had Germaine Lindsay's phone number, and a number registered to "Sidique Khan" � No intelligence indicates that there was a fifth or further bombers; media claims that a "mastermind" left the UK the day before the attacks have been discounted � The degree of al-Qaeda involvement remains unclear and under investigation � There was no prior warning of the attacks from any foreign intelligence � The threat from al-Qaeda remains, and Iraq continues to act as a motivation and focus for terrorist activity in the UK � Three other terrorist plots have been thwarted since 7 July �Actions since 7 July, including the setting-up of new MI5 and MI6 stations at home and abroad, show more could have been done sooner It was "not unreasonable" to lower the threat level from severe general to substantial ahead of 7 July, in May 2005 The system of threat levels and alert states needs to be clearer and more useful, with better public information A belief that suicide attacks would not become the norm could have affected the alertness of the authorities Even with more "intrusive activity" from MI5 and MI6, it is highly unlikely that all attacks will be stopped The "home-grown" threat and the radicalisation of Britons may not have been fully understood by officials The threat is as likely to come from those who appear part of society, with jobs and children, as those from poor backgrounds, and from many ethnicities Collaboration between agencies such as police, intelligence and security has improved both at home and abroad Although improved, collaboration between agencies such as MI5, MI6 and the police must improve further Whether the plan to merge police forces goes ahead or not, more should be done on strategic, national issues such as counter-terrorism - but policing must not be removed from its local roots At present, there is not believed to be a group with both the intent and the capability to attack the UK, but the threat level remains "substantial" HOME OFFICE 'NARRATIVE' Among details in the 40-page official government report or "narrative" on the events of 7 July, were: It is not known when the four suicide bombers first developed the idea of an attack in the UK But a visit by suspected ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer to Pakistan from late 2004 to early 2005 may have been importantThe bombs were made with readily available materials and needed "little expertise" to manufacture The group was motivated by "fierce antagonism to perceived injustices by the West against Muslims"At about 0830 on 7 July, four men matching their descriptions were seen in London huggingThey appeared "happy, even euphoric"; they then split upAfter three bombs went off on three Tube trains, Hasib Hussain appeared at King's Cross station; he tried in vain to contact the others by mobile phone, and bought a battery and visited a McDonald's outletHussain appeared relaxed and unhurried; he then got on a number 30 bus which later explodedThe backgrounds of the four men appear largely unexceptionalIt is not known how or when Khan developed his extreme views; by 2001 he was serious about religion, but he criticised the 11 September attacks in the US; some noticed a change of character in 2002Shehzad Tanweer was very religious but those around him observed no sign this had turned to extremismGermaine Lindsay was a convert to Islam and strongly influenced by known extremist preacher Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, now in prisonHasib Hussain undertook a Hajj visit to Saudi Arabia in 2002; after this, he began wearing traditional clothingSome time after this he wrote "Al Qaida No Limits" on his RE schoolbook; he saw the 11 September attackers as martyrs Khan, Tanweer and Hussain's social life was based around a mosque, club, gym and Islamic bookshop in BeestonLindsay and Khan may have met in Huddersfield In May 2005, the group rented a house in the student area of Leeds, and turned it into a "bomb-making factory"Khan, Tanweer and Lindsay probably visited London on one reconnoitring visit, in June 2005The attacks are estimated to have cost the bombers less than �8,000; they seem to have been self-financedThe behaviour of three of the bombers ahead of 7 July appeared broadly normalLindsay was behaving erratically and possibly criminally before, but not in a way to suggest terrorist intentionsThere is no firm evidence as to whether there was any al-Qaeda support But the target and type of attack are typical of al-Qaeda and those inspired by its ideologiesPolice are still investigating the attacks - they have 12,500 statements; 26,000 exhibits of which more than 5,000 are being forensically examined; 142 computers; and more than 6,000 hours of CCTV footage
|  | RELATED INTERNET LINKS: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
|
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 