Troops at LHR
Join Date: Apr 2002
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TROOPS
Its Difficult to say.
BBC Wires reporting that enterance to the main tunnel guarded by tanks & troops and the interior Central Area patrolled by tanks.
The Beeb also says that troops are patrolling the M25 closest to LHR also???
Something going on there then???
Windsor Castle security also stepped up for some reason.
This is going to frighten folk good and proper.
BBC Wires reporting that enterance to the main tunnel guarded by tanks & troops and the interior Central Area patrolled by tanks.
The Beeb also says that troops are patrolling the M25 closest to LHR also???
Something going on there then???
Windsor Castle security also stepped up for some reason.
This is going to frighten folk good and proper.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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It makes you wonder
True, at times like this when military resources are likely to required elsewhere and this amount of deployment suddenly comes up, it is scary to think why?
I should be down at EGLL later on so I should have chance to see for myself.
Its not like a few extra coppers with guns, we've got soldiers, bazookas, machine guns, tanks, armoured cars, alsatian dogs, gherkas and most of Windsors finest Household Cavalry inplace.
I should be down at EGLL later on so I should have chance to see for myself.
Its not like a few extra coppers with guns, we've got soldiers, bazookas, machine guns, tanks, armoured cars, alsatian dogs, gherkas and most of Windsors finest Household Cavalry inplace.
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Let's not forget that LHR came under attack from an international terrorist organisation just a few years back when the IRA lobbed a few mortars towards an American Airlines aircraft.
Butch young men wearing uniform make me feel more secure-not less!
Butch young men wearing uniform make me feel more secure-not less!
Join Date: Jun 2001
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By Tom Geoghegan
BBC News Online, at Heathrow
As Scotland Yard declared heightened security in London, BBC News Online went to Heathrow, where 450 troops were deployed as part of the anti-terrorist operation.
Passengers arriving at Heathrow expecting hundreds of heavily armed soldiers to be charging through the airport would have been relieved.
Initially, the only evidence of increased security was a uniformed policeman buying a newspaper at WH Smith.
After an hour searching three terminals, there was still no glimpse of anything khaki, just a handful of police officers.
Staff were overheard asking each other if they had seen any soldiers, following the headlines in the morning, and some passengers were equally puzzled.
New Zealander Gary Arnott, 51, waiting for a flight to South Korea, told BBC News Online: "I saw on the news that 450 soldiers were being drafted in.
"But I haven't seen anything and I've been sitting here for 25 minutes."
My only sight of the Army was outside Terminal Three arrivals, where four armoured vehicles were parked.
Lieutenant Richard Moger, 25, of the Household Cavalry, spoke to BBC News Online from the top of his tank-like vehicle.
He said: "We're just here to assist the police in their daily activities - we'll help them if they need anything.
"I don't think the public have paid that much attention.
"The reaction tends to be a glance, but most people just carry on their way."
Maureen Ellis, 69, from Essex, was so reassured by the sight of the troops that she stopped to have a chat.
She said: "It makes me feel much safer. That one driving the tank looks like my grandson.
"We'd seen it on the news this morning so it was no surprise to see them."
The military part of the operation is probably far more discreet than many expected.
Much of the Army's activity is out of sight to passengers rather than a visible presence inside the building.
Soldiers patrolled the perimeter road to deter anyone from sneaking into the grounds of the airport.
Troy Cartwright, 21, who was preparing to fly to his native Melbourne, said the troops were better off out of sight: "Seeing people with guns actually makes me feel insecure.
"Even the police here have them - a big thing walking right past you.
"My first thought was 'My God, what's the world coming to?'"
Claudine Dupuis, 22, on her way to Montreal, asked: "Do we need that?
"Even in the States, they don't walk in the street and airport with them."
For others, the military presence was a rare opportunity.
Wab Chowdhury, 27, busy explaining the sight to his fascinated young nephew Kamil, said "I've lived in London all my life and I've never seen a tank this close."
BBC News Online, at Heathrow
As Scotland Yard declared heightened security in London, BBC News Online went to Heathrow, where 450 troops were deployed as part of the anti-terrorist operation.
Passengers arriving at Heathrow expecting hundreds of heavily armed soldiers to be charging through the airport would have been relieved.
Initially, the only evidence of increased security was a uniformed policeman buying a newspaper at WH Smith.
After an hour searching three terminals, there was still no glimpse of anything khaki, just a handful of police officers.
Staff were overheard asking each other if they had seen any soldiers, following the headlines in the morning, and some passengers were equally puzzled.
New Zealander Gary Arnott, 51, waiting for a flight to South Korea, told BBC News Online: "I saw on the news that 450 soldiers were being drafted in.
"But I haven't seen anything and I've been sitting here for 25 minutes."
My only sight of the Army was outside Terminal Three arrivals, where four armoured vehicles were parked.
Lieutenant Richard Moger, 25, of the Household Cavalry, spoke to BBC News Online from the top of his tank-like vehicle.
He said: "We're just here to assist the police in their daily activities - we'll help them if they need anything.
"I don't think the public have paid that much attention.
"The reaction tends to be a glance, but most people just carry on their way."
Maureen Ellis, 69, from Essex, was so reassured by the sight of the troops that she stopped to have a chat.
She said: "It makes me feel much safer. That one driving the tank looks like my grandson.
"We'd seen it on the news this morning so it was no surprise to see them."
The military part of the operation is probably far more discreet than many expected.
Much of the Army's activity is out of sight to passengers rather than a visible presence inside the building.
Soldiers patrolled the perimeter road to deter anyone from sneaking into the grounds of the airport.
Troy Cartwright, 21, who was preparing to fly to his native Melbourne, said the troops were better off out of sight: "Seeing people with guns actually makes me feel insecure.
"Even the police here have them - a big thing walking right past you.
"My first thought was 'My God, what's the world coming to?'"
Claudine Dupuis, 22, on her way to Montreal, asked: "Do we need that?
"Even in the States, they don't walk in the street and airport with them."
For others, the military presence was a rare opportunity.
Wab Chowdhury, 27, busy explaining the sight to his fascinated young nephew Kamil, said "I've lived in London all my life and I've never seen a tank this close."
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Anti-terror police have unearthed a plot to shoot down a plane at Heathrow, according to security sources.
As the army was drafted in to protect the airport in west London, Sky News was told that security forces feared a terror attack to bring down an airliner.
Police have been searching under the flight path on the western approach to the airport and combing areas of Windsor Great Park.
Although Scotland Yard will not comment in detail, police officers have been stopping motorists and searching cars in and around Wraysbury, west of Heathrow.
As the army was drafted in to protect the airport in west London, Sky News was told that security forces feared a terror attack to bring down an airliner.
Police have been searching under the flight path on the western approach to the airport and combing areas of Windsor Great Park.
Although Scotland Yard will not comment in detail, police officers have been stopping motorists and searching cars in and around Wraysbury, west of Heathrow.
PPRuNe Person
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I would suggest a few troops knocking about now would prevent an airliner from falling on your head, in which case you would have a headache and there would be even more troops knocking about. If you follow me.
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Security is vitally important as is the protection of Air Travel generally.
Please do not make light of proper security provisions and keep your remarks about any details of the operation to yourselves.
People who do not have your best interests at heart may read this as well.
Thank you.
Please do not make light of proper security provisions and keep your remarks about any details of the operation to yourselves.
People who do not have your best interests at heart may read this as well.
Thank you.
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It would seem to me that if they had recieved credible evidence of an attack at LHR covert measures would have been more appropriate. At least they knew where the attack was going to be. Now if there is an attack it could be at any UK airport, much more difficult to contain. I also think it could be to sway the public opinion about going to war with Iraq.
Sad times indeed.
Sad times indeed.
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From where I saw the police patrolling it would definately seem that the worry was outside of the airport perimiter as well as inside. Perhaps this does lend credibility to the SAM speculation. I imagine that with war preparations, peacekeeping duties, the fire strike and now this our military must be severely stretched. Another reason why I think this was a genuine reaction to a perceived threat as opposse to pre war posturing. Lets not forget the continuing hard work of both the police and armed forces. Best wishes to the boys and girls in green and the boys and girls in blue
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....of course, these terrorists are incapable of switching to any of the other airports that could bring an airliner down over the capital.
Either that, or it's the US Foreign Secretary - Mr Blair, trying to justify killing thousands of Iraqis, not to mention sending our own troops to war with an 'ally' who managed to kill more of us than the Iraqis did, in the last Gulf war.
I mean, what calibre of people have we got in MI5 & 6 these days ? I pay my taxes... I expect to be hoodwinked more convincingly than that.
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ for info about this Saturday's march - they're estimating half a million so far...
Either that, or it's the US Foreign Secretary - Mr Blair, trying to justify killing thousands of Iraqis, not to mention sending our own troops to war with an 'ally' who managed to kill more of us than the Iraqis did, in the last Gulf war.
I mean, what calibre of people have we got in MI5 & 6 these days ? I pay my taxes... I expect to be hoodwinked more convincingly than that.
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ for info about this Saturday's march - they're estimating half a million so far...
Join Date: Apr 2002
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EASTERLIES
Winds forecast to change in the next 48hrs which should make things interesting as direction of approaches and deps from LHR will swing round.
Pleanty of coverage by police and armed forces on southside and checks on permiter and local roads and bridges over the M25 early this AM.
I hope that large lorry park in Poyle/Colnbrook at the side of the M25 is getting checked frequently.
Pleanty of coverage by police and armed forces on southside and checks on permiter and local roads and bridges over the M25 early this AM.
I hope that large lorry park in Poyle/Colnbrook at the side of the M25 is getting checked frequently.
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Nothing new or strange about the deployment to LHR of 450 troops and equipment, they have done it many times before, sometimes just an exercise and other times as a reaction to a threat. The military force has been around quite a while to defend against terrorist attacks from, among others, the IRA.
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.....And I can't believe that the new al-Qaida tape (assuming it's genuine) urging the Iraqi people to stand up against the American might is being used as proof of a link between Iraq and al-Qaida!
What some people have been trying to say for some time is that actions with shades of agression, imperialism, militance, hypocricy and self-righteousness (probably spelt wrong) will simply cause further resentment (and therefore terrorism), which is what we are seeing the threat of now.
Not that this excuses any such actions in any way whatsoever.
Anyway, this is getting a bit political, I'll stop now.
What some people have been trying to say for some time is that actions with shades of agression, imperialism, militance, hypocricy and self-righteousness (probably spelt wrong) will simply cause further resentment (and therefore terrorism), which is what we are seeing the threat of now.
Not that this excuses any such actions in any way whatsoever.
Anyway, this is getting a bit political, I'll stop now.