Security breach at LHR

[Longtimer]

The home secretary has said the disappearance of papers reported to contain counter-terrorism plans for Heathrow Airport was "very bad".

Complete article can be found at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3905481.stm

[147break]

I'd love to slap the person who gave them to the Sun. Why oh Why?

Another great article from them, another great graphic!!!!

Here it is.... Prepare to laugh (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004331049,00.html)

147...

[Sonic Cruiser]

Don't most people who work at the airport or live near it know where aircraft are most vunerable anyway when they are taking off and landing. Ie: around the perimeter road and anywhere towards Hounslow? Still doesn't excuse someone leaving the plans about. Trouble is you can never have 100% security.

[sss]

thank god the finder was so security concious that he took it straight to the nearest police station. or was he thinking 'how much cash would the tabloids give me for this'

[Mr Chips]

There was something odd about this. Driver at a petrol station sees papers flapping in the gutter so goes over for a look... at midnight... sounds suspicious to me, or am I just very cynical????

[orangesky]

no, i dont think your too cynical ..... hes probably the same sort of chap who would stop outside the local kebab shop at 2am to help stop an arguement :) :)

[HectorusRex]

More on this security nightmare from "The Guardian"

Inquiry into loss of air security plans

Steven Morris
Tuesday July 20, 2004
The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1264939,00.html

An inquiry began yesterday into how sensitive documents containing details of counter-terrorism measures for Heathrow were apparently found flapping in the wind on a roadside near the airport.
The papers, prepared by the Met's SO18 aviation security team, pinpointed 62 sites from which missile attacks could be launched against planes taking off and landing. Also included were details of an attacker's potential escape route, information about police patrols, the deployment of snipers and dog units and evacuation plans.
David Blunkett, the home secretary, described the loss of the documents as "very bad," while opposition politicians said the episode was an embarrassment for the police and the government.
The inquiry, by the Met's directorate of professional standards, will focus primarily on one officer who, it is understood, realised days ago that the documents had been lost and reported it to his superiors.
However, anti-terrorism specialists are also assessing whether security at Heathrow has been compromised. A wider government review of how police officers and other officials handle important documents is expected.
The security breach was revealed in the Sun yesterday. Under the headline Dossier of Death, it claimed the documents were handed to the paper by an unnamed businessman who found them when he pulled into a petrol station near terminal four.
They quoted him as saying: "I had stopped at an Esso garage and saw the pages flapping at the roadside. When I saw the Metropolitan police crest and the word confidential I knew they were important."
One of the reports, which are dated June 26 2004, identifies a field near the airport as a good spot from which to launch a ground-to-air missile.
The report says: "This site affords an excellent site to attack aircraft departing Heathrow. The firing point is just over the fence into the field. This is a very large site with little cover. The only way to patrol this area is on foot. Consider dogs and the air support unit." The report, according to the Sun, suggests this spot should be monitored six times a day.
Another report flags up a wooded area from which terrorists could strike. A park near Heathrow is also highlighted, as is the home of a "dissident" directly under the flight path.
Defence experts said that as well as providing specific information about Heathrow, the documents could have provided terrorists with a rare insight into police thinking over the threats faced.
Chris Yates, an aviation security expert with Jane's Transport, said: "This is the sort of information which would be valuable to terrorists planning an attack."
The loss of the documents is the latest in a number of errors involving security documents.
Among the most embarrassing was the theft of details of Maxine Carr's new identity from the back of a civil servant's car as she attended a party.

[Jerricho]

Chippy, not being cynical at all The area around that servo and road isn't exactly the best lit place at night, and I'll wager the amount of rubbish that gets chucked out of car windows along that road wouldn't be described as minimal. Seems the chances of this dossier "standing out" are thin.

[HZ123]

I feel confident that present 'terrorists' are more than capable of doing their own surveys / audits without having to rely on the Met Pol or the Security Services, both, of whom have large question marks over there competance in many recent fields of intelligenge.

[eal401]

I'd love to slap the person who gave them to the Sun
I could think of far worse things he could have done.

[Mr Chips]

Eal401 - with or without this document, I can show umpteen places you could shoot down an aircraft from. Mt old back garden. My old neighbours back garden. And teh next house, and the next house....

As to security patrols... white cars with "Police" down teh side are fairly easy to spot!!!! (and even the silver ones aren't much of a disguise!)

I still think that there is more to this "find" than the story tells....

[John Farley]

The police officer who lost the papers was quoted as saying that when he stopped for fuel he did not want to leave the papers in the car, so kept them with him. Before driving off he put them down for a mo on the roof (as one does) and forgot them when he got in and drove off. Sounds like he was very tired and the whole thing seems eminently plausible to me.

[Evening Star]

Monday evening, Gate 5 Terminal 1 at LHR (with ES and clan awaiting BA1338). Large crowd awaiting BA domestic flights with BBC World 24 chuntering in the background. News item comes on about '64 different ways' to shoot down an aircraft at LHR. Sudden silence amongst punters as all suddenly find news very very interesting. Then, immediately following news item, fire engines with blue lights seen rushing past to give blue light welcome to something (Etihad I think). Mad rush to window as for dramatic effect timing of news and fire engines could not have been better. Well, you had to be there ...