Following news this morning of a major terror plot to blow up planes flying between the UK and US London Assembly Chairman Brian Coleman has praised the work of the London and UK-wide security forces.
In a statement released by his office Mr Coleman said “the Metropolitan Police and the security services are to be congratulated on their continuing vigilance on behalf of the people of London and the United Kingdom as a whole. ”
Reiterating the role we all have in assisting the police Mr Coleman said it was “the duty of all Londoners to remain alert and report any suspicious activity, whilst not allowing the terrorist threat to undermine our way of life.”
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone echoed this sentiment saying “calm and co-operation are the most important watchwords today”.
Appealing for Londoners to stand together the Mayor said “only a united London can help defeat terrorism, which means that all London’s communities have their part to play” adding that “no community in London can or should be targeted or blamed because of the actions of people who are pure criminals.”
Mayor Livingstone said the threat from terrorism could only be defeated “by having the best possible intelligence and the co-operation of all Londoners.”
“The threat level has been raised to critical and this will of course lead to inconvenience particularly at airports. But I would ask Londoners and visitors to London to co-operate at this time so that we can go about our business as safely as possible”
Earlier today the Home Secretary John Reid said ‘the police, acting with the Security Service MI5, are investigating an alleged plot to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life.”
Mr Reid said the police believe the alleged plot was “a very significant one indeed” which had led the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to raise the UK threat state to “Critical” – its highest level.
The Home Secretary warned that the ongoing operation would “mean major disruption at all UK airports from today” but said the Government wanted the public “as far as is possible…to go about their business as normal”.
