Army / Police presence at Heathrow now!!
11 February 2003, 10:01 AM
#1
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Heathrow Airport is under heavy security this morning, even in the surrounding areas, Police are everywhere searching cars/vans/lorries even the Royal mail, police on every bridge on the M4 as well as the adjacent roads that run paralell to the M4 as you approch Heathrow of the M4 and the Army are on the perimeter roads in Armoured patrol vehicles, squadies with machine guns assisting the police!!
Security practise or has their been a tip off??
There are plenty of surrounding fields any terrorist could let a surface to air missle go from and being based 1/4 from the end of the runway directly on the flight path really fills you with ease
.
Dave
Security practise or has their been a tip off??
There are plenty of surrounding fields any terrorist could let a surface to air missle go from and being based 1/4 from the end of the runway directly on the flight path really fills you with ease
.Dave
11 February 2003, 10:13 AM
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11 February 2003, 12:17 PM
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Theyve just stopped and searched a dust cart and a white line painting lorry 
pc said "We are not looking for pot, coke, drink drivers or tax disc evaders just terrorists" Good coz the taxx was due 11 days ago !! Ooops
pc said "We are not looking for pot, coke, drink drivers or tax disc evaders just terrorists" Good coz the taxx was due 11 days ago !! Ooops
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11 February 2003, 01:05 PM
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Just seen this on the BBC lunchtime news. Would you really want to get on a plane after going past that sort of security knowing something is seriously bothering them with that sort of deployment 
Good they have the security but also makes you think next few days is a bad time to travel!
Good they have the security but also makes you think next few days is a bad time to travel!
11 February 2003, 03:09 PM
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Or it could be Tony Blair preparing us for the start of the War on Terror. I'm sorry - but they go to arrest known suspects in Manchester and they don't bother with body armour yet they put this show of force on - hmmmmm
Call me Cynical but if he puts the $hit up everyone just before launching his attack on Iraq he might get less stick for it !
Call me Cynical but if he puts the $hit up everyone just before launching his attack on Iraq he might get less stick for it !
11 February 2003, 04:16 PM
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I hope this war on Iraq happens soon. Its sure to soar the petrol prices up a lot. This means that more people won't be able to use their car and we'll have an empty road to play with. Yay!
Okay I'm broke too, but think of the possibilities..
Okay I'm broke too, but think of the possibilities..
11 February 2003, 04:38 PM
#17
can someone please explain to me how an armoured personel carrier is going to be any use against a terrorist attack.
What an utter joke. By all means bus the army in on force and have them surround the perimiter, protect an airfield like the RAF regiment do. But having them all sitting in armoured personel carriers is just plain and simple propoganda.
New Labour really are thick.
What an utter joke. By all means bus the army in on force and have them surround the perimiter, protect an airfield like the RAF regiment do. But having them all sitting in armoured personel carriers is just plain and simple propoganda.
New Labour really are thick.
11 February 2003, 04:50 PM
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On the sky news homepage they reckon that the anti-terror police have unearthed a plot to shoot a plane down.
11 February 2003, 06:01 PM
#20
John,an APC will be of use in stopping having troops shot by pinned down terrorists in 'that' field near the runway that they can't get near 'cos the terrorists spray you with bullets.....and so on ... If they weren't there and something happened you would undoubtably give 'em f**k for having no APC's,they're "paid for" so why not use 'em. (no offence intended (NOI) )
11 February 2003, 07:39 PM
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Dont know. Who does. Trouble is in this county is that were fed so much crap and Gov spin that you just dont know what to believe any more.
We saw enough of Tony and his US buddies trying to convice us that war on Iraq is justified last week. Only to find out most of it was written years ago.
If there is a credible threat then lets have some evidence.
So Matty do you think there is a credible terrorist threat to the UK. And if there is ask yourself why.
Chip.
We saw enough of Tony and his US buddies trying to convice us that war on Iraq is justified last week. Only to find out most of it was written years ago.
If there is a credible threat then lets have some evidence.
So Matty do you think there is a credible terrorist threat to the UK. And if there is ask yourself why.
Chip.
11 February 2003, 07:42 PM
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The thing is what exactly were they going to do if some terrorist pops out of a car with a stinger missile? No amount of troops or APC's are going to stop him firing it as they probably wouldn't see him in time until after he had fired it. Yes the police road blocks etc were a good idea but troops weren't going to be much help to be honest. Plus the fact the M25 lies right underneath the path of aircraft taking off makes stopping on the M25 a lot more of a viable place than going right upto the front door of Heathrow itself.
All I know is I wouldn't want to be flying from any of the London airports in the coming weeks.
All I know is I wouldn't want to be flying from any of the London airports in the coming weeks.
11 February 2003, 08:05 PM
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Surely they could hit the plane with a stinger missile from any number of locations on its flight path coming into Heathrow? A few APC's at Heathrow is just a publicity stunt.
11 February 2003, 08:37 PM
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If this war comes off this will be only the start. Tony toss pot Blair operates an open door policy to who ever wants to come here. Do we expect people to have signs on their backs saying Terrorist. NO. But one thing I can say for sure is Glad I or my family do not live in or work in the city.
11 February 2003, 09:05 PM
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another smoke screen, selling the war agenda again. Nice one TONY!!
If it is to stop terror attacks its a bit obvious making these people think twice not to hit heathrow and go somewhere else.
Does he think the public are f**kin stupid. Whats he going to do next have miltary blocks around the whole country.
If it is to stop terror attacks its a bit obvious making these people think twice not to hit heathrow and go somewhere else.
Does he think the public are f**kin stupid. Whats he going to do next have miltary blocks around the whole country.
11 February 2003, 11:10 PM
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It may not be a missile attack they are worried about, a far “safer” way of causing damage is a bomb truck (or van) driven into a terminal, this would cause huge disruption (if successful) and cause the closure of the terminal(s) for months.
A tank would at least have some chance of stopping a truck.
By contrast a SAM is much more hit or miss, just look at the weather today for example (low cloud so minimum time to aim etc) and that’s after it’s been smuggled in to the country.
A tank would at least have some chance of stopping a truck.
By contrast a SAM is much more hit or miss, just look at the weather today for example (low cloud so minimum time to aim etc) and that’s after it’s been smuggled in to the country.