Heathrow Airport Anti-Terror Plans 'Found in Road'

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Heathrow Airport Anti-Terror Plans 'Found in Road'
 Sun Jul 18, 2004 07:36 PM ET

 LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Sunday they had launched an 
inquiry into how a secret police dossier went missing that according to 
a newspaper report contained counter-terrorist plans for London's 
Heathrow airport.

 The dossier, found lying in a road, showed 62 sites at the airport 
where al Qaeda was most likely to launch anti-aircraft missile strikes, 
the Sun newspaper said in its Monday edition.

 The Sun said the dossier included facts about surveillance, escape 
routes, evacuation plans and deployment of rooftop snipers at the 
world's busiest international hub.

 The plans, which have since been returned to police, were found by a 
motorist, the newspaper said.

 A police spokeswoman could give no details about what the dossier 
contained or where it was found, but confirmed it had been returned to 
police.

 "We treat any breach of security extremely seriously," the spokeswoman 
said.

 "We have launched an internal inquiry into the circumstances of how 
these documents went missing and will take the appropriate action when 
we have ascertained the facts surrounding this matter," the spokeswoman 
said.

 She could not confirm whether the dossier was compiled by the SO18 
anti-terrorist Aviation Security team, which is based at Heathrow 
police station.

 According to The Sun, the papers contained detailed maps and 
photographs, including aerial and satellite shots.

 In one section, the dossier identified a field close to the airport as 
being ideal for a terrorist attack. "This site affords an excellent 
site to attack aircraft departing Heathrow," the Sun quoted from the 
dossier, saying it included aerial and satellite photographs of the 
site.

 Dated June 26 2004, the dossier gave surveillance and assessment 
information valid until December, the newspaper said.

 Ten years ago, the Irish Republican Army targeted Heathrow airport 
with rocket attacks. None of the missiles packed with Semtex plastic 
explosive detonated.

 Security chiefs sent tanks into Heathrow last year after intelligence 
pointed to a threatened missile attack.

 This year, flights to the U.S. have been canceled amid fears of an al 
Qaeda attack.

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