Second Car Bomb Discovered In London
First Device Disarmed In Theater District; Another Explosive Device Found In Second Car
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London Bomb Plot Foiled
A plot to set off two separate car bombs in a busy part of London was foiled. One of the cars was parked steps away from a crowded nightclub near Piccadilly Circus. Richard Roth reports from London.
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Terrorists' Chilling Message
Officials say there's no immediate terror threat facing America, but they are worried about the type of explosive device found in London. As Bob Orr reports, it could be an emerging terror weapon.
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Expert On London Bomb Scare
John Brennan, CBS News homeland security analyst and a counter-terrorism expert, joins Katie Couric to discuss the foiled London bomb plot.
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British police forensic officers investigate a vehicle that contains a suspected bomb near Piccadilly Circus in central London, June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
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A view of the car where British police defused a bomb on June 29, 2007. (GOFF/INFPhoto)
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British police officers secure the area near to Piccadilly Circus in London, where police found a vehicle that contained a suspected bomb, June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
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A British police officer stands at the cordoned-off junction of Coventry Street and Haymarket in central London as police officers investigate a "potentially viable explosive device," June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Clara Molden/PA Wire)
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A British police forensic officer leaves a blue operations tent that police placed over a vehicle that containd an explosive device in the Haymarket area near Piccadilly Circus in central London, Friday June 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
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London Bomb Scare
Police thwart apparent terror attack, defusing car bomb in heart of city.
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London was in a state of lockdown Friday after police located the first device in the tourist epicenter of the city, and began a search of the city's tourist landmarks for others. Hours later, they found one, near Hyde Park.
CBS News correspondent Richard Roth reports the second car had originally been parked around the corner from the nightclub — it had been ticketed and towed overnight, a mile and a half away, to Park Lane, where the smell of gas fumes raised suspicion. It's clearly linked, police said, to the first car bomb.
British anti-terror police chief Peter Clarke said the bomb discovered in London's West End could have caused "significant injury or loss of life" had it exploded.
"The [second] vehicle was found to contain very similar materials to those that had been found in the first car," Clarke said. "There was a considerable amount of fuel and gas canisters. As in the first vehicle, there was also a quantity of nails. This, like the first device, was potentially viable."
However, sources have told CBS News that it is still too early to know if the plot is connected to al Qaeda or is limited to homegrown U.K. terrorists. Sources said the bombs found were not "amateurish."
Britain's new home secretary, Jacqui Smith, summoned top officials for an emergency meeting Friday, calling the attempted attack "international terrorism."
Hours later, police closed a major road on the edge of Hyde Park, and began clearing people out of the area following reports of a suspicious vehicle.
Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said "our overriding objective is to protect, put in place cordons, and make sure areas are properly searched."Was the London bomb plot heralded on the Web?
CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals reports on posts in Internet forums made the night before.
He said police were "reviewing plans" for events scheduled in London during the weekend.
"We are currently facing the most serious and sustained threat to our security from international terrorism," Smith told reporters after the emergency meeting. "This reinforces the need for the public to remain vigilant to the threat we face at all times."
Clarke said the car bomb was discovered after an ambulance crew was called to a nearby nightclub at about 1 a.m. because someone had taken ill inside. The crew noticed the car parked outside the Tiger Tiger Club and what appeared to be smoke inside the passenger area.
Police were called and explosives officers dismantled the device by hand.
"All I kept thinking was, thank God, there must be an angel on my shoulders," one woman said, "because if that had gone off — glass, everything — we wouldn't have been alive today.
Clarke commended the bravery of the bomb squad and said they had not only prevented possible damage and injury, but provided investigators with valuable evidence.
The BBC reported that almost 16 gallons of gasoline were found in the car, and that law enforcement sources said it was possible the device had failed to detonate before it was discovered.
Sky reported that police believed the device was to be detonated remotely by cell phone, and that an explosives officer who arrived early on the scene reached into the car and removed a phone that was part of the trigger system.
The central area of London where the device was found would have been packed with nightclub patrons at that hour of the night. Clarke said it was too early to tell whether the Tiger Tiger nightclub, outside of which the car was found, was the intended target of the plot.
"Forensic staff are still examining the device, but once we know more about it, we'll know more about what type of individuals are behind this," an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the security details, told the Associated Press earlier.

The incident also presented the first crisis for the cabinet of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, reported Roth.
Brown, who took office on Wednesday, said the incident was a reminder that Britain faces "a serious and continuous threat" and the "need to be alert."
"I will stress to the Cabinet that the vigilance must be maintained over the next few days," Brown said.
Prof. Michael Clarke of King's College, a British terrorism analyst, told CBS News that the device appeared to be part of an "amateur" plot using a homemade bomb — but a large one. He said the device appeared to be part of a "well-coordinated" plan.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Was the London bomb plot heralded on the Web?



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See all 178 CommentsSecurity is up all over the world. In London after
their terrorist attack, in Madrid after theirs, in
America after ours.
That is why America hasn't been attacked since 9/11. Those hijackers would have been stopped if they tried to board a plane with box cutters today.
That is why we haven't been attacked, and not because there is some mysterious rulebook somewhere, that says that as long as U.S. troops are fighting a wasteful and counterproductive war near the Tigris and Euphrates, 10 or 20 terrorists can't retaliate on American soil.
There isn't any rulebook. This isn't some f*riggin' football game with referees and rulebooks, where "we're safe as long as we stay on offense."
The fact is that these terrorists are home grown British born
In the UK we have around 34,000 Muslims
Were as in the USA you 2.8 million the biggest Muslim population outside the middle east. So they do not need to board a plane. They are already here.
And its not just US troops in Iraq and a Sizable number of British troops are there as well, and these terrorists do not come from Iraq or the middle east
Iceman comments are just provocative and let us all prey that he not tempting Fate
- Posted by britishpig at 07:19 AM : Jun 29, 2007
Pray ?
It is increased security, especially in the airports, that have prevented another 9/11. Whereas the war in Iraq just makes them hate us even more, if that's possible.
That should be obvious to all but the stupid.
The ones who are tempting fate are the intellectually lazy and complacent, who assume that this is just like American Football, where if you're playing near their goal line, they can't score on you.
That complacency and false sense of security is what tempts fate.
most folk most days do not need the parades in their name, so they instead parade in the names of those who the that need today
Were as in the USA you 2.8 million the biggest Muslim population outside the middle east."
- Posted by britishpig at 07:19 AM : Jun 29, 2007
This website attracts knowledgeable people from all over the world.
Alas, britishpig is not one of them.
(Did you and Barack Obama have the same math teacher ?)
There are 1.6 million Muslims in Britain. That's 2.8% of the total population.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm#uk
"Indonesia, in Southeast Asia, with a population of over 200 million, it is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, although officially it is not an Islamic state."
- Wikipedia
Maybe could he try a couple of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before he shoots his mouth off
He obviously gains his experience and Knowledge from the online unregulated media than having actually been there.
Neither British, US, Polish, Italian troops have ever been able to secure the Iraq borders hence the roadside bombs coming in from Iran.
Maybe in Iceman%u2019s world everything is Hunky Dory in Iraq. But in the real world it%u2019s a long hard struggle, were the locals hate you, to the extent they try and kill you at the earliest opportunity. And your only friends are the Collation partners
- Posted by britishpig at 08:18 AM : Jun 29, 2007
At least I have some knowledge. I didn't even have to look up your estimates of Muslims in the UK, to know you're full of it.
Should I also personally visit the Moon before I decide it isn't made of green cheese.
Haven't you already made enough of a fool of yourself this morning, bp ?
- britishpig
The Italians pulled out of Iraq last year.
The Poles are planning to withdraw sometime this year.
Not everyone in Europe is stupid.
(Keep a sharp eye out for those "34,000 Muslims" in the UK. They can turn on you at any time.)
I shouldn't just rely on the BBC for that number.
I shouldn't just rely on the BBC for that number.
Posted by Iceman_1960
You mean they are like snow cones easily identifiable from a ice shavers?
its good to see the psychotic paranoia unfold into such a hilarious and pathetic mud slinging party....
you folks got no idea what this is, AQ isnt dead, they just slow
and they dont do just one at a time either!!
There isn't any rulebook. This isn't some f*riggin' football game with referees and rulebooks, where "we're safe as long as we stay on offense."
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 06:47 AM : Jun 29, 2007
Your ignorance and lack of logic is overwhelming. No football game but military tactics. Keep your enemy occupied, using their manpower and resources defending themselves. This tactic, used throughout warfare history, prevents the enemy from mounting an offense when their assets are not available for planning, training and equipping an offensive plan.
The USA, which must control immigration in a rational way, needs to balance a worthwhile desire to allow people from all parts of the world with the very real risk that any population of Muslims, particularly from a country like Pakistan, will harbor a significant number of terrorists willing to kill large number of innocent bystanders. For example, the Pakistani population of Lodi, California, would have been thought to be a group with no reason to harbor vicious sentiments against their native country, yet one of their imams was arrested for plotting mass destruction.
In general, perhaps it is best if Muslims stay in "Muslim lands" and don't get to come to the USA. Their own religion commands them to take over any country they move into and make the population put their face in the dirt to the Muslim god, or be killed.
Better safe than sorry.
Posted by mbcsmith
Warfare history isn't going to be particularily helpful is this global terrorism. It's not like WWII and the Battle of Gettysburg anymore.
In fact, I would say WE are falling for THEIR tactic. "Keep your enemy occupied" Check. We are bogged down in Iraq, and not infiltrating these cells around the world. "...using their manpower and resources defending themselves..." Again check. "...prevents the enemy from mounting an offense when their assets are not available for planning, training and equipping an offensive plan." Check again.
Is it a long drive from Baggdad to Lundun?
Plezz get these terrorist maps so they won't get lost in their own country.
Anywayz, at least we're fighting them ova' dea' ratha' than ova' hea'
Hang on their bud. We'll get you back to the conspirisy theory chat room in a sec. Put the tin foil beanie back on. Deep cleansing breaths...
...You remember don't you...the one where the alleged backpack bombs made the floor of the car blow upward which could only be caused by a bomb beneath the carriage?
The one where witnesses state that the bus was moved by authorities to the front of the Tavistock Institute, the psych-war propaganda god father of the British Empire...
The one in which bombs went off at precisely the stations where anti-terror bomb drills were being carried out...the one in which the accused were obviously photo-shopped into security film...
The one in which the mastermind was an MI-5 asset...rather like the WTC bomb in 1993.
How many more must die for the sake of bad theatre?
Yes, that is exactly what al Queda is doing to us.
But your argument is not relevant when dealing with a terrorist organization. A terror group does not need thousands or even hundreds of fighters to launch an attack against America. They can do it with a few dozen, sometimes even one is enough. Therefore, since it is impossible to tie up every single terrorist in the world in Iraq, the battle there is pointless. It only takes a few determined a$$holes to launch a terror attack. The battle in Iraq will not affect these small groups of people in the least. It only hurts us (who do rely on large numbers for security), not them.
You don't need to believe me, this is what is taught at the War College.
Here we go again, 'profiling' all Muslims as terrorists or anti-American. That would be like saying all Catholics are terrorists because of the acts of the IRA!
I do believe before someone is allowed to immigrate to the US (or UK in this case) that sufficient background checks are done to be as sure as possible that we are not letting potential terrorists into the country, but you can't just bock out a group of people based on religion. After all, our country was founded by people fleeing religions persecution!
Yet, that does not obviate the fact that there is a group of fanatic Muslim fascists who want to harm the USA, the UK, and other countries of the liberal West, "liberal" referring to our beliefs in free speech, freedom of religion, free elections, and the individual liberties of human beings as rights.
The Islamic fascists have tricked Bushit into playing their game. We would have been better off on that score leaving Saddam in place. The guy was a jerk, but the USA has supported so many murderous jerks--e.g., Rios Montt, dictator of Guatemala, put in place by the CIA, who murdered hundreds of thousands of Guatemalan citizens. What's one more in our record.
It's stupid to play into Islamist hands. It is however wise to protect ourselves. Let us begin by closely regulating all Muslim immigration into the USA. Limit H1B and student visas for Muslims, especially those from countries rich in terrorist activity.
The Mexicans can be good friends, and are nice people. They are not the threat. The Muslims are a threat. It is foolish not to treat them as such.
The problem is, we think the terrorists are dumb and uneducated, not knowing the ways of war. But they are a very smart enemy and they are on their own turf.
Posted by teeus at 09:46 AM : Jun 29, 2007
FACT? I think not. We are on the offensive killing them there not here. If your arguments were FACT, CALIFORNIA would be the battleground.
- Posted by mbcsmith at 09:19 AM : Jun 29, 2007
You didn't even comprehend the post you replied to.
Bush's own CIA tells us that the war in Iraq is aiding and abetting al Qaeda recruitment -- and most of the insurgents in Iraq are not al Qaeda.
If it required an army of 50,000 to launch a 9/11, you might have a point. But it doesn't. It takes a handful of fanatics.
Now for the point you missed altogether. (I'll put it in caps for you).
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ATTACKED SINCE 9/11 BECAUSE AFTER THE FIRST 9/11, SECURITY WAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY, IN THE AIRPORTS AND ELSEWHERE.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT, TRY THIS EXPERIMENT. GET 10 OF YOUR FRIENDS TOGETHER, AND TRY TO BOARD AN AMERICAN JETLINER IN AN AMERICAN AIRPORT WITH CONCEALED BOX-CUTTERS AND A FAKE BOMB. IN 30 YEARS, WHEN YOU GET OUT OF PRISON, REPORT BACK HERE AND TELL US HOW IT WENT.
That is 100% of the reason we haven't been attacked since 9/11.
To the extent that Bush deserves any credit for closing that security barn door after a large horse had left, I give him credit.
OK ?
Hang on their bud. We'll get you back to the conspirisy theory chat room in a sec. Put the tin foil beanie back on. Deep cleansing breaths...
teeus
Made me laugh, but I only stated facts, not a wild conspiracy theory. Yes, I am a little out off the topic, but $ makes the world go round, including the wars. I dare you to actually watch the video. I did not make this stuff up, neither did they. International Bankers are out to rule the world.
Another bumper sticker "solution" to a complex problem.
The days of foreign-policy-by-bumper-sticker are fast approaching an end, thank goodness.
This ain't no friggin football game.
For every one we kill, there are multiple new recruits to their cause.
This ain't no friggin football game.
A January 18 Knight Ridder article further reported that "Islamic militants allied with or inspired by Osama bin Laden were forging ties to Iraqi nationalists and remnants of former dictator Saddam Hussein's regime," citing two "senior intelligence officials with access to classified reporting." One of the officials was quoted saying, "The sad thing is we have created what the administration claimed we were intervening to prevent: an Iraq/al-Qaida linkage."
Source:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200507130002
For every one we kill, there are multiple new recruits to their cause.
This ain't no friggin football game.
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 10:24 AM : Jun 29, 2007
This is WAR! Killing terrorists is job number one. You offer no solution to the problem. If I hear that Iraq is the cause, you are naive. There were plenty of recruits on 9/11, prior to Iraq. As you are Canadian, I don't expect you to understand.
After kicking it over he shouted, "Mission Accomplished !"
- Posted by mbcsmith at 10:31 AM : Jun 29, 2007
Are you blind ? I said that increased security is what prevents terrorist attacks of the type mentioned in this story, and on 9/11. Increased security.
"If I hear that Iraq is the cause, you are naive. There were plenty of recruits on 9/11, prior to Iraq."
- Posted by mbcsmith at 10:31 AM : Jun 29, 2007
At least I don't encourage making it worse by turning Iraq into the al Qaeda version of West Point. There were terrorists before 9/11, obviously, and the war in Iraq is increasing their number and their expertise. The CIA says so - and why would they be bad-mouthing their Boss's war ?
"As you are Canadian, I don't expect you to understand."
- Posted by mbcsmith at 10:31 AM : Jun 29, 2007
I don't live in Canada. I don't even speak Canadian.
I think I remember bombing incidents in Africa and Marines dying by a "car bomb" in another part of the world.
Where are these terrorist and where are they being trained?
How did Bush let his guard down inviting a 911 incident? Honestly
I'm not blaming them. It's an impossible mission.
At this point in history, a lot of mostly white, Christian troops from the West are not going to impose their will and their democratic, Western way of life on people in the heart of the Islamic world.
If that could be done, the Israelis would have done it by now, in the occupied territories.
But it can't be done.
The Israeli troops are mostly white and non-Muslim with Western ideas about government.
I wasn't implying they were mostly Christian.
But it's the same principle.
ALSO, stop teaching that all cultures are the same. They are not, they are barbarians (reporters heads cut off, soldiers eyes gaughed out, bombs on children....honor killing of young women).
SO GET OVER IT ALL YOU CRYBABIES- STOP IT. MOVE ON. STOP BUSH BASHING. THEY tried to blow up London Today - tomorrow maybe they will try again. FOCUS ON NOW AND TOMORROW.....FOCUS.... CRYBABIES !!!!
- Posted by casper10X at 10:54 AM : Jun 29, 2007
NOT FOR LONG.
Bush doesn't like "artificial deadlines" for the war ?
OK, here's an all natural deadline: Inauguration Day 2009.
After that (even if the new President is Rudy Giuliani) we will be getting out of Iraq. Trust me.
Like the song says...
"Don't.... Stop.... Thinkin' about Tomorrow...
Don't... Stop... It will soon be here...
It will be... Better than Before..."
Yes, and it's giving free countries a bad name over there.
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