JUBILEE STREET PARTY TERROR ATTACK THREAT
Police warn cars could be used as weapons
PLATINUM Jubilee party planners have been warned by police of the danger of possible terror attacks.
More than 60,000 have registered to host Big Jubilee lunches over the June 2 to 5 bank holiday weekend to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
An estimated 10 million will celebrate at street parties.
A five-page document sent to organisers by the Met Police entitled “Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advise for Street Parties” warns that the gatherings could be attractive to attackers because of the large and diverse crowds expected.
It says: “Terrorists using vehicles as weapons do NOT comply with traffic management systems. Organisers are advised to take steps to reduce the ability of vehicles to speed up on approach to gatherings.”
It says: “It is recommended that street furniture is not removed... Strategically positioned vehicles can act as a deterrent, but may not completely stop an attack.”
Volunteers are advised be ready to move them for emergency vehicles. Organisers are warned to search in the vicinity of the venue for hidden bombs or knives. They are also advised to carry an air horn to warn of any potential terror attack unfolding. The document, by security adviser Ian Rudge, says attacks are not common but warns the threat is “substantial”, so an attack is “likely”. It adds that there is no specific intelligence that street parties are going to be targeted. The Met Police said: “Advising organisers on the best way to make their events safe is something we do for all public events of significant scale.”