Terrorism: 'The Sky Is Dark'

Sky News
Nov. 02, 2005

Terrorism, as defined in Funk and Wagnalls New Practical Standard Dictionary (1946): A system of government that seeks to rule by intimidation.Britons are being warned of more attempts to attack the UK in coming months.

The country's most senior policeman told of the threat as he battled for more powers to deal with suspected terrorists while MPs debate the Terrorism Bill.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the security service and his force have prevented attacks on Britain in the last few weeks.

"The sky is dark. Intelligence exists to suggest that other groups will attempt to attack Britain in the coming months," he said in an article in The Sun.

"We need to detain terrorist suspects for far longer than we have ever had to do before.

"These people present a threat so profound that as soon as we begin to understand they are planning an attack, we must disrupt them by arrest.

"There is no choice. It is not a a power we wish to use frequently. We have no interest in making Britain a police state."

Sir Ian said police chiefs are united in their support of the 90-day detention proposal that forms part of the new Terrorism Bill.

But the plans are opposed by the Tories and Liberal Democrats and some Labour backbenchers.

The Bill survived a mauling from all sides in the Commons last week.

Opponents are expected to again demand ministers drop plans to allow police to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days without charge.

Amnesty International has also come out against the proposals, denouncing them as "ill-conceived and dangerous".

It says the Bill contains "sweeping and vague provisions that undermine the rights to freedom and expression and association".