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Police tighten Wimbledon security after terrorist attacks Police seize Wimbledon drone as security tightens after terror attacks
(about 2 hours later)
London police have tightened security at Wimbledon in the wake of Friday’s terrorist attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait. Police have seized a drone hovering over Wimbledon’s famous tennis courts as security measures at high-profile tourist attractions throughout the UK are tightened after the attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait.
Scotland Yard confirmed on Saturday that it was finishing preparations with the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organises the tennis tournament that starts on Monday. Upgraded security measures included the deployment of extra officers, increased road closures in south-west London and a “highly mobile reserve” team to respond to intelligence. As Scotland Yard’s most senior counter-terrorism official announced police were looking to increase the security of key sites, businesses and public places across the UK, officers were investigating why the drone, operated by a man from a nearby golf course, was directed above the site of the country’s showcase tennis tournament, which starts on Monday.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Macleod, the local borough commander, said: “We have reflected on previous operational plans and amended these where necessary to ensure we deliver a safe and secure championships for 2015. This year’s event will be policed to a level proportionate with the current threat level.”
Th UK’s threat level for international terrorism is assessed as severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”.
David Cameron, speaking immediately after hosting a Cobra emergency committee on Saturday, repeated warnings that Britain was facing a long-term threat.
“There’s no doubt we face a very severe threat in our country and we have done for many months and many years,” the prime minister said.
Related: Tunisia attack: Cameron says UK must prepare for high death tollRelated: Tunisia attack: Cameron says UK must prepare for high death toll
Soon after, and as crowds began to build in central London, police encouraged the public to attend high-profile events, such as the capital’s Pride and Armed Forces Day marches, despite reports the latter had been targeted by Islamic State terrorists. Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the national policing lead for counter-terrorism, also revealed that a significant number of officers had flown to Tunisia to help collate evidence from the scene of the attack in the beach resort of Sousse.
“We’ve deployed a large number of officers out to Tunisia, both in terms of our own evidence gathering – forensic experts, helping the Tunisia authorities – and also we’ve got experts in family liaison assisting,” he said.
Rowley, who recently said there were 35% more arrests linked to counter-terrorism than ever before, added it was “fairly clear” the location of the Tunisian attack was chosen because of the number of western tourists in the area.
Earlier, Scotland Yard had unveiled details of how it planned to tighten security at Wimbledon, with measures including the deployment of extra officers, increased road closures in south-west London and a “highly mobile reserve” team to respond to intelligence.
Senior officers confirmed the force was working with the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organises the tournament.
Ch Supt Stuart Macleod, the local borough commander, said: “We have reflected on previous operational plans and amended these where necessary to ensure we deliver a safe and secure championships for 2015. This year’s event will be policed to a level proportionate with the current threat level.”
Earlier, David Cameron, speaking immediately after hosting a Cobra emergency committee on Saturday, repeated warnings that Britain was facing a long-term threat.
“There’s no doubt we face a very severe threat in our country and we have done for many months and many years,” the prime minister said.
The UK’s threat level for international terrorism is currently assessed as severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”. It was raised to this level last August in response to conflicts in Iraq and Syria, and is one level below “critical”, when an attack is believed to be “imminent”.
Soon after Cameron’s comments, and as crowds began to build in central London, police encouraged the public to attend high-profile events, such as the capital’s Pride march and Armed Forces Day events, despite reports that the latter had been targeted by Islamic State terrorists.
The Metropolitan police confirmed that a Birmingham-based Isis convert had intended to target a south London parade made up of soldiers from the same unit as the murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The Sun reported that the plot to explode a pressure-cooker bomb was revealed after an undercover investigator from the newspaper was recruited to carry it out.The Metropolitan police confirmed that a Birmingham-based Isis convert had intended to target a south London parade made up of soldiers from the same unit as the murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The Sun reported that the plot to explode a pressure-cooker bomb was revealed after an undercover investigator from the newspaper was recruited to carry it out.
Meanwhile, the College of Policing revealed it had upgraded efforts to protect officers, saying it was disseminating toolkits to increase understanding among police forces of what suspicious activity looks like and how to be vigilant against it. It is understood police have been warned not to wear their uniforms in public when off duty and to not tell strangers their vocation. Guidance has been issued to officers that Islamist extremists are keen to carry out an atrocity against either on-duty officers or members of the armed forces. Elsewhere, the College of Policing revealed it had upgraded efforts to protect officers, saying it was disseminating toolkits to increase understanding among police forces of what suspicious activity looks like and how to be vigilant against it.
Related: Public urged to attend Armed Forces Day events after 'Isis plot foiled'Related: Public urged to attend Armed Forces Day events after 'Isis plot foiled'
Security arrangements throughout the UK are believed to have been tightened until the end of Ramadan on 18 July after the spokesman for Isis told followers earlier this week that creating “disasters for the infidels” during the Muslim holy month earned greater rewards in heaven. It is understood police have been warned not to wear their uniforms in public when off duty and to not tell strangers their vocation. Guidance has been issued to officers that Islamist extremists are keen to carry out an atrocity against either on-duty officers or members of the armed forces.
The proliferating threat from Isis has intensified pressure on the intelligence services, with the senior national co-ordinator of counter-terrorism investigations, assistant commissioner Helen Ball, stating on Friday that “we have seen a large increase in the level of counter-terrorist policing activity in the UK. This includes arresting suspects and disrupting their activities, as well as working with communities to prevent people from being drawn into violent extremism.” Security arrangements throughout the UK are believed to have been tightened until the end of ramadam on 18 July after the spokesman for Isis told followers earlier this week that creating “disasters for the infidels” during the Muslim holy month earned greater rewards in heaven.
Cameron said if the public were vigilant and supported the police, the UK could “combat this poisonous narrative of Islamist extremism that is radicalising too many young minds in our country”. The proliferating threat from Isis has intensified pressure on the inteligence services, with the senior national co-ordinator of counter-terrorism investigations, Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, stating on Friday that “we have seen a large increase in the level of counter-terrorist policing activity in the UK. This includes arresting suspects and disrupting their activities, as well as working with communities to prevent people from being drawn into violent extremism.”
Cameron said that if the public were vigilant and supported the police the UK could “combat this poisonous narrative of Islamist extremism that is radicalising too many young minds in our country”.