London blasts - We must also be wary of terror threat

YESTERDAY’S series of bomb blasts in London, exactly two weeks after the attack which claimed the lives of 56 people, was another grim reminder, if it were needed, of the dire threat that Islamic fundamentalists pose to western civilisation.

By a miracle, nobody was killed when four minor explosions were triggered by cowardly terrorists who once more targeted innocent people in tube stations and on a bus. It was a copycat assault on the public transport artery which carries millions of people daily.

Significantly, this latest series of incidents came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair met police and intelligence chiefs to discuss what further powers they need in the wake of the London atrocity.

In a chilling turn of events, the attack followed hot on the heels of an extreme Islamic leader’s prediction that another assault would happen. Illustrating the warped philosophy of Islamic extremism, he claimed all the people of Britain were to blame for what happened in London on July 7 because of their support for the US war in Iraq.

Fortunately, as yesterday’s drama unfolded, the people of London breathed a sigh of relief when Scotland Yard assured them it was not treating the series of incidents as seriously as the attacks of two weeks ago.

Sadly, however, the evil intent of the assailants was partially successful as the incidents at Warren Street, Oval and Shepherd’s Bush stations once again brought mayhem to the city.

For the second time in a fortnight, large sections of the underground system were paralysed as trains ground to a halt on the Northern Line, the Victoria Line and the Hammersmith and City Line.

Once again, the emergency services responded swiftly and smoothly to reports that an explosion had blown out the windows of a bus at Hackney in the East End. Armed police officers later searched the grounds of University College Hospital for a man reported to have run from the blast scene at Warren Street tube.

It is now certain that tougher security measures to prevent future attacks will soon be introduced in Britain, including the key issue of phone tap evidence.

The London scenario highlights the curious case of Pakistani students who apparently went missing after enrolling at Waterford Institute of Technology. While the gardaí say they have now been accounted for, WIT confirmed it was reviewing its policies following the disappearances.

That Ireland could become a base for potential activists remains a distinct possibility. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is on record as stating that known al-Qaida supporters were already in the country and under garda surveillance.

Furthermore, two of the suspects sought by police in Britain were reported to have had connections here.

All this heightens the need for both the gardaí and the public to maintain constant vigilance against the possibility of terrorist attacks in Ireland.