Elements of a successful anti-terrorism mission

Last August 10, Scotland Yard’s Head of Anti-Terrorism revealed the successful disruption of a terrorist plot to blow up planes in flight from the UK to the US on August 16 and commit "mass murder on an unimaginable scale". "The bombers were a couple of days from a test, and a few days from doing it". What led to the early detection and prevention of deadly mid-air explosions that could have killed hundreds of thousands of people? This came as a result of the biggest anti-terrorist surveillance operation ever mounted in the UK.

FOCUSED INVESTIGATION. M15, London’s Security Service and Scotland Yard’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, were the focused group who tracked a large group of people in their meetings, movements, travel, spending and communications. Authorities, early on the investigation, determined the target bombing on August 16 and how it will be executed. The airlines targeted were United, American and Continental which fly to New York, Washington and California.

CONTINUED MONITORING OF DEVELOPMENTS. Some of the suspects were known to the security services even before the London subway bombings last year. Authorities had conducted electronic and e-mail and physical surveillance of the suspects.

VIGILANCE. Intensive monitoring of the suspected terrorists allowed the authorities to foresee every move of the group, from their use of Internet cafes to the use of transport vehicles. British authorities stepped in just in time to round up the plotters when they began to book flights and even before anyone could purchase a ticket.

TIMELINESS. To thwart an attack and to execute arrests and hold-orders, right timing is essential. British authorities swooped in to arrest the suspects despite contradictory advice from affiliate governments to gather more evidence first. Hence, both a test run to smuggle the liquid explosives through the airport and the actual bombing were foiled.

TEAMWORK AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING. The US Homeland Security and local British authorities and police were in constant communication, updating and appraising each other of intelligence reports. There were sharing of information regarding terrorism watch lists. Hence, the exchange of communication as well as transit of the suspects from country to country were tracked down, thus preempting their movements.

KNOWLEDGE OF SUSPECTS IDENTITY AND ASPIRATIONS. The common characteristics of terrorists worldwide have become largely identified with the homegrown generation, mostly youth. The oldest of the named suspects is 35 and the youngest is 17. Thirteen of them are from East London, 2 from North London and 4 from High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire. At least a dozen of those under arrest hold dual Pakistani citizenship.

Our local officials are doing an excellent job and exerting their best efforts to respond concretely to the threat of terrorism especially in the Metropolis. The Makati City government is tightening its watch on vital facilities and key establishments in the country’s financial center, focusing on strengthening its capability to deter bomb attacks. A security conference was presided by Mayor Jejomar Binay in June this year to promote awareness and elicit the full involvement of security officials from various private establishments and representatives from all units of the local government.

The 16 points under President’s Counter-Terrorism Plan provide the best guidelines to enhance the anti-terrorism plans of our local government officials. An important aspect is the sharing of information among security officials of embassies and corporations. The passing of the anti-terrorism bill should have been done long before to bolster anti-terrorism plans. National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales called for full support for the bill to strengthen law enforcement.

Let us join hands and be vigilant to effectively fight a war on terror.