Terror investigation 'getting to the bottom'

Friday, 6 July 2007 12:00 AM

Police investigations into the failed terror attacks in London and Glasgow are "getting to the bottom" of the situation, the prime minister said.

Gordon Brown said the investigation into the attempted explosions had become an international effort.

Speaking to BBC News this morning, Mr Brown said: "I believe that, from what I know, we are getting to the bottom of this cell that has been responsible for what has happened.

The UK's security capabilities were brought into question after the attacks, as it emerged security officials had no specific advance intelligence warning them of the terror risk.

Only in the aftermath of the failed attack did the joint terrorism analysis centre (JTAC) raise the UK's threat level to critical, meaning an attack was expected imminently.

Mr Brown said: "I want people to know that the authorities have acted very quickly to deal with potential future incidents.'

Given this, he warned people would have to expect the disruption incurred by a higher level of security and called on people to be patient.

The prime minister said: "Crowded places and airports, I think people will have to accept that the security will be more intense.

"We have got to avoid the possibility - and it is very, very difficult - that people can use these crowded places for explosions."

Mr Brown praised the public's response to the terror threats, which had previously been described as heroic by shadow home secretary David Davis.

He said the public's response had been "amazing" and showed the "best of Britain."

The prime minister also confirmed a review of NHS recruitment of migrant labour would report on Monday.

Concerns were raised over the role of the health service after it emerged eight of the terror suspects were linked to the health service.

Tags:
• crime
,
• domestic policy
,
• policing and crime
,
• terrorism