Channel tunnel is terror target

[Newsjock]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1978642,00.html

Jason Burke in Paris
Sunday December 24, 2006
The Observer

The Channel tunnel has been targeted by a group of Islamic militant terrorists aiming to cause maximum carnage during the holiday season, according to French and American secret services.

The plan, which the French DGSE foreign intelligence service became aware of earlier this year, is revealed in a secret report to the French government on threat levels. The report, dated December 19, indicates that the tip-off came from the American CIA. British and French intelligence agencies have run a series of checks of the security system protecting the 31-mile tunnel but the threat level, the DGSE warns, remains high. British security services remain on high alert throughout the holiday period.

... American security sources told The Observer that the threat was 'sky high'.

[TomInTib]

1. Yesterday thay were talking up the tunnels in the Hudson

I suppose it is better to disrupt the Brits' Xmas.

[tularetom]

2. "...the tip-off came from the American CIA"

Lot of that going around, hmmm?

[dailykoff]

13. Bingo.

False-flag Islamic terrorism, our gift to the world.

[sofa king]

19. I wonder if that tip-off came around October....

...And the French confounded us by not blabbing about it in time for the elections.

[williesgirl]

3. Let's hope this is more of our government's bullshit and scaring the world so they can take

whatever they want, starting with the few remaining personal freedoms we have.

[Porcupine]

4. terra 'lert,. terra 'lert, be afraid, terra terra terra.........

Bullshit. Everythings a target. After September 11th I remember they had every bridge and tunnel guarded but were letting gasoline and propane tankers drive around unescorted.

The people who are running homeland security are completely full of shit. September 11th was done by Saudi's, Saudi Arabia has strong ties to the Bush family. Mysteriously also on or around 9-11 somebody in the US government sent anthrax powder to news outlets and Democratic congressmen.

That was the last terror attack on the US since that time. Nobody sane is going to tell you our borders are secure or explosives aren't available. So where are the terrorists now that the BFEE has their excuse to start a war?

[MisterP]

5. another holiday scare: like in 2003, with the planes

coming through Paris--one of the "suspect names" was a baby!!!

[originalpckelly]

6. I always follow this one rule:

I never air skepticism until after the time has passed. Only when evidence becomes available that a threat was BS, do I sound the BS alarm.

[Phredicles]

7. But I thought we were fighting 'em Over There so they wouldn't

attack us Over Here.:eyes:

[aggiesal]

9. Sorry. Not trying to steal your thunder.

Just read yours after posting mine.

[Phredicles]

10. Hey, sometimes a retort is just that obvious.

I've done it, too; no worries...

[aggiesal]

8. But, but ... I thought we were fighting them over there ...

so that we wouldn't fight them over here.

[Puzzler]

11. Did anyone bother to explain...

... that a structure like a tunnel (especially like a large underwater one) is very difficult to do major damage to? Almost all of the expolsive force would be directed down the tunnel in both directions and not through the walls (which are immensely strong) ... rather like the way explosions in a rifle or a gun work. Of course, trains would be badly damaged, but a terrorist could do that anyway with a trackside bomb, without having to worry about the trouble of getting into the tunnel.

-P

[PaulaFarrell]

18. There was a fire in this tunnel once and it was out of action for many months

It might not come down but it would definiely take a long while to get it in order again. Also, to get people's comfidence up to use it again. Quite a lot of the freight traffic between the UK and the continent goes through here, so shutting it down would cause tremendous problems. But it's been known to be risk for years, so I'm not sure why the sudden panic. Same old terra, terra.

[Mr Creosote]

12. Funny how

the CIa decides that the tunnel is a terrorist target in the same week that there was major disruption to short-haul flights.

[leesa]

14. Booga. Booga. Oh, Merry Christmas.

Every year. What, no exploding teddy bears available?

[rustydog]

15. Ya Think?!!! jumpin'us Christ these people amaze me

Yes tunnels would be terror targets, subway tunnels, tunnels under rivers and channels, you bet your ass.

So would a major hospital or destroying the operations of several in one day. so would be airports, still. so would be major seaports and schools, colleged and universities and major malls. Certain interstate locations would be vulnerable.

Shit, if a group were to destroy I-5 and I-90 "tot he east west and north somewhat around seattle, the city and all of western washington would have to evacuate on two lane surface roads.


This is suspiciously like Bush's pre-election "The sky is falling!" tactic. Shit, the warning came from Bush's intelligencia? (can we use that term with THIS president and his administration?) If these idiots just discovered terrorists may target the Chunnel, they need to be replaced by people with a thought process. Unless they are going to clost the tunnel for the holiday, why are they telling the public instead of increasing security in and around the tunnel?

[uppityperson]

16. water is wet also.

1. Obvious statement (public places are terror targets)
2. Info came from questionable source
3. Boo!
4. Happy Holidays, go about your business and please buy more stuff.

[HuffleClaw]

17. THIS is their idea of the 'christmas spirit'?

yet another fear factor terror scare?