UK/Police 'terror papers' go missing

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Police are investigating the disappearance of documents said to contain plans to counter a possible terrorist attack on Heathrow airport. A report in the Sun newspaper claims the papers identified 62 sites from which a missile strike could be made.

A motorist contacted its journalists after he had found them in a layby near the London airport, said the Sun. The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an internal inquiry but would not discuss the documents' contents. The files were dated 26 June 2004 and included details about escape routes, evacuation plans and road closures, according to the newspaper's Monday edition.

Confidential details of police measures such as patrol times, use of dog units and deployment of rooftop snipers were also set out, it said. The plans have been returned to the Metropolitan Police. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman could not confirm reports the dossier was compiled by the SO18 Aviation Security team, which is based at Heathrow police station. She said: "We treat any breach of security extremely seriously. "We have launched an internal inquiry into the circumstances of how these documents went missing and will take the
appropriate action when we have ascertained the facts surrounding the matter." She said she could not discuss the contents of the papers nor where they were found "for security reasons".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3905481.stm