Bombings Report: More Resources Needed

May 11, 2006 — -- Last summer's terrorist attacks in London may have been prevented if British security services had more resources, according to a government report on the attacks released today.

On July 7, 52 people were killed and more than 700 injured when four Muslim suicide bombers struck three subway trains and a bus.

No one from the intelligence services or police is blamed. It doesn't appear anyone will lose his or her job over this because, we're told, there wasn't an "intelligence failure."

The report concludes, "There was no specific intelligence of the July 7 plot," but concedes that, "Greater coverage in Pakistan, or more resources generally in the UK, might have alerted the agencies to the intentions of the 7 July group."

Two of the July 7 bombers had closer ties to known extremist groups than previously thought, the report states. The ringleader of the plot, Mohammed Sidique Khan, was known to the security services well before July 7 but was not kept under surveillance. The report says this was because "there were more pressing priorities at the time, including the need to disrupt known plans to attack the UK."

"The chances of identifying attack planning and of preventing the 7 July attacks might have been greater had different investigative decisions been taken by the Security Services," the report says.

The report does not criticize those who did not pursue Khan and Shazad Tanweer -- the other bomber known to the intelligence services -- when they first popped up on the radar. The report states, "The decision not to give greater investigative priority to these two individuals were understandable."

What Drove the Bombers to Act?

"The bombers were ordinary British citizens," Home Secretary John Reid told Parliament today. He said they were motivated by a "fierce antagonism to perceived injustices by the West against Muslims." Apparently one of the bombers was strongly influenced by an extremist preacher.

Along with the Intelligence and Security report that was released today, Reid gave his department's "narrative" of events.

Reid said the plot had been hatched after two of the bombers returned from a trip to Pakistan in early 2005.

The extent to which the attacks were planned or directed by members of al Qaeda remains "unclear." Apparently there's no evidence of a mastermind or "fifth bomber," but Reid said, "There are a series of suspicious contacts from an unknown individual or individuals in Pakistan in the immediate run up to the bombings."

Apparently the bombers taught themselves how to build the bombs by surfing the Internet. The total cost of the plot that took 52 lives: less than $15,000.

Lessons Learned?

Since July, British authorities have foiled three terrorist attacks, according to Reid.

Today's report calls for still greater collaboration between the various branches of police, security and intelligence services. The intelligence report also suggests more resources should be expended to investigate potential plots, and the terrorist "threat level" system should be overhauled.

"We believe lessons have been learned," the report states.

Reid said British people at all levels, from local religious leaders to the government itself, must understand why young British Muslims might be radicalized and guard against it.