Police chief's blunder forces terror officers to mount 'al-Qaeda' swoops

Published on Wednesday 8 April 2009 22:08

A MAJOR terrorism operation was launched last night after a security blunder forced police to swoop on suspects who sources claim have links to al-Qaeda.

Sources said the raids, in the north-west of England, were brought forward after Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was photographed clutching sensitive documents as he arrived in Downing Street.

Hundreds of police officers raided addresses in Cheetham Hill in Manchester, Liverpool – including John Moores University – and Clitheroe, in Lancashire. Officers arrested 12 people and raided eight properties.

Last night, questions were raised over Mr Quick's ability to continue in his role as Britain's most senior counter-terrorism chief.

Mr Quick was meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday to discuss police reform when he was photographed carrying papers marked "secret". These included details of an outline briefing on a counter-terrorism operation, as well as details of locations and the nature of overseas threats.

Last night, Mr Quick apologised for the blunder to Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, saying he "deeply regretted" leaving the document on show.

However, shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "This is an extraordinary and very alarming lapse. It's the kind of error Britain's most senior anti-terrorist officer simply can't afford to make, and it will lead to serious questions about his judgment and about his ability to do his job properly."

And Thurrock MP Andrew MacKinlay, who has criticised Mr Quick over the handling of Tory front-bencher Damian Green's arrest last year, said: "If this happened to a rookie policeman or even a junior sergeant they would be at least disciplined, if not dismissed."

Students at John Moores were told by staff to stay inside and away from the windows when anti-terrorism police made arrests. Witnesses described the men who were arrested as being Asian in appearance.

Daniel Taylor, a journalism student in Liverpool, said: "I was on the second floor of the library when I heard shouting outside.

"When I looked I saw a man on the floor. Police were shouting at him and one of the officers had what looked like a machinegun pointed right into his head. A few metres away there was a second guy also on the ground. Both men were being patted down by police officers wearing blue plastic gloves.

"Then word spread that one of the men might have had a bomb and some people started to panic. The men appeared to be just ordinary students."

Addresses in Cheetham Hill were raided, and last night officers were standing guard outside a terraced house in Galsworthy Avenue. The Cyber Net internet caf in Cheetham Hill Road was also raided. A guest-house and a Homebase store in Clitheroe were also searched.

Commenting on the raids last night, Ms Smith, who did not give Mr Quick her backing, said: "The decision to take such action was an operational matter for the police and the security service, but the Prime Minister and I were kept fully appraised of developments.

"We face a severe terrorist threat in this country and we are all very well served by our police and security services, all of whom do an excellent job to keep us safe."

Up to 100 officers swooped on the Homebase store in Clitheroe at about 5:30pm yesterday and arrested two Asian security guards as stunned colleagues looked on. Officers also raided the nearby Brooklyn Guest House in Pimlico Road where the two men were staying.

Police also confirmed last night they had raided a fifth address in Cheetham Hill. Officers were seen going into an address on Greenhill Road across the street from the internet caf they had raided earlier.

The address on Greenhill Road is on a row of shops with a Pakistani travel agency above it.

Police would not confirm the origins of those arrested. Sources said the raids had already been planned for "this week".

Detectives are now sifting through computers and documents seized which may need to be translated into English.

Outbursts and controversial arrests … how top officer has hit headlines

AS BRITAIN'S most senior counter terrorism police officer, Bob Quick is no stranger to controversy.

The assistant commissioner, who returned to the Metropolitan Police last year from Surrey where he was chief constable, has found himself the focus of unwelcome attention on previous occasions.

Last December, he apologised for an outburst in which he accused senior Conservatives of leaking a story about his wife's business interests.

Mr Quick faced unwanted headlines after it emerged his wife Judith was running a luxury car hire firm from their home and details of their address were published on a website.

The stories followed revelations over his involvement in overseeing the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green as part of a Whitehall leak inquiry.

Mr Quick claimed his wife and children were forced to move out because of security concerns sparked by the public furore. The comments were an unusual response from a man who regularly meets members of the global intelligence community and whose role thrives on discretion.

An Exeter and Cambridge universities graduate, Mr Quick joined the Met in 1978. At one time he led Scotland Yard's anti-corruption unit, a role reserved for officers whose reputations are whiter than white.

In 2003 he transferred to Surrey Police to become the force's deputy chief constable and the following year was appointed chief constable.

Since taking on his current role, Mr Quick has been responsible for co-ordinating work to disrupt and prevent terrorist attacks in Britain.

He has focused on improving communications between residents and police in neighbourhoods where extremism may flourish.

OTHERS WHO FAILED TO COVER UP

BOB QUICK is not the first senior public figure caught out by a sharp-eyed photographer's close-up.

Caroline Flint, then housing minister, arrived for a meeting last May, and unwittingly flashed notes warning that the property market was set to tumble by more than 10 per cent.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears did not learn from her mistake, as later the very same day she showed off plans for Gordon Brown to star in a reality TV show. Leaving Number 10, she revealed an e-mail describing Junior PM – a talent contest for would-be politicians with Mr Brown acting as a judge.

The idea of the Prime Minister taking on an Alan Sugar-style role caused hilarity, although the show has yet to appear.

However, while both these incidents were embarrassing, the problems caused by Bob Quick's gaffe are on a different level.