Massive surveillance operation on against 100 suspects

A massive surveillance operation is currently underway on about 100 suspects “most likely” to have carried out the London bombings. Their every step and every conversation will be monitored as agents build up a dossier on each target, The Mirror reported today. As more and more evidence is collected, the watchers will be aided by armed back-up and aerial observation. Then the moment to pounce will be chosen. The 100 on the “watch-list” may be the hardcore from up to 3,000 British-born or British-based fanatics said to have been trained in Afghan camps.

Quoting intelligence sources, the tabloid said “there has been much speculation about the number in England of such persons who had undergone training in Al Qaeda-style camps.” There are many. But the number of people being looked at vigorously at a national agency level—by MI 5 and the anti-terrorist squad— is several dozen. “Take in the involvement of special branch officers from local forces all over the UK, and the figure will go up to a few dozen more. Names on the “watch-list” will change as suspects are crossed off and new ones added. The hunt may narrow further if forensic teams can rebuild any of the devices involved in the blasts. PTI