10 simultaneous terror attacks feared in London: Report

London, Mar 20: Security agencies in the UK have been alerted to prepare for up to 10 simultaneous terror attacks in London as they fear repetition of Paris-style attack here by terrorists returning from Syria, according to a media report today.

A minister familiar with the proposals said: "We used to plan for three simultaneous attacks but Paris has shown that you need to be ready for more than that. We are ready if someone tries with seven, eight, nine, ten".

The National Crime Agency has been ordered to make a crackdown on firearms a priority amid fears of a Paris-style attack by terrorists returning from Syria, the Sunday Times reported. Army regiments outside London are also on standby to help the The Special Air Services (SAS) and Metropolitan police in the event of a multiple target attack.

The army's counter terrorist bomb disposal unit is also building a team at Didcot barracks in Oxfordshire to combat a chemical or biological "dirty bomb".

A recent SAS training exercise involved tackling improvised explosive devices laced with weapons of mass destruction. Extremists in Britain's jails face a security clampdown amid concerns about a terrorist atrocity.

Officials fear terrorist prisoners will attempt to film an attack against non-Muslim prison guards and post it online using smuggled mobile phones. The moves come as it was claimed Belgian police deliberately shot Salah Abdeslam, 26, who played a key role in Paris attacks in November, in the knee during a raid in Brussels on Friday as punishment for an earlier assault on their colleagues.

"It was a little present for wounding police officers," an investigation source said. Abdeslam told Belgian investigators he was supposed to blow himself up in Paris but backed out at the last moment.

PTI