Britain shelves critical report on anti-terrorism intelligence

Washington, Sep 10 : The intelligence and security committee of Britain has shelved a critical report on the conduct of the police and MI5 in the run-up to the July 7 attacks on London for legal reasons. The Guardian reported that the intelligence and security committee, which consists of senior peers and MPs, was due to have published its report today.

It is understood to relate to communications between MI5 in London and West Yorkshire police. The committee, known as the ISC, undertook to draw up a report last year after concluding that it was possible the chances of preventing the July 7, 2005 attacks in London "might have been greater had different investigative decisions been taken in 2003-05." It emerged that MI5 and the police had many opportunities to identify Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, two of the suicide bombers. The report is believed to criticise the exchanges of information between those leading the investigation into the plotters and West Yorkshire police, and how potentially crucial tip-offs were ignored or lost. Officials familiar with the issues say the ISC report, which has been seen by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is now unlikely to be published until next year. The shelving of the report saves the police and counter-terrorism officials from fresh embarrassment as they consider whether to retry several men over the alleged plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic.

ANI