Terror attack 'inevitable'
2004-03-16 20:41
London - A terrorist attack in Britain is inevitable despite the success of police in preventing some incidents, London's top police officer said on Tuesday.
"Since September 11 (2001) there have been 520 arrests, half have been charged with an offence and there are 90 about to go through to court," said Sir John Stevens, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
"We do know that we have actually stopped terrorist attacks happening in London but, as the prime minister and home secretary have said, there is an inevitability that some sort of attack will get through," Stevens told a news conference at City Hall.
He added: "But my job is to make sure that does not happen."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone told the news conference it would be "miraculous" if the capital was not attacked.
- AP