New security plan for London transport in wake of Kenya attack
A security review has been launched on London’s transport system in the wake of the Kenya terror attack, The Standard has been told.
Transport chiefs, police and the security services are updating plans on how to respond to a terrorist assault at different locations such as a train station, shopping mall or other venues in the capital.
Metropolitan Police officers have been specially-trained to respond to such a Mumbai-style attack, including carrying out exercises on being dropped from helicopters by rope onto buildings.
An SAS unit based in London is on standby to respond to a terror attack.
But the specially-trained Met officers may be on the scene first.
MPs, staff and other workers in Parliament have also been issued with instructions on how to flee the Westminster estate if it is attacked.
A Transport for London spokesman said: “We continually review our security arrangements as we work with the police and emergency services to protect the transport network and keep our customers safe.
“We have a highly visible police presence across the network and, as a matter of course, we always encourage our passengers and staff to remain vigilant and to report any unattended items or suspicious activity to Tube staff or the Police.”
Today a senior Kenyan MP said two badly-burnt bodies pulled from the ruins of the Westgate centre in Nairobi, Kenya, were “highly likely” to be those of terrorists.
Ndung’u Gethenji, chairman of the parliamentary committee investigating the attack, added that the the body of a Kenyan soldier had also been recovered.
The BBC today named a man being investigated by Norwegian police over the atrocity, in which at least 67 people died, as Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow.
It said the 23-year-old Norwegian citizen of Somali origin is suspected of helping to plan and carry out the attack.
The al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab terror group has claimed responsibility for it.
Dhuhulow is believed to have been born in Somalia, but moved with his family to Norway as refugees in 1999.
He is thought to have travelled to Somalia from Larvik, in southern Norway, in 2009.
One relative, who did not wish to be identified, told the BBC that he occasionally phoned his family but his calls became more and more erratic.
In the summer, he is said to have called, saying he was in trouble and was keen to return to Norway.
Investigators are yet to name the terrorists who carried out the attack.
But the relative said that if Dhuhulow was involved, “he must have been brainwashed.”
Norwegian intelligence officers have flown to Kenya to help the authorities with their probe into the terror strike.
It took the military and police four days to end the attack which started on September 21.
At least four terrorists are believed to have been involved, with CCTV footage showing them marching around the shopping mall executing people, but the number may be as high as 15 and some of them may have survived.
ES
