- Armed US Secret Service agents will have the right to
"shoot to kill" when they provide the bodyguard for President
George W Bush on his controversial state visit to the United Kingdom this
week.
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- Special agent Ann Roman, an official spokeswoman for
the US Secret Service (USSS), told the Sunday Herald that the estimated
200 agents who will be in Britain to guard Bush would open fire if he were
in danger or under threat.
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- When asked if US agents would use lethal force, Roman
said: "We are trained to protect the President, so we will evaluate
the situation and if the situation warranted action to that level then
we'd do it."
-
- The UK's security services have now been put on the second
highest possible state of alert amid intelligence of a possible al-Qaeda
attack. The Home Office said that SO19, the police firearms unit, also
had the power to use lethal force. A spokesman said: "Our officers
are allowed to shoot someone if it is deemed necessary, and the Americans
will be under the same regulations."
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- More than 100,000 protesters will take to London's streets
on Thursday for the Stop The War Coalition's "Stop Bush" demonstration.
Organisers fear "trigger-happy US Secret Service agents" could
over-react and kill protesters. Politicians opposing Bush's visit fear
over-reaction by US agents could cause "mayhem" and want the
trip cancelled.
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- Tensions are running high between the USSS and the Metropolitan
Police. Although the Met is technically in charge of the security operation,
the USSS is sticking to its decision to maintain its standard "rules
of engagement", which means it will be in total control of all presidential
protection regardless of the fact that it is operating in the UK. This
has effectively sidelined the Met.
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- Senior Met officers fear a protester could be killed,
particularly if an exclusion zone is put in place around the president
as many in the USSS wish. The Met believes that if a demonstrator were
to break through, the USSS "rules of engagement" could interpret
this as a threat to Bush and result in a secret service agent shooting
a civilian dead.
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- There is also considerable concern within the Met that
the march could turn into a riot. Anarchist groups have made their way
to London to take part in the demo, and there are fears that, if the march
route is not long enough to accommodate the number of protesters, demonstrators
will split up into small groups. This would cause the police to lose control
of security, increasing the chances of the USSS over-reacting.
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- Protest organisers say they want to get as close to Bush
as possible. Organisers will be talking with police chiefs tomorrow to
finalise the route the march can take. More than 5000 police officers will
also be on duty. Demonstrators say they want the "democratic right"
to march down Whitehall and past Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.
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- Linlithgow Labour MP Tam Dalyell, Father of the House
of Commons and an outspoken critic of Tony Blair and Bush, said: "I'm
appalled that US Secret Service agents will have the power of shoot to
kill' in the UK. If they act on these powers they will create mayhem. The
rug should be pulled from under this trip immediately and the whole thing
cancelled."
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- Paul McBride QC warned that USSS agents could face criminal
charges if they were to fire on civilians. "They have no special status
in the UK, and if they use unreasonable force they could be charged with
murder," he added. Bush will be staying in Buckingham Palace from
Wednesday to Friday. He will also lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown
Soldier in Westminster Abbey.
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- The big march on Thursday will be led by Americans under
the banner "Proud of My Country, Shamed by My President". Friday
will see a protest outside the US embassy against the prison camps for
terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay.
-
- Fears within the US administration that terrorists could
use the huge crowds of British demonstrators as a cover to carry out attacks
have led to requests from the US for the closing down of central London
and the outlawing of anti-Bush marches.
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- A Home Office spokesman said the UK government was saying
little about the American security arrangements, but agreed that the position
put forward by the US Secret Service regarding the shoot to kill policy
was "fair and accurate". The spokesman said there were "protocols"
with the USSS "which allow them to go armed in this country".
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- There will be protests all week against Bush's visit,
including demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Mick Napier, one of
the Stop The War Coalition's Scottish organisers, condemned "the US,
a British ally, for suggesting it would deploy force against British citizens".
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- He added: "A peaceful demonstration by a campaign
group is now faced by an armed force of the US state. This is surely a
step too far for most British people. "Deaths have so far been avoided
in the UK. It is intolerable that the US should police the streets of Britain.
There is no question of any lethal threat from the Stop The War Coalition.
We simply want to ruin Bush's election chances."
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- Copyright © 2003 smg sunday newspapers ltd. no.176088
- http://www.sundayherald.com/print38076
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