Heathrow named as Al-Qaeda target

London’s Heathrow airport has been identified as one of the major targets named by Al-Qaeda, following the interrogation of one of the terror group’s key men. A report in The Sunday Times states that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the group’s operations chief who has been in custody since he was captured in Pakistan a year ago, was told by Osama bin Laden to prepare a “devastating attack” on the west London hub. Mohammed reportedly told investigators that Al-Qaeda members were given money to survey the airport, “assessing its weak points and finding locations from where planes might be shot down”. The UK Government has frequently warned of planned attacks on Heathrow, but this is the first time an Al-Qaeda member has backed up those concerns. As reported, last February more than 400 troops descended on the airport after the Government allegedly received intelligence of a planned attack. In many quarters, Tony Blair – whom the report identifies as bin Laden’s “principal enemy” – was accused of pulling a stunt at Heathrow to increase support for the war on Iraq. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad