26/11-like attack on London feared next year

Islamist terrorists are planning a Mumbai-style attack on London early next year with handguns, bombs and hostage-taking, senior security officials have told city authorities, while admitting commandos were unprepared for such an assault.

Islamist terrorists are planning a Mumbai-style attack on London early next year with handguns, bombs and hostage-taking, senior security officials have told city authorities, while admitting commandos were unprepared for such an assault.

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“Mumbai is coming to London,” a senior officer from SO15, the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command has told business leaders, local government and emergency services in a blunt warning.

In the briefing - held 22 days ago in the City of London, the financial centre of the British capital — the officer said companies should expect a shooting and hostage — taking raid “involving a small number of gunmen with handguns and improvised explosive devices”.

The warning is the bluntest yet issued by police following the 26/11 terrorist, The Sunday Times reported.

The warning has become specific in the past fortnight after British officials detected an increase in “intelligence chatter” - communications captured by electronic eavesdropping agencies.

“Before, there has been speculation. Now we are getting what appears to be a definite plot to carry out a firearms attack on London,” a security adviser told the paper.

But the paper said Britain's security establishment is of the view that forces are unprepared and commandos may arrive too late to save lives.