Authors: John Mannion
Lisa queried, ‘No DI Ward?’
Ed replied, ‘No. He’s busy at the Yard. Some important administrative issues that couldn’t wait.’
There were some knowing looks and grins amongst the group as they headed out of the command centre and into a police van for the short journey to the city centre.
The group each showed their identification to the police officers manning the cordon and silently entered the disquieting scene stretched out before them. Police, rescue and medical personnel went about their duties in a quiet and dignified manner; the occasional raised voice when assistance was required by one of their number. Firefighters and paramedics were going in and out of buildings. Occasionally they would be carrying a covered stretcher. White-suited forensics officers went in and out of premises. Soldiers were still in evidence. The streets were stained with blood and littered with discarded personal belongings. Lisa’s eye fixed on a single tiny shoe left behind in the flight for survival. She silently prayed that the owner had survived the carnage.
They went to the scene of the blast at St Aldates Police Station. The devastation was horrific. The street was littered with debris. The wall at the front of the building had been blown in. Inside was just a pile of fallen masonry and dust. Glimpses of the scene just before the explosion could just about be made out. Items of personal clothing. Shattered mugs, bits of paper hanging from a noticeboard blowing in the wind. The glimpse of a body in a shredded police uniform being taken from the shattered building sent a shiver through Theo. This was now personal.
The scene at the burnt-out Parthenon Hotel was worse than they could have imagined. The building would surely have to come down after the investigation was completed. Police officers and rescue service personnel were going in and out of the building. White-clad forensics officers were at the scene. Stuart considered for a moment if it was a safe environment for the police and rescue teams to operate in. It was at this moment that DCI Day approached the group.
‘Ed, it’s good to see you and your team again. It’s a shame it’s under these circumstances. Tragic, isn’t it?’
Their eyes were once more drawn to the shattered remains of the Parthenon. Each had his or her own thoughts. A moment of silence.
DCI Day continued, ‘I’m working from Thames Valley HQ at Kidlington. When you’ve finished here, perhaps you would like to join me and my team there? I can bring you up-to-date.’
Ed replied, ‘I think we’ve seen all we need to for now. Our cars are back at the temporary command centre at the park. We’ll collect them and be right over.’
The prevailing mood amongst those gathered in COBR was one of consternation. The successful conclusion to the counterterrorist operation in Oxford had once again brought credit to the professionalism of the Military. However the nation had been here before and uncomfortable questions were again being asked. The scale of the terrorist offensive in recent months had been unprecedented. The Prime Minister was aware that the mood in the country was hardening. That well-known British tolerance was being pushed to the limit.
The PM spoke. ‘I would once again like to congratulate our military forces, particularly the Special Air Service Regiment, for their sterling work.’
Those gathered responded, ‘Hear, hear!’
The PM continued, ‘I will today be announcing that the remit of the public inquiry looking into December’s outrages will be widened to include Oxford. The same questions will be addressed. How could this have happened? I don’t think we need ask the question, could it happen again? Why was there no Intelligence warning of an attack of this magnitude? I’m particularly concerned at media coverage of the hotel incident. Reports are focusing on allegations that the police and emergency services stood by and allowed people trapped inside to burn to death, because of health and safety laws.’
The PM addressed the Home Secretary, ‘Can we have an update?’
The Home Secretary responded, ‘Police and other emergency service personnel are searching the city centre for casualties. When the search is completed, the forensic operation will begin. Casualty figures notified thus far, and these are provisional, are one hundred and fifty members of the public and eight police officers killed and at least two hundred and fifty individuals injured. Some seriously. Twelve of the thirteen terrorists involved in the attack were killed. One was severely injured and is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital under armed police guard. The casualty figures at the hotel are thirty reported dead so far. These casualties are included in the overall figures already mentioned. However, police and fire service personnel are still searching the building, which is in a precarious state. An Inspector and several Constables from the Ministry of Defence Police Operational Support Unit, trained in confined space techniques, have been deployed to assist.
‘Regarding adverse media coverage, the decisions made by the police at the scene were taken under the most adverse circumstances. A fire had taken control of the building and armed police resources were limited. An unknown number of terrorists were inside the hotel and it was not known if explosives were available to them. An explosion had already been reported within the building. It was considered impractical for officers to mount a rescue mission in the circumstances. Individuals were fleeing from the building and police offered covering fire to facilitate their escape. I would like to add that unarmed police officers put themselves in harm’s way to shepherd the public out of the path of danger. Some of these officers were killed or injured in the process. I would like at this point to give just one example of the outstanding and selfless public service and courage of the officers involved in this tragedy. Constable Hussain Burki, one of the unarmed officers deployed to the scene of the hotel siege, repeatedly put his life at risk to shepherd members of the public out of harm’s way. This included persons injured by gunfire coming from the hotel. Constable Hussain Burki paid the ultimate price for his bravery.’
The PM responded, ‘Thank you, Home Secretary, for your update. I think your final comments are particularly worthy of note at this time.’
There was a brief pause at this point. A second, while those present reflected.
The Prime Minister then addressed the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ‘What economic implications are there here?’
The Chancellor paused a moment. ‘Coming so soon after the December attacks, it is a further dent in our international standing as a good place to invest. Of the Western nations, we are under the severest and most sustained attack. This assault will further weaken the tourist industry and the not inconsiderable income from foreign students who come here. Oxford itself has a significant income from its universities and its many language schools.’
The PM looked at the Director of the Security Service. ‘Director, could we have some input from you?’
The Director cleared his throat. ‘Prime Minister. The scale of the problem is the crux of the matter. We have over two thousand people on our watch list at the moment. A twenty-four hour surveillance operation on just one of these individuals involves at least twelve of my officers. No increase in chatter was noted by GCHQ. Although this operation was large in scale and would have involved a certain amount of planning, the logistics and individual training of the individuals concerned would not have stretched capabilities. Weapons of the caliber used in this particular operation are comparatively easy to obtain. As for the number of individuals involved. There are plenty more where they came from.’
Over the coming days Ed and his team visited the centre of Oxford a number of times. The scene laid out before their eyes changed as the days went by, from one of organised chaos in the aftermath of a tragedy, to one of detailed forensic examination. The surviving terrorist was identified as a young man from the north of England. He came from a comfortable middle class home and had attended university in London. His family were distraught and confused by his involvement in such a horrific enterprise. The young man’s name was Imran Davi.
After several days in Intensive Care, Imran was moved to another ward to recover from his injuries. Doctors told police and relatives that it was a miracle he had survived. After he had fully recovered, he was taken under armed police escort to what was described in the news reports as a ‘secure Central London location’.
Paddington Green Police Station is where terrorists go for questioning once in police custody. On arrival, the terrorist was introduced to his temporary accommodation. He entered the corridor into the secure custody suite through a two-inch thick steel door. The walls were painted a bright yellow. His individual cell, one of eight, had a TV screen and a private WC and wash basin. A thick light blue, easy to clean mattress lay on a low bed in one corner. On it was placed a duvet. He was provided with a copy of the Koran and given a prayer mat. Imran was informed that he would be provided with films or documentaries to watch on his TV, or he could listen to music or read. The films and documentaries available were carefully selected. They did not contain any political content. There was no live TV. After introducing him to his cell, his police escort took him to a small room down the corridor where he had his photograph and fingerprints taken and a sample of saliva for DNA purposes. Imran was then escorted back to his cell. He looked around him. He wondered at the turn of events that had led him to this place. He knew he would probably spend the rest of his life in surroundings like these. He lay back on his bed and stared up at the natural light filtering into the room through a Perspex skylight.
Early the following morning, Imran was given a light breakfast and then taken out of his cell and into an enclosed exercise area. He sat on a bench in the corner and stared up at the sky. Remaining motionless, he continued to stare up at the heavens until he was once again taken into the bright yellow corridor. He became aware of the CCTV cameras watching his every move. He was escorted away from his cell and into a small room with a table and chairs. A police officer stood, arms folded, at the door.
After a few minutes a middle-aged man and a young woman entered the room and, without comment, sat opposite him. Ed looked across the small table and pressed the button on the recording device on the wall.
‘The time is 9am. Persons present at this interview are Detective Sergeant Ed Malone and Detective Constable Lisa Clark of the Metropolitan Police and…’ Ed looked at Imran. ‘Please state your name for the tape.’
Imran did not respond. Ed continued, ‘The other person present is Mr Imran Davi. Good morning, Imran. This interview will be recorded. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. I want you to understand the reason there is no legal representation present at this time. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act states, amongst other reasons, that a suspect can be denied access to a lawyer if that access could lead to interference with the investigation, or lead to the alerting of other persons suspected of having committed an offence but not yet arrested. Do you understand?’
Imran stared down at the table.
Ed continued, ‘When we feel that there is no further reason for denying you access to a lawyer, we will ensure one is made available to you. Do you understand?’
Again there was no response.
‘OK, Imran. The fact that you were involved in a violent terrorist action is beyond question. So your silence is pointless. We want to understand the motivation for your actions. When and how you came to believe in your extreme interpretation of your holy book, the Koran. Help us to understand, Imran. What have you got to lose?’
Imran looked up. ‘I decided to take up arms whilst studying at university. It was there that my eyes were opened to the Zionist Western plot against my faith and my people.’
‘Was there any person in particular who opened your eyes, Imran?’
‘Allah opened my eyes,’ was Imran’s response.
Ed continued. ‘We know who your accomplices were. We would like to know where you trained for your mission. Where you and your group met. Where you got the weapons you used for your mission. We can find no record of you ever leaving the UK’
Imran stared deeply into Ed’s eyes and replied in a calm voice, ‘I will say only this. Western civilisation is in its final days. Your society is Godless and corrupt. You have lost your way; Islam will prevail. Do you understand?’
Ed understood.
‘False face must hide what the false heart doth know.’
William Shakespeare
A sombre faced, middle-aged male newsreader read out the news item:
‘The body of a man was found in his apartment in London’s Canary Wharf this morning. Unofficial sources say the man is an employee of the Security Service, MI5. The middle-aged man, who police have not yet named, was, according to reports, found hanging naked in the apartment, and there were a number of magazines containing graphic material of a sexual nature found on the premises. It is not yet clear if the man committed suicide or if his death was the result of sex play that went wrong. Police refused to comment on whether they were looking for anyone else in relation to the death.’
Ed had been set for another day of following up leads in the continuing investigation into the recent terrorist activity which had shaken the nation. It was now six weeks since the outrage in Oxford. Arrests had been made and premises searched in the Police and Security Services’ continuing efforts to round up anyone connected with these terrorist incidents. Most of those arrested had been released after questioning. However, a number of individuals had been charged with offences related to terrorist activity. None of those arrested in the UK had been found to have been involved in, or connected to, any of the recent attacks or with any of those involved in those attacks.