Royal Wedding Security: Snipers on Rooftops as 5,000 Police Officers Take to Streets of London
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain's biggest security operation in a generation is under way for the royal wedding, with 5,000 police officers under orders to deal ''robustly and firmly'' with any threats.


As the attention of the world fixes on London, detectives have thrown a multimillion-pound ring of steel around the royal wedding.

They appealed to the public to be the police's ''eyes and ears'' to help keep troublemakers at bay.

Snipers are taking to rooftops and undercover officers are mingling among the crowds as part of a massive covert and overt operation to avoid an atrocity.

Security against potential threats from al Qaeda-inspired extremists, dissident Irish republican terrorists, anarchists and even lone stalkers is being balanced with the desire to let onlookers enjoy the day of pageantry.

Around 70 people are banned from the City of Westminster as part of their bail conditions after being arrested or charged over various previous alleged disorder offences. » | Friday, April 29, 2011

Brussels Wants US to Protect Hirsi Ali
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: The EU says the United States should ensure the security of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. 
The former Somali-born Dutch politician has received death threats for her criticism of Islam and lives in the US, though Washington insists its not responsible for her safety.

The Dutch government has refused to pay her security bills ever since she decided to quit politics and left the Netherlands. 



But EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is now planning to turn up the heat on the US so that she and other Europeans are kept safe from danger.

New deal


Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a person in danger and deserves protection wherever she is - that's according to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini. 



Frattini has told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that he wants Washington to change its rules over the protection of foreigners living in the States. 



Washington has refused to take responsibility for Ms Hirsi Ali's safety on the grounds that she's a Dutch citizen who came under threat because of her work in the Netherlands. 



That's not good enough, says Franco Frattini. There should be a new deal between the two continents to ensure the security of one another's citizens, he says:

"The best option would be to have a bilateral agreement with the US.

I will meet the Homeland Security Secretary (Michael Chertoff) next week and I plan to raise the topic then. As far as I know, we in Europe guarantee the same level of protection that is appropriate for all high-level officials and normal people who are under protection in the US."

Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been living under police protection ever since the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004, with whom she made a film about Islam's treatment of women. 
A note targeting her by name was found on van Gogh's body. Brussels wants US to protect Hirsi Ali: Netherlands no longer guaranteeing safety of islam critic By Vanessa Mock

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Asian MI5 and MI6 Officers Speak
BBC: British Asian intelligence and security officers have spoken to the BBC about their work in a bid to broaden recruitment among ethnic minorities.

Two MI5 agents were permitted to talk for the first time in the hope of attracting more ethnic minorities into the security service.

They told Asian Network their job was to protect the UK, not target Muslims.

Meanwhile, a Muslim officer of the security service MI6 has told Radio 1 about her work recruiting spies.

MI5 - Britain's domestic security service - says it hopes the insight into life as a British Asian agent will help increase its percentage of black and minority ethnic staff, which currently stands at 6.5%.

It also wants to improve relations with Muslim communities. >>

LISTEN TO BBC RADIO:
Security services speak to BBC

Mark Alexander