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Lewis: In the 21st century,
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00:00:06,521 --> 00:00:09,079
The rules of the spy
war are being rewritten.
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00:00:12,521 --> 00:00:16,119
Today, intelligence agencies
fight a new, more elusive,
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00:00:16,194 --> 00:00:19,217
And fanatical enemy
radicalized abroad,
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00:00:19,241 --> 00:00:20,559
But very much homegrown,
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00:00:23,881 --> 00:00:26,279
An enemy prepared
to stop at nothing
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00:00:26,354 --> 00:00:29,359
And spare no one to
achieve its aims.
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00:00:31,801 --> 00:00:33,937
This is the story
behind the biggest
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00:00:33,961 --> 00:00:36,599
Surveillance operation
in british history,
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00:00:36,674 --> 00:00:39,399
And how the intelligence
agencies thwarted
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00:00:39,474 --> 00:00:43,217
The deadliest terrorist plot
ever devised on british soil.
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On June 24, 2006,
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A flight from
islamabad, pakistan
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Landed at london's
heathrow airport.
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Disembarking was
a british citizen,
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Abdulla ahmed ali, on his
way home to east london.
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Pantucci: He came from a very
ordinary well-integrated family.
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He had been to school,
and had been a fairly
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Well adjusted and
effective student.
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Quite charismatic, and
within his sort of community,
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He was clearly kind of
a leader type figure.
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Lewis: But ali
was being tracked
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00:02:03,154 --> 00:02:04,999
By the british
security service, mi5.
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Dryden: He was under suspicion.
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It was believed that he
was becoming radicalized.
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Lewis: Intelligence
suggested that abdulla ahmed ali
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Had just returned from
northern pakistan,
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Where he'd met with a
man called rashid rauf.
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Goodman: Rashid rauf was
the link man between
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What was going in
al-qaeda's central thinking
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And lots of operatives back
in britain and elsewhere.
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Lewis: A british citizen,
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Rashid rauf had fled the
uk for pakistan in 2002.
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By 2006, he was a senior
member of al-qaeda,
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And the suspected
mastermind behind a series
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Of deadly terrorist
attacks throughout europe.
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Pantucci: The moment
at which ali
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Comes into contact with rauf,
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The threat picture around
him distinctly changes.
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00:03:07,401 --> 00:03:10,519
So it immediately shifts him
into a very different rank.
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Lewis: Though mi5
didn't know it yet,
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By the time abdulla ahmed ali
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Returned to britain
in June 2006,
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He had also become a
frontline al-qaeda operative.
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Dryden: He was a terrorist ready
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To do an operation
by that point.
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Lewis: At the airport,
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Ali's passport triggered
an internal warning,
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And mi5 agents carried out a
covert search of his suitcase.
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What they discovered raised
more questions than answers.
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Dryden: There were bags of tang,
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Which is a sugar-based drink,
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Which is sold in
pakistan and india,
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And quite a large
number of aa batteries.
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Why you'd be bringing aa
batteries into the country?
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They don't do anything different
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From other double aa batteries,
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So that raises suspicion.
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Pantucci: You have
a situation here
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Where you've got an individual
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00:04:08,194 --> 00:04:09,697
Who's been to a place that
they're concerned about
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Who suddenly returned
to the united kingdom
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With a whole series of material,
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Not material that in
itself is that dangerous
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But material that is
clearly being brought
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Back for a very specific purpose
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And one that they
don't understand.
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Lewis: The airport discovery
marked a critical moment.
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Mi5 suspected something
sinister was going on.
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They just didn't know what.
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British intelligence was
already on high alert.
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00:04:42,994 --> 00:04:47,377
Less than one year
before on July 7, 2005,
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A homegrown terrorist
cell had orchestrated
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What became known
as the 7/7 bombings.
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Across london, 52
people were killed
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And hundreds more injured.
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Counter terrorism chiefs
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Had vowed to do
everything they could
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To prevent another
attack on british soil.
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Abdulla ahmed ali appeared
to be a potential terrorist,
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So he was placed under
24-hour surveillance.
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Dryden: He was given
a code name,
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A two-word code name,
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Which in his case
it was lion roar.
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Man: Lion roar is
leaving the station.
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Hollington: Mi5 did not know
that there was a much
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More dangerous reason
to be following ali.
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At the moment he
was just someone
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Who they were suspicious of.
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Dryden: It was just a case of
we have to wait and watch.
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There was absolutely no sense
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How big this was gonna become.
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Lewis: Mi5 was now
running the surveillance op
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Alongside the metropolitan
police's counter terrorism unit.
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The joint investigation was
named "operation overt".
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Steve dryden was the
surveillance coordinator
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For the operation based in
the major incident room.
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Dryden: This is the bit
where we build up
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A lifestyle picture
of the suspect
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To find out if he's
doing anything
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Which raises suspicions.
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Woman: Target's moving
onto high street.
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Dryden: It's important
to find out who he's with,
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Who he's meeting,
what his lifestyle is,
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What he's actually doing,
what mosque is he going to?
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Lewis:
Surveillance operatives
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Embedded themselves
within the community.
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A team of more than 30 people
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Were required to watch
ali 24 hours a day.
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Hollington: These operations
expand very quickly.
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It takes an extraordinary
amount of manpower.
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You don't want the same people,
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The same faces around every day,
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So you've gotta
rotate those teams.
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They don't employ the regular
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Kind of people you'd expect
to be police officers.
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Lewis: The team
believed that ali
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Could be setting up
a terrorist cell,
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00:07:11,794 --> 00:07:13,937
So anyone he came
into contact with
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Automatically became
a person of interest.
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00:07:18,034 --> 00:07:20,919
Dryden: An intelligence picture
will be built up on them.
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Who are they?
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Is there any
association with him
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Or others of
interest in the past?
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Are they part of a network?
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Are they going to a mosque
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Where we have concerns
about radicalization?
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Goodman: Every telephone
conversation that is placed,
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Every physical meeting
that takes place
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Will bring into the
picture other individuals.
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So the network becomes
a spiderweb of people
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Within next to no time.
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Lewis: From the
surveillance operation,
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It became clear that ali
was in regular contact
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With a man named tanvir hussain,
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A 25 year old who lived
nearby in leyton, east london.
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Pantucci: Ali and hussain are
both old school mates
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And clearly hussain
looked up to ali.
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He was clearly kind of
his older brother figure.
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00:08:05,394 --> 00:08:07,537
Dryden: Tanvir hussain
was a young man
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Who had grown up in pretty
much a western lifestyle.
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He had gone off the rails
to a certain extent.
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He had experimented
with drink and drugs,
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And then there was
a paradigm shift,
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And he went way past islam
and into extreme islam.
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Lewis: The two
men were so close
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That investigators
believed hussain
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Could be ali's second-in-command
in a terrorist cell.
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Then, two weeks into
the investigation,
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Ali met a new contact,
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Using a technique familiar
from other al-qaeda cells.
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Man: Lion roar meeting
unknown target.
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Dryden: They lay on the
ground face down
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With their heads together
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And actually talked
into the ground,
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00:09:01,234 --> 00:09:03,457
And that is a classic
way of making sure
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That anyone with
a long range mic
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Can't pick up what
you're saying.
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00:09:08,034 --> 00:09:10,839
Lewis: It confirmed
investigators' worst fears.
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00:09:10,914 --> 00:09:13,799
They were dealing with trained
terrorist professionals.
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Pantucci: I think there's
very clear evidence
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That this cell had
been trained in
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Counter-surveillance
techniques in pakistan.
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Dryden: It gave us a wake
-up call to make sure
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That we were ultra
careful because
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They were taking
care of themselves.
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Man 2: Right, stay on
the unknown male.
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Man: I've got him.
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Lewis: The surveillance
team followed ali's new contact.
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Within hours, they had
identified him as assad sarwar.
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00:09:40,754 --> 00:09:42,250
Pantucci: Ali was clearly
kind of a leader,
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Natural leader
amongst his group,
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A very charismatic young man.
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Assad sarwar was a bit more of
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A bumbling figure if you will.
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Lewis: Once a
mailman sarwar now lived
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30 miles north of london in
high wycombe with his parents.
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Hollington: He was not the most
gifted intellectually.
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He sort of tried
to go to university
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And dropped out fairly early on.
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He'd never had a girlfriend,
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00:10:07,481 --> 00:10:10,839
And he never seemed to be able
to hold down much of a job
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Lewis: But mi5
had seen enough
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To place him under
full surveillance.
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He was assigned the
codename rich food.
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As the scope of the
investigation grew,
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Surveillance operatives were
tracking more than 20 people.
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Teams were in place across
london and the southeast,
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With multiple live video feeds
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Relayed to the
operation control room
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At scotland yard 24 hours a day.
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It soon became clear
to the watching spies
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That three people in particular,
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00:10:46,201 --> 00:10:51,057
Abdulla ahmed ali, tanvir
hussain, and assad sarwar,
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00:10:51,081 --> 00:10:55,137
Were at the center of a rapidly
expanding terrorist cell.
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Dryden: As we were going forward
with the investigation
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00:10:57,154 --> 00:10:59,137
And we were feeding in
the surveillance product,
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00:10:59,161 --> 00:11:01,137
We were seeing
suspicious activity,
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00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:03,079
Specifically from
the three of them.
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00:11:04,761 --> 00:11:07,377
Lewis: Tanvir hussain
was followed to a pharmacy
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00:11:07,401 --> 00:11:10,199
Where he was seen
purchasing large syringes.
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00:11:12,194 --> 00:11:13,217
Pantucci: I mean this is
a man who's not
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00:11:13,241 --> 00:11:14,737
Very involved in chemistry.
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00:11:14,761 --> 00:11:15,850
Why does he suddenly
need to buy syringes?
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00:11:15,874 --> 00:11:17,119
That raises some red flags.
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00:11:19,474 --> 00:11:21,377
Lewis: Assad sarwar
was watched buying
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00:11:21,401 --> 00:11:24,119
Citric acid in local shops.
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00:11:24,194 --> 00:11:26,097
And abdulla ahmed ali
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00:11:26,121 --> 00:11:28,559
Was observed doing
something stranger still.
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00:11:32,921 --> 00:11:35,079
Dryden: Ali was seen by a
surveillance team
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00:11:35,154 --> 00:11:37,159
In a news agent's shop
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00:11:37,234 --> 00:11:38,599
Paying particular attention
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00:11:38,674 --> 00:11:40,817
To the bottoms of
plastic drinks bottles,
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00:11:40,841 --> 00:11:44,119
And that made actually no
sense at all at the time.
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00:11:44,194 --> 00:11:46,119
As the surveillance
product's coming in,
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00:11:46,194 --> 00:11:49,057
We're trying to work
out and feed forward
217
00:11:49,081 --> 00:11:51,137
What we thought they
were actually up to,
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00:11:51,161 --> 00:11:53,039
What the end game
was going to be.
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00:11:54,514 --> 00:11:58,257
Lewis: Then, investigators
uncovered a vital clue.
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00:11:58,281 --> 00:12:01,479
The surveillance team tracking
assad sarwar discovered
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00:12:01,554 --> 00:12:04,799
He was purchasing large
volumes of hydrogen peroxide.
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00:12:06,441 --> 00:12:07,777
Pantucci: Hydrogen peroxide
is a chemical,
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00:12:07,801 --> 00:12:09,319
And it's a chemical
that actually
224
00:12:09,394 --> 00:12:11,537
Is fairly available
in our ordinary lives.
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00:12:11,561 --> 00:12:14,097
For example, hairdressers
tend to use it a lot
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00:12:14,121 --> 00:12:15,999
Because it's something
they use in bleach.
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00:12:17,161 --> 00:12:20,257
Lewis: But hydrogen
peroxide has another use,
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00:12:20,281 --> 00:12:21,559
As an explosive.
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00:12:23,714 --> 00:12:26,519
Dryden: At a concentrated level,
it can be weaponized.
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00:12:26,594 --> 00:12:30,519
For them to be purchasing that
there are no other reasons
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00:12:30,594 --> 00:12:32,497
You would buy hydrogen peroxide
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00:12:32,521 --> 00:12:35,159
If you are a
radicalised terrorist
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00:12:35,234 --> 00:12:36,639
Other than to build a device.
234
00:12:41,874 --> 00:12:44,359
Lewis: Investigators
began to think that the tang
235
00:12:44,434 --> 00:12:46,657
And the batteries
in ali's suitcase
236
00:12:46,681 --> 00:12:48,839
Could also be
components of a bomb.
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00:12:52,194 --> 00:12:53,777
Dryden: We knew that
they would be
238
00:12:53,801 --> 00:12:56,177
Constructing some
kind of device.
239
00:12:56,201 --> 00:12:59,439
We just didn't know what the
device was going to look like.
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00:13:00,921 --> 00:13:03,639
Lewis: For mi5 and the
metropolitan police,
241
00:13:03,714 --> 00:13:06,279
This plot was becoming
more sinister by the hour.
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00:13:07,881 --> 00:13:10,199
It was now clear the
surveillance teams
243
00:13:10,274 --> 00:13:12,879
Had exposed an al
qaeda terrorist cell.
244
00:13:14,281 --> 00:13:16,337
But they still had
no idea of the scale
245
00:13:16,361 --> 00:13:19,137
Of the plot they were
about to undercover.
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00:13:21,874 --> 00:13:25,319
By July 2006, the
british security service
247
00:13:25,394 --> 00:13:27,559
And london's metropolitan police
248
00:13:27,634 --> 00:13:30,257
Were deep into a major
surveillance operation,
249
00:13:30,281 --> 00:13:33,879
Tracking a homegrown
al-qaeda cell in east london.
250
00:13:35,794 --> 00:13:39,217
Every terror cell needs a
base from which to operate.
251
00:13:39,241 --> 00:13:41,239
But for weeks, it wasn't
clear if this cell
252
00:13:41,314 --> 00:13:43,399
Had a headquarters at all.
253
00:13:43,474 --> 00:13:44,839
Then, came a breakthrough.
254
00:13:49,954 --> 00:13:51,937
The team tracking the
plot's ringleader,
255
00:13:51,961 --> 00:13:56,119
Abdulla ahmed ali, followed
him to a new location,
256
00:13:56,194 --> 00:13:58,839
A flat, in walthamstow,
east london.
257
00:14:00,674 --> 00:14:03,217
Over subsequent days,
surveillance operatives
258
00:14:03,241 --> 00:14:05,479
Observed other members
of the suspected cell
259
00:14:05,554 --> 00:14:07,439
Entering and leaving
the property.
260
00:14:09,161 --> 00:14:10,257
Pantucci: They
quickly discover that
261
00:14:10,281 --> 00:14:11,857
This is the hub of operations
262
00:14:11,881 --> 00:14:14,079
Where the plot is
essentially being run from.
263
00:14:15,081 --> 00:14:17,377
Hollington: It was clearly the
center of operations.
264
00:14:17,401 --> 00:14:19,399
If they wanted to
gather intelligence,
265
00:14:19,474 --> 00:14:21,839
This was the place
that it had to be done.
266
00:14:22,761 --> 00:14:26,257
Lewis: So investigators
came up with a high-risk plan.
267
00:14:26,281 --> 00:14:28,119
While the plotters were out,
268
00:14:28,194 --> 00:14:30,919
They'd attempt to rig the flat
with surveillance equipment.
269
00:14:31,961 --> 00:14:33,610
Hollington: This was absolutely
crucial now
270
00:14:33,634 --> 00:14:37,559
That they had to get
access to this apartment.
271
00:14:42,834 --> 00:14:45,457
There is actually a
specialist police unit
272
00:14:45,481 --> 00:14:47,377
And what they do all day long is
273
00:14:47,401 --> 00:14:50,119
They practice getting in
and out of locked buildings.
274
00:14:50,194 --> 00:14:52,177
Their task is to get
into these places
275
00:14:52,201 --> 00:14:54,599
And get out again
without anyone knowing
276
00:14:54,674 --> 00:14:56,439
They were ever there.
277
00:14:56,514 --> 00:14:58,359
Lewis: Investigators waited.
278
00:15:02,194 --> 00:15:05,359
Until one night, a window
of opportunity appeared.
279
00:15:06,441 --> 00:15:09,537
The surveillance team
alerted the operations room.
280
00:15:09,561 --> 00:15:10,919
The flat was empty.
281
00:15:12,354 --> 00:15:14,337
Man 2: Subjects are
leaving the building.
282
00:15:14,361 --> 00:15:15,519
Okay blue team go.
283
00:15:16,434 --> 00:15:19,137
Lewis: With no idea when
the plotters would return,
284
00:15:19,161 --> 00:15:20,919
The team had to act fast.
285
00:15:20,994 --> 00:15:22,759
Man: Come on blue
team let's move it.
286
00:15:22,834 --> 00:15:26,439
Hollington: They install
bugs and cameras
287
00:15:26,514 --> 00:15:29,137
That no one will ever
be able to ever find
288
00:15:29,161 --> 00:15:31,319
Because they are extremely tiny.
289
00:15:33,154 --> 00:15:36,719
Man: Camera two is live.
290
00:15:39,161 --> 00:15:40,161
Camera three live.
291
00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:44,839
Roger that, all camera's
live, sir, done.
292
00:15:44,914 --> 00:15:46,177
Man 2: Right, get them
out of there.
293
00:15:46,201 --> 00:15:47,521
Man: Let's go blue
team, let's go.
294
00:15:48,201 --> 00:15:52,119
Lewis: Then, the unit had
to get out leaving no trace.
295
00:15:54,274 --> 00:15:57,937
The infiltration op was
an unqualified success.
296
00:15:57,961 --> 00:16:00,897
Now the surveillance team
had extraordinary access
297
00:16:00,921 --> 00:16:03,119
To the al-qaeda
cell's command center.
298
00:16:04,121 --> 00:16:06,337
Goodman: For the first
time they were able
299
00:16:06,361 --> 00:16:08,577
To monitor what was
going on inside there,
300
00:16:08,601 --> 00:16:11,857
And that would prove
to be hugely important.
301
00:16:17,154 --> 00:16:18,490
Hollington: One
detective told me that
302
00:16:18,514 --> 00:16:20,359
They were almost
laughing about it
303
00:16:20,434 --> 00:16:23,239
Because it was like watching
a very bad big brother.
304
00:16:26,281 --> 00:16:28,679
Lewis: The security
services were now convinced
305
00:16:28,754 --> 00:16:31,879
The walthamstow flat
was a bomb factory.
306
00:16:31,954 --> 00:16:34,417
Ground surveillance teams were
instructed to sift through
307
00:16:34,441 --> 00:16:37,239
Every possible piece
of forensic evidence,
308
00:16:37,314 --> 00:16:40,977
For clues as to what type
of bombs they could be.
309
00:16:41,001 --> 00:16:43,617
Dryden: They were followed away
from the address one day.
310
00:16:43,641 --> 00:16:45,639
One of them had a
plastic bag with him.
311
00:16:45,714 --> 00:16:47,999
He put it into a rubbish bin.
312
00:16:48,914 --> 00:16:53,159
That was recovered, and
that had what I'd describe
313
00:16:53,234 --> 00:16:56,239
As the component parts
of aa batteries in it.
314
00:16:57,474 --> 00:16:59,719
That was another
light bulb moment
315
00:16:59,794 --> 00:17:03,959
Because it meant that aa
batteries were going to form
316
00:17:04,034 --> 00:17:06,439
Some part of the device
that was being built.
317
00:17:09,481 --> 00:17:12,337
Lewis: Fifty kilometers
away assad sarwar,
318
00:17:12,361 --> 00:17:14,257
Codenamed rich food,
319
00:17:14,281 --> 00:17:17,239
Was amassing a stockpile
of hydrogen peroxide.
320
00:17:19,154 --> 00:17:21,857
Sarwar had tracked
down suppliers online,
321
00:17:21,881 --> 00:17:23,377
And traveled across the country
322
00:17:23,401 --> 00:17:26,319
To buy small volumes
from multiple locations.
323
00:17:28,194 --> 00:17:29,930
Dryden: That's a good way
of concealing the fact
324
00:17:29,954 --> 00:17:33,217
That you're buying an awful
lot of hydrogen peroxide.
325
00:17:33,241 --> 00:17:37,377
I would describe sarwar
as the quartermaster.
326
00:17:37,401 --> 00:17:39,377
He was the one
who was purchasing
327
00:17:39,401 --> 00:17:41,399
All the precursor chemicals.
328
00:17:42,354 --> 00:17:45,297
Lewis: By early August,
he had bought so much,
329
00:17:45,321 --> 00:17:48,257
That he was observed dumping
a suitcase of excess chemicals
330
00:17:48,281 --> 00:17:50,799
In woods by his parents'
house in high wycombe.
331
00:17:55,394 --> 00:17:58,679
Now investigators began
to put the clues together.
332
00:18:01,721 --> 00:18:04,439
They believed the
plotters were developing
333
00:18:04,514 --> 00:18:07,839
A new type of liquid
explosive device.
334
00:18:18,361 --> 00:18:22,577
Mi5 now judged the threat to
be so severe that they alerted
335
00:18:22,601 --> 00:18:25,399
Their intelligence partners
across the atlantic.
336
00:18:25,474 --> 00:18:27,239
Michael chertoff was secretary
337
00:18:27,314 --> 00:18:29,079
Of homeland security
at the time.
338
00:18:30,841 --> 00:18:32,359
Chertoff: We typically had a
339
00:18:32,434 --> 00:18:35,297
Very close relationship
with the uk
340
00:18:35,321 --> 00:18:37,537
In intelligence and
counter-terrorism.
341
00:18:37,561 --> 00:18:40,599
In fact, maybe closer than
with any other country.
342
00:18:42,034 --> 00:18:43,639
Lewis: The scale
of the developing plot
343
00:18:43,714 --> 00:18:45,297
Stunned the americans,
344
00:18:45,321 --> 00:18:48,079
Including chief of
intelligence, charles allen.
345
00:18:50,194 --> 00:18:52,897
Allen: I recall very distinctly
sitting in my office
346
00:18:52,921 --> 00:18:55,399
At the department of
homeland security.
347
00:18:55,474 --> 00:18:59,639
I received a call from the
head of mi5 and his deputy.
348
00:18:59,714 --> 00:19:02,359
They said they wanted
to see me right away,
349
00:19:02,434 --> 00:19:05,297
And then he laid out
where this was headed.
350
00:19:05,321 --> 00:19:08,119
This was very serious indeed.
351
00:19:08,194 --> 00:19:10,097
Lewis: Jose
rodriguez was the cia's
352
00:19:10,121 --> 00:19:12,119
Head of clandestine operations.
353
00:19:13,401 --> 00:19:16,657
Rodriguez: This was a really
serious plot
354
00:19:16,681 --> 00:19:21,679
That could rival
9/11 on its scope,
355
00:19:22,601 --> 00:19:24,399
So I was very
concerned about it.
356
00:19:26,194 --> 00:19:28,417
Lewis: The american and
the british security services
357
00:19:28,441 --> 00:19:29,639
Agreed to collaborate.
358
00:19:31,794 --> 00:19:35,137
Because the cia was deeply
embedded within pakistan,
359
00:19:35,161 --> 00:19:37,879
They took the lead
monitoring rashid rauf,
360
00:19:37,954 --> 00:19:41,239
The plot's ringleader based
in the north of the country.
361
00:19:42,114 --> 00:19:43,377
Hollington: One
thing that perhaps
362
00:19:43,401 --> 00:19:44,839
The americans have
over the british
363
00:19:44,914 --> 00:19:47,799
Is their intelligence
gathering abroad,
364
00:19:47,874 --> 00:19:52,199
So while we had everything
covered in the uk,
365
00:19:52,274 --> 00:19:54,359
It was very useful
to be able to call
366
00:19:54,434 --> 00:19:57,617
On the american
expertise in pakistan.
367
00:20:01,234 --> 00:20:03,297
Lewis: Then after
the investigation
368
00:20:03,321 --> 00:20:06,119
Had been live for
almost a month,
369
00:20:06,194 --> 00:20:08,919
Video surveillance from
the flat in walthamstow
370
00:20:08,994 --> 00:20:11,777
Revealed the full
extent of the plot.
371
00:20:11,801 --> 00:20:13,639
Man: What are they doing?
372
00:20:13,714 --> 00:20:14,714
Man 2: I don't know.
373
00:20:14,754 --> 00:20:15,754
Can you zoom in?
374
00:20:15,794 --> 00:20:16,919
Man: Give it a go.
375
00:20:19,001 --> 00:20:22,039
Lewis: Investigators
watched as tanvir hussain
376
00:20:22,114 --> 00:20:24,577
And abdulla ahmed
ali began to drill
377
00:20:24,601 --> 00:20:28,439
Small holes in the
bottom of juice bottles.
378
00:20:28,514 --> 00:20:32,337
Dryden: It slowly became
apparent what they were up to.
379
00:20:32,361 --> 00:20:34,919
Chertoff: They took a syringe,
drained the liquid,
380
00:20:34,994 --> 00:20:37,599
And then re-injected
another liquid.
381
00:20:38,761 --> 00:20:40,961
The consequence of that was
if you looked at the bottle,
382
00:20:40,994 --> 00:20:43,399
It would look like an
unopened pristine bottle.
383
00:20:44,601 --> 00:20:47,639
Dryden: The seal on top of the
bottle wasn't broken,
384
00:20:47,714 --> 00:20:51,639
Which meant this bottle
or bottles were gonna form
385
00:20:51,714 --> 00:20:54,497
A major part of the device
that they were building.
386
00:20:56,354 --> 00:20:58,090
Lewis: The surveillance
video revealed the bottles
387
00:20:58,114 --> 00:21:01,377
Were being filled with a
homemade liquid explosive,
388
00:21:01,401 --> 00:21:02,919
Dyed with food coloring.
389
00:21:04,194 --> 00:21:05,697
The battery casings
390
00:21:05,721 --> 00:21:08,399
Were used to conceal
powerful detonators.
391
00:21:10,274 --> 00:21:13,297
Goodman: The plotters were
getting batteries, opening them,
392
00:21:13,321 --> 00:21:15,319
Removing the inner
bits of the batteries
393
00:21:15,394 --> 00:21:17,457
And essentially using
the shell to then
394
00:21:17,481 --> 00:21:19,959
Put explosive material inside.
395
00:21:20,034 --> 00:21:22,479
These were then placed
inside disposable cameras.
396
00:21:23,474 --> 00:21:26,279
Lewis: The tang powder
would act as an accelerant,
397
00:21:26,354 --> 00:21:29,639
Making the mixture
even more explosive.
398
00:21:29,714 --> 00:21:33,697
The terrorists had invented
an entirely new type of bomb
399
00:21:33,721 --> 00:21:35,639
Much more difficult to detect,
400
00:21:35,714 --> 00:21:38,497
And, potentially, a much
greater threat to life
401
00:21:38,521 --> 00:21:40,737
That other al-qaeda devices.
402
00:21:40,761 --> 00:21:43,399
Dryden: We had never come
across a device like this.
403
00:21:43,474 --> 00:21:45,777
There was great
ingenuity in the way
404
00:21:45,801 --> 00:21:49,159
That this device
had been designed.
405
00:21:49,234 --> 00:21:51,159
Lewis: Investigators
realized these small
406
00:21:51,234 --> 00:21:53,479
And easily transportable bombs
407
00:21:53,554 --> 00:21:56,759
Were designed to be moved
in their constituent parts,
408
00:21:56,834 --> 00:22:00,257
Before being assembled
at the target location.
409
00:22:00,281 --> 00:22:02,657
This had a terrifying
implication.
410
00:22:02,681 --> 00:22:03,850
Pantucci: They
immediately realized
411
00:22:03,874 --> 00:22:04,890
They were trying to get past
412
00:22:04,914 --> 00:22:06,737
A high level of security,
413
00:22:06,761 --> 00:22:08,257
And usually when you think of
that high-level of security,
414
00:22:08,281 --> 00:22:10,337
You're either thinking
a very secure location
415
00:22:10,361 --> 00:22:13,537
Like, a ministry of defense,
416
00:22:13,561 --> 00:22:15,697
Or some sort of official
building like that,
417
00:22:15,721 --> 00:22:17,697
Or you're thinking aviation.
418
00:22:21,401 --> 00:22:24,577
Dryden: They were
designed to detonate
419
00:22:24,601 --> 00:22:26,839
In a space where it
could damage something,
420
00:22:26,914 --> 00:22:30,439
And the obvious one was
inside an aircraft fuselage.
421
00:22:30,514 --> 00:22:32,577
Pantucci: You'd create enough
of an explosion
422
00:22:32,601 --> 00:22:35,057
To basically punch a hole
in the side of an aircraft.
423
00:22:35,081 --> 00:22:37,297
An aircraft, of course, which
is up in at high altitude
424
00:22:37,321 --> 00:22:38,759
In a pressurized environment,
425
00:22:38,834 --> 00:22:40,257
Which would have immediately
426
00:22:40,281 --> 00:22:41,777
Essentially brought
the aircraft down.
427
00:22:41,801 --> 00:22:43,297
Allen: It would have worked.
428
00:22:43,321 --> 00:22:44,810
It would have brought
down an airliner.
429
00:22:44,834 --> 00:22:46,799
There could have been
huge loss of life.
430
00:22:53,474 --> 00:22:56,337
Lewis: Al-qaeda had
weaponized planes before,
431
00:22:56,361 --> 00:22:57,679
To deadly effect.
432
00:22:58,521 --> 00:23:01,719
The events of
September 11, 2001,
433
00:23:01,794 --> 00:23:05,297
Weighed heavily on the minds
of the intelligence community.
434
00:23:06,841 --> 00:23:08,497
Allen: The white house
had suffered deeply
435
00:23:08,521 --> 00:23:11,297
Because of the 9/11 attack.
436
00:23:11,321 --> 00:23:13,199
Intelligence had
suffered deeply.
437
00:23:14,201 --> 00:23:16,919
That was very much in my mind.
438
00:23:16,994 --> 00:23:19,719
In fact, never
again can we allow
439
00:23:19,794 --> 00:23:22,079
This country to be attacked.
440
00:23:22,994 --> 00:23:24,090
Rodriguez: We had
received instructions
441
00:23:24,114 --> 00:23:25,297
From the president saying,
442
00:23:25,321 --> 00:23:28,119
"do not let this happen again."
443
00:23:28,194 --> 00:23:30,999
So we were very concerned
about this whole thing,
444
00:23:31,874 --> 00:23:34,337
And we were not
gonna let it happen.
445
00:23:36,274 --> 00:23:37,639
Lewis: Since 9/11,
446
00:23:37,714 --> 00:23:39,879
Airport security was
tighter than ever,
447
00:23:39,954 --> 00:23:41,639
Meaning no terrorist
had successfully
448
00:23:41,714 --> 00:23:43,719
Targeted an aircraft.
449
00:23:43,794 --> 00:23:47,057
But this plot proved that
it was still possible,
450
00:23:47,081 --> 00:23:49,279
And that al-qaeda
was undeterred.
451
00:23:50,441 --> 00:23:52,177
Allen: This was ingenious.
452
00:23:52,201 --> 00:23:54,657
It showed that al
qaeda had advanced.
453
00:23:54,681 --> 00:23:56,759
They were doing
things that beyond
454
00:23:56,834 --> 00:24:00,439
What had been done in the
whole world of bomb making.
455
00:24:00,514 --> 00:24:05,479
This was a very, very deadly
way of doing business,
456
00:24:05,794 --> 00:24:07,359
With which we were not prepared.
457
00:24:10,681 --> 00:24:12,170
Lewis: The british and
american intelligence services
458
00:24:12,194 --> 00:24:13,279
Were close allies.
459
00:24:14,354 --> 00:24:16,897
But now, with
tensions heightening,
460
00:24:16,921 --> 00:24:20,199
Cracks began to appear in
the special relationship.
461
00:24:20,274 --> 00:24:22,759
Rodriguez: The british
wanted more time.
462
00:24:22,834 --> 00:24:27,559
They felt that they were
on top of the situation.
463
00:24:27,634 --> 00:24:30,319
They wanted to collect
additional evidence.
464
00:24:31,481 --> 00:24:34,039
Hollington: In the uk, we're
used to following terrorists,
465
00:24:34,114 --> 00:24:36,097
Unfortunately,
because of the ira.
466
00:24:36,121 --> 00:24:39,297
So for decades now we've been
used to holding our nerves,
467
00:24:39,321 --> 00:24:43,559
And trying to get the terrorists
as close to the moment
468
00:24:43,634 --> 00:24:45,937
That they're going to commit
their crimes as possible.
469
00:24:45,961 --> 00:24:48,919
Dryden: There was disquiet
between our approach
470
00:24:48,994 --> 00:24:51,857
And the approach by the
americans in pakistan.
471
00:24:51,881 --> 00:24:53,297
The americans took,
472
00:24:53,321 --> 00:24:55,697
And always do take
a different view,
473
00:24:55,721 --> 00:25:00,177
And they will spoil
the plot, disrupt it,
474
00:25:00,201 --> 00:25:02,479
And deal with what they've
got there and then.
475
00:25:03,874 --> 00:25:05,159
Allen: We had great confidence
476
00:25:05,234 --> 00:25:08,577
In the british
security services.
477
00:25:08,601 --> 00:25:10,039
But we were nervous
that there were
478
00:25:10,114 --> 00:25:13,137
Other things that
could occur untold,
479
00:25:13,161 --> 00:25:14,977
That someone had been missed,
480
00:25:15,001 --> 00:25:17,937
Or an element of the plot had
been missed by the british.
481
00:25:17,961 --> 00:25:19,297
Chertoff: We needed to be sure
482
00:25:19,321 --> 00:25:21,319
That we didn't allow
things to go on
483
00:25:21,394 --> 00:25:23,079
So long that someone
would actually
484
00:25:23,154 --> 00:25:26,577
Put a device on a
plane and blow it up.
485
00:25:29,161 --> 00:25:32,257
Lewis: The british intelligence
services won the argument.
486
00:25:32,281 --> 00:25:34,497
But they knew that if
they'd made the wrong call,
487
00:25:34,521 --> 00:25:36,919
The consequences
would be catastrophic.
488
00:25:39,161 --> 00:25:42,337
By early August, 24
people were under
489
00:25:42,361 --> 00:25:43,959
Round-the-clock surveillance,
490
00:25:44,034 --> 00:25:46,279
Most of them in east london.
491
00:25:48,201 --> 00:25:51,239
800 surveillance agents
were needed on the ground
492
00:25:51,314 --> 00:25:53,399
To monitor all the suspects.
493
00:25:55,561 --> 00:25:57,799
This was now the largest
surveillance operation
494
00:25:57,874 --> 00:26:00,039
Ever undertaken in the uk.
495
00:26:01,074 --> 00:26:03,879
Dryden: "operation overt" at
its biggest involved
496
00:26:03,954 --> 00:26:06,119
Every surveillance
team in the country
497
00:26:06,194 --> 00:26:07,799
Including northern ireland.
498
00:26:07,874 --> 00:26:09,439
We were running out of teams.
499
00:26:10,594 --> 00:26:14,759
What we needed was to
know what the targets were
500
00:26:14,834 --> 00:26:17,297
And who the individuals
who were going to
501
00:26:17,321 --> 00:26:19,319
Attack those targets
were going to be.
502
00:26:20,514 --> 00:26:22,199
No stone was left unturned
503
00:26:22,274 --> 00:26:24,599
At that stage of
the investigation.
504
00:26:26,194 --> 00:26:28,657
Lewis: Then microphones
in the walthamstow flat
505
00:26:28,681 --> 00:26:31,617
Picked up a recording
that made the team realize
506
00:26:31,641 --> 00:26:34,439
The plot was of a greater
magnitude than they'd feared.
507
00:26:35,721 --> 00:26:36,919
Ali: We got
six people, in it.
508
00:26:36,994 --> 00:26:39,639
Me, omar b, ibo,
aro, and waheed.
509
00:26:39,714 --> 00:26:40,737
There's another three units,
510
00:26:40,761 --> 00:26:42,279
There's another three dudes.
511
00:26:42,354 --> 00:26:44,119
Hussain: There's
another three more, yeah?
512
00:26:44,194 --> 00:26:48,119
That a seven, eight,
nine, 10, 11, 12, 13.
513
00:26:49,241 --> 00:26:50,241
That's 15.
514
00:26:50,994 --> 00:26:51,999
No wait 18!
515
00:26:53,474 --> 00:26:56,399
Think of it, yeah,
that's one more man.
516
00:26:58,681 --> 00:27:00,561
Lewis: To the listening
intelligence operatives,
517
00:27:00,594 --> 00:27:03,617
It sounded like there
would be 19 bombers.
518
00:27:03,641 --> 00:27:05,759
The number had a significance.
519
00:27:07,241 --> 00:27:11,039
It was same number of
hijackers responsible for 9/11.
520
00:27:13,721 --> 00:27:16,199
It looked like the british
bomb plotters were trying
521
00:27:16,274 --> 00:27:19,719
To emulate the biggest
terrorist attack in history.
522
00:27:27,714 --> 00:27:29,959
British security
services had eyes
523
00:27:30,034 --> 00:27:32,977
And ears on a major
al-qaeda terrorist cell
524
00:27:33,001 --> 00:27:35,959
Planning to blow up u.S.
Bound passenger planes
525
00:27:36,034 --> 00:27:38,759
Using liquid bombs
assembled on board.
526
00:27:42,434 --> 00:27:43,959
British intelligence officers
527
00:27:44,034 --> 00:27:47,079
Were in close contact with
their u.S. Counterparts,
528
00:27:47,154 --> 00:27:50,119
But there was disagreement
on when and how to move in.
529
00:27:52,441 --> 00:27:54,657
Now investigators had
picked up evidence
530
00:27:54,681 --> 00:27:56,257
That the cell's ringleader,
531
00:27:56,281 --> 00:27:59,199
Abdulla ahmed ali,
was getting nervous.
532
00:28:00,521 --> 00:28:02,417
Writing to rashid rauf,
533
00:28:02,441 --> 00:28:05,697
The plot's al-qaeda
orchestrator in pakistan,
534
00:28:05,721 --> 00:28:08,319
Ali admits to being
worried he was followed.
535
00:28:09,641 --> 00:28:10,737
But there was one crucial thing
536
00:28:10,761 --> 00:28:12,599
The conspirators didn't know.
537
00:28:12,674 --> 00:28:15,057
Just how closely they
were being watched.
538
00:28:16,114 --> 00:28:17,857
Despite his concerns,
539
00:28:17,881 --> 00:28:20,479
Ali took the critical
decision to go ahead.
540
00:28:23,314 --> 00:28:25,239
Dryden: They decide to
press on with it
541
00:28:25,314 --> 00:28:29,919
Regardless of the risk of
surveillance being in place.
542
00:28:31,561 --> 00:28:34,079
Truth was we were all over
them like a cheap suit.
543
00:28:34,921 --> 00:28:37,457
Lewis: Then on August
6th came the information
544
00:28:37,481 --> 00:28:40,737
For which surveillance
team had long been waiting:
545
00:28:40,761 --> 00:28:43,279
The specifics of
the intended attack.
546
00:28:44,194 --> 00:28:47,919
Ali was followed by an mi5
agent to an internet cafe.
547
00:28:50,354 --> 00:28:54,817
Dryden: She was able to get onto
a computer quite close to him
548
00:28:54,841 --> 00:28:56,679
To work out that he was looking
549
00:28:56,754 --> 00:28:58,879
At aircraft times
and departures.
550
00:29:00,281 --> 00:29:01,617
Lewis: Ali was researching
551
00:29:01,641 --> 00:29:03,559
A number of
transatlantic flights,
552
00:29:03,634 --> 00:29:07,297
Departing heathrow within
a two and half hour window.
553
00:29:07,321 --> 00:29:08,657
Rodriguez: All these
flights would be
554
00:29:08,681 --> 00:29:11,479
Departing heathrow
on a given day,
555
00:29:12,354 --> 00:29:17,297
Late in the afternoon
between 4:00 and 7:00 p.M.,
556
00:29:17,321 --> 00:29:20,577
And would be flying
over the north atlantic
557
00:29:20,601 --> 00:29:24,399
And would be blown up
simultaneously as they flew.
558
00:29:27,474 --> 00:29:29,457
Lewis: The
timing was critical,
559
00:29:29,481 --> 00:29:34,279
Coordinated for maximum impact
and maximum loss of life.
560
00:29:34,354 --> 00:29:37,137
Chertoff: They were intending
to wait until the planes
561
00:29:37,161 --> 00:29:40,759
Were sufficiently
far away from the uk.
562
00:29:40,834 --> 00:29:42,337
That if one bomb went off
563
00:29:42,361 --> 00:29:44,599
And the other planes
wanted to turn around,
564
00:29:44,674 --> 00:29:47,399
They would not have enough
time to get back to safety.
565
00:29:47,474 --> 00:29:50,439
Dryden: This looked like
a plot, potentially,
566
00:29:50,514 --> 00:29:54,599
With a loss of life
of up to 2,000 people.
567
00:29:54,674 --> 00:29:57,399
Allen: A huge horrible,
horrendous, murderous plot
568
00:29:57,474 --> 00:30:01,319
That could have created great
damage to the united states.
569
00:30:01,394 --> 00:30:03,799
It was really very scary indeed.
570
00:30:05,554 --> 00:30:07,114
Lewis: This was now the
most significant
571
00:30:07,154 --> 00:30:09,799
Terrorist conspiracy since 9/11,
572
00:30:09,874 --> 00:30:13,879
Designed to instill panic
in both the uk and the u.S.
573
00:30:18,281 --> 00:30:20,119
The specifics of the attack
574
00:30:20,194 --> 00:30:22,817
Revealed the uk was to
be used as a launchpad
575
00:30:22,841 --> 00:30:24,599
For a direct attack on america.
576
00:30:25,554 --> 00:30:27,159
For those in washington,
577
00:30:27,234 --> 00:30:28,399
This was a game changer.
578
00:30:30,354 --> 00:30:32,097
Chertoff: Once we knew
they were focused
579
00:30:32,121 --> 00:30:35,137
On aircraft going to the
u.S., it became our problem.
580
00:30:35,161 --> 00:30:37,137
I mean until then we thought
581
00:30:37,161 --> 00:30:39,879
It was a serious issue
for the uk government,
582
00:30:39,954 --> 00:30:42,257
But then it became
our jurisdiction
583
00:30:42,281 --> 00:30:44,097
When we became the target.
584
00:30:44,121 --> 00:30:47,777
Rodriguez: For me, that's when I
said, "okay, this is imminent."
585
00:30:47,801 --> 00:30:51,079
We knew who the principles were.
586
00:30:51,154 --> 00:30:53,799
We knew who the
suicide bombers were.
587
00:30:53,874 --> 00:30:56,097
We knew how were
they gonna do this,
588
00:30:56,121 --> 00:30:59,137
And we knew what flights
they were going to blow up.
589
00:30:59,161 --> 00:31:01,159
The only thing that we
didn't know was when.
590
00:31:03,641 --> 00:31:05,079
Lewis: The
suspected terrorists
591
00:31:05,154 --> 00:31:07,479
Were moving towards
the action phase.
592
00:31:07,554 --> 00:31:10,119
With an attack potentially
just weeks away,
593
00:31:10,194 --> 00:31:12,759
From his base in
pakistan, rashid rauf
594
00:31:12,834 --> 00:31:15,359
Was training the plotters
in counter-surveillance.
595
00:31:17,561 --> 00:31:19,697
Dryden: He was the guiding
hand for them
596
00:31:19,721 --> 00:31:23,137
For issues like make sure
everything's in code.
597
00:31:23,161 --> 00:31:24,897
Make sure you're not followed.
598
00:31:24,921 --> 00:31:27,599
Make sure you dump everything
far away from the house.
599
00:31:29,001 --> 00:31:30,897
Lewis: Rauf knew that
the terrorists would have
600
00:31:30,921 --> 00:31:34,599
To make it through post
9/11 airport security.
601
00:31:34,674 --> 00:31:37,217
So he ordered them to
ditch their old passports
602
00:31:37,241 --> 00:31:38,399
And apply for new ones.
603
00:31:41,721 --> 00:31:46,257
Dryden: They had stamps entering
and leaving pakistan,
604
00:31:46,281 --> 00:31:49,857
And that may put them
under more scrutiny.
605
00:31:49,881 --> 00:31:51,937
Goodman: Clean passports would
have no visa stamps,
606
00:31:51,961 --> 00:31:54,119
No enter and exit information.
607
00:31:54,194 --> 00:31:55,617
This clearly showed
that the plotters
608
00:31:55,641 --> 00:31:58,199
Had been trained in
counter espionage,
609
00:31:59,954 --> 00:32:02,919
Lewis: Then in early
August, surveillance operatives
610
00:32:02,994 --> 00:32:05,719
Monitored a chilling
conversation.
611
00:32:05,794 --> 00:32:09,479
The terrorists knew that a
pakistani male travelling alone
612
00:32:09,554 --> 00:32:11,959
Could raise suspicions
at an airport.
613
00:32:12,034 --> 00:32:14,519
But that a family would not.
614
00:32:14,594 --> 00:32:15,857
Ali: Would your wife
consider going with you
615
00:32:15,881 --> 00:32:16,881
On the operation?
616
00:32:18,281 --> 00:32:19,777
Hussain: I think if
I was to say to her
617
00:32:19,801 --> 00:32:21,799
That this was a
significant operation
618
00:32:21,874 --> 00:32:24,079
She might even find it
in herself to do that.
619
00:32:25,961 --> 00:32:27,697
Ali: What about the babies?
620
00:32:27,721 --> 00:32:30,177
Maybe she could
take them with her?
621
00:32:30,201 --> 00:32:32,497
Hussain: Maybe,
you know what I mean.
622
00:32:32,521 --> 00:32:34,159
She'd like to do it though.
623
00:32:35,001 --> 00:32:36,599
Pantucci: This meant you
had a cell,
624
00:32:36,674 --> 00:32:37,930
Who was not only
building a device
625
00:32:37,954 --> 00:32:40,657
That was gonna
penetrate security,
626
00:32:40,681 --> 00:32:43,377
But was now talking in
terms of launching an attack
627
00:32:43,401 --> 00:32:46,097
And really with this
sort of callous disregard
628
00:32:46,121 --> 00:32:47,937
For not only the lives
of the innocent people
629
00:32:47,961 --> 00:32:51,457
That they were gonna murder,
but also their own families.
630
00:32:51,481 --> 00:32:53,799
Hollington: It's absolutely a
devastating thought
631
00:32:53,874 --> 00:32:56,599
That they would do such a thing,
632
00:32:56,674 --> 00:32:59,937
But, clearly, it would
take them that extra step,
633
00:32:59,961 --> 00:33:02,039
Give them that extra
layer of protection.
634
00:33:03,634 --> 00:33:05,079
Lewis: Just two days later,
635
00:33:05,154 --> 00:33:06,599
Surveillance
microphones picked up
636
00:33:06,674 --> 00:33:09,199
Snatches of another
ominous conversation.
637
00:33:10,194 --> 00:33:11,857
Ali: Relax.
638
00:33:11,881 --> 00:33:14,497
Speak normal english when
you mention allah do that.
639
00:33:14,521 --> 00:33:16,999
Give a bit of aggression,
yeah, a bit loudly.
640
00:33:18,681 --> 00:33:20,199
Man: Could we rewind
that, please?
641
00:33:22,594 --> 00:33:24,199
Lewis: It became clear.
642
00:33:24,274 --> 00:33:26,817
Ali was directing the london
plotters' performances
643
00:33:26,841 --> 00:33:28,479
In their suicide videos.
644
00:33:30,994 --> 00:33:34,519
Plotter: Stop supporting our
puppets and helping our enemies.
645
00:33:36,194 --> 00:33:40,399
If you do this, we
will leave you alone.
646
00:33:41,634 --> 00:33:44,359
Lewis: This was
incontrovertible proof
647
00:33:44,434 --> 00:33:47,039
That the operation had
entered its final stage.
648
00:33:51,634 --> 00:33:52,897
Chertoff: That told us they were
649
00:33:52,921 --> 00:33:55,239
In the final stages
of preparation.
650
00:33:55,314 --> 00:33:58,177
That increased the
intensity of our focus
651
00:33:58,201 --> 00:34:01,537
On making sure that we were
ready to take this down
652
00:34:01,561 --> 00:34:03,959
At the earliest
possible opportunity.
653
00:34:06,354 --> 00:34:07,559
Lewis: Intelligence services
654
00:34:07,634 --> 00:34:09,377
Both sides of the atlantic
655
00:34:09,401 --> 00:34:11,799
Agreed a potential
attack was now imminent.
656
00:34:12,681 --> 00:34:14,919
But in london, the
metropolitan police
657
00:34:14,994 --> 00:34:18,239
And mi5 still wanted
to hold off.
658
00:34:20,201 --> 00:34:24,817
Dryden: It was the approach
by the senior members
659
00:34:24,841 --> 00:34:27,639
Of the counter terrorism
command at the time
660
00:34:27,714 --> 00:34:32,079
That we let them run until we
have absolutely everything.
661
00:34:34,194 --> 00:34:35,959
Lewis: What the
british didn't know
662
00:34:36,034 --> 00:34:39,799
Is that individuals within
the cia had decided to act.
663
00:34:41,401 --> 00:34:43,719
On August 8th, jose rodriguez,
664
00:34:43,794 --> 00:34:46,737
Director of the cia's
clandestine service,
665
00:34:46,761 --> 00:34:50,039
Was already in
place in pakistan.
666
00:34:50,114 --> 00:34:52,359
Rodriguez: I just happened
to be on the scene.
667
00:34:52,434 --> 00:34:53,857
The head of the service.
668
00:34:53,881 --> 00:34:55,319
Me, on the scene.
669
00:34:56,434 --> 00:34:59,137
Lewis: The cia worked
closely with the isi,
670
00:34:59,161 --> 00:35:01,937
Pakistan's powerful
intelligence service.
671
00:35:01,961 --> 00:35:03,457
They informed rodriguez
672
00:35:03,481 --> 00:35:05,919
That they knew of
rashid rauf whereabouts.
673
00:35:07,314 --> 00:35:10,439
Rodriguez: We were possibly
gonna be able to capture him
674
00:35:10,514 --> 00:35:14,599
That very evening as he
traveled in the tribal area
675
00:35:14,674 --> 00:35:17,719
From point a to
point b in a bus.
676
00:35:19,154 --> 00:35:21,559
Lewis: Rodriguez
faced a dilemma.
677
00:35:21,634 --> 00:35:23,697
He knew that if
they arrested rauf,
678
00:35:23,721 --> 00:35:26,119
The british authorities would
have to move to apprehend
679
00:35:26,194 --> 00:35:28,439
The plotters in
london, immediately.
680
00:35:30,034 --> 00:35:33,697
Rodriguez: We had agreed with
the british authorities
681
00:35:33,721 --> 00:35:35,639
To give them more time.
682
00:35:35,714 --> 00:35:39,239
We had within our
grasp a terrorist
683
00:35:39,314 --> 00:35:43,137
That was planning
to blow up airplanes
684
00:35:43,161 --> 00:35:46,497
That could have killed
thousands of innocent people,
685
00:35:46,521 --> 00:35:50,817
And I felt that we
had a responsibility
686
00:35:50,841 --> 00:35:52,039
To protect these people.
687
00:35:54,354 --> 00:35:58,479
So I said, "yes, let's
just go ahead and do this."
688
00:36:00,434 --> 00:36:03,879
Lewis: Pakistan's isi
agents stormed the bus,
689
00:36:03,954 --> 00:36:06,359
And seized rashid rauf.
690
00:36:06,434 --> 00:36:08,679
Rodriguez: And after that,
all hell broke loose.
691
00:36:11,081 --> 00:36:12,657
Dryden: It was quite clear that
692
00:36:12,681 --> 00:36:15,399
We didn't want rauf
arrested when he was,
693
00:36:15,474 --> 00:36:18,359
But the americans decided
to go ahead anyway.
694
00:36:18,434 --> 00:36:21,719
I would say that the
senior management
695
00:36:21,794 --> 00:36:24,417
Of the counter terrorism
command were very concerned
696
00:36:24,441 --> 00:36:27,999
With the actions that the
american authorities took.
697
00:36:29,321 --> 00:36:31,079
Was that diplomatic enough?
698
00:36:31,961 --> 00:36:33,537
Lewis: As soon as the
plotters got news
699
00:36:33,561 --> 00:36:35,559
That rauf had been arrested,
700
00:36:35,634 --> 00:36:37,959
The risk was they would flee.
701
00:36:38,034 --> 00:36:39,879
It was now a race against time
702
00:36:39,954 --> 00:36:42,799
To round them up before
they detonated their bombs.
703
00:36:44,994 --> 00:36:47,799
For the met police and
mi5 it was time to move.
704
00:36:53,241 --> 00:36:54,737
In london,
705
00:36:54,761 --> 00:36:57,617
Mi5 and the metropolitan
police moved immediately
706
00:36:57,641 --> 00:37:00,497
To arrest al-qaeda
ringleader, rashid rauf's
707
00:37:00,521 --> 00:37:03,799
24 suspected co
conspirators in the uk.
708
00:37:06,361 --> 00:37:07,639
Pantucci: To suddenly have to
709
00:37:07,714 --> 00:37:09,239
Abruptly wrap this
whole thing up
710
00:37:09,314 --> 00:37:12,097
In such short time was
certainly not the way
711
00:37:12,121 --> 00:37:14,257
That they wanted the
operation to roll out.
712
00:37:14,281 --> 00:37:15,959
Dryden: There was a sense of
713
00:37:16,034 --> 00:37:18,919
Tension in the air
at scotland yard.
714
00:37:18,994 --> 00:37:22,577
No one really had to come in
because no one had gone home.
715
00:37:22,601 --> 00:37:23,639
Everyone was there.
716
00:37:23,714 --> 00:37:24,737
Everyone was at their desk.
717
00:37:24,761 --> 00:37:25,999
Everyone was working.
718
00:37:28,194 --> 00:37:31,479
Lewis: This was now a critical
national emergency.
719
00:37:32,994 --> 00:37:35,239
Within three hours,
an additional 300
720
00:37:35,314 --> 00:37:38,599
Specially-trained were
drafted for the arrest phase.
721
00:37:42,914 --> 00:37:44,090
Pantucci: You saw this
massive operation
722
00:37:44,114 --> 00:37:45,559
Suddenly click into action
723
00:37:45,634 --> 00:37:48,097
With the police and
with security services
724
00:37:48,121 --> 00:37:51,137
To go and wrap up this
really large cell.
725
00:37:51,161 --> 00:37:55,057
Dryden: There was a mad rush to
get arrest teams in place.
726
00:37:55,081 --> 00:37:59,137
We had to do what we do
best very, very quickly,
727
00:37:59,161 --> 00:38:01,719
And that's just adapt
to the situation
728
00:38:01,794 --> 00:38:03,457
And that's what happened.
729
00:38:03,481 --> 00:38:05,799
Lewis: As the arrest
teams took their positions,
730
00:38:05,874 --> 00:38:08,359
The surveillance unit
tracking assad sarwar
731
00:38:08,434 --> 00:38:12,119
Reported he was heading from
high wycombe toward london.
732
00:38:12,194 --> 00:38:14,359
Man 2: Blue team not too close.
733
00:38:14,434 --> 00:38:16,519
Lewis: At the same
time, the ringleader,
734
00:38:16,594 --> 00:38:19,319
Abdulla ahmed ali, was
also being tracked.
735
00:38:20,441 --> 00:38:22,839
Man: All right, lion
roar is on the move.
736
00:38:24,041 --> 00:38:26,577
Dryden: There were surveillance
teams on everyone,
737
00:38:26,601 --> 00:38:29,239
But on, particularly,
on sarwar and ali.
738
00:38:29,314 --> 00:38:31,919
Sarwar was travelling
from high wycombe.
739
00:38:32,921 --> 00:38:36,479
Man 2: Rich food is turning
east toward walthamstow.
740
00:38:39,721 --> 00:38:42,119
Lewis: As sarwar
approached the city,
741
00:38:42,194 --> 00:38:44,879
Ali was followed to a
car park in walthamstow.
742
00:38:47,321 --> 00:38:49,457
It became clear to
the surveillance team
743
00:38:49,481 --> 00:38:51,559
The two men were going
to meet each other.
744
00:38:54,274 --> 00:38:56,679
The ringleader was to
meet the quartermaster,
745
00:38:56,754 --> 00:38:58,439
A clear sign that
the bomb plotters
746
00:38:58,514 --> 00:39:00,639
Were about to move into
their attack phase.
747
00:39:02,034 --> 00:39:04,177
The surveillance team
believed ali and sarwar
748
00:39:04,201 --> 00:39:06,999
Could be about to exchange
the explosive devices.
749
00:39:10,034 --> 00:39:13,297
Dryden: They are the two most
important in this plot.
750
00:39:13,321 --> 00:39:14,817
So the decision was taken
751
00:39:14,841 --> 00:39:17,399
To allow the surveillance
team to move in.
752
00:39:17,474 --> 00:39:18,730
Man: Go all teams, go all teams.
753
00:39:18,754 --> 00:39:20,679
All teams go, all teams go.
754
00:39:23,721 --> 00:39:25,377
Man 3: Hey, stop!
Man 4: Hey, don't move!
755
00:39:25,401 --> 00:39:27,457
Man 3: Do not move!
Man 4: You're under arrest!
756
00:39:27,481 --> 00:39:29,799
Dryden: We had to get
them into custody,
757
00:39:29,874 --> 00:39:31,199
And that was our main aim.
758
00:39:33,554 --> 00:39:35,697
Lewis: When investigators
searched the vehicle,
759
00:39:35,721 --> 00:39:37,537
They found a usb
stick containing
760
00:39:37,561 --> 00:39:39,879
Flight details and
suicide videos.
761
00:39:43,154 --> 00:39:45,639
Dryden: Possibly the most
important bit of evidence
762
00:39:45,714 --> 00:39:48,817
That we found throughout
the whole investigation
763
00:39:48,841 --> 00:39:51,457
Was in his pocket at
the time of arrest.
764
00:39:54,274 --> 00:39:57,559
Lewis: With the two main
conspirators now in custody,
765
00:39:57,634 --> 00:39:59,519
The race was on to
round up the others.
766
00:40:02,514 --> 00:40:05,137
Through the night, 46
properties across london
767
00:40:05,161 --> 00:40:06,759
And the southeast were raided,
768
00:40:08,281 --> 00:40:10,897
With a further 22
people arrested.
769
00:40:12,521 --> 00:40:15,857
Dryden: We had 24 suspects
and that evening,
770
00:40:15,881 --> 00:40:17,377
We managed to get hold of them,
771
00:40:17,401 --> 00:40:19,457
Take them all into custody,
772
00:40:19,481 --> 00:40:21,999
And make sure there
were no stragglers.
773
00:40:23,474 --> 00:40:25,937
Lewis: Every suspect
the police had been watching
774
00:40:25,961 --> 00:40:27,079
Was accounted for.
775
00:40:30,194 --> 00:40:32,919
The next morning,
britain woke up to news
776
00:40:32,994 --> 00:40:35,639
That a major terrorist
plot had been foiled.
777
00:40:37,001 --> 00:40:39,297
News anchor: There were plans
for as many as nine aircraft
778
00:40:39,321 --> 00:40:40,759
Flying from the united kingdom
779
00:40:40,834 --> 00:40:42,570
To the united states of
america to be attacked,
780
00:40:42,594 --> 00:40:45,319
Possibly by some form
of liquid explosive.
781
00:40:47,241 --> 00:40:49,439
Lewis: Another
9/11 had been averted,
782
00:40:50,754 --> 00:40:52,919
Thousands of lives
had been saved.
783
00:40:54,761 --> 00:40:56,257
But authorities were concerned
784
00:40:56,281 --> 00:40:59,399
That knowledge of how to
build these liquid bombs
785
00:40:59,474 --> 00:41:02,839
Could already have spread
through the al-qaeda network.
786
00:41:13,321 --> 00:41:16,657
So governments around the
world reacted immediately
787
00:41:16,681 --> 00:41:20,337
To ban all liquids
on all flights.
788
00:41:20,361 --> 00:41:23,457
Rodriguez: The plot was
basically over.
789
00:41:23,481 --> 00:41:25,479
The threat was over.
790
00:41:25,554 --> 00:41:27,879
Now, what remained
was total confusion.
791
00:41:29,401 --> 00:41:31,217
Hollington: From one moment
to the next,
792
00:41:31,241 --> 00:41:34,279
Airports were thrown into
total and utter chaos.
793
00:41:36,281 --> 00:41:39,697
Chertoff: We spent a lot of time
putting together a plan
794
00:41:39,721 --> 00:41:41,537
So that when an arrest was made,
795
00:41:41,561 --> 00:41:43,697
We could immediately shut down
796
00:41:43,721 --> 00:41:46,999
The ability to bring
any liquid on the plane.
797
00:41:48,441 --> 00:41:50,719
Lewis: Air travel
would never be the same.
798
00:41:53,314 --> 00:41:55,479
Of the 24 suspects arrested,
799
00:41:55,554 --> 00:41:58,039
Eight were initially tried
for terrorism offenses
800
00:41:58,114 --> 00:41:59,439
In connection with the plot.
801
00:42:02,601 --> 00:42:06,279
Abdulla ahmed ali was
sentenced to life in prison,
802
00:42:06,354 --> 00:42:08,639
With a minimum term of 40 years.
803
00:42:10,514 --> 00:42:12,759
Assad sarwar and tanvir hussain
804
00:42:12,834 --> 00:42:16,639
Were sentenced to 36 and
32 years respectively.
805
00:42:18,361 --> 00:42:22,879
In 2007, rashid rauf
escaped from police custody.
806
00:42:26,281 --> 00:42:31,159
In 2008, he was killed in
a drone strike in pakistan.
807
00:42:32,994 --> 00:42:36,257
Today, our police and security
services remain engaged
808
00:42:36,281 --> 00:42:40,679
In a hidden battle to preempt
devastating terrorist attacks.
809
00:42:41,561 --> 00:42:45,159
Dryden: I would say this is
a beacon of excellence
810
00:42:45,234 --> 00:42:47,617
For how surveillance
operations should be run.
811
00:42:47,641 --> 00:42:49,777
Rodriguez: This operation
was a huge success
812
00:42:49,801 --> 00:42:52,257
For the british and
for us back home.
813
00:42:52,281 --> 00:42:54,759
Pantucci: Our security forces
were incredibly successful
814
00:42:54,834 --> 00:42:58,279
In preventing a massive
atrocity from taking place.
815
00:42:58,354 --> 00:43:02,337
Chertoff: It's really actually
a real notable moment
816
00:43:02,361 --> 00:43:03,399
In counter-terrorism.
817
00:43:05,641 --> 00:43:06,641
Lewis: Twelve years on,
818
00:43:07,954 --> 00:43:09,719
This investigation is held up
819
00:43:09,794 --> 00:43:13,457
As one of the great operations
in intelligence gathering,
820
00:43:13,481 --> 00:43:17,079
And a crucial success in
the fight against extremism.
65989
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