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Army on alert after 21/7 attacks Army on alert after 21/7 attacks
(about 2 hours later)
Army units were put on standby in the wake of the botched 21 July London suicide attacks, an inquest has heard.Army units were put on standby in the wake of the botched 21 July London suicide attacks, an inquest has heard.
The senior detective running the manhunt said "military assets" were part of plans to protect other cities.The senior detective running the manhunt said "military assets" were part of plans to protect other cities.
Counter-terrorism chiefs believed Birmingham and Manchester could be targeted by other suicide bombers.Counter-terrorism chiefs believed Birmingham and Manchester could be targeted by other suicide bombers.
Details of the military response came at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian mistakenly killed by armed police.Details of the military response came at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian mistakenly killed by armed police.
Giving evidence at the inquest, Detective Superintendent Jon Boutcher told the jury that he was the senior officer responsible for identifying the two groups of bombers who attacked London on 7 and 21 July 2005.Giving evidence at the inquest, Detective Superintendent Jon Boutcher told the jury that he was the senior officer responsible for identifying the two groups of bombers who attacked London on 7 and 21 July 2005.
In the hours after the failed attacks on 21 July, the detective said terror chiefs met at Scotland Yard to decide how best to protect the rest of the country.In the hours after the failed attacks on 21 July, the detective said terror chiefs met at Scotland Yard to decide how best to protect the rest of the country.
London had been flooded with police in the wake of the 7 July attacks, but officers now feared other cities could now face attacks.London had been flooded with police in the wake of the 7 July attacks, but officers now feared other cities could now face attacks.
"My assessment was London was going through a unique period and we were trying to make contingencies to prevent further attacks elsewhere," he told the inquest at Oval Cricket Ground in London."My assessment was London was going through a unique period and we were trying to make contingencies to prevent further attacks elsewhere," he told the inquest at Oval Cricket Ground in London.
"I did seek to put measures, police measures, in place for firearms capabilities outside London, including military assets.""I did seek to put measures, police measures, in place for firearms capabilities outside London, including military assets."
Teams on standbyTeams on standby
The Metropolitan Police set up special two-man "fly-teams" to go immediately to anywhere in the UK, should other constabularies need help.The Metropolitan Police set up special two-man "fly-teams" to go immediately to anywhere in the UK, should other constabularies need help.
Surveillance officers followed Mr de Menezes after he left his home
Mr Boutcher said that back in London he had ordered two teams to be ready to move should they get any intelligence on the location of the four failed attackers.Mr Boutcher said that back in London he had ordered two teams to be ready to move should they get any intelligence on the location of the four failed attackers.
The first team would be armed surveillance officers, trained to secretly watch a suspect. The second would be officers from CO19, the force's specialist firearms unit.The first team would be armed surveillance officers, trained to secretly watch a suspect. The second would be officers from CO19, the force's specialist firearms unit.
"Was it going to be the case that they had simply fled or were they, which was my main concern, reorganising somewhere to come back and attack London?"Was it going to be the case that they had simply fled or were they, which was my main concern, reorganising somewhere to come back and attack London?
"I was especially conscious of what we had learned from 7 July and that a bomb factory existed that had sufficient materials, component parts and mixture to make additional devices.""I was especially conscious of what we had learned from 7 July and that a bomb factory existed that had sufficient materials, component parts and mixture to make additional devices."
The inquest heard that Mr Boutcher left Scotland Yard in the early hours of the morning to get a few hours asleep.The inquest heard that Mr Boutcher left Scotland Yard in the early hours of the morning to get a few hours asleep.
When he retuned to the office at 0710 BST, an operation had already begun to stake out a block of flats linked to one of the bombers. The block also included Mr de Menezes' home. When he returned to the office at 0710 BST, an operation had already begun to stake out a block of flats linked to one of the bombers. The block also included Mr de Menezes' home.
Armed stop
Mr de Menezes was shot by two specialist firearms officers on a northbound London Underground train at Stockwell station.
Turning to the final minutes, Mr Boutcher said he had asked the surveillance officers to rate their identification of Mr de Menezes on a scale of one to 10.
They told the operations room they could not do that. Mr Boutcher told the jury that at one point he believed "absolutely" that the electrician was not a suspect.
As Mr de Menezes approached the Tube station, operation room commander Cressida Dick asked armed surveillance officers to stop him entering it.
The surveillance teams were armed for personal protection but not trained to stop a suspect bomber, unlike the firearms teams who were racing to the scene.
But Mr Boutcher said: "In my judgment it was a proportionate and reasonable option, balanced against the subject getting into the Underground station.
"It is an option of last resort. I have to say that Commander Dick was completely clear in her decision-making and the instructions she gave."
The inquest continues.