THE Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Condon, warned of a possible pre-Christmas IRA bombing campaign yesterday. Anti-terrorist officers have appealed for further information about a lorry believed to have been used for transporting bombmaking equipment around Britain.
After saying that Scotland Yard was on full alert, Sir Paul said the IRA regarded Christmas as a prime time to publicise its cause. "Making London as hostile an environment as possible for the IRA to operate in gives us the best chance of success," he added.
The head of the anti-terrorist squad, Cdr John Grieve, issued the appeal for information about the 7.5 tonne Ford Iveco lorry after the discovery of a suspected IRA depot in north-west London earlier this week.
Although no explosives or firearms were found in the yard, Cdr Grieve said the depot had been "clearly used by the Provisional IRA" but without the owners' knowledge. Anti-terrorist officers believe it may have been use to assemble bombs or to store weapons and vehicles.
Mr Grieve said the lorry is thought to have been in the possession of the IRA since February but it was "unlikely" to be still in use. "We are in dangerous months; we need everybody to be particularly observant," he added.