Manchester Evening News : Terror chief quits over memo leak

Terror chief quits over memo leak

April 9, 2009

BRITAIN'S top counter-terrorism officer resigned today after his security blunder forced armed police to swoop on five addresses in Manchester.

And security officers moved quickly to quash media reports that the intended terror target was the Trafford Centre and Birdcage nightclub in the city centre.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he had accepted Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick's resignation with "great reluctance and sadness".

Mr Quick's downfall came after he was pictured yesterday clutching sensitive documents as he arrived in Downing Street for a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

The document was marked 'secret' with sensitive details including the names of senior officers, locations and details about the threat clearly visible.

Four people were arrested in Manchester and eight people were arrested after raids in Liverpool and Clitheroe.

Sources said the raids - carried out on four homes and an internet cafe in Cheetham Hill - had been planned for 'this week' if the blunder not taken place. It is thought they could have been carried out at 2am today.

Officers arrested two people at a house on Galsworthy Avenue and two at the Cyber Net Cafe on Cheetham Hill Road.

Another man was arrested on the M602 motorway after his car was tracked by anti-terror police. Raids were also carried out on Greenhill Road, Abercarn Close and Esmond Road.

Potential targets

Detectives are now sifting through computers and documents seized at all five addresses which may need to be translated into English.

It was reported that the terror target could have been the Trafford Centre and the Birdcage nightclub near the Printworks but the MEN understands that security sources have dismissed suggestions these were potential targets.

A senior security source said: "We do not believe these were targets at this stage."

"This is an unfolding investigation. We are now beginning searches of all the properties and it is too early to speculate on any targets."

Gordon McKinnon, Trafford Centre director of operations, said: "We have been informed, contrary to some media reports, that there has been no specific threat to the Trafford Centre - any such suggestion is purely speculative.

"Our 100-plus security team is however constantly aware of the need to remain vigilant, and works in tandem with more than 400 CCTV cameras to provide a safe, secure environment for our customers.

"We have a very close relationship with Greater Manchester Police and are in regular close contact with them regarding security issues."

Two of the men arrested in Manchester are believed to be in their 30s and of Afghan origin. A third man is believed to be in his mid 30s and of Pakistani/Finland origin.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates will replace Mr Quick as head of counter-terrorism, Mr Johnson said.

Al Qaida

He added: “I have this morning with great reluctance and sadness as chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority accepted Bob Quick’s resignation as head of counter terrorism and John Yates is going to be appointed and I think he will do a first class job.”

Fearing the suspects would be tipped off about the planned operation after Mr Quick’s blunder, police swooped at about 5.30pm yesterday on addresses in Cheetham Hill in Manchester, Liverpool - including John Moores University - and Clitheroe, in Lancashire.

A Homebase store in Clitheroe was also raided by more than 100 officers and two staff members are believed to have been arrested.

As police targeted the suspects - who sources said were allegedly linked to al Qaida - Mr Quick released an apology to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson saying he “deeply regretted” leaving the document on show.

But the pressure for his resignation mounted and today he paid the price.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the blunder was “an extraordinary and very alarming lapse. “It’s the kind of error that Britain’s most senior anti-terrorist officer simply can’t afford to make.”

Last December Mr Quick apologised for an outburst in which he accused senior Conservatives of leaking a story about his wife’s business interests.

Distinguished

That followed controversy over his role in the decision to arrest Tory frontbencher Damian Green during an inquiry into leaks.

Mr Johnson confirmed Mr Quick had not been sacked. He added: “As I understand matters, obviously there were consultations overnight and I think in the end Bob Quick decided it was the best thing to do.

“It is a matter of sadness and he has had a very, very distinguished career in counter-terrorism.

"I want to stress there was absolutely no kind of witch hunt or effort to get him out but I think that what people felt was this was extremely unfortunate, an operation that was very, very sensitive and important to counter-terrorism, for rounding up terrorists had been potentially compromised and there was a real difficulty there.”

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Mr Quick felt his position was “untenable” following the publication of the photographs and thanked him for his work.

She said: “Sir Paul Stephenson has informed me that Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick has offered his resignation following the publication of certain photographs yesterday. Although the operation was successful he felt that his position was untenable.

“I want to offer my sincere appreciation for all the outstanding work he has done in this role which has helped keep this country safe.”

It is understood the Home Secretary met Mr Quick and Sir Paul last night to discuss the matter.

Confidence

Reacting to Mr Quick’s resignation, Mr Grayling said: “I think it was the right thing to do. I think politicians should always be wary about marching in and saying somebody must go.

“But I said last night I thought there were serious questions to ask about his ability to do the job, as much as anything about the confidence the rest of the security apparatus would have in him.

“My own view privately was I didn’t see how he could possibly stay. I think Mr Quick had made his position completely untenable, not just in the eyes of the public but also within the organisation.

“At the end of the day the buck has to stop somewhere. This is a serious breach that could have jeopardised and may have impacted on a very serious investigation into a possible terror threat.”