Pubs were the target of terror suspects

Pubs and clubs in London were the target of a terror campaign which saw police make eight arrests and seize more than half a tonne of explosives today.

Police believe that terrorists with links to al-Quaeda planned to target a high-profile London location with an attack similar to the Bali nightclub bombing in October 2002. Areas such as Covent Garden and Leicester Square, which attract tens of thousands of visitors to pubs and nightclubs every week, would be an obvious target.

More than 700 officers from five police forces were involved in a series of raids at 25 residential and business premises in Uxbridge, Ilford and Colindale in London; and in Crawley, Slough, Luton, Horley and Reading in the home counties.

At a self-storage facility in Hanwell, West London. police recovered more than half a tonne of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The chemical has been used in al-Quaeda bombings in in Istanbul and Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Assistant-Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Met's anti-terrorist branch, said the operation "is part of continuing and extensive inquiries by police and the security service into alleged international terrorist activity and I must stress that the threat from terrorism remains very real. The public must remain watchful and alert."

All the men who have been arrested are British citizens, aged between 17 and 32.

Malcolm Eidmans, secretary National Pubwatch, said publicans and their staff need to stay fully alert to the danger. He said: "Don't assume it won't happen to you. Watch out for anything unusual."