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How To Spot a Terrorist

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I was in town today having my eyes tested and came across this poster in The Grafton, the big mall in Cambridge, explaining how to spot a terrorist.

Terrorists poster

It's not a great photo as the flash reflected off the glass of the poster case but here's what it says:

TERRORISTS NEED INFORMATION

Observation and surveillance help terrorists to plan attacks. Have you seen anyone taking pictures of security arrangements?

TERRORISTS NEED TRANSPORT

If you work in commercial vehicle hire or sales has a sale or rental made you suspicious?

TERRORISTS NEED TO TRAVEL

Meetings, training and planning can take place anywhere. Do you know someone who travels but is vague about where they are going?

TERRORISTS USE COMPUTERS

Do you know someone who visits terrorist-related web sites?

TERRORISTS NEED COMMUNICATION

Anonymous, pay-as-you-go and stolen mobiles are typical. Have you seen someone with a large quantity of mobiles. Has it made you suspicious?

Is it me or do these all sound like the sort of thing that ordinary people do, sometimes for legitimate purposes (train spotters for example, taking photos at railway stations) or less so (people who steal mobile phones) but if we all took this poster seriously the police would be overwhelmed with calls.

I also have this horrible vision of young men of asian origin finding that every time they hire a van the old bill will be round for a chat. Although on the other hand the arrest of a few train spotters would be no bad thing ...

Tags: national politics Written 30/01/08


Previous comments about this article:

On 08/03/08 at 12:14pm Stuart Moore wrote:

Trainspotters being arrested, well I can't say much.

But WTF at the poster! Is this real?

On 08/03/08 at 12:18pm Paul Potter wrote:

Oh man. What the hell are they thinking?

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