COPS are throwing a ring of steel around tonight's live episode of Coronation Street over fears it has been targeted by AL-QAEDA. They were tipped off that the ITV1 soap's historic 50th anniversary broadcast from Manchester could be hit by a terror strike. Corrie stars will undergo full body searches with cast and crew passing through airport-style scanners before being frisked in security checks at the show's studios. Anti-terror police acting on intelligence are sending extra officers to guard the nation's favourite soap - which has already hired an army of private security staff. A source on the show - whose millions of fans are on tenterhooks after Weatherfield was hit by an explosion and tram disaster - said last night: "It's a nightmare scenario. For Corrie bosses there is the possibility of this tragic episode turning into a real-life tragedy." Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were taking the intelligence seriously. A spokesman said grimly: "This is a public, high-profile event. The risk is consistent with the UK terror threat, which is currently severe. ITV have taken on a private security firm and our officers will assist them." The show source said: "More than 15 million are expected to watch the show and the fact it's going out live makes it an obvious target for maximum impact. "Al-Qaeda are desperate to pull off a 'spectacular' in Britain. The police clearly are acting on fears that a strike on the Corrie studios is a very real possibility." (The Sun) ....[Opinion: A press on the panic button once more. Is it really likely this scenario? If it was, do you really think there would be an announcement like this in the national press?]Thursday 9 December 2010
Al-Qaeda Threat To Coronation Street?
COPS are throwing a ring of steel around tonight's live episode of Coronation Street over fears it has been targeted by AL-QAEDA. They were tipped off that the ITV1 soap's historic 50th anniversary broadcast from Manchester could be hit by a terror strike. Corrie stars will undergo full body searches with cast and crew passing through airport-style scanners before being frisked in security checks at the show's studios. Anti-terror police acting on intelligence are sending extra officers to guard the nation's favourite soap - which has already hired an army of private security staff. A source on the show - whose millions of fans are on tenterhooks after Weatherfield was hit by an explosion and tram disaster - said last night: "It's a nightmare scenario. For Corrie bosses there is the possibility of this tragic episode turning into a real-life tragedy." Greater Manchester Police confirmed they were taking the intelligence seriously. A spokesman said grimly: "This is a public, high-profile event. The risk is consistent with the UK terror threat, which is currently severe. ITV have taken on a private security firm and our officers will assist them." The show source said: "More than 15 million are expected to watch the show and the fact it's going out live makes it an obvious target for maximum impact. "Al-Qaeda are desperate to pull off a 'spectacular' in Britain. The police clearly are acting on fears that a strike on the Corrie studios is a very real possibility." (The Sun) ....[Opinion: A press on the panic button once more. Is it really likely this scenario? If it was, do you really think there would be an announcement like this in the national press?]