Mad Mail's Maldies

The Daily Mail reports that West Mids Police Chief David Shaw is not happy with “Whitehall” leaks about the case surrounding the arrests in Birmingham.

Police chief's fury over 'Labour leaks on beheading plot'

The senior policeman leading the investigation into an alleged plot to behead a Muslim British soldier believes the inquiry has been "hijacked" by the Government.

Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw was "seething" when he discovered Whitehall officials leaked sensitive details of Operation Gamble to the media in an apparent attempt to divert attention from the problems engulfing Tony Blair.

The Mail says ACC Shaw is “increasingly frustrated that the anonymous briefings may be impeding his officers' efforts to gather evidence.” Hmm... which papers got their information from these anonymous sources? Could one of them have been... the Daily Mail? Yes.

“Yesterday senior military sources told how…”
“A senior military source said yesterday…”
“One insider added…”
“One source described the…”

“Security sources believe…”
“Senior anti-terrorist officers believe…”

“A senior security source said…”
“Security sources said that…”
“A source at West Midlands Police said…”

Further, “last Wednesday morning, only a few hours after the dawn arrests of nine men in Birmingham, Mr Shaw watched despairingly as details of the operation he hoped would remain secret flashed up on TV.” As well as watching them on TV, ACC Shaw could also have read despairingly the details of the operation on the Daily Mail website.

The use of tactics thought to be involved in the latest alleged terror plot would be a highly significant development, an expert said after the Birmingham raids.

Terror analyst Professor Paul Rogers, of the University of Bradford, said it was crucial to establish whether the alleged abduction plan was an isolated one-off or part of a wider movement.

The Daily Mail says that among the leaks which are causing discomfort to ACC Shaw is the “account of how two soldiers were used as "live bait" to try to flush out the suspects.” But which papers reported these discomforting leaks? Could one of them have been the Daily Mail? Yes... and yes.

The soldiers are said to have allowed themselves to be used as "bait" while they were placed under unprecedented surveillance as officers waited for the terrorists to strike.

Two British Muslim soldiers targeted by the alleged beheading gang were used in an extraordinary "sting" operation to snare their assassins, it has emerged.

Their every move was monitored by MI5 agents. The two men wore tracking devices, with similar beacons attached to their cars, and armed response teams were on permanent standby to stage a rescue mission in case a kidnap plot was sprung. It is thought the soldiers may not even have been allowed to tell their families.

“Referring to Birmingham, he said: "I am acutely aware that members of the community are confused and bewildered by what is being said by the media." No doubt the Daily Mail can count itself as one agent which added to said confusion and bewilderment.

On a side note, the Daily Mail describes Birmingham’s Muslims as inflamed, rancorous and in need of pacifying.

Mr Shaw never intended for the public to know, at least not yet, the existence of the alleged beheading plot, fearing the huge publicity would only further inflame Birmingham's Muslim communities at a time when he needs their assistance.

Following the leaks, senior officers were sent to try to pacify community leaders and explain that the police were not to blame.

Mr Shaw, a married father of two, is a highly respected figure among the city's ethnic minorities and is understood to be dismayed at the rancour in the Muslim community that the interference from Whitehall has produced.