There was an element of the bungling terrorist about the perpetrators of the Glasgow Jeep bomb plot.

However, as the police and MI5 have learnt over the years, even amateurish bomb plots can have fatal consequences. The West End bombers were within minutes of completing a successful attack. The devices were in place, the mobile phones in hand to trigger the explosion — but it looks as if the final piece in the jigsaw failed to fall into place.

Security sources said they knew what had happened but were unwilling to divulge such a key piece of information. If, as MI5 and the police believe, the West End bombers and the Glasgow Jeep attackers were linked to the same terrorist cell, there would appear to be a bungling quality to both attacks.

However, the ingredients used in the plots were not indicative of amateurs dabbling in terrorism. The decision to combine petrol with gas canisters suggests that they had had some training and intended to cause mass casualties.

‘Items sent as earthquake aid’

Hidden among clothing were goods selected and purchased to support the activities of terrorists, a court was told

Multimedia

• Pictures: Glasgow airport attack

BACKGROUND

• Brown plans to double 28-day detention limit

• Men in bungled raid say police attacked again

• More than Vigilance

• 'Dirty bomb' mastermind plotted wave of atrocities across Britain

• Jihadi house parties of hate

Related Links

• Five held as police link attacks

• Scotland’s shield of innocence broken

• Open-mouthed neighbours awake to police op

Unlike the four July 7 terrorists, those involved in the latest attacks were not dedicated suicide bombers. The mistakes of the West End bombers and the cack-handedness of the Glasgow terrorists saved Britain from another July 7 slaughter.

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