UK special forces prepared for shoot-to-kill: Report

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Nov 16 2015 | 8:28 PM IST
Britain will deploy its special forces on the streets of London with orders to shoot to kill in the event of a Paris-like siege in any British city.
According to 'The Times', military units in the UK remain on standby at their bases and would be moved by helicopter in an emergency.
A government source told the newspaper that the requirement was to "take swift action to neutralise terrorists, rather than to cordon and negotiate".
It is believed that the Bataclan concert hall massacre in Paris, in which 89 people were killed on Friday night, has convinced British security chiefs to switch their strategy from seeking to negotiate with gunmen.
Multiple attacks on bars, restaurants, a concert hall and the Stade de France on Friday left 129 people dead.
The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed it was behind the killings.
The report comes against the backdrop of the G20 summit at Antalya in Turkey where world leaders have agreed to do more to share intelligence and cut off funding for terrorists.
"Here at this summit, we have agreed to take further important steps... To cut off the financing that terrorists rely upon, to counter the extremist ideology and the terrorists' propaganda and to better protect ourselves from the threat of foreign fighters, by sharing intelligence and stopping them from travelling.
"Importantly, for the first time ever, we have also agreed to work to strengthen global aviation security together," British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
He met Russia's President Vladimir Putin to discuss tackling the ISIS group and the Syrian war.
He said the gap between Russia and the West's position on Syria "has been enormous", but now "everyone recognises the need for compromise".
Cameron also reiterated he would not ask British Parliament to vote on extending British military action into Syria until there is enough support.
"I need to build the argument, I need to take it to Parliament, I need to convince more people," he said.
A minute's silence for the victims was held in the UK at 11:00 GMT today, to coincide with a Europe-wide silence at midday French time.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 16 2015 | 8:28 PM IST

Next Story