There has been comment, if not speculation, that in some UK CT arrest operations have gone early because of: a) pressure to act from the USA (who may have originated the information / intelligence), notably cited over the airliner plot known as Operation Overt; b) an assessment that the plot was suffiecently advanced to pose a threat to public safety, e.g. the recent arrests in Manchester and the plot to kidnap a soldier in Birmingham.

Curiously some of the best commentaries on UK CT trials have been the detailed papers by NEFA, a US-based think tank: http://www.nefafoundation.org/ . I know some of their experts act as witnesses here, but the detail is astounding. Yes, all public record.

Clearly there is a price to pay for early intervention; no-one was charged in Manchester and the UK stats on arrests & charges are IMHO not helpful, notably in keeping the support of the wider communities: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/terrorism.html

A contribution to the debate.

davidbfpo