Posters urge vigilance to avert election atrocities

Scotland Yard today launched an anti-terrorist campaign days after Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair warned of a Madridstyle bombing in the run-up to the general election.

A series of posters will urge Londoners to be vigilant and report any suspect packages or behaviour to police.

Sir Ian says the capital is an "enormous target" for al Qaeda and other terror groups ahead of the election and his officers hope the month-long campaign will make London a hostile place for terrorists. The two-pronged publicity drive will begin by calling on the public to be aware of their surroundings and to call 999 if they have concerns about unattended bags. Commuters on the Underground or buses are advised to ask who the bags belong to and to inform station staff.

The second part of the campaign will ask the public to call the confidential antiterrorist hotline on 0800 789321 if they notice unusual activity at lock-ups, garages or flats, or have suspicions about vehicles.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, of the Met's Anti-Terrorist Branch, said: "We are asking Londoners for their help in reporting suspicious bags, as well as encouraging them to think about anything or anybody that has struck them as unusual in their day-to-day lives.

"People need to think very carefully about anyone they know whose behaviour has changed suddenly. What about the people they associate with? Tell us what you see and what you know, and let us decide if the information you have is valuable or not."

Radio adverts will voice the thoughts of someone spotting an unattended bag and wondering whether to do anything.