Plans for the mass evacuation of London in the event of a terror attack have been unveiled by the government for the first time. The contingency plans, announced by anti-terror minister Nick Raynsford, detail how hundreds of thousands of people would be moved out of the capital by train, coach and car following a chemical, biological or conventional strike.
The army and police would commandeer transport and set up roadblocks to create exit routes, while councils outside London would arrange temporary shelter. The plans do not cover the evacuation of the entire capital, as moving eight million people at once is deemed impractical, but they cater for the mass evacuation of a whole area such as the City or West End, with up to 300,000 residents and workers.
Mr Raynsford emphasised that evacuating part of the capital would be 'a last resort' but needed to be anticipated. Many people would be expected to leave by private car, with main road arteries cleared to help them. Others would be moved by commandeered trains, coaches and buses, and the Tube would be used if unaffected by an attack.
The plans were unveiled as a leaked Metropolitan Police study criticised the government's emergency advice to the public and business as 'inadequate or non-existent'. The report, obtained by the Evening Standard, calls for an overhaul of current plans and highlights a 'lack of a central focus for counter-terrorism in government'. Tory security spokesman Patrick Mercer said the government's refusal to inform Londoners was 'patronising and dangerous', calling for a single Minister for Homeland Security.
Mr Raynsford denied ministers were unprepared, revealing that Home Secretary David Blunkett would soon announce fresh moves to better inform the public about what to do if terrorists strike. He added that the mass evacuation guidance was 'not linked to a specific threat' but was part of sensible preparations to cope with any eventuality.
