TERRORISTS PLANNED HIT ON HEARTLAND OF LONDON
Terrorists 'planned hit on heartland of London'
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenryObelfasttelegraph .co.uk
REPUBLICAN terrorists planned to "overshadow" the horrors of Omagh with another "major hit", Belfast High Court has heard.
The multi-million pound civil action being taken by relatives of those killed in the Troubles' single worst atrocity heard how the Real IRA and CIRA had joined forces to form Oglaigh Na hEireann (Irish Republican Army) and intended to kick off their campaign with an attack on British troops or London's financial district.
The claims were recorded in emails sent between FBI spy David Rupert and his security service handlers throughout the late 1990s.
The breakaway terror group, run by alleged Real IRA godfather Michael McKevitt, had also cited target preferences such as Stormont politicians, British Army bases and "murdering cops".
It was even claimed McKevitt halted plans to "shot a cop in Derry" because they were not spectacular enough to launch the new campaign.
"He told me he wanted to take the war to the heartland of London, to exact a huge financial toll," said the spy.
Rupert, a former trucker from New York, is currently in a witness protection programme in America and has been forbidden from participating in the civil court proceedings by the FBI.
He infiltrated the RIRA in 1997, and six years later his evidence was key in securing a 20-year prison term for Michael McKevitt - one of five men being sued in the compensation claim.
Yesterday, the families' barrister, Brett Lockhartt QC, read excerpts from 300 pages of emails in which Rupert claimed to have met leaders and officials from the Real IRA, including Michael McKevitt and another of the Omagh suspects, Liam Campbell.
The court also heard Rupert's claims that Omagh was a joint operation between the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna and Colm Murphy all deny any part in the Omagh bombing.
At hearing.
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenryObelfasttelegraph .co.uk
REPUBLICAN terrorists planned to "overshadow" the horrors of Omagh with another "major hit", Belfast High Court has heard.
The multi-million pound civil action being taken by relatives of those killed in the Troubles' single worst atrocity heard how the Real IRA and CIRA had joined forces to form Oglaigh Na hEireann (Irish Republican Army) and intended to kick off their campaign with an attack on British troops or London's financial district.
The claims were recorded in emails sent between FBI spy David Rupert and his security service handlers throughout the late 1990s.
The breakaway terror group, run by alleged Real IRA godfather Michael McKevitt, had also cited target preferences such as Stormont politicians, British Army bases and "murdering cops".
It was even claimed McKevitt halted plans to "shot a cop in Derry" because they were not spectacular enough to launch the new campaign.
"He told me he wanted to take the war to the heartland of London, to exact a huge financial toll," said the spy.
Rupert, a former trucker from New York, is currently in a witness protection programme in America and has been forbidden from participating in the civil court proceedings by the FBI.
He infiltrated the RIRA in 1997, and six years later his evidence was key in securing a 20-year prison term for Michael McKevitt - one of five men being sued in the compensation claim.
Yesterday, the families' barrister, Brett Lockhartt QC, read excerpts from 300 pages of emails in which Rupert claimed to have met leaders and officials from the Real IRA, including Michael McKevitt and another of the Omagh suspects, Liam Campbell.
The court also heard Rupert's claims that Omagh was a joint operation between the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna and Colm Murphy all deny any part in the Omagh bombing.
At hearing.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1100
Published Date: 20-Jun-08
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