Barnet is no stranger to terrorist attacks and the borough's emergency planning officer believes we are well prepared if targeted again.

Roger Newark received his grounding on August 1, 1988 when 23-year-old soldier Michael Robbins was killed by an IRA bomb at Inglis barracks in Mill Hill.

Mr Newark has since helped co-ordinate the borough's response to the IRA bombing at Staples Corner in October 1993; two suspected IRA bombs at the West Hendon Post Office delivery centre in Edgware Road in 2001; and the bombing of the Joint Israel Appeal at Balfour House, North Finchley, in July 1994.

Prime Minister Tony Blair warned last week that further terrorist attacks from Islamic extremists are inevitable. The discovery of the deadly poison ricin at a house on our doorstep in Wood Green earlier this month makes Mr Blair's warning all the more serious.

"We have actually got a history of terrorist attacks within the borough," said Mr Newark, whose role is to plan Barnet Council's response to major incidents such as bomb blasts and train crashes.

"I am quite confident our plans can deal with the level of terrorist attack that we have seen here in the past."

This response includes setting up information points across the borough for people affected by attacks, closing roads and working out alternative routes for traffic. A number of the borough's schools can also be used as temporary rest centres, which provide access to supplies and care from specially-trained council volunteers, as well as temporarily housing.

"But of course nowadays we are talking about a whole different sort of attack," said Mr Newark. "There is speculation about the release of chemicals on the Underground and dirty bombs being let off in central London."

In this instance, Barnet could be used to house evacuees from across the capital, with the help of voluntary organisations like the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross.

The borough has no bunkers but they are not deemed necessary in the event of an attack. Any public announcements would be made on radio or television.

"It is very difficult to say: 'In the event of a gas attack we would do this', or: 'In the event of a chemical attack we would do that', explained Mr Newark. "We don't really know what part of our resources we would put into action until it happens.

"We might be dealing with damage to buildings. We may be dealing with the evacuation of residents or a combination of the two.

"But as a local authority we have got robust plans, which we would make available to the Government."

January 29, 2003 17:30