Scotland Yard asks for more anti-terrorism funding

LONDON - Scotland Yard needs more resources and funding to tackle the increased threat of terrorism after bombs killed 52 people, one of its most senior officers said on Saturday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick told the BBC the force had asked the government for more funding to improve intelligence work and for possible investigations in any future attacks.

"We need more officers to join with their colleagues who are already working hard to try and make London safer in the light of what appears to be an increased threat, not only in London but across the world," Paddick told BBC radio.

"We need additional resources to provide more resilience around our ability to both capture intelligence about potential bombings in the future, but also to increase our resilience around our ability to investigate this sort of offence."

Four Islamist militants killed themselves and 52 others in suicide bombings on three underground trains and a bus in London on July 7. Around 700 people were injured.

Two weeks later, four other men also targeted the capital's transport system but their bombs failed to detonate.

The attack led to the biggest manhunt in British history while fears of more bombs put a huge strain on the capital's police force which was involved in a high-visibility operation.

Paddick said his force was working closely with the government and welcomed the new legislation which proposes to extend the time police can hold terror suspects from two weeks to three months.

"The government is helping us by changes in legislation and we hope to put a convincing case to government for additional resources, (which) put together with the changes in legislation will help to make London a far safer place."

- REUTERS