Rebel bombers aimed for a political target

[everythingsxen]

Senior officers in the Black Watch had feared the sort of attack that claimed the lives of the three soldiers.

One officer said before the move north: "Our biggest fear is of a massive bomb detonated right next to one of the Warriors. There is intelligence to suggest the Black Watch will be targeted by the insurgents because of the potential political embarrassment to the Prime Minister.

"There is little anyone can do to prevent a suicide bomber for instance - though our years in Northern Ireland mean we are very experienced in counter-insurgency operations and the Black Watch is more than capable of holding its own."

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/05/wirq305.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/11/05/ixnewstop.html