Christmas terror attack likely, Britain's home secretary warns

KTRE 9 - ABC

LONDON A top British security official warns that the threat of a terrorist attack during the coming holiday period is "very high" in Britain.

Speaking on a Sunday T-V show, Home Secretary John Reid gave no details of any specific plots. But he said British investigators are aware of a number of conspiracies, possibly as many as 30.

Britain's threat status has remained at its second-highest level since August. That's when an alleged plot was uncovered targeting U-S-bound planes.

Reid says he doesn't believe a terrorist attack is inevitable. But he cautions that terrorists only have to "get through" once. British security forces, therefore, have to be successful every time to prevent an attack.