The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, October 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India

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Security around US Embassy up
Tribune News Service

Security tightened around North Block and South Block in New Delhi on Monday after US strikes on Afghanistan.
— PTI photo

New Delhi, October 8
Within a month, the Delhi police and other internal security agencies have restrengthened their presence around vital installations in the city and particularly around the US Embassy and the British High Commission, following air attacks by allied troops on Afghanistan.

Apprehending militant strikes, similar to the one in the state Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, the police has placed several barricades near vital installations and Delhi borders are being closely watched.

A senior police official said: “Every precaution is being taken to prevent the militants from succeeding in their mission.” Forces had been mobilised in the high security zone and in the domestic and international airports. Beside these areas, the police had made a list of vital installations, and high-rise buildings in the Capital. Most of the sensitive installations were located in New Delhi. The Deputy Commissioner of Police had been directed by the higher authorities to stay alert to prevent any untoward incident.

The official said particular attention was being given to high-security areas like Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, India Gate, courts, headquarters of the Army Air Force, the Navy. The security around some of the VIPs was also being reviewed.

He said patrol had been intensified in all sensitive areas. Besides, the police was keeping a watch on activities of fundamentalist groups as they were suspected to be involved in subversive activities. They had earlier demonstrated in different areas of the Capital in protest against US action against the Taliban.

He said bomb and dog squads were on a standby to swing into action in case of a threat. Raids were being conducted in restaurants and guest houses in central, north-east, east and south districts of the Capital as these were considered to be the likely hide-outs of Kashmiri militants.

118 die in Milan air crash

A fireman walks past the remains of the wreckage of the crashed Scandinavian Airlines System airliner at Milan's Linate Airport on Monday. — Reuters photo

Milan, October 8
At least 118 persons died today when a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) aircraft rammed into an airport hangar after colliding with a small plane in heavy fog at Milan’s Linate airport, the Italian authorities said.

The police said the SAS flight SK 686 was preparing to take off for Copenhagen when it swerved in a vain attempt to avoid a Cessna, crashed into the airport’s baggage handling hangar and exploded in flames. Reuters