‘And could we get to it without going close to the terminal?’
Cooke nodded.
‘In that case you don’t have to evacuate the terminal. But all non-essential personnel will have to be moved out. I suppose you’ve already been told that the airport has to close?’
‘We’ve got four flights coming in within the next thirty minutes or so but all flights after that are being diverted.’ She looked at her watch, a slim Cartier on a leather strap. ‘Do you have any idea how long this is going to take?’
‘It’s open-ended, I’m afraid,’ said Hawkins. ‘But, trust me, we want to get it resolved as quickly as possible. Have you been advised about the media?’
‘We’re to keep them off the airport,’ Cooke said. ‘We’ve increased security at the gate and no one is getting in without prior authorisation.’
‘Sounds like you’ve got everything covered,’ said Hawkins. ‘Do you think you could show me and the guys this hangar?’
LAMBETH CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMAND CENTRE (4.30 p.m.)
Kamran and Gillard stared at the main screen showing Sky News. Lisa Elphick was talking to an earnest young man in a dark grey suit. Across the bottom of the screen a headline moved slowly by: ‘ISIS PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED’. From where he was standing Kamran could barely hear what was being said, but he knew the gist. The prisoners were being released so that the sieges around the city could be brought to an end peacefully. The prime minister’s office had wanted the Metropolitan Police to issue the statement and the commissioner had suggested that the announcement came through the press office. It was clear that no one wanted to take responsibility for the decision, and Kamran could understand why. The reporter began asking Lisa questions but her answer was always the same — that there would be a press conference later that day, and while the operation was ongoing only a limited amount of information could be made public.
She was good, very professional and at the same time personable, smiling a lot, but then her job wasn’t on the line if anything went wrong.
Gillard looked at the clock on the wall. ‘Ninety minutes,’ he said. ‘This is going to be close.’
‘Presumably the deadline will be lifted once he sees the prisoners arrive at Biggin Hill,’ said Kamran.
‘I hope so,’ said the chief superintendent. ‘But I do worry that he intends them to blow themselves up, come what may.’
‘Have we given any thought to where we’re going to hold the prisoners at the airport?’ asked Kamran.
‘I was assuming we’d keep them in the van,’ said Gillard. ‘Then, once the coach is there, we run them straight back to Belmarsh.’
‘I was wondering if we should take them to RAF Biggin Hill,’ said Kamran. ‘It’s a separate enclave within the airport and it’s well away from the main terminal. There’s a chapel there, the former station headquarters and a number of barrack blocks. Most of the buildings are empty.’
‘Good idea,’ said Gillard. ‘Can you arrange that? And make sure the ARVs stand guard every second the van is at the airport.’
Kamran’s mobile rang on his desk. Number withheld. ‘It’s Shahid,’ said Kamran. Gillard and Thatcher hurried over to put on headphones. Waterman joined them.
Kamran waited until they were all listening before pressing the green button to accept the call. ‘There now, that wasn’t so hard, Mo, was it? Did you notice how the prime minister is avoiding responsibility for releasing our brothers? No mention of it being a political decision.’
‘Okay, Shahid, you’ve won,’ said Kamran. ‘There’s no need to gloat. The prime minister has agreed to your terms, so they’ll be on the plane with your people. You need to tell us where the plane will be flying to. We have to file a flight plan.’
‘No,’ said Shahid. ‘The pilots will be told of their destination once everyone is on board. Just make sure that it’s fully fuelled.’
‘It will be,’ said Kamran. ‘We want to send a coach now, to pick up the men, okay?’
‘Have the warriors been released? I mean, actually released from the prison?’
Kamran hesitated, not wanting to lie. ‘I’m not sure,’ he said.
‘I want to see them being released on television,’ said Shahid. ‘And not just on Sky. On the BBC. I want to see them leaving the prison. Then you can send the coach.’
‘I’m not sure we can do that at such short notice,’ said Kamran.
‘Then I suggest you try,’ said Shahid. ‘If not, everyone dies.’
‘What about the children on the bus? The prime minister has agreed to free your men. You said you’d let the children go.’
‘And I’ll keep my word, Mo. Make sure you do the same.’
The line went dead and Gillard looked at Kamran. ‘We have to start moving,’ said the chief superintendent. ‘We need the prisoners driven out of Belmarsh and we need the TV cameras there.’
‘Do they have to actually be in the prison transport?’ asked Waterman. ‘The van could be empty for all the cameras will see.’
‘We don’t know where this Shahid has people,’ said Gillard. ‘For all we know he could have someone in the prison. No, we put them on the transport. In fact, let’s allow the cameras to get a shot of them being loaded on. I tell you what, Mo, I’ll call the governor of Belmarsh while you arrange the TV and press coverage through Lisa.’
Captain Murray had been talking into his radio and came over as he tucked it into his jacket. ‘My men have a suitable hangar at Biggin Hill, and all non-essential personnel are in the process of being evacuated,’ he said.
‘Is there any way we can fix up a video feed?’ asked Kamran.
‘I’ll talk to the airport to see what’s available. I’m sure we can rig something up.’
‘Liaise with Sergeant Lumley to get the feed into the SOR,’ said Kamran.
‘How are you fixed for manpower here in London?’ Gillard asked the captain.
‘We’re at all the sites, and we still have men in Wellington Barracks. Why do you ask?’
‘We’re going to start the transfer from Belmarsh soon,’ said Gillard. ‘It would be helpful if we had a couple of cars with your guys in the convoy. There’ll be plenty of ARVs and motorcycle outriders but I’d feel happier if the SAS was in the mix.’
‘I’m on it,’ said Murray.
‘I’ve had a thought,’ said Kamran, as the SAS captain left. ‘We’re setting the hangar up as an SAS operation but, no matter what happens, it’ll be a crime scene at some point. Plus we’ll have to send emergency services, ARVs, Bomb Squad, followed by forensic teams. The full monty. Might be better to get a Silver Commander on the scene now. If nothing else, we’re going to need inner and outer perimeters, a JESCC, a scene-access control, a multi-agency marshalling area, and the sooner we start on that the better.’
‘How about Adams? He’s a safe pair of hands. He’s been here all day and knows what’s what. With blues and twos he could be there within the hour.’
Kamran looked up at the clock. ‘That’d only give him thirty minutes to spare.’
‘We could send someone from Croydon or Bromley but they’d have to be brought up to speed. The only closer alternative would be Kent Police. Send him. But we should be liaising with Kent Police, see what they can offer us in the way of resources.’
Gillard picked up his phone to call the deputy commissioner while Kamran went over to his briefcase. He took out a copy of the Major Incident Procedure Manual and went off in search of Inspector Adams.
He found him at one of the workstations in the middle of the SOR, wearing a headset and talking to someone animatedly. He finished the call, took off his headset and looked at Kamran expectantly. ‘You’ll be glad to know that Chief Superintendent Gillard wants you as Silver Commander out at Biggin Hill,’ said Kamran.