TERROR FOR 50 YEARS

Top cop warns of al-Qaeda battle 60 suspects & 500 fanatics in UK .

BRITAIN faces a 50-year war on terrorism, the Yard's anti-terror boss warned yesterday. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke said the nation was facing "unprecedented" levels of threat from "well-trained", home-grown terrorists. Ridiculing claims it could take five to 10 years to beat Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, he said: "That's hopelessly optimistic. Al-Qaeda are believed to have talked of plans over the next 50 years." Mr Clarke disclosed that more than SIXTY suspects are now awaiting trial on terror charges in the UK, and said a large number were planning attacks in the wings. Police believe there could be up to 500 fanatic terrorists in the country. The police chief's grim warning was echoed by Security Minister Hazel Blears who confirmed that the war on terror was a long-running struggle. She said: "We all had a genuine hope that terrorism would be a temporary phenomenon. I think probably we're in a different position now." Mr Clarke and the minister were speaking at a conference in London where the Met boss said the number of terror suspects held was running at an "unprecedented level". With memories of the 7/7 bombings in London still fresh, he said: "The terrorism we are now combating has its roots in this country. "We're seeing many, many British citizens engaged in it." They were "well trained, highly motivated and confident of achieving their goals". Mr Clarke added: "We have to expect the threat of terrorism to be with us for many years." Urging better co-ordination to combat the threat, he said: "London has the only substantial resource dedicated to the investigation of terrorism. The events of last July showed this is no longer appropriate. We need some form of national structure." The Government's new Serious Organised Crime Agency comes into being in April with a £400million annual budget - but it does not have a specific anti-terror role. Mr Clarke attacked laws which prevented the public being told the full scale of the threat they face. He said it was "immensely frustrating" to have to wait three years to publish details of items uncovered at the Finsbury Park hate mosque during a police search in January 2003. Officers could not reveal the discovery of chemical protection suits, pistols, a stun gun and CS canister until radical cleric Abu Hamza was convicted last week. Mr Clarke said: "We wanted to be able to reassure the public that we did not lightly take the step of entering a place of worship. But it was three years before we could offer that reassurance." In a wide-ranging speech he called for anti-terror stop-and-search powers to be tightened to avoid alienating ethnic minorities. He also said juries should be trusted with more information than at present allowed. Mr Clarke's hard-hitting comments came after the Commons passed a controversial law banning the "glorification" of terror. They also followed a warning from Lord Carlile, the Government's terror watchdog, that about 20 preachers of hate were still operating in Britain