2nd batch of secrets on a train

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 15, 2008 | by RUPERT HAMER

A SECOND batch of top secret files on Britain's fight against global terrorism have been found on a train, it was revealed last night.

The confidential papers include details of UK policies to combat terrorist funding, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Government Treasury officials said they were "extremely concerned" after the files were found on a train bound for London's Waterloo station.

They include details on how banking systems can be manipulated to finance illicit weapons of mass destruction in Iran.

The files were found on the same day that another batch of secret papers on Iraq and al-Qaeda were left on a train by a senior official.

Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "This latest failure is extremely damaging to the Government's fight against terrorism as no one knows where the information may have ended up."

The new embarrassment came as spy chiefs are expected to REDUCE Britain's terror-threat level after a drop in al-Qaeda activity here.

Bosses had wanted to bring the threat status down this month but did not want to get involved in wrangling over Gordon Brown's 42- day detention Bill.

Now security forces will insist the level is reduced from "severe" to "substantial" if no new plots are uncovered.

Last night a senior military source said: "For some months the feeling has been that the level should be reduced.

"But in the run up to the Commons vote it wasn't possible to change it."