http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/content_objectid=13637615_method=full_siteid=50143_headline=-WE%2DEXPOSE%2DBIGGEST%2DROYAL%2DSECURITY%2DSCANDAL%2DEVER-name_page.html [Beware of the "trusted" insider! - WK] Nov 19 2003 WORLD EXCLUSIVE By Jane Kerr Royal Reporter A SHOCKING royal security scandal has been exposed by a Mirror reporter working secretly as a footman. Ryan Parry infiltrated the heart of Buckingham Palace for two months as police and senior staff prepared for the state visit of George Bush. Parry, who used bogus references to get the job, was still in the Palace lastnight as Mr Bush arrived. He watched unchallenged as the president and his wife Laura were met by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in the Palace garden at around 8pm. He had a full view from a pitch by the state dining room through a net curtain. Had he been a terrorist hell bent on assassinating the royals or Mr Bush, nothing could have stopped him. Parry, who infiltrated the Palace two months ago, would have served breakfast today to the president’s chief aides, including national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Bush's exact itinerary had been handed out to staff more than 90 minutes before he arrived. In the wrong hands the details could prove devastating. Even the time the president - met by Prince Charles at Heathrow last night - was due to get up today, 5.30am, was given out. But Parry walked out of his £11,881 job at the end of his shift last night, leaving his uniform on the bed in his room at the Palace. The security scandal will send shock waves across the world. Our investigation exposes the serious flaws in the £10million security operation to protect Mr Bush. Our probe began less than two months after police vowed royal security had been tightened following "comedy terrorist" Aaron Barscak's gatecrashing of Prince William's 21st birthday at Windsor Castle. But it was the ease with which Parry, 26, got the job that is so shocking. His credentials were never properly checked, although a simple search on the internet would have shown his name and picture next to another Mirror investigation he carried out last summer into security at the Wimbledon tennis tournament. He was able to wander freely in and out of the Palace often carrying luggage and electrical equipment. On duty he always had a camera in a pocket but was never searched. Only hours before the president’s arrival, Parry was sent to lay out chocolates and fruit for the US leader and his following. He was allowed into every room to deliver a medium box of Bendicks special chocolates, a glass jar of Charbonnel & Walker mints, a jar of chocolate digestives, a basket of fruit, a bowl of strawberries and cherries. * Bush yesterday ditched plans to publicly meet relatives of British victims of the September 11 attacks today at the memorial garden outside the US Embassy. The event will now take place behind closed doors inside the heavily-fortified embassy amid growing security fears. MORE NEWS AND PICTURES FROM THE STORY THAT HAS ROCKED THE WORLD [...] - ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org To unsubscribe email majordomo@private with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY of the mail.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Nov 20 2003 - 02:01:08 PST