http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17289093&method=full&siteid=93463&headline=sitting-ducks-at-sandhurst--name_page.html By Daniel Jones 25 June 2006 DISGRACEFUL security lapses at Prince William's military academy are today exposed by The People. Carrying a lifelike fakebomb, one of our reporters casually strolled into Wills's accommodation block - and put his feet up in the 24-year-old prince's common room. For four shocking hours, he was allowed to roam the grounds and buildings of world-famous Sandhurst without EVER being challenged. A real terrorist would have had countless chances to plant a bomb that could have killed and maimed scores of people - including the man who will one day be King. The scandal is revealed less than two weeks before the anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings - and amid fears that Al- Qaida is planning plan a new wave of attacks in Britain. We linked up with former counterterrorism intelligence officer Charles Shoebridge to infiltrate Sandhurst - which William's brother Harry has just left - for an open day that attracted more than 3,000 visitors. In a string of appalling security blunders, our investigators: - OPENLY sat in the grounds putting together the fake bomb' STROLLED into William's New College quarters - where a cadet opened a door for them to get in' CHECKED out the VIP podium and a postbox where lethal explosives could easily have been hidden' and TOOK photos in areas which were supposed to be closed off as part of a £2million operation designed to protect William - a prime target - from international terrorists. Mr Shoebridge said: "Sandhurst's worldwide reputation makes it an ideal terrorist target - especially with Prince William there. Yet you would not think this from the security we saw. "If they had wanted to, then terrorists could have caused havoc." The disgraceful lapses began the moment our team arrived at the Berkshire military academy's Heritage Day. Astonishingly, visitors did not have to book their places - which meant they could not be vetted in advance. And guards did not even take their names as they entered, Armed soldiers and police at the main gate searched the bags of people arriving on foot. But like scores of other people, our investigators drove to Sandhurst - and were waved through to a car park. Once there, cadets made only a cursory search of the boot. But they did NOT look inside the car. And they did NOT carry out the widely used swab check - which reveals whether a person has been handling explosives. Mr Shoebridge - himself a Sandhurst graduate - said: "Of the ten cars I watched being checked, no searches at all were made of their occupants or their bags or rucksacks, which could have been packed with explosives." Our reporter made no attempt at secrecy as he made his "bomb" based on a design used by Al-Qaida - a mobile phone acting as a timer wired to a blob of Semtex. We used lookalike Plasticine instead of the deadly high explosive. Our reporter put the device into a plastic lunch-box which he carried in a shoulder-bag - along with a dossier about Sandhurst and a map of the complex. Amazingly, a passing soldier revealed where the Prince is staying while he is at Sandhurst. Mr Shoebridge - who worked in the police and army for 20 years - pointed out a working postbox made of cast iron next to the parade square at William's college. He said: "Just a small bomb hidden in there would shower deadly shrapnel over any cadets parading here the following morning. The postbox should have been sealed for the Heritage Day." New College, like most of Sandhurst's buildings, was officially closed to the public for the event. But it was a doddle for our investigators to get inside. Two ground-floor windows at the rear were UNLOCKED. But our team did not have to climb in because a cadet showing his family round helpfully held open a door for them. They were able to wander around the building - and even sat in the common room near William's personal quarters. A terrorist could simply have planted a bomb under a chair and detonated it at his leisure. Mr Shoebridge said: "Most of the ground-floor windows were locked on a hot summer's day - which suggests staff were aware that someone might attempt unauthorised access. "Yet cadets did not seem to have been briefed about the need to identify and accompany strangers before allowing them in through the door." Our investigators then checked out a podium used by VIPs for the finale of the open day - a march-past with a Gurkha band in front of the Mayor of Sandhurst Elizabeth North. There was NO guard here in the runup to the parade. Mr Shoebridge said: "Had we used a timing device, we would have now escaped and the bomb would kill the VIPs, the bandmaster and several members of the public. "If we were to trigger the bomb remotely as the band passed close to the podium, we would have killed several Gurkhas from the band too." There were also any number of chances to secrete bombs - timed to explode later - under unattended Army trucks and Land Rovers at the complex. William joined the tough military academy in January for a 44-week officer cadet course. Harry, 21, graduated from the college in April, a ceremony attended by the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family. But Sandhurst was considered a terrorist target even before then. During Muslim cleric Abu Hamza's trial in January, it was revealed he had detailed plans of Sandhurst which he said would be "crucial to any terrorist". The 47-year-old extremist was jailed for seven years for incitement to murder. MI5 and the police warn that new Al-Qaida outrages in Britain could come within months. Experts say they have foiled at least three attacks since the 7/7 bombings. Aspokesman for the Ministry of Defence said last night: "We do not discuss security matters. We are, however, satisfied that a real bomb would have been quickly identified and appropriate steps taken." - DO YOU know of a sandal? Call our newsdesk on 020 7293 3204. - Voice of The People: Page 6 daniel.jones at people.co.uk _________________________________ Attend the Black Hat Briefings and Training, Las Vegas July 29 - August 3 2,500+ international security experts from 40 nations, 10 tracks, no vendor pitches. www.blackhat.com
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