Operation Nimrod - 40 years ago today

[GeeRam]

Still seems like yesterday, sitting with my old man watching the snooker final when they interrupted the coverage to go live to the Embassy.

First thing the old man said, when the first black figures appeared was...

"Bet Dusty didn't think it would actually come to this when he rang Hereford last week"

Dad was a Met Police Dog Handler as well at the time and the story of the phone box call to the Regt had already circulated within the Dog Section

Dad and Dusty were both in the Met's Police Dog Demonstration team and I can remember him well, as I used to go to most of the shows they did with my Dad. He'd be 90 odd now if he's still alive, as he was about 4/5 years younger than my Dad.

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

It was as a result of Operation Nimrod and the resultant Hungerford massacre that we were asked to form the Hostage Siege & Hijack Committee at the Home Office in 1988. We designed equipment still in use today that would give us the edge in future, instead of comprise we found instant solutions.
I spent a lot of time with the Met Dog unit at Heathrow on the aircraft training on specifically Hijacks, everyone of them was keen to learn and Keston became a second home non stop training using "mans best friend" to assist us greatly in our endeavours!!!!!
Op Nimrod and the 3rd May, I always raise a glass to a few of 22 who are no longer with us.
How time flies when you are enjoying yourself and in lock down!!

[Flying10uk]

[mrclark303]

It certainly made the old school terrorists think twice about attacking the UK!

Unfortunately these days, the current brand of religious fanatic crackerjack terrorists don't care if they don't survive ... Insanity is a very hard thing to deter!

[pocketshaver]

It certainly made the old school terrorists think twice about attacking the UK!

Unfortunately these days, the current brand of religious fanatic crackerjack terrorists don't care if they don't survive ... Insanity is a very hard thing to deter!

actually the terrorists RUN your government.

[Flying10uk]

The SAS did an excellent job, under very difficult circumstances, in bringing a speedy end to the siege.

[mrclark303]

actually the terrorists RUN your government.

Odd comment.. Suffering from a little lockdown dellution Pocketsaver?

[GeeRam]

I spent a lot of time with the Met Dog unit at Heathrow on the aircraft training on specifically Hijacks, everyone of them was keen to learn and Keston became a second home non stop training using "mans best friend" to assist us greatly in our endeavours!!!!!

I have many fond memories of Keston, spent a lot of time there in my youth with the old man when ever he was there on training. I even used to get roped in to help set tracks and they'd put me in the laundry baskets as well during search training etc. All huge fun for a kid/youth and would be complete against regulations in todays world.
My Dad did his first 14 week duration dog course at Keston back in the winter of 63/64, so a long time ago. He was also one of the handful of X and T Div handlers that were temp transferred to Heathrow in the early 70's at the same time as the Army were drafted in when it was thought the IRA were planning to use RPG's to take an airliner out, patrolling all the outer fields beyond the perimeter roads in plain clothes, appearing to be just a man walking their dog.
Sadly, that meant he was doing that out west of the airport the day the BEA Trident came down over his head near Staines, which made that the 2nd aircraft crash he attended on scene in his 30 years in the Met.