6 Days

(WOMAN SPEAKS, CUTS OUT ABRUPTLY)

The last decade has seen a renaissance

for international terrorism.

This has been precipitated, at least in part,

by a status quo of negotiation and concession

enabling many recent terrorist actions to be successful

for their perpetrators.

These successes increased the various groups'

perceived legitimacy...

In overseas news,

US Special Forces have made a disastrous attempt

to free 52 Americans held captive in Iran. Casualty...

Back at home, exactly one year ago tomorrow,

the British people voted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

into power.

Mrs. Thatcher's unswerving commitment

to economic and social reform

has been controversial, and she remains a divisive figure

in a tenuous position. On today's programme...

...that kind of resource is not adequate.

- Though we have to leave it. Mr. Timms, thank you.

- With the bank holiday nearly here,

many Londoners will be planning to go away.

But for those left in the city,

there will be plenty of diversions.

: God is with us.

Get down! Get down, or you die!

(WOMAN SCREAMS, MEN SHOUT IN ARABIC)

Everyone out!

Out! Hurry up!

Get down!

Sam Harris, BBC.

- Everyone, on your knees! Down! Down! Down!

Do as he says.

OK. Good.

Hassan.

- Don't be stupid, you'll get us all killed.

Don't move! Don't talk!

You... you want to die?

I said, 'You want to die?'

(GATE CLANGS SHUT, CHAINS RATTLE)

- It's definitely the Iranian Embassy.

Weren't Chris and Sim getting visas for Iran today?

Oh, bloody hell.

(SIRENS WAIL, INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER)

No closer.

BBC. I have colleagues in there.

Yeah, back, I said.

(DOOR OPENS, CHILDREN SHOUT, MEN SHOUT)

What's going on?

Hey, you can't do that.

- Free country last time I checked, pal.

No, no, no, no, no! Get back!

All of you, get back!

Wait, wait, wait, wait!

I'll be back.

Bring negotiator now!

- Shit. - I want a negotiator here now!

- Tony, you're not going to believe this.

(DOOR BURSTS OPEN, GUNFIRE EXPLODES)

Clear! Go! Go! Go!

That was shit.

How's that, then, Roy?

- You never checked behind the door.

- Oh, fuck. - You're dead. So is he.

All right, boys! Get yourselves outside now!

Outside, boys! - Someone's pushed the wrong button.

30 seconds! Let's go! Now!

Now, boys!

John!

- What's the deal, mate? Don't tell me it's a fucking exercise.

Nah, terrorists in London.

Multiple hostages.

Huh?

We're finally fucking on.

Right, lads.

We're off to London to meet the fucking Queen!

Do some shopping.

- They say they are the Democratic Revolutionary Front

for the liberation of Arabistan.

- They demand the release of 91 Arabs held in prisons in Iran.

What is it?

Unless these demands are met,

they will kill a hostage at noon tomorrow.

Perfect timing.

You know DS Tucker.

Of course.

Max.

- Tom Lovett... You'll be supporting him on the day shift.

- We were both on the Bramshill negotiators course.

I remember.

- Good. Now, time to put theory into practice.

We know they have one of ours...

a PC Trevor Lock of the diplomatic squad.

- Yeah. Armed... Smith & Wesson .38 revolver.

Don't know if he's used it, still got it or what.

- If he's still got it, they won't expect an English copper to be armed.

- Yes. Could be a good or a bad thing.

Gotta keep them talking.

Standard Army field phone.

No listening devices, so nothing to find.

But we hang up here, it's off.

They hang up, it stays open. Never switches off.

Which means that, well, we can hear anything they say

within range.

- That's very clever. - Yeah.

- Well, let's get on with it, shall we?

Police are settling in tonight

for a long wait around the embassy in Kensington.

The embassy's in Princes Gate, just off Kensington Road,

and the area almost from the Albert Hall to Ennismore Gardens has been sealed off.

Dozens of people from nearby houses and offices

in this most fashionable part of London have been evacuated.

- I lived right through London throughout the war,

so bombing was something that I was brought up with.

- Metropolitan Police are by now all too experienced

in this kind of incident, and well-oiled plans

have sprung into action.

In scenes more reminiscent of Northern Ireland

or America, guns appear on the streets of the capital.

The question here, too, is

do authorities face terrorism with negotiation or force

on British soil?

This is Kate Adie, live from Princes Gate.

- The rest of today's news a little later,

and of course we'll be going back to the embassy

if there are any developments.

I'm starving.

Here. You'll need to be.

Guess what I just heard? - What?

- The terrorists called BBC Television Centre.

What are they demanding?

I don't know.

- I guess the real question is what will Mrs. T

and the Government concede to them?

- I don't know. Not these bloody sandwiches, I hope.

You've had worse.

When?

- No, don't get up, gentlemen, please.

I think you know everyone.

MI5, MI6.

Metropolitan Police.

- Colonel Rose? - Special Air Service.

- Well, I have spoken to the Prime Minister,

and she is firm...

the rule of British law must be applied here.

On that she will not be swayed.

So, what is the, uh, first order of business?

- Uh, to determine the Government's bottom line

on negotiations.

- And under what conditions the SAS would take over

from the police.

- We can't give them what they want, I'll tell you that much.

The Iranian Government are point-blank

refusing to play ball.

They're not releasing anyone from jail.

- Well, are your men ready to go in, Colonel, if need be?

- An immediate assault plan has been drawn up

based on what little intelligence we have.

If it comes to it, it won't be pretty.

Fucking press are everywhere.

Do not let them make you.

All right.

Just remember, lads, we're cleaners.

- Aye. Cleaners armed to the fucking teeth.

Now, this is more like it, lads.

...no sooner did the Iranians burst into the Iranian embassy,

police interpreter made the first contact with them

and began the delicate task of

trying to get the hostages released

and find out what precisely the raiders wanted.

They are demanding the release of 91 Arabs held in prison

in south Iran.

If the demands are not met, they will blow up the hostages

and themselves.

Police are keeping the Foreign Office

informed of developments, but they are in full charge.

Most of the negotiations have been conducted with one man.

The police are operating with their customary caution.

Fewest possible details of the police operation

have been disclosed.

In a tense reference to the siege, in the Commons this afternoon,

the Home Secretary said, "We are in the middle of delicate operations."

And of course we assume

there is a significantly greater number