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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2000)
Attackers file missile at agency ■The blast caused little dam age to Britain's 10-story MI6 intelligence building. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON — Unknown attackers fired a “small missile" at the headquarters of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency in central London late Wednesday, causing an explo sion on the eighth floor, police said. The blast caused limited damage and no injuries at the 10-story structure at the heart of Britain’s intelligence abroad. Witnesses reported hearing two explosions, large enough to send up a plume of white smoke and to rattle buildings across a railway. The blast brought firefighters, police and ambulances to the site on the south bank of the River Thames, and police closed the area around the headquarters. Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry,\in charge of the Anti-Terrorist Branch, said that at 9:45 p.m. “an object was fired at Vauxhall Cross, which is the headquar ters of the Secret Intelligence Service.” “An examination of the exterior of the building showed that some form of small missile has hit the exterior at about the eighth floor," he told a news < conference. Asked if the object was like a mortar shell, he said he doubted it was that powerful. “In all probability I would doubt it is a mortar -1 would have expected more substan tial damage,” he said. Fry said it was too early to say if Irish republican groups might be involved. “Clearly we have to keep in mind the capabilities of dissi dent Irish groups, but at this stage we will not be ruling out any group who might see the secret intelligence service as a target," Fry said. The blast caused minimal damage and the work of the intelligence service was not disrupted, he said, adding that no claim of responsibility for the attack has been made. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, whose department is responsible for MI6, said there were no casualties. The 10-story, cream and green modern-style structure was featured in the James Bond movie, “The World is not Enough” and in one scene, was shown being blown up by a ter rorist bomb. Police immediately closed off roads leading to the area, located between Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges over the River Thames. Officers in yellow slickers cordoned off the build ing, barring even police cars from passing the barriers. The London Fire Brigade had two fire engines and crews at the scene. M Wo in of Vi oo turn almighty bangs, a loud one first, and then another one,” said Theresa Harding, 68, who lives nearby. “We honestly thought it was fireworks." One witness, Andrew Preece, told BBC News 24 he was driving home when he saw a flash of light coming from the top of the MI6 building. “It looked as of it was inter nal from the center of the building but the flash of light was from the top of the build ing,” he said. “It was followed by a large bang and the ground seemed to shake and my car was shaking.” Earlier this year, the Foreign Office said it was tight ening security procedures after reported lapses. In March, a laptop comput er that contained missing training information for one of Britain’s spy agencies was mis laid and recovered by police two weeks later. News reports suggested that an M16 agent left the lap top in a taxi after spending a night drinking at a bar near the agerlcy’s headquarters. MI6, formed in 1921, is responsible for foreign intelli gence. It is thought to cooper ate closely with the domestic security service MI5 in keeping track of Irish terror groups. The high-tech spy head quarters bristles with security features. Much of the complex is below street level to protect the most sensitive areas from terrorist attacks. Bylaw change gives ASUN voice on issues BY MARGARET BEHM With a change of a definition, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska made it possible for student government to take a stand on issues. The bylaw change will allow ASUN to voice its opposition to Initiative 416, a measure that would outlaw civil unions and gay marriages. The bylaw passed redefined the word “candidate.” The new bylaw was necessary because the Student Court ruled that with the old definition of the word official “candidate,” ASUN could not take stands on issues. ASUN had requested the Student Court opinion because some members had wanted to take a stand against Initiative 416, the state-ballot measure known as the Defense of Marriage Act. Committee for Fees Allocation bylaws state any stu dent fee user, which includes ASUN, is forbidden from taking positions on ballot initiatives. The Student Court deter mined ASUN’s previous defini tion of candidate would have precluded it from taking a posi tion on ballot initiatives, which was the reason for the new bylaw passed Wednesday. Vince Cogley, a Government Liason Committee lobbyist, col lected 50 signatures from stu dents who thought ASUN shouldn’t take a stand on initia tives, agreeing with CFA’s defini tion and the Student Court rul ing. Cogley said he collected sig natures to let students have a sa> in the decision process. “The purpose of it was tc inform ASUN (senators) that stu dents have a voice,” said Cogley, i sophomore history major, “an< that ASUN should listen to tha voice.” ASUN senators debated 01 the bylaw before it passed with i vote of 20-7. General Studies Senato Michelle Schrage said ASUN sen ators needed the authority t< voice support or disdain for elec tion issues, which is why the nev bylaw was necessary. Senators should trust futun generations of ASUN to use thi power wisely, she said. "What happens if we tie thi legs of a sitting man, and some day he needs to stand up an< walk?” she said. Committee for Fee Allocation Chairman Bren Stanfield disagreed and sai< ASUN shouldn’t take stands 01 issues. “There’s no reason to sticl our neck out and get it cut of i when the students don’t agree 1 with us, and they can vote for t themselves anyway,” Stanfield said. 1 Special Topics Senator i Urrvano Gamez said students could always oppose ASUN’s r views on issues. “If ASUN takes a stand on an ) issue, any student here could form a group in direct opposition i against ASUN,” he said. “Nothing y stands in their way.” In other news: President Joe Schafer said he attended the firsi meeting of the Chancellor Search Committee on Monday. He saic even though he couldn’t sa) much about the meeting, he waj optimistic. "It seems like we’re heading on the right track,” he said "Hopefully we’ll come back with a good list of candidates soon.” Your mom is going to hate our low fares. 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