Pride should go ahead as planned say police

PinkNews logo on a pink background surrounded by illustrated line drawings of a rainbow, pride flag, unicorn and more.

The organisers of Pride London met with the Metropolitan police this afternoon and were reassured that as things stand the parade and other events will be going ahead tomorrow as planned.

Early this morning a car bomb left outside a nightclub failed to detonate.

The club, Tiger, Tiger, is on Haymarket, a street which is part of the route for tomorrow’s parade.

This afternoon the police have closed Hyde Park and Park Lane while they investigate another suspicious vehicle.

There was concern that with London’s security on high alert, there may be problems securing and policing London Pride.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march and attend events in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and in Soho.

Communications director for London Pride Colm Howard-Lloyd told PinkNews.co.uk that the Met had met with Pride organisers this afternoon:

“At the moment everything is going ahead as planned. We are determined to put on the event as long as it is safe.”

Pride organisers are working closely with the police, and it is thought unlikely that the bomber or bombers wanted to target the gay events.

In the event that the parade or some other part of Pride may have to be moved, re-routed or cancelled, there are numerous contingency plans in place.

“All of London would have to be closed for no Pride events to happen tomorrow,” one source close to Pride London told PinkNews.co.uk

Tight security was expected at this year’s Pride even before this morning’s failed bomb attack.

At around 2am this morning a silver Mercedes packed with gas cannisters and nails was either crashed or parked on Haymarket close to a nightclub.

An ambulance crew attending a sick clubber noticed vapour coming from the vehicle and called police.

Bomb disposal officers made the car safe and a controlled explosion was carried out.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, said: “It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life.”

The government has asked Londoners to be extra-vigilant.

New Home Secretary Jacqui Smith attended an emergency security meeting this morning before reporting back to Mr Brown and the rest of the Cabinet.

The Home Secretary said that our country is, “currently facing the most serious and sustained threat.

“The government, the police and the security services are doing everything possible to protect the public.”