Top UK terror cop quits after blunder

Britain's top anti-terrorism police officer has quit his job after an embarrassing
bungle over a major operation involving al-Qaeda suspects.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Bob Quick resigned as head of
counter-terrorism on Thursday after he unwittingly revealed a top secret document
about planned raids on terror suspects in England's northwest.
The leak forced police and MI5 agents to bring forward their raids at short notice
on Wednesday amid fears the operation had been compromised.
Twelve people, including 10 born in Pakistan, were arrested by armed police at eight
separate addresses in Manchester, Liverpool and Clitheroe in Lancashire.
Hours earlier, Quick had been photographed outside Prime Minister Gordon Brown's
London residence at 10 Downing Street carrying a briefing note marked "secret", with
the all the details about the planned raids clearly visible.
The note on "Operation Pathway" included information about how many terror suspects
were to be arrested, and where, by armed members of the Greater Manchester Police
following a long covert surveillance operation.
Quick said he'd offered his resignation in recognition of the gravity of his error.
"I have today offered my resignation in the knowledge that my action could have
compromised a major counter-terrorism operation," he said in a statement.
"I deeply regret the disruption caused to colleagues undertaking the operation and
remain grateful for the way in which they adapted quickly and professionally to a
revised timescale."
Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson paid tribute to Quick, who he described as "a
tremendous police officer who has served with dedication and professionalism
throughout his career".
"He has accepted that he made a serious error ..." Stephenson said in a statement,
adding his high regard for Quick had not changed.
As news of the blunder spread, Quick faced calls to resign and fierce criticism from
opposition MPs.
But London Mayor Boris Johnson, who oversees the Metropolitan Police and accepted
Quick's resignation, said there was "no kind of witch hunt or effort to get him
out".
Assistant Commissioner John Yates would replace Quick as head of counter-terrorism,
Johnson added.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the operation was ultimately successful, but Quick
felt his position was untenable.
"I want to offer my sincere appreciation of all the outstanding work he has done in
this role which has helped keep the country safe."
Police on Thursday were continuing to investigate the raided properties, including
homes, a hardware store, internet cafe and Liverpool John Moores University.
Ten of those arrested were Pakistan-born nationals on student visas while one was a
UK-born British national.
British newspapers reported that police believed the terror suspects were planning
to attack the Birdcage nightclub in Manchester or the Trafford Shopping Centre.
Quick's resignation comes after he apologised in December for accusing senior Tory
MPs of leaking a story about his wife's business interests.
He was also criticised for overseeing the arrest of opposition immigration spokesman
Damian Green as part of a Whitehall leak inquiry.
Britain has remained on high security alert since the bomb attacks on London buses
and the Underground in July 2005 when 56 people, including four suicide bombers,
were killed.