UK Counter-Terrorism Leak Trail Leads to the Top

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected calls for an independent inquiry into three advance journalist briefings, prior to police raids in February that resulted in six men being arrested and charged with terrorism offences. Guardian reporters Ian Cobain, Vikram Dodd and Will Woodward have revealed that an adviser to the home secretary and leadership aspirant John Reid "was responsible for one of those leaks" and that high-ranking police suspect "that one of their own officers also briefed the media." Earlier in the week, the head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, Peter Clarke, warned that the leaks were probably illegal, could "compromise investigations" and "put lives at risk." Clarke said that he struggled to understand "what motivates" the leakers. "Perhaps they look to curry favour with certain journalists, or to squeeze out some short term presentational advantage," he said.