By SUNIL Sonkar

LONDON: Scotland Yard have issued a warning that there may take place Mumbai-style terror attack in the city of London early 2010.

A senior detective from SO15, the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command said, “Mumbai is coming to London.”

The Sunday Times reported the detective also mentioned that companies should anticipate a shooting and hostage-taking raid “involving a small number of gunmen with handguns and improvised explosive devices.”

Chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee, Patrick Mercer said that the threat was “very real”.

According to a senior security adviser, the warnings of the police, issued through its network of security forums, had intensified and have become more specific in the past fortnight. He said, “Before, there has been speculation. Now we are getting what appears to be a definite plot to carry out a firearms attack on London.”

The “security forums” provide local government, business leaders and emergency services with counter- terrorism advice.