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  1. #1
    Mr X
    Guest
    Muddle over mobile phone calls blocked on July 7

    Hugh Muir
    Friday December 2, 2005

    The Guardian
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlo...655973,00.html

    More than a million mobile phone calls were blocked on the day of the
    London bombings, against the wishes of the most senior police officers
    in charge, it emerged yesterday.

    The Cabinet Office is being asked to re-examine the relationship between
    the phone companies and the most senior officials charged with reacting
    to major events after it emerged that City of London police erroneously
    ordered the firm O2 to switch to "access overload control" (ACCOLC) in a
    one-kilometre-radius area around the Aldgate bombing, where seven people
    died.

    It happened 90 minutes after police and emergency services commanders on
    the key Gold Command Group made a decision not to use those powers on
    the basis that it would hamper the subsequent rescue operation and the
    search for the attackers. The confusion should never have occurred
    because the City of London force was represented on Gold Command.

    The switch to access overload control meant that only designated
    officials from the emergency services were able to use phones in that
    area. Other calls were blocked for almost five hours.

    The confusion emerged at the London Assembly, which is conducting a
    review of the way authorities and the emergency services reacted on July
    7. The Metropolitan police took the lead after the attacks, and last
    month Commander Chris Allison told the review committee that Gold
    Command had discussed invoking access overload controls at 10.30am.

    The phone system was overloaded but the decision was made to keep it
    open "because not everybody who was at those scenes in terms of our
    staff would have had the ACCOLC-enabled phones". Gold Command also
    wanted Londoners to "reassure their families and friends that they were
    OK," thus minimising panic.

    But yesterday David Sutton, network continuity and restoration manager
    for O2, said: "We received a call from City of London police. We
    authenticated it and brought in access overload control. It went on at
    midday and off at about 4.45pm."

    He said the existing protocol merely obliged his company to authenticate
    the request with the force involved but not the Gold Command group in
    overall charge. The review chairman, Richard Barnes, said: "I find it
    extraordinary that there should be a command structure and that people
    can just ignore it. This is something that must be investigated as a
    matter of urgency."

    The force said it could not explain its actions further, "for
    operational reasons".
    ========================================================================

    So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down, although the BBC
    report quoted below seems to be talking about all the mobile networks.

    It really is a shame that the old traditional rivalries between the Met
    and the City of London Police could not have been put aside for a while.

    ========================================================================
    Thursday, 1 December 2005, 20:40 GMT
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4490372.stm

    Phone network shutdown over bombs

    City of London police called for the mobile phone network to be shutdown
    when London was bombed, contrary to the agreed procedure, the BBC has
    learned.

    The force acted independently to stop mobiles working for four hours
    within a one-mile radius of Aldgate Tube station, one of the four sites
    hit.

    The London Assembly findings come despite the Metropolitan Police (Met)
    denying the network was closed down.

    The government is to carry out its own investigation into the matter.

    After the 7 July bombs, many Londoners were anxious to call family and
    friends to let them know they were safe, but were unsuccessful and told
    it was due to a systems overload.

    The Met said it had rejected an option to switch off the network which
    would have allowed access only to emergency service staff with special
    sim cards.

    Speaking last month, Met Commissioner Chris Allason said: "The decision
    between all of us was - no we are quite happy. We are content we have
    got command and control through our radio systems."

    But on Thursday, it emerged a senior City of London officer had made the
    decision, despite being part of the Gold Command team which had decided
    against the move.

    A Met spokeswoman said: "Any such closure was unilateral and not
    communicated or authorised by the command group."

    David Sutton, of O2, told the London Assembly the decision had caused
    confusion.

    "On the day, for Gold Command to have a different view from one of the
    forces was not a satisfactory conclusion."

    Richard Barnes, Conservative London Assembly member, said: "That the
    City Police, a local police service, could make a decision outside that
    chain of command to close down the mobile service... I find it
    extraordinary."

    City of London police, however, told BBC News the decision was made by
    the most senior officer and they would do the same again if they needed
    to retain communication.
    --
    Mr X



    See More: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs




  2. #2
    housetrained
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    Of course the REAL reason is to stop would be attackers using mobiles to
    remotely detonate bombs.

    --
    John the West Ham fan
    [email protected]
    <><
    "Mr X" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Muddle over mobile phone calls blocked on July 7
    >
    > Hugh Muir
    > Friday December 2, 2005
    >
    > The Guardian
    > http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlo...655973,00.html
    >
    > More than a million mobile phone calls were blocked on the day of the
    > London bombings, against the wishes of the most senior police officers
    > in charge, it emerged yesterday.
    >
    > The Cabinet Office is being asked to re-examine the relationship between
    > the phone companies and the most senior officials charged with reacting
    > to major events after it emerged that City of London police erroneously
    > ordered the firm O2 to switch to "access overload control" (ACCOLC) in a
    > one-kilometre-radius area around the Aldgate bombing, where seven people
    > died.
    >
    > It happened 90 minutes after police and emergency services commanders on
    > the key Gold Command Group made a decision not to use those powers on
    > the basis that it would hamper the subsequent rescue operation and the
    > search for the attackers. The confusion should never have occurred
    > because the City of London force was represented on Gold Command.
    >
    > The switch to access overload control meant that only designated
    > officials from the emergency services were able to use phones in that
    > area. Other calls were blocked for almost five hours.
    >
    > The confusion emerged at the London Assembly, which is conducting a
    > review of the way authorities and the emergency services reacted on July
    > 7. The Metropolitan police took the lead after the attacks, and last
    > month Commander Chris Allison told the review committee that Gold
    > Command had discussed invoking access overload controls at 10.30am.
    >
    > The phone system was overloaded but the decision was made to keep it
    > open "because not everybody who was at those scenes in terms of our
    > staff would have had the ACCOLC-enabled phones". Gold Command also
    > wanted Londoners to "reassure their families and friends that they were
    > OK," thus minimising panic.
    >
    > But yesterday David Sutton, network continuity and restoration manager
    > for O2, said: "We received a call from City of London police. We
    > authenticated it and brought in access overload control. It went on at
    > midday and off at about 4.45pm."
    >
    > He said the existing protocol merely obliged his company to authenticate
    > the request with the force involved but not the Gold Command group in
    > overall charge. The review chairman, Richard Barnes, said: "I find it
    > extraordinary that there should be a command structure and that people
    > can just ignore it. This is something that must be investigated as a
    > matter of urgency."
    >
    > The force said it could not explain its actions further, "for
    > operational reasons".
    > ========================================================================
    >
    > So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down, although the BBC
    > report quoted below seems to be talking about all the mobile networks.
    >
    > It really is a shame that the old traditional rivalries between the Met
    > and the City of London Police could not have been put aside for a while.
    >
    > ========================================================================
    > Thursday, 1 December 2005, 20:40 GMT
    > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4490372.stm
    >
    > Phone network shutdown over bombs
    >
    > City of London police called for the mobile phone network to be shutdown
    > when London was bombed, contrary to the agreed procedure, the BBC has
    > learned.
    >
    > The force acted independently to stop mobiles working for four hours
    > within a one-mile radius of Aldgate Tube station, one of the four sites
    > hit.
    >
    > The London Assembly findings come despite the Metropolitan Police (Met)
    > denying the network was closed down.
    >
    > The government is to carry out its own investigation into the matter.
    >
    > After the 7 July bombs, many Londoners were anxious to call family and
    > friends to let them know they were safe, but were unsuccessful and told
    > it was due to a systems overload.
    >
    > The Met said it had rejected an option to switch off the network which
    > would have allowed access only to emergency service staff with special
    > sim cards.
    >
    > Speaking last month, Met Commissioner Chris Allason said: "The decision
    > between all of us was - no we are quite happy. We are content we have
    > got command and control through our radio systems."
    >
    > But on Thursday, it emerged a senior City of London officer had made the
    > decision, despite being part of the Gold Command team which had decided
    > against the move.
    >
    > A Met spokeswoman said: "Any such closure was unilateral and not
    > communicated or authorised by the command group."
    >
    > David Sutton, of O2, told the London Assembly the decision had caused
    > confusion.
    >
    > "On the day, for Gold Command to have a different view from one of the
    > forces was not a satisfactory conclusion."
    >
    > Richard Barnes, Conservative London Assembly member, said: "That the
    > City Police, a local police service, could make a decision outside that
    > chain of command to close down the mobile service... I find it
    > extraordinary."
    >
    > City of London police, however, told BBC News the decision was made by
    > the most senior officer and they would do the same again if they needed
    > to retain communication.
    > --
    > Mr X






  3. #3
    Steve Walker
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    Mr X wrote:

    > But on Thursday, it emerged a senior City of London officer had
    > made the decision, despite being part of the Gold Command team
    > which had decided against the move.
    >
    > A Met spokeswoman said: "Any such closure was unilateral and not
    > communicated or authorised by the command group."
    >
    > David Sutton, of O2, told the London Assembly the decision had
    > caused confusion.
    >
    > "On the day, for Gold Command to have a different view from one
    > of the forces was not a satisfactory conclusion."
    >
    > Richard Barnes, Conservative London Assembly member, said: "That
    > the City Police, a local police service, could make a decision
    > outside that chain of command to close down the mobile service...
    > I find it extraordinary."
    >
    > City of London police, however, told BBC News the decision was
    > made by the most senior officer and they would do the same again
    > if they needed to retain communication.


    This appears to me to be 'softening up' for merging the City force into the
    Met.





  4. #4
    allan tracy
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs


    >
    > So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down, although the BBC
    > report quoted below seems to be talking about all the mobile networks.
    >


    If the emergency services with ACCOLC phones were all on the same
    network, which is likely, then it would not make sense to restrict
    calls on the other networks.

    Companies and organisations tend to select only one network vendor for
    their telephony requirements.




  5. #5
    Ivor Jones
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs



    "allan tracy" <[email protected]> wrote in
    message
    news:[email protected]
    > > So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down,
    > > although the BBC report quoted below seems to be
    > > talking about all the mobile networks.
    > >

    >
    > If the emergency services with ACCOLC phones were all on
    > the same network, which is likely, then it would not make
    > sense to restrict calls on the other networks.
    >
    > Companies and organisations tend to select only one
    > network vendor for their telephony requirements.


    Not if it's mission critical. For example, the BBC and other broadcast
    organisations tend to equip their OB vans with at least two phones on
    different networks.

    Ivor





  6. #6
    OldBill
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs

    allan tracy wrote:
    >> So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down, although the BBC
    >> report quoted below seems to be talking about all the mobile networks.
    >>

    >
    > If the emergency services with ACCOLC phones were all on the same
    > network, which is likely, then it would not make sense to restrict
    > calls on the other networks.
    >
    > Companies and organisations tend to select only one network vendor for
    > their telephony requirements.
    >

    I thought those phones could use any network



  7. #7
    R. Mark Clayton
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs


    "Steve Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Mr X wrote:
    >
    >> But on Thursday, it emerged a senior City of London officer had
    >> made the decision, despite being part of the Gold Command team
    >> which had decided against the move.
    >>


    The Aldgate incident occured at a place where the train emerges from cut and
    cover tunnel into the open, and the CoLP may well have feared that the
    device was detonated by mobile phone as in Madrid. The Met' knew that two
    out of three of theirs were in actually underground and not in cellphone
    coverage. In addition the City has even greater denisty of people on a
    workday than the rest of London, so CoLP may have been experiencing greater
    congestion problems. Most workers in the City would be within a short walk
    of their landline phone.

    >
    > This appears to me to be 'softening up' for merging the City force into
    > the Met.


    Which makes some sense, perhaps the City boys could clean up the Met'>

    Compare the virtually insane proposals to do away with the transport police.
    I have already experienced a "which force area are you in" muddle in a life
    and death situation, when the incident was near force boundaries, and it
    wasn't funny. Even with force mergers you can imagine the confusion as the
    999 operator tries to establish where a high speed train is and route the
    call before the train is in the next force area or the one beyond...





  8. #8
    DMac
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs

    > I thought those phones could use any network

    The "gold" sims are tied to a network





  9. #9
    Mike Ross
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    On 2 Dec 2005 06:49:03 -0600, Mr X <[email protected]> wrote:

    <big snips>

    >========================================================================
    >Thursday, 1 December 2005, 20:40 GMT
    >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4490372.stm


    >The Met said it had rejected an option to switch off the network which
    >would have allowed access only to emergency service staff with special
    >sim cards.


    I predict a thriving black market in such 'special' SIM cards, or
    'hacked' cards which have the 'special' attributes set - now that
    people are more aware of how the powers that be can take control of
    the phone system. Not nice.

    Does anyone know how hackable this stuff is?

    Mike
    --
    http://www.corestore.org
    'As I walk along these shores
    I am the history within'



  10. #10
    Mike Ross
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs

    On 2 Dec 2005 12:56:00 -0800, "allan tracy"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >
    >>
    >> So it is strange that only O2 was forced to shut down, although the BBC
    >> report quoted below seems to be talking about all the mobile networks.
    >>

    >
    >If the emergency services with ACCOLC phones were all on the same
    >network, which is likely, then it would not make sense to restrict
    >calls on the other networks.
    >
    >Companies and organisations tend to select only one network vendor for
    >their telephony requirements.


    Translation: put all their emergency eggs in one basket? Probably
    not...

    Mike
    --
    http://www.corestore.org
    'As I walk along these shores
    I am the history within'



  11. #11
    Jon
    Guest

    Re: Phone network shutdown over bombs

    [email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
    > I thought those phones could use any network


    You thought wrong.
    --
    Regards
    Jon



  12. #12
    Mike Ross
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    On Sat, 3 Dec 2005 19:23:13 -0000, Jon <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >[email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
    >> I predict a thriving black market in such 'special' SIM cards, or
    >> 'hacked' cards which have the 'special' attributes set - now that
    >> people are more aware of how the powers that be can take control of
    >> the phone system. Not nice.
    >>
    >> Does anyone know how hackable this stuff is?

    >
    >It's not.
    >
    >It's all controlled by networks anyway. An ACCOLC SIM can be switched on
    >and off just like an ordinary SIM at the behest of the network operator.
    >The flag is on the network end (probably on the HLR), not a physical
    >attribute of the SIM card itself.


    Ahhhhh ok. So there's in fact nothing special about these SIM cards at
    all - the network just has a list of numbers which are exluded from
    being blocked? i.e. if Joe Public calls they get 'no service', if Joe
    Cop calls from a phone with a SIM which is 'on the list', they get
    connected? Is that how it works?

    Then yes, the only possible hack would be at the network level -
    getting your SIM added to the list...

    Mike
    --
    http://www.corestore.org
    'As I walk along these shores
    I am the history within'



  13. #13
    Jon
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    [email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
    > Ahhhhh ok. So there's in fact nothing special about these SIM cards at
    > all - the network just has a list of numbers which are exluded from
    > being blocked? i.e. if Joe Public calls they get 'no service', if Joe
    > Cop calls from a phone with a SIM which is 'on the list', they get
    > connected? Is that how it works?


    Yep.
    --
    Regards
    Jon



  14. #14
    Bet no One
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs


    "Jon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > [email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
    >> I predict a thriving black market in such 'special' SIM cards, or
    >> 'hacked' cards which have the 'special' attributes set - now that
    >> people are more aware of how the powers that be can take control of
    >> the phone system. Not nice.
    >>
    >> Does anyone know how hackable this stuff is?

    >
    > It's not.
    >
    > It's all controlled by networks anyway. An ACCOLC SIM can be switched on
    > and off just like an ordinary SIM at the behest of the network operator.
    > The flag is on the network end (probably on the HLR), not a physical
    > attribute of the SIM card itself.
    > --
    > Regards
    > Jon


    Sorry Jon,

    The ACCOLC setting that the handset is using is a setting on the SIM (in
    EFACC if DF GSM). The handset will not even attempt to communicate with
    the network unless one of the 15 classes set on the SIM (or USIM) matches
    one of the valid classes the base station says it can accept. There is one
    exception to this - class 10 - which controls whether emergency calls can
    get through, the setting for class 10 on the SIM is always assumed to be set
    regardless of its state on the SIM.

    The EF ACC file is protected so that only the operator can alter it.

    With regards to hacking SIMs, there are very few hackable SIMs in the UK as
    all of the oprators moved away from the 'flawed algorithm' many years ago
    and some never used this algorithm. The priority ACCOLC settings on the SIM
    are only applicable in the Home network so finding a hackable foreign SIM
    wont help either.

    Of course, the network will know if you have tried to register in a
    restricted cell and if its record show that you should not have been able
    to, they can instantly detect you are using a cloned card and act
    accordingly.

    Bet





  15. #15
    Peter
    Guest

    Re: [Mobile] Phone network shutdown over bombs

    housetrained <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Of course the REAL reason is to stop would be attackers using
    > mobiles to remotely detonate bombs.


    That would be a pretty neat trick, given you can't actually get a
    mobile signal down in the bowels of the Tube.

    --
    If your doctor warns that you have to watch your drinking, find a bar with a
    mirror.
    - John Mooney



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