Police blunder triggers beheading terror fears

THOUSANDS of paratroopers and their families were unnecessarily warned of a “Lee Rigby-threat” at their base following a police blunder, it was reported last night.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, South East London. Some 3,500 military personnel are based at Colchester Garrison in Essex, home to the elite 16 Air Assault Brigade and troops from the Parachute Regiment.

A threatening online post which prompted the alert was actually made a year ago.

But due to an error logging the date the post was made, military officials were mistakenly informed that it was a new threat to behead a paratrooper.