The game has changed. A credible threat against a White House UFC event has sent security chiefs scrambling. The details are still murky, but the intelligence is clear: drones and snipers were scoping the venue. A chilling reminder of how porous our major events really are.
Downing Street was briefed at midnight. Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, has already ordered a full review of security at all major sporting venues. Wembley, Twickenham, the Principality Stadium. They are all on the list. The fear is that the same vulnerabilities exist here.
I have spoken to a senior security source. They tell me the review is not just about the hardware. It is about the software. The intelligence sharing. The gaps between agencies. The constant battle to stay one step ahead.
This is a London problem, but it is also a Manchester problem, a Cardiff problem. Every major event is a potential target. The UFC threat was specific. But the method could be copied.
The backbenchers are restless. They want answers. They want to know why this was not caught earlier. The usual questions will be asked: are we spending enough? Are we sharing enough? Are we competent enough?
For now, the review is quiet. The security services do not like to advertise their vulnerabilities. But the word is out. Westminster is buzzing. The whips are working hard to keep MPs in line. But for how long?
This is a story that will run and run. The security review will take months. The political fallout could last even longer. Watch this space.
