If the captured footage is, indeed, the London bombing cell?s reconnaissance operations, as is thought by officials, it would demonstrate a certain base degree of operational sophistication on the part of the bombers. The operatives were likely assessing the volume of passengers and travel times between stations in order to calibrate the sequencing of attacks.

The discovery of the reconnaissance footage will likely provide further insight into the inner workings and planning aspects of the cell. For example, the footage may show the degree and sophistication of the reconnaissance and, in so doing, give some indication of the overall degree of sophistication of the modus operandi and planning processes of the cell itself. Further, in assessing the organizational, operational, and planning characteristics of the cell, counter-terrorism authorities may be in a position to develop hypotheses and/or linkages to possible sources of their operational tradecraft?such as international terrorist and/or militant organizations, Internet sources, particular leaders, etc.?thereby developing a holistic understanding of the origins and affiliations of the cell. For counter-terrorism agencies, study of the footage may give insight into the general observable behavioral indicators, in this case likely very subtle, of target reconnaissance.

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