Shadow of terrorism looms over oil industry

IN THE darkness the men took their “seats” on the roof of the accommodation block of the Ninian oil platform, 90 miles north-east of Shetland.

The first hint of activity was the soft whut-whut of rotor blades, then suddenly a military helicopter, which had approached flying so low it almost skimmed the tops of the waves, rose up by the side of the platform. Ropes were tossed out and seconds later black-clad soldiers abseiled on to the landing deck, then charged down into the platform proper.

The spectators