London, May 20: Security at the British Parliament was undergoing an intense review today after a pair of Fathers' rights activists hit Prime Minister Tony Blair with a condom full of purple-coloured baking flour during his weekly question time. Two members of Fathers 4 Justice, a lobby group for separated and divorced dads, were arrested after yesterday's incident, which focused minds on what could have happened if they had been terrorists armed with toxic chemicals.
The leader of the House of Commons Peter Hain, a member of Blair's cabinet, said the metropolitan police and Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 would carry out "a thorough review of security". Anti-terrorist police were carrying out their own investigation, even though the suspects -- Ron Davies, 50, and Guy Harrison, 36 -- were only held on suspicion of criminal damage. The well-dressed activists gained admission to an unenclosed VIP gallery, using tickets contributed to a charity raffle by a member of the Upper House of Lords, Baroness Llin Golding.
Heads turned upwards from the MPs' green leather benches as the condoms came down at Blair, who was exchanging rhetorical blows with Opposition Conservative leader Michael Howard 18 minutes into Prime Minister's questions.
One of the condoms narrowly missed the Prime Minister, but the second hit him at the back at shoulder level, sending up a puff of purple haze.
Bureau Report