Home Secretary Willie Whitelaw, who had been chairing COBRA during the siege, was rushed back to Whitehall from a function he had been attending in Slough, roughly 20 miles (30 km) away, arriving 19 minutes after the shots had been reported.
Menteri Dalam Negeri Willie Whitelaw, yang telah memimpin COBRA selama pengepungan, dilarikan kembali ke Whitehall dari suatu acara yang telah ia hadiri di Slough, kira-kira 20 mil (30 km) jauhnya, dan tiba 19 menit setelah tembakan telah dilaporkan.