Europeans weigh security vs. freedom

Europeans weigh security vs. freedom

"Europeans weigh security vs. freedom

By PAUL HAVEN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

LONDON -- From Stockholm to Rome, Paris to Istanbul, European governments are rushing to toughen anti-terror laws since the London subway attacks - in some cases using the deadly July 7 blasts to justify controversial measures that would give law enforcement far greater powers to battle extremists.

But with al-Qaida leaders directly threatening Europe in taped messages - and after spectacular attacks in Turkey, Spain and Britain that have killed more than 300 people since November 2003 - the public seems ready to accept at least some sort of crackdown."