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Europe and the US tighten security in wake of Brussels attacks Europe and US tighten security in wake of Brussels attacks
(35 minutes later)
Nations from Europe to the Americas have responded to the Brussels atrocities by stepping up patrols, reviewing security and denouncing the terrorists. Nations from Europe to the Americas have responded to the Brussels atrocities by stepping up patrols, reviewing security and denouncing the terrorists. In Britain, extra police patrols have been ordered on to the streets to protect key locations, and border security has been tightened.
In Britain, extra police patrols were ordered on to the streets to protect key locations and border security tightened. The prime minister, David Cameron, chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee in which ministers and security officials discussed how they could best mitigate the threat of attack. Afterwards, he said: “We face a very real terrorist threat right across the different countries of Europe and we have to meet that with everything we have.”
The prime minister, David Cameron, chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee in which ministers and security officials discussed how they could best mitigate the threat of attack.
Afterwards, Cameron said: “We face a very real terrorist threat right across the different countries of Europe and we have to meet that with everything we have.”
He criticised attempts by Ukip to link the attack to its aim to leave the European Union, saying that blaming open borders was “inappropriate”. He said the countries of Europe needed to “stand together against these appalling terrorists and make sure they can never win”.He criticised attempts by Ukip to link the attack to its aim to leave the European Union, saying that blaming open borders was “inappropriate”. He said the countries of Europe needed to “stand together against these appalling terrorists and make sure they can never win”.
Related: CCTV before Brussels airport suicide blasts points to detonators hidden in glovesRelated: CCTV before Brussels airport suicide blasts points to detonators hidden in gloves
The home secretary, Theresa May, said that more thorough and intensive checks will be carried out by the Border Force “including greater searching of vehicles, the use of search dogs and greater numbers of Border Force officers on duty”. The home secretary, Theresa May, said that more thorough and intensive checks will be carried out by the Border Force, “including greater searching of vehicles, the use of search dogs, and greater numbers of Border Force officers on duty”.
Extra security was in place at St Pancras station in London, where train services from Belgium depart and arrive, as well as at UK airports. Extra security was also in place at the Dover ferry port, used by one prominent jihadi to enter and exit the UK last year. The ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, visited Birmingham and London months before spearheading the carnage in the French capital in November via Dover. Extra security was in place at St Pancras station in London, where train services from Belgium depart and arrive, as well as at UK airports. Extra security was also in place at the Dover ferry port, which was used by one prominent jihadi to enter and exit the UK last year. The ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, visited Birmingham and London months before spearheading the carnage in the French capital in November.
The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice to warn UK citizens against all but essential travel to Brussels, in line with the Belgian government’s advice. The FCO urged British visitors to “stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport at this time”. The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice to warn UK citizens against all but essential travel to Brussels, in line with the Belgian government’s advice. The FCO urged British visitors to “stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport at this time”. Belgium has accepted the UK’s offer of police help with the investigation into the incidents.
Belgium has accepted the UK’s offer of police help with the investigation into the terror incidents. The ripples from the Belgian attacks were felt in Britain’s communities. Muslims in the UK fear that attacks by terrorists, even if overseas, lead to a spike in hate crimes. Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “We must redouble our efforts to work together to defeat terrorism wherever it comes from. These mass murderers want to divide our society and pit people against each other. We must deny them this goal at every conceivable opportunity.”
The ripples from the Belgian attacks were felt in Britain’s communities. Muslims in the UK fear that attacks by terrorists, even if overseas, lead to a spike in hate crimes.
Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain said: “We must redouble our efforts to work together to defeat terrorism wherever it comes from. These mass murderers want to divide our society and pit people against each other. We must deny them this goal at every conceivable opportunity.”
Related: Why did the bombers target Belgium?Related: Why did the bombers target Belgium?
The Islamic Human Rights Commission issued safety advice to Muslims in Britain. It says women travelling on public transport should avoid “the window seat as you may be ‘blocked in’ by a potential assailant. Always select the seat next to the aisle so that you can quickly leave if necessary.” The Islamic Human Rights Commission issued safety advice to Muslims in Britain. It said women travelling on public transport should avoid “the window seat as you may be ‘blocked in’ by a potential assailant. Always select the seat next to the aisle so that you can quickly leave if necessary.”
British police reacted to the attacks on Brussels by boosting patrols at sites feared to be most vulnerable to terrorist attack. Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the national lead for counter-terrorism policing, said: “As a precaution, forces across the UK have increased policing presence at key locations, including transport hubs, to protect the public and provide reassurance.” British police boosted patrols at sites feared to be most vulnerable to terrorist attack. Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the national lead for counter-terrorism policing, said: “As a precaution, forces across the UK have increased policing presence at key locations, including transport hubs, to protect the public and provide reassurance.” Greater Manchester police said they have also increased patrols.
Greater Manchester police said they have also increased patrols.
Flags were being flown at half-mast on government buildings in solidarity with Belgium, and the Belgian flag was raised over Downing Street. Flags were being flown at half-mast on government buildings in solidarity with Belgium, and the Belgian flag was raised over Downing Street. Events in Brussels have not changed the UK threat level from Islamist terrorism, which remains at severe, meaning an attack is assessed to be highly likely.
Events in Brussels have not changed the UK threat level from Islamist terrorism, which remains at severe, meaning an attack is assessed to be highly likely.
Following the Brussels attack, France would send an extra 1,600 police officers to its borders, the country’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced. “It is essential to maintain a vigilance,” he said.Following the Brussels attack, France would send an extra 1,600 police officers to its borders, the country’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, announced. “It is essential to maintain a vigilance,” he said.
Security forces in France remain at a high state of alert after last year’s terror attacks there, fuelled by knowledge some of the Paris attackers were Belgian nationals. The apparently coordinated explosions in the Belgian capital came four days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the only known surviving suspect among the cell of 10 attackers who killed 130 people in a string of suicide bombings and shootings in Paris in November.
The apparently coordinated explosions in the Belgian capital came four days after the arrest of the only known surviving suspect of the 10 attackers who killed 130 people in a string of suicide bombings and shootings in Paris in November. All trains to Brussels stations from Paris were cancelled, but have since resumed, albeit with severe disruptions.
All trains to Brussels stations from Paris were cancelled, but have since resumed with severe disruptions to the timetable.
Related: What is the risk of a Brussels-style attack by Islamic State in the UK?Related: What is the risk of a Brussels-style attack by Islamic State in the UK?
US president Barack Obama, broke off from his historic tour of Cuba to offer support for victims of the fight against extremism. The US president, Barack Obama, broke off from his historic tour of Cuba to offer support for victims of the fight against extremism. He pledged solidarity with “our ally Belgium” and said: “The world must unite. We must be together, regardless of nationality, race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.”
Obama pledged solidarity with “our ally Belgium” and said: “The world must unite. We must be together, regardless of nationality, race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.” In New York, police were deploying extra counter-terrorism and other resources across the city and underground transport system. The NYPD said the measures were out of an “abundance of caution” and added that it was “closely monitoring the situation in Belgium and is in close contact with our international partners and with the FBI”.
In New York, police were deploying extra counter-terrorism and other resources across the city and underground transport system. The NYPD said the measures were out of an “abundance of caution” and added it was “closely monitoring the situation in Belgium and is in close contact with our international partners and with the FBI”. In Germany, which is also on terror alert, the state rail system, Deutsche Bahn halted its high-speed rail service to Brussels. The company said its ICE trains were stopping at the border city of Aachen.
In Germany, also on terror alert, the state rail system Deutsche Bahn halted its high-speed rail service to Brussels. The company said its ICE trains were stopping at the border city of Aachen.
The Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, tweeted that Australians were in solidarity with the people of Belgium following the attacks. “Deeply concerned by the attacks in Brussels. Australians’ thoughts, prayers & solidarity are with the people of Belgium,” he said.The Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, tweeted that Australians were in solidarity with the people of Belgium following the attacks. “Deeply concerned by the attacks in Brussels. Australians’ thoughts, prayers & solidarity are with the people of Belgium,” he said.