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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
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| Tighter security for flights to US | Tighter security for flights to US |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Security is being tightened at airports with direct flights into the US - including some in the UK - in response to US warnings of a "credible threat". | Security is being tightened at airports with direct flights into the US - including some in the UK - in response to US warnings of a "credible threat". |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the measures were being taken to keep the public safe. | |
| While he would not specify what steps would be involved, he ruled out "significant disruption to passengers". | |
| It comes amid US media reports that al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria and Yemen are developing bombs to smuggle on planes. | It comes amid US media reports that al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria and Yemen are developing bombs to smuggle on planes. |
| A US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said the changes were a response to a "real time" and "credible" threat but it could not comment on specific intelligence matters. | A US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said the changes were a response to a "real time" and "credible" threat but it could not comment on specific intelligence matters. |
| 'Harm' | 'Harm' |
| He said aviation remained an "attractive target" to global terrorists, but he could not reveal "sensitive" specifics to "those who would do us harm". | |
| Mr McLoughlin told the BBC that "very stringent" measures were already in place, but that the UK had to take action when given information and advice to do so. | |
| DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson also said in a statement: "We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travellers as possible. | |
| "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry." | |
| What changes will we see? | What changes will we see? |
| by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent | by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent |
| The UK government isn't giving any details about what these security changes actually are, but they haven't ruled out longer queues at security. | The UK government isn't giving any details about what these security changes actually are, but they haven't ruled out longer queues at security. |
| The statement from the department for transport merely says that the majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption. | The statement from the department for transport merely says that the majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption. |
| What we do know is that all of the old rules remain in place. So you will still have to put liquids into separate, see-through bags, take your laptop out of your bag, take off your belt and maybe your shoes before going through security. | What we do know is that all of the old rules remain in place. So you will still have to put liquids into separate, see-through bags, take your laptop out of your bag, take off your belt and maybe your shoes before going through security. |
| It's also not clear whether these changes will affect every airport, and whether they are limited to flights to and from the United States, which has prompted this move. | It's also not clear whether these changes will affect every airport, and whether they are limited to flights to and from the United States, which has prompted this move. |
| The actual terrorism threat level remains the same, at substantial. That's the middle of the five threat levels and means that an attack is a strong possibility. | The actual terrorism threat level remains the same, at substantial. That's the middle of the five threat levels and means that an attack is a strong possibility. |
| The changes will be made in the "upcoming days", the department added. | The changes will be made in the "upcoming days", the department added. |
| Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are believed to be working together to try to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport scanners. | |
| The Arab Spring upheavals of 2011 have left much territory in Yemen ungoverned, giving the AQAP the opportunity to move in and carry out attacks on government positions there. | |
| Yemen also has become one of a handful of countries where the US acknowledges using drones. | |
| US drone strikes in the country have killed large numbers of jihadist plotters, but civilians have also died in the attacks, prompting criticism from human rights groups. | |
| 'Lethal knowledge passed on' | 'Lethal knowledge passed on' |
| by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
| The reason behind these heightened security measures on transatlantic flights is the conclusion reached by western intelligence analysts that al-Qaeda's highly specialised bomb-making expertise has "proliferated" from Yemen to Syria. | The reason behind these heightened security measures on transatlantic flights is the conclusion reached by western intelligence analysts that al-Qaeda's highly specialised bomb-making expertise has "proliferated" from Yemen to Syria. |
| Three times since 2009 a Saudi bomb maker called Ibrahim Al-Asiri, hiding in Yemen, has been able to build viable explosive devices that evaded airport security. | Three times since 2009 a Saudi bomb maker called Ibrahim Al-Asiri, hiding in Yemen, has been able to build viable explosive devices that evaded airport security. |
| Since then it is believed he has been busy passing on his lethal knowledge to a whole generation of al-Qaeda operatives, some of whom are now thought to be in Syria with European passports. | Since then it is believed he has been busy passing on his lethal knowledge to a whole generation of al-Qaeda operatives, some of whom are now thought to be in Syria with European passports. |
| To date, the devices have been based on non-metallic 'low-vapour' explosives, hard but not impossible to detect. | To date, the devices have been based on non-metallic 'low-vapour' explosives, hard but not impossible to detect. |
| Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, known as AQAP, has surprised western intelligence officials with the innovation and sophistication of their devices. | Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, known as AQAP, has surprised western intelligence officials with the innovation and sophistication of their devices. |
| Ben Friedman, an expert in defence and homeland security at the Cato Institute in the US, said the current concern about airport security was that European-based fighters travelling under European passports would connect themselves to bombs. | Ben Friedman, an expert in defence and homeland security at the Cato Institute in the US, said the current concern about airport security was that European-based fighters travelling under European passports would connect themselves to bombs. |
| 'Serial failures' | 'Serial failures' |
| He said the authorities were particularly worried about bombs implanted inside people or bombs made from non-metallic elements. However, there was no concrete information about when an attack might occur, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | He said the authorities were particularly worried about bombs implanted inside people or bombs made from non-metallic elements. However, there was no concrete information about when an attack might occur, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Mr Friedman added that it was important to remember that attempts by the Yemeni bomb makers in the past to blow up planes had failed. | Mr Friedman added that it was important to remember that attempts by the Yemeni bomb makers in the past to blow up planes had failed. |
| "While we want to be prudent and cautious… these guys are serial failures," he said. | "While we want to be prudent and cautious… these guys are serial failures," he said. |
| He referred to the Christmas Day underwear bomber, who failed to take down a US-bound flight in 2009, and a failed attempt in which a bomb was hidden in a printer cartridge in a cargo plane in 2010, which was also bound for the US. | He referred to the Christmas Day underwear bomber, who failed to take down a US-bound flight in 2009, and a failed attempt in which a bomb was hidden in a printer cartridge in a cargo plane in 2010, which was also bound for the US. |
| "It's not like they have a track record of unmitigated success. It's closer to the opposite," Mr Friedman said. | "It's not like they have a track record of unmitigated success. It's closer to the opposite," Mr Friedman said. |
| Thwarted AQAP plots | |
| The BBC understands the security changes are not expected to cause big delays at Heathrow - one of the busiest hubs for flights to the US. | |
| It is understood airport terminals will appear unchanged and problems like those encountered when restrictions on liquids carried on board were introduced are not expected. | |
| 'Keep us safe' | |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he could not discuss the intelligence and analysis that led to increased security, but he added that the "groups... who want to do us harm are constantly looking at new ways that they can seek to harm us and that is why we have to constantly review whether we need to implement new ways to keep us safe". | |
| Airports across the world ramped up security measures in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US. Cockpit security was also enhanced. | |
| They introduced security checks on footwear after a shoe bomb nearly brought down a plane a few months later. | |
| Restrictions on liquids in hand luggage were introduced in 2006 after a British plot to blow up seven US and Canada-bound flights with liquid bombs was foiled by the security services. | |
| Three men behind the terror plot were jailed for life. | |
| Have you been affected by tight security when flying? You can share your experience with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Airport security' as the subject heading. | Have you been affected by tight security when flying? You can share your experience with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Airport security' as the subject heading. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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