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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Tighter security for flights to US | Tighter security for flights to US |
| (35 minutes 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". |
| The UK transport department confirmed airport security was being stepped up. | The UK transport department confirmed airport security was being stepped up. |
| Neither UK nor US authorities specified what new measures would be involved but the UK said most passengers should not experience "significant disruption". | Neither UK nor US authorities specified what new measures would be involved but the UK said most passengers should not experience "significant disruption". |
| 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. |
| "Aviation remains an attractive target to global terrorists, who are consistently looking for ways to circumvent our aviation security measures. | "Aviation remains an attractive target to global terrorists, who are consistently looking for ways to circumvent our aviation security measures. |
| "As always, DHS continues to adjust security measures to fit an ever evolving threat environment. | "As always, DHS continues to adjust security measures to fit an ever evolving threat environment. |
| "Information about specific enhancements and locations are sensitive as we do not wish to divulge information about specific layers of security to those who would do us harm." | "Information about specific enhancements and locations are sensitive as we do not wish to divulge information about specific layers of security to those who would do us harm." |
| 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. |
| Necessary steps | Necessary steps |
| DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement: "We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travellers as possible," | DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson 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." | "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry." |
| The changes will be made in the "upcoming days", the department added. | The changes will be made in the "upcoming days", the department added. |
| In a statement, the UK Department for Transport said the country had "taken the decision to step up some of our aviation security measures". | In a statement, the UK Department for Transport said the country had "taken the decision to step up some of our aviation security measures". |
| He added: "For obvious reasons we will not be commenting in detail on those changes. The majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption." | He added: "For obvious reasons we will not be commenting in detail on those changes. The majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption." |
| '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. |
| An anonymous US official told Reuters news agency that European airports would be taking the extra precautions. | An anonymous US official told Reuters news agency that European airports would be taking the extra precautions. |
| Law enforcement and security officials sources told the news agency that Western authorities were discussing security measures that included extra scrutiny of US-bound passengers' electronics and footwear, among other measures. | Law enforcement and security officials sources told the news agency that Western authorities were discussing security measures that included extra scrutiny of US-bound passengers' electronics and footwear, among other measures. |
| Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are believed to be working together to try to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport scanners, US media report. | Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are believed to be working together to try to develop explosives that could avoid detection by current airport scanners, US media report. |
| 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. |