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Airport security stepped up in Britain over al-Qaida bomb plot fears Airport security stepped up in Britain over al-Qaida bomb plot fears
(35 minutes later)
Security at British airports is to be tightened after US officials raised fears about terrorists in Syria and Yemen developing explosives that could be smuggled onto planes.Security at British airports is to be tightened after US officials raised fears about terrorists in Syria and Yemen developing explosives that could be smuggled onto planes.
The Department for Transport said on Wednesday night that it would "step up some of our aviation security measures" following the warning from US security chiefs. The Department for Transport (DfT) said on Wednesday night that it would "step up some of our aviation security measures" following the warning from US security chiefs.
US officials told Reuters that security at European airports would be increased following intelligence that al-Qaida operatives in Syria and Yemen had joined forces to develop bombs that would avoid detection and bring down aircraft.US officials told Reuters that security at European airports would be increased following intelligence that al-Qaida operatives in Syria and Yemen had joined forces to develop bombs that would avoid detection and bring down aircraft.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the changes would not cause significant disruption to passengers and that the threat level remains at substantial, meaning an attack is a strong possibility.
The spokesman said: "The UK government keeps aviation security under constant review in conjunction with international partners and the aviation industry.
"We have taken the decision to step up some of our aviation security measures. For obvious reasons we will not be commenting in detail on those changes. The majority of passengers should not experience significant disruption. There will be no change to the threat level, which remains at substantial.
"The safety and security of the public is our paramount concern. The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures and we will continue to take all the steps necessary to ensure that public safety is maintained."
The US department of homeland security said "enhanced security measures" would be implemented in the next few days at "certain overseas airports with direct flights into the United States."
Department secretary, Jeh Johnson, said: "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry."
The US did not specify which airports or what countries would be affected, nor did it say what triggered the extra precautions.The US did not specify which airports or what countries would be affected, nor did it say what triggered the extra precautions.
However, the Department for Transport confirmed that aviation in Britain would be affected by the heightened measures but declined to comment on what extra security measures would be put in place. It is thought that they could include increased random screening of passengers and tighter scrutiny of on-board mobile phones and computers. However, the DfT confirmed that aviation in Britain would be affected by the heightened measures but declined to comment on what extra security measures would be put in place. It is thought that they could include increased random screening of passengers and tighter scrutiny of footwear and on-board mobile phones and computers.
A spokesman for Heathrow airport in London declined to comment. British Airways could not be reached for comment. A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: "We don't comment on operational security matters." A DfT spokesman said the changes would not cause significant disruption to passengers and that the threat level remains at substantial, meaning an attack is a strong possibility.
He said: "The UK government keeps aviation security under constant review in conjunction with international partners and the aviation industry.
"We have taken the decision to step up some of our aviation security measures. For obvious reasons we will not be commenting in detail on those changes."
The US department of homeland security said "enhanced security measures" would be implemented in the next few days at "certain overseas airports with direct flights into the United States".
Department secretary, Jeh Johnson, said: "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry."
US intelligence believes extremists in Syria and Yemen have been in contact to develop bombs that escape heightened security measures, although they do not have specific intelligence about an imminent attack or specific plot emanating from the suspected collaboration.US intelligence believes extremists in Syria and Yemen have been in contact to develop bombs that escape heightened security measures, although they do not have specific intelligence about an imminent attack or specific plot emanating from the suspected collaboration.
Some in the US intelligence community also believe that "training complexes" have been set up in Syria for western jihadists so they can return to their home countries better trained to carry out attacks.Some in the US intelligence community also believe that "training complexes" have been set up in Syria for western jihadists so they can return to their home countries better trained to carry out attacks.
While that conclusion is the subject of debate, it shows the level of fear counter-terrorism officials have about the threat posed by violent jihadists from Syria – now considered to be the main one facing the west. Al-Qaida in the Arabian peninsula, based in Yemen, was behind two plots that evaded aviation security but failed because of flaws in bomb construction. While that conclusion is the subject of debate, it shows the level of fear counter-terrorism officials have about the threat posed by violent jihadists from Syria – now considered to be the main one facing the west.
Intelligence is reported to suggest bomb makers from Yemen-based al Qaida in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP) have travelled to Syria to meet with al Qaida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra to work on ways to get an explosive device past existing security.
AQAP was behind two plots that evaded aviation security but failed because of flaws in bomb construction.
One was the underpants bomb over the US. The other was the ink cartridge bomb hidden on a cargo plane which was aimed to detonate over the eastern United States. In that plot the concealment of the device was so innovative it initially escaped detection by experienced bomb experts.One was the underpants bomb over the US. The other was the ink cartridge bomb hidden on a cargo plane which was aimed to detonate over the eastern United States. In that plot the concealment of the device was so innovative it initially escaped detection by experienced bomb experts.
Since the September 11 2001 attacks al-Qaida-inspired terrorists have developed plots that have exploited weaknesses in aviation security. The largest was the liquid bomb plot broken in 2006, based in the UK.Since the September 11 2001 attacks al-Qaida-inspired terrorists have developed plots that have exploited weaknesses in aviation security. The largest was the liquid bomb plot broken in 2006, based in the UK.
Information suggesting increased threats can be wrong and teh subject of debate among officials. Security experts said the heightened security measures did not necessarily mean the US was acting on intelligence of a specific bomb plot.
Independent aviation analyst Chris Yates said: "You could argue that this being Independence Day weekend in the States everybody is going to be on tenterhooks and watching carefully. This could be an example of someone at the Department for Homeland Security watching carefully and putting two and two together and coming up with five."
Yates said he would be surprised if the heightened security did not lead to delays for passengers flying to the US from busy British airports. He said: "They say the measures shouldn't impact on travel but take Heathrow, with multiple flights a day to the US and the likelihood is this could end up causing a backlog."
Information suggesting increased threats can be wrong and the subject of debate among intelligence officials.
Intelligence in 2010 about a feared Mumbai-style gun and bomb plot against an unspecified European target led to a retooling in the UK of the police planned response to an armed attack and extra resources being deployed. Some with close knowledge of the debates at the time now believe the intelligence was mistaken or incorrectly analysed.Intelligence in 2010 about a feared Mumbai-style gun and bomb plot against an unspecified European target led to a retooling in the UK of the police planned response to an armed attack and extra resources being deployed. Some with close knowledge of the debates at the time now believe the intelligence was mistaken or incorrectly analysed.
A spokesman for Heathrow airport in London declined to comment on the new security measures. British Airways could not be reached for comment. A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: "We don't comment on operational security matters."