MoD Information

Troops to Guard Heathrow

Tue, February 11, 2003

Source: Ananova News

The Army has been drafted in to beef up security at Heathrow Airport amid ongoing terrorist threats to the capital

The Army has been drafted in to beef up security at Heathrow Airport amid ongoing terrorist threats to the capital.

Troops are guarding the airport as part of a "strengthening of security" in London, a spokesman said.

He said the "precautionary" action was linked to fears that al-Qaida could use the end of the Muslim festival of Eid, which runs from Wednesday until Saturday, as a trigger for attacks.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "From time to time, it is necessary to raise levels of security activity.

"We think it is prudent to do so now. The current strengthening of security is precautionary and is related to action being taken in other countries and the possibility that the end of the religious festival of Eid may erroneously be used by al-Qaida and associated networks to mount attacks."

Strengthened security would be most visible at Heathrow but other sites would be on higher alert.

"The use of troops is part of a long-standing contingency, authorised by the government, for example during the Provisional IRA campaign.

"To avoid prejudicing ongoing operations, we do not intend to give any further details of security arrangements, other than to say that this action is in line with the policy of taking whatever action we believe necessary to protect the public."

In November, a statement authorised by Home Secretary David Blunkett warned of "ever more dramatic and devastating" terror attacks, but avoided mention of the specific threats.

"If al-Qaida could mount an attack upon key economic targets, or upon our transport infrastructure, they would," it said.

"If they could inflict damage upon the health of our population, they would."

An earlier security assessment, issued in error and hastily withdrawn, warned of the threat of dirty bombs and poison gas attacks.