Hand luggage to return as threat level is downgraded

The terrorist threat level being faced by the UK has been downgraded from critical to severe, the Home Office said today. A ban on carrying hand luggage on aeroplanes introduced following last Thursday's airline bomb security alert and police operation has also been lifted - although passengers were warned that would not apply immediately.

The ban, part of new security measures, caused huge disruption at UK airports and the decision to lift it has been welcomed by airlines.

Police are still holding 23 men following Thursday's raids and it was reported that they are searching woods near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which was the scene of one of the raids.

Last night a British Airways flight from London to New York turned back after a mobile phone - then banned - was found on board.

The Home Secretary John Reid today insisted a terrorist attack was still "highly likely", as the national terror threat level was downgraded from critical to severe. He said intelligence assessments suggested that an attack was no longer imminent - but he warned that did not mean the threat had gone away.

"The public needs to know that there may be other people out there who may be planning an attack against the UK. That is why there are a number of other security service operations under way," he told a news conference in London.

"There is still a very serious threat of an attack. The threat level is at severe, indicating the high likelihood of an attempted terrorist attack at some stage."

Yesterday Mr Reid revealed that police were investigating around two dozen major terror plots and that at least four major terror plots had been foiled in the past year.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said passengers would now be allowed to carry one item of hand luggage on to flights. But that item must not be more than 45cm long, 35cm wide and 16cm deep including wheels, handles and side pockets.

Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage, it added. No liquids are permitted, except for essential prescription medicines and baby milk and baby food.

The BAA chief executive Stephen Nelson said the relaxation of hand luggage rules would be "phased in".

"We have taken the decision as BAA, given that we have 6,000 security staff across our airports, to phase this new regulation in over the course of the next 24 hours.

"The practical approach that we're taking is that we're advising passengers still to come today with plastic bags as they have been over the last three or four days, and from tomorrow we will have in place, with very clear communication through the media and through leaflets, what they can take on board."

He said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was a "very clear" definition of what hand luggage would be permitted.

"It's one item of cabin baggage only. We have an agreed specification in terms of the size which is 45cm long, 35cm in breadth and 16cm in depth. But because it's extremely important that we clarify this over the next 24 hours, we are not recommending that passengers bring hand luggage today."

Virgin Airways chief executive Steve Ridgway said he was "very unhappy" that it was being asked by BAA to cut the number of flights from Heathrow by a fifth today, although the company had reluctantly agreed.

But Mr Ridgway said on Today he did not think BAA would insist flights were cancelled during the rest of the week.

"I just can't believe they will say that, because I think everyone has rallied around and everyone understands what needs to be done. The change to the rules today that now reflect the new security threat are very sensible and can be implemented, and we would ask that they are."

BMI chief executive Nigel Turner said its Heathrow flights would also be cut by 20%, but he hoped the situation would have returned to "pretty much as normal" by the end of the day.

In America, the country's Homeland Security Department reduced the threat level for US-bound flights from Britain from red, for "severe" to orange, for "high" today.

All other flights operating in or destined for the US remain at orange.

These new arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring from international flights at a UK airport:

* Each passenger is permitted to carry ONE item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point

* The dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 45cm, width of 35cm and depth of 16cm (approx 17.7ins W 13.7ins W 6.2ins), including wheels, handles, side pockets etc

* Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be X-ray screened.

* No liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, other than the following items: prescription medicines in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), as long as verified as authentic and baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger)

* The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc

* To help their progress through search points, passengers are encouraged not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.

* All laptops and large electrical items (e.g. large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag

* Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be X-ray screened. Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.

* In addition to the above, passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

Airport operator BAA has said that it will not be until 4.30am tomorrow that hand luggage will be allowed on flights leaving Heathrow airport.

For today, passengers travelling from Heathrow were advised to:

* Check with their airline before leaving for the airport

* Arrive with no hand luggage

* Bring only those items allowed into the cabin in a clear plastic bag and be prepared for delays

* All luggage should be appropriate for the hold.

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