Tories demand statement as terror alert continues

Ministers discussed closing Heathrow airport because of a possible terror attack but decided such a course of action would have been a victory for terrorists and a catastrophe for the economy, the Government revealed yesterday.

As fears of an attack on Britain rose yesterday, Conservative MPs demanded a government statement on the "serious threat" to the country.

John Reid, the Labour Party chairman, added to concerns by appearing to compare the danger to the 11 September attacks, telling reporters in Manchester: "This is not a game. This is about a threat of the nature that massacred thousands of people in New York."

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, revealed that closing Heathrow had been considered by ministers but ruled out because it would have been disastrous for the economy. He said: "For those who are threatening us it would have been a victory. Trade would have suffered and the transport of people would have been disrupted. This would have been a catastrophic thing to have done."

Troops spent a second day patrolling Heathrow yesterday in response to what was described as a "specific threat" and the police presence at other British airports was also stepped up.

Greater Manchester Police announced that they were increasing security measures at Manchester airport, including a greater deployment of armed officers.

Several units of soldiers with armoured cars were again stationed at the main entrance to Heathrow, while military trucks were positioned outside the main buildings. Small units of soldiers and armed police officers walked side by side, patrolling entrances to the main car parks and airport terminals.

Police stop-checks on vehicles continued on approach roads in towns and villages around Heathrow in an effort to eliminate the risk of terrorists firing missiles at jets arriving at or leaving the airport.

Raymond de Rubeis, an Australian passenger who was returning to London from Zurich on business, said he had not known of the military deployment until he walked out of the arrivals lounge. "A rocket launcher is a small piece of machinery you could put in a ski bag and pretend to be a skier. It's scary, but it is reality," he said. Scotland Yard said the Army could be at the airport "for some time".

Ministry of Defence officials were questioned about unidentified jets that were heard over London yesterday afternoon. Asked which air force apart from the RAF could be operating in the air space, a spokesman said: "They are not likely to be anybody else's apart from the US Air Force, and their exercise areas are nowhere near London."

Chris Yates, aviation security editor of Jane's Airport Review, said: "If military jets are over London I would not be surprised. There have been periods before when it's been suggested jets would over-fly the capital, but this may well be one of the first occasions when it has actually happened."

The Government and Scotland Yard said the extra security was linked to fears that the international terror group al-Qa'ida could use the end of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which began yesterday and lasts until Saturday, as a trigger for an attack on London.

An emergency texting service will be launched in London today to alert subscribers to terror attacks on the UK and to suggest "a course of action on what to do next".

Meanwhile, a government-commissioned report on the detention without charge of terror suspects concluded that such detainees should not be held with other prisoners.

Lord Carlile of Berriew, the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism laws, said the 13 men currently held under emergency legislation should be allowed more "internal freedom" while they were detained.

His report on the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act follows a visit to high-security prisons used to hold the suspects – Belmarsh in south-east London and Woodhill, near Milton Keynes.

However, Lord Carlile found that Mr Blunkett's use of such emergency powers was "justified" and "appropriate".

The findings coincided with the publication of a separate report by the Council of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which found that the terrorism suspects were being denied acceptable access to lawyers and were allegedly being subjected to "offensive" treatment by prison staff.