London deploys 1,000 more police as security is tightened at likely targets

Security

An extra 1,000 officers were on duty on the streets of London yesterday as security was stepped up at likely terrorist targets. Stringent checks were put in place at the Canary Wharf financial district and tower in the east of the city, at Heathrow Airport, and in the centre of London.

Eurotunnel also increased its anti-terrorist measures and checks for bombs and weapons by 50 per cent.

Scotland Yard's anti terrorist branch and the security services, MI5 and MI6, are providing their American counterparts with intelligence on Middle Eastern terror groups and will offer to send experts to the United States in the next few days.

Many of the extra police officers in London have been used to carry out additional checks on vehicles and people entering Canary Wharf, home to many of the world's leading banks and financial institutions – including the London offices of companies affected by the attack in New York. The 50-storey tower at Canary Wharf is considered a prime target for bombers.

Arab banks and Islamic communities were also offered extra reassurance and protection by the police against any possible backlash in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

Scotland Yard issued advice to businesses and financial institutions about increasing their internal security. Security remained on high alert at government buildings, airports, and at defence and military locations throughout the country.

Anti-terrorists officers believe Heathrow Airport is at particular risk and heightened security measures there, including warning all passengers yesterday that all knives, however small, will be confiscated and travellers may be arrested if they are found with offensive weapons.

The Metropolitan Police cancelled leave for some officers and took others off training schemes to provide along with the City of London force and British Transport Police an extra 1,000 officers every day.

But John Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, sought yesterday to play down the risk posed to the capital from further terror attacks.

He said: "Londoners were not cowed by terrorism and we should try to have business as usual as far as possible today."

He stressed that there was no intelligence that London or other parts of Europe were a target. The Commissioner said he wanted to reassure the public that police were taking precautions to ensure something similar did not happen in this country.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ian Blair, added: "One thousand extra police officers are on the streets with high visibility in the City and Heathrow. The police are working with the business community to assist them with their security arrangements."

A spokesman for the City of London Police, which covers the capital's main financial district, said: "We have extra uniformed officers out on the streets to offer reassurance and are providing businesses and banks with extra patrols and security checks. We are doing the same for the Islamic community who may be feeling vulnerable."

Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, who held talks yesterday with the Minister for London, Nick Raynsford, and the Metropolitan Police, said the city had managed to remain calm in the aftermath of the recent Ealing bomb attack by dissident Irish terrorists and must do so again as the authorities and community organisations try to deal with tensions triggered by the American attack.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "We are advising forces about stepping up security. At airports, government buildings, American bases, and key security locations, that has already happened."

Eurotunnel and Eurostar have also bolstered their security checks following advice from the government and police. A spokeswoman for Eurotunnel said their security guards were X-raying and searching 50 per cent more vehicles. Guards are also carrying out extra patrols on the trains. Eurostar are making extra checks on rail passengers and their luggage in case someone tries to smuggle aboard a weapon or bomb.