Britain on alert for suicide bomb threat

The threat by Saddam Hussein of suicide bombings in Britain is being taken seriously by the security services, the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said yesterday.

A change in tactics by forces loyal to the Iraqi regime has increased fears of suicide attacks attacks here. Four soldiers from the United States 3rd Infantry Division were killed on Saturday when a man blew himself up at a checkpoint near Najaf in southern Iraq. Baghdad praised the bomber's actions and said the attack would be followed by others.

Official guidance suggests there are no new indications of a heightened threat from suicide bombings in Britain, and Mr Blunketturged people to be alert, but not alarmed. "It is impossible to provide a 100 per cent guarantee, but from the knowledge I have we do not believe there is a heightened danger," he told BBC1's Breakfast with Frost programme yesterday. "Our security services are monitoring all known dissidents. They are monitoring all those who might form a danger. And of course they are reporting back on those who might have the capacity."

He said the Government would ensure the public was made aware if there was a heightened risk. "When we believe that there is a danger, and if there is a specific danger, we will obviously ensure that people know that they can help to protect themselves," he said.

David Capitanchik, a terrorism expert at Aberdeen University, said that while suicide bombers remained a threat, he did not believe there was an increased risk in Britain at present.But he added: "The use of suicide bombers in Iraq will obviously change the way Britain and the US fight the war. The troops will now have to regard everyone as a threat which won't do much for their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the population."