UK Alert - Reports that British security forces raise threat level of terrorist attack
TAPE: EF03/1024
IN_TIME: 04:11:50
DURATION: 1:24
SOURCES: SKY
RESTRICTIONS: English/Nat
DATELINE: No access UK/CNNi/Net
SHOTLIST:
Recent
1. Armed police outside buildings in central London
November 14, 2003
2. Various of flags and bunting on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace
Recent
3. Armed police in central London
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr John Gearson, Security expert
"Jihadists, as they're sometimes called, the al-Qaida Islamic extremists, generally try to kill large numbers of people and the concern is that Britain might see the first type of suicide attack it's ever seen on its land."
5. Various armed police in central London
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Bellamy, Terror expert
"I don't think people will notice any perceptible increase in the level of security activity, except possibly at airports. There might possibly be some roadside checks of vehicles, but by and large we won't notice any great difference."
7. Anti-terrorism reconstruction exercise in Harrogate, including woman screaming
8. Anti-terrorism reconstruction exercise in Harrogate, including dummies on stretchers
9. Policeman on guard
STORYLINE:
Britain's security services have been placed on a higher level of alert amid intelligence that al-Qaida may be planning an attack, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has reported.
Internal alerts for the police and military are not usually made public.
The Home Office, which oversees the intelligence services, would not comment on the BBC report, saying it never discussed alert levels unless there was a specific threat.
The BBC said the alert status had been raised to "severe general," the second-highest level, following intelligence about plans by al-Qaida supporters from North Africa to launch an attack.
It said the change was not connected to next week's planned visit to Britain by US President George W Bush.
Protesters opposed to the US-led Iraq war are planning a series of demonstrations during Bush's November 19-21 state visit. Police leave has been cancelled and thousands of officers are expected on the streets of the British capital.
Police also declined to comment on specific threat levels. A spokesman said security in London had been at a high level since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Experts believe Britain's participation in the Iraqi war has made London a target for terrorist groups, but there have been few specific warnings of plots to attack the city.
In February, troops and tanks were sent to Heathrow Airport after police warned that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network might try attacking the British capital.