Ferry ports on high terror alert
news.bbc.co.uk
Dover officials have stepped up searches
Security officials at ferry ports across the UK say there is no need for people to change their travel plans, despite a heightened state of alert.
The authorities say they are responding to general warnings, rather than specific information, and that searches and other security measures have now been increased.
The information that went out was part of reminding people of the need for heightened vigilance
John Denham
Home Office Minister
Home Office Minister John Denham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that no specific piece of intelligence had prompted the latest warning.
Instead, the government was trying to ensure people kept up their guard against possible terrorism - something which had been true since the 11 September attacks.
"The information that went out was part of reminding people of the need for heightened vigilance and heightened awareness," Mr Denham said.
The BBC's Frank Gardner on why terror threat has deepened
Click here to read
Mr Denham said it was essential media reporting did not "panic people into believing that they should not be travelling from ports or around the country".
Ferry ports, as well as other transport operators, were warned last week of the continued need to be watchful, added the minister.
News of the alert came as Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Britons to be vigilant against the high risk of terrorist attack - saying there were threats received almost every day.
Airport security is reportedly being tightened too
The information about a terrorist threat to a ferry is believed to have come from the FBI.
The state of alert is at its highest level since the current warning system was introduced two years ago, although it is not at the top state of alert possible.
However a security source told the BBC that the threat was being given too much credence.
The UK's transport security warning service, Transec, told ports on Friday there was no "credible information and intelligence" to support recent alerts from the French and Dutch authorities of a possible terrorist act against ferries.
"Threat levels to British maritime interests remain unchanged," said Transec.
Lorry drivers questioned
However, at about the same time all British ports with roll-on roll-off ferry services were ordered to a level of alert described as "heightened emergency" - the highest state they have been on since the current alert system was introduced.
Robin Dodridge, head of operations and security at Dover, said ports around the country had been told "to further tighten up their security levels to Christmas and particularly at this time".
Tony Blair warns Britons to be vigilant
Click here for full story
Searching of lorry traffic and other security measures had been stepped up, said Mr Dodridge.
The whole port area had also been searched from "top to toe" on Friday morning after a general bomb threat - but nothing was found.
That threat, received by the Immigration Service, was "not actually specific to Dover but Dover as a port was implicit in it", added Mr Dodridge.
The AFP news agency said several Nordic ferry companies including Color Line, which operates routes to the UK, had boosted their security at the weekend following the warning.
In his high-profile address to the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Tony Blair said the UK's security services were receiving "almost daily" warnings of terrorist attacks.
Continuing normal life
The prime minister did not outline specific threats, but he said devastating events such as the Bali bombing showed no country was immune from attack.
However, he added that the fear of terrorism should not be allowed to paralyse society.
"If we acted on every piece of raw intelligence... we would in my time as prime minister on many occasions shut down roads, railways, airports, stations, shopping centres, factories, military installations," said Mr Blair.
Mr Blair's official spokesman on Tuesday said similar warnings were issued last year, and that the concern was general in nature rather than specific.
A recent draft Home Office statement released by mistake warned of a possible chemical or nuclear attack on the UK using a "dirty bomb" or poison gas. |
