Britain on high alert for terrorist attack as 'bin Laden' praises aircraft bomb plot

THE Government has warned that the danger of a terrorist attack in Britain "remains very real" after Osama bin Laden purportedly claimed responsibility for the attempt to bomb a US-bound plane on Christmas Day.

The new audio message allegedly from the al-Qaida leader threatened more attacks on the United States and claimed the attempted bombing was meant to send a message similar to that of the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to blow up his Northwest Airlines flight as it approached Detroit Metro Airport but the explosive powder he was hiding in his underwear failed to detonate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He told federal agents shortly afterward that he had been trained and given the explosives by an al-Qaida affiliate in Yemen.

The minute-long recording carried on TV by Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel said: "The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the September 11.

"America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine. God willing, our raids on you will continue as long as your support for the Israelis continues."

The announcement was dismissed by American intelligence chiefs who said there was "no evidence whatsoever" that bin Laden had any involvement in the plot or even knew about it beforehand.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However hours after yesterday's announcement Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned that Britain should be "extremely vigilant".

The threat level to Britain was raised by the Government from "substantial" to "severe" on Friday night , meaning an attack is "highly likely".