Security stepped up at British embassies across globe

Foreign Secretary William Hague stressed that elements of the terrorist organisation were still “in business” and there was a need to be vigilant for “some time to come”.

The MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire confirmed he had requested embassies to carry out security reviews to counter any reprisal attacks. He added: “This is a very serious blow to al-Qaida but, like any organisation that has suffered a serious blow, they will want to show in some way that they are still able to operate.”

Mr Hague, who was yesterday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, said the removal of bin Laden was a “very, very positive development”.

“It is unequivocally a good thing that he is no longer able to pursue terror, murder and mayhem in the world,” he said.

But he maintained that it did not mean an end to the international military mission in Afghanistan, from where al-Qaida launched the September 11 attacks on America in 2001.

Mr Hague acknowledged there had been a “general assumption” that bin Laden was hiding in the mountainous, tribal regions of Pakistan rather than the area around the capital, Islamabad.

However, he added: “I don’t think we’re surprised by anything any more.”

Defence Secretary Liam Fox confirmed that he had also ordered British military bases both at home and abroad to maintain a “high level of vigilance”.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, the Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, added: “I think we are at more risk temporarily today than we were yesterday. We need to be extremely vigilant.”