BRITAIN: Security was tightened around the Houses of Parliament and other potential terror targets in London yesterday although police insisted that the move was not in response to a specific new threat, writes Frank Millar from London.
Concrete blocks were positioned around the House of Lords, completing a Palace of Westminster barrier against a possible suicide bomb attack on parliament.
The security presence was also visibly increased at Heathrow Airport, at the American Embassy and at other potential prestige targets, while an additional 150 police officers patrolled London's streets.
These deployments coincided with talks between the head of Britain's Security Service (MI5), Ms Eliza Manningham-Buller, and the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and came just days after Osama bin Laden's reported deputy in the al-Qaeda network called on Muslims to target British and American "missions".
With more security guards due to be deployed around Westminster, Lord Brabazon, chairman of administration for the House of Lords, said: "The security of the Palace of Westminster remains under constant review in the light of changing assessment of the terrorist threat."
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said that the message to the public was one of "alert, not alarm". He explained: "These measures are being carried out on a precautionary basis in light of events around the world and the fact that security in the capital remains at a high level."
The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Mr Simon Hughes, urged people not to panic. At the same time, he said that the government could be more open about such moves: "Response to terrorism requires sensible precautions but nothing which encourages panic. The appearance of these latest protective blocks should remind the authorities that the more information they can give, the more the public can understand."
The House of Commons will remain open to the public following the Whitsun recess.