Posted on 11/21/2003 7:00:32 PM PST by blam
Britons on worldwide bomb alert
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 22/11/2003)
Defences were being strengthened at British embassies around the world last night as the Foreign Office ordered dozens of missions to review security after the Istanbul bombings.
Barriers were erected, roads were closed and police patrols were stepped up around missions in Berlin, Athens and Paris.
"Sir John Stevens: 'imminent attack in London'
At the same time many embassies, particularly those in Muslim countries, received urgent instructions - marked "DESKBY", the second highest priority after "FLASH" - telling them to re-examine their protective measures.
As Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, warned that "everywhere is a target", officials said more attacks - at home or abroad - were expected.
Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, expressed alarm about an "imminent" attack in London and said his officers were on maximum alert.
"The only way to go up one notch is when there is a specific threat and people are on their way to commit acts of terrorism," Sir John told BBC Radio 4's Today.
Adml Sir Alan West, the First Sea Lord, said: "It is not a question of if, it is a question of when. I cannot imagine there will not be an event in the UK."
Thursday's synchronised suicide attacks devastated the British consulate and the headquarters of the HSBC bank, killing 27 people and wounding more than 400.
Three Britons are known to have died at the consulate, including Roger Short, 59, the Consul General, and his personal assistant, Lisa Hallworth, 38. The third victim was named as Nanette Kurma, a 41-year-old Scot married to a Turk.
An HSBC spokesman said two members of staff were killed at its headquarters and about 40 wounded. The dead were not believed to be British.
The blasts came five days after similar car bombings outside two synagogues in Istanbul killed 23 people.
British police officers last night distributed posters and leaflets to travellers returning from Turkey, appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact them.
Scotland Yard, which has sent a team of officers to help the investigation in Istanbul, said: "We would also like to hear from anybody who took home video footage or photographs in the area."
Diplomats said there had been no worldwide increase in alert status for British missions. But a Foreign Office spokesman confirmed that a message had been sent to several embassies on Thursday to "tell them what happened and to instruct them to review their security arrangements".
One official said: "After an attack like this you have to assume there will be more.
"But you cannot shut yourself off in a fortress. It would defeat the purpose of being there."
German security forces yesterday blocked access to the British embassy and the ambassador's residence in Berlin.
In Athens, roads around the British and American embassies were closed, while French police increased patrols around British diplomatic missions and corporate buildings.
Britain and America warned their citizens against travelling to Istanbul and other Turkish cities.
"We have information to suggest that further attacks may be attempted," said the Foreign Office travel service.
As Turkish security forces made a number of arrests, security was increased around the offices of the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr Straw, who flew to Istanbul on Thursday night, said during a visit to the HSBC building: "I'm afraid to say that with these ruthless fanatics who we now face, everywhere is a target."
President George W Bush telephoned Mr Erdogan yesterday to express solidarity. He made the call during his visit to Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency, the last leg of his state visit to Britain before flying home last night.
"I told him my prayers are with his people," said Mr Bush. "I told him we would work with him to defeat terror."
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