Posted on 09/11/2001 1:20:47 PM PDT by Teacup
Britain is on high alert in the face of possible terrorist attacks
Tony Blair said all flights over central London had been halted and private aircraft grounded. The Army has been put on standby
The Prime Minister was speaking after an emergency meeting of the Government's civil contingencies committee.
The full measures he announced include:
Security stepped up "to the highest level" at all airports
No flights will take off from the UK without full security checks
All flights over central London banned Police on "full alert"
All British defence facilities across the world put on a state of high alert
All flights to the US grounded.
'Stock Exchange'
The London Stock Exchange and some firms in Canary Wharf tower were evacuated. A stock exchange spokesman said: "In response to events unfolding in the US, the LSE is evacuating Exchange Tower as a precaution."
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned: "Alert states for Government buildings, civilian and military, have been raised in the UK.
"Alert states for diplomatic posts across the world have been raised to their highest level and we are issuing travel advice to all British citizens abroad to take great care if they are living abroad in sensitive areas, to stay in their compounds, to avoid obvious areas of potential risk and to have great care for their safety."
The Foreign Office has set up an emergency number for concerned relatives on 020 7008000.
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