US alert as bin Laden urges Iraqis to attack

THE United States was bracing itself for the worst last night after Osama bin Laden issued a call to arms to defend Iraq amid warnings of a possible “dirty bomb” terror attack.

Britain was also on a war footing yesterday as army troops patrolled London's Heathrow airport, sparking fears of a possible terrorist missile attack on a low-flying plane.

Around 450 soldiers were deployed at the airport in a move authorised by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and based on intelligence of a specific threat.