Britain ‘overreacting’ to terrorist threat

TERROR alerts spread worldwide yesterday amid suspicions of new al-Qaida operations, but countries with tourist hotspots accused Britain of overreacting and the United States of being “afraid of its own shadow”.

The alerts, including a British ban on flights to and from Kenya, followed suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia on Monday that killed 34 people, including eight Americans. Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida was blamed.

Kenyans were dismayed at the British flight ban's effect on their country where previous terror attacks have killed hundreds fearing the potential impact on an economy heavily dependent on tourism.