Rigorous inspections for US-bound passengers

Passengers arriving into the United States from the UK will undergo rigorous inspections after security was heightened in response to the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it had taken a number of “heightened protective measures” to “identify other potential high-risk individuals“.

This was despite the fact that “specific law enforcement actions” had been taken to “significantly disrupt and dismantle” the threat.

Meanwhile CNN reported that according to a senior US administration official, the intelligence that uncovered the plot “makes very strong links to al-Qaida“.

CBP said its heightened measures included intensive passenger screening of all flights scheduled to travel from the UK to the US, before planes leave the gate at British airports.

Manifest information – lists of passengers on the flight – would undergo risk-based screening, and passengers on flights from Britain and all other international flights would have heightened inspections when they arrived in the US.

“CBP will increase enforcement efforts in international arrival areas, using risk-based targeting and deploying special response teams including baggage and aircraft search teams, baggage X-ray equipment, specially trained canine units, and explosive detection technology,” a statement said.

“These efforts will complement domestic actions taken by the Transportation Security Administration.”

The US government has raised its threat level to the highest level – red – for commercial flights from Britain to the US.

Officials in Washington said the terrorists had targeted three US airlines - United, American and Continental.

The alleged plotters had hoped to hit flights to major airports in New York, Washington and California.

The US government banned beverages, hair gels and lotions from flights, explaining only that liquids emerged as a risk from the investigation in Britain.

“We believe that these UK arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted,” US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

Mr Chertoff said in a statement that “currently, there is no indication ... of plotting within the United States“.

Prime Minister Tony Blair first spoke to US President George Bush about the alleged plot at the weekend, and updated him overnight as the police moved into action, CNN quoted a senior administration official saying.

CBP thanked passengers in advance for being patient as the security measures created delays on arrival in the US.

“CBP will constantly evaluate its security measures and update them as circumstances warrant,” it said.

It added: “The United States and the United Kingdom are fully united and resolute in this effort and in our ongoing efforts to secure our respective homelands.”