03.05.11
British Forces on high states of alert
David Cameron has said he sees Osama Bin Laden’s death as a significant step forward in the fight against “extremist terror” but has warned Britain to be vigilant in the weeks to come.
British military forces are on higher states of alert after David Cameron headed a 45-minute meeting with the UK's emergency response committee, Cobra. He has also spoken to Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan and the country's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the situation following the al-Qaeda leader’s death this weekend. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has also been contacted with a view to counter any potential terrorist reprisals.
UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox spoke to the Guardian and said: "In view of the possibility of violent attacks from al-Qaeda or its sympathisers, I have directed my department to maintain a high level of vigilance in all UK defence facilities at home and abroad."
The US has put all embassies across the world on high alert in case of reprisal attacks from al-Qaeda.
Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to the BBC and warned: "We must remember that this is not the end of being vigilant against al-Qaeda and associated groups, and, in fact, there may be parts of al-Qaeda that will try to show that they are still in business in the coming weeks, as indeed some of them are.”
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