UK introduces new anti terrorist measures for air travel

The ramifications of the Christmas Day terrorist attempt on a US-bound plane are still being felt in Britain, more so following the announcement by Gordon Brown on Wednesday that the aviation industry will be subjected to yet more security protocols. The failed bombing attempt of the Detroit flight has sent security measures across the globe spiralling and the latest move by the UK government is the establishing of a newly created no-flight list for suspected terrorists or people with terrorist ties as already employed by the US.

Also announced by Mr Brown was the immediate cessation of flights between London and the Yemen’s capital Sana, which had been running twice weekly. These flights were operated by Yemenia, the national carrier, and have been suspended until such time as airport security in the gulf state has been improved. Yemen has come increasingly under the media and political spotlight in the aftermath of the attempted terror attack after the would-be bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, claimed that he was trained inside Yemen by al-Qaeda operatives.

US security and intelligence agencies, along with British immigration officials, have all come under stern rebuke for failing to share information relating to the 23-year-old Abdulmutallab. UK intelligence agencies in particular came under fire for failing to notify their US counterparts of established terrorist links held by Abdulmutallab.

In announcing the new terror watch list Mr Brown declared the move as preventative and said it would monitor those who have not previously been associated with terror-related activities but that had shown up under surveillance of been found to have interactions with suspected organisations.