Al-Qaida threat not diminished by the death of Osama bin Laden, Britons told

Monday, May 2, 2011

Al-Qaida threat not diminished by the death of Osama bin Laden, Britons told

British military bases on high alert as PM calls for vigilance

British military bases were placed on a high state of alert and British citizens were advised to remain vigilant as the government warned of retaliatory attacks by al-Qaida or one of its affiliates after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Liam Fox, the defence secretary, said he had ordered all military bases to maintain a "high level of vigilance" and Theresa May, the home secretary, called for people to report suspicious activity.

Fox said: "In view of the possibility of violent attacks from al-Qaida or its sympathisers, I have directed my department to maintain a high level of vigilance in all UK defence facilities at home and abroad."

May said: "There is a continuing need for everyone to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police."

Britain was one of the first countries to be told of the successful operation against Bin Laden. David Cameron was woken at Chequers in the early hours of yesterday to take a phone call from Barack Obama shortly before the president's live address at the White House at 4.30am UK time.

The prime minister then telephoned Nick Clegg, William Hague, Fox, May and Sir Peter Ricketts, the national security adviser. Shortly after sunrise the prime minister, who will make a statement to MPs this afternoon, recorded brief remarks for television.

Cameron said Obama's announcement would be welcomed across the country but that the world still faced a threat from "extremist terrorism". "Indeed, we will have to be particularly vigilant in the weeks ahead. But it is, I believe, a massive step forward."

He added: "I would like to congratulate the US forces who carried out this brave action. I would like to thank President Obama for ordering this action."

"But above all today, we should think of the victims of the poisonous extremism that this man has been responsible for. Of course, nothing will bring back those loved ones that families have lost to terror. But at least they know the man who was responsible for these appalling acts is no more."Fox told Sky News that Bin Laden's death was "highly iconic" and a milestone in the battle against international terror. "In terms of operational signifcance it is probably less important than it might have been a few years ago," he added. "Al-Qaida is a very violent ideology and the threat of al-Qaida will not go away with the death of Bin Laden, welcome though that is."

"We should remember there is still a threat from al Qaida and al Qaida affiliates. This was not an organisation that was one man deep. The threat from al Qaida will not go away with the death of one man."

Tony Blair, prime minister during the 9/11 attacks, said: "This operation shows that no matter how difficult it is, how long it takes, however much the perpetrator of violence tries to hide ? if you, by acts of terror, kill innocent civilians we will find you and we will bring you to justice." Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who chairs the parliamentary intelligence and security committee, hoped Bin Laden's death could be a "tipping point" in the struggle against al-Qaida.

The prime minister chaired a meeting of Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) at 8pm yesterday after telephoning Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan, and Yousuf Raza Gilani, the country's prime minister. He also spoke to Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

Nicholas Watt

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