The Garda Superintendent with responsibility for Shannon Airport has revealed that security has been stepped up after reports that the airport could be a target for al-Qaeda.
Supt John Kerin of Ennis said they recognised there could be a threat to American passengers transiting and visiting the area. There was always a potential threat to an airport but they did not have any solid information that a terrorist attack was planned.
"You can't discount the possibility that there is such a threat with the ongoing situation and we are on the alert for that. If people have information that there is a threat by al-Qaeda or any other group we will ask them to come forward and give us information so we can investigate it," he said.
Supt Kerins said there is no evidence of any arms being brought through Shannon by the transiting US troops and added that they are monitoring the activities of demonstrators and keeping in touch with the people at the peace camp.
The airport director, Mr Martin Moroney, said as far as Aer Rianta was concerned, foreign military aircraft had been using Shannon Airport since the very beginning of the airport's operations.
"The charter flights have been going through for years and I am treating them purely as commercial airlines. We are going to operate our business here in line with our own business policy and in line with Government decisions."
Aer Rianta has confirmed over 1,000 US troops in desert camouflage transited the airport last Wednesday and about the same number came through on Thurday.