Gordon Brown signalled a major tightening of security at UK airports today, insisting it was “essential” to respond to new terrorist threats.
Mr Brown said the authorities were acting “quickly” in the wake of the failed Detroit airliner plot and body scanners were already on order.
The comments, in an interview with the BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, came after it was announced that the UK and US are jointly funding a counter-terrorism unit in Yemen — where the suspected attacker, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is thought to have been radicalised.
“This is a new type of threat and it is from a new source which is obviously Yemen, but there are many other potential sources Somalia, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Mr Brown said.
“First of all in airports people will see gradually being brought in the use of a full body scanners.
“They will see checks for explosives traces that will be done on hand luggage. Transit passengers will also be checked as well as transfer passengers. We will do everything in our power to tighten up on security that is essential. ” We have recognised that there are now forms of weapon that are being used by al Qaeda and we have got to respond accordingly.“
PA