DFAT upgrades UK travel warning
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated advice about travel to the UK, warning people to exercise extreme caution and pay attention to their personal security.
The advice comes after UK police yesterday foiled a planned terrorist plot to bomb airliners travelling from Britain to the US.
The threat level in the UK and the US has been raised to the highest level of “critical” and airport security has been expanded.
The DFAT website does not stress the need to cancel any travel to the UK, but does encourage the monitoring of media for updated information and developments.
New temporary airplane security measures have been introduced by the British and US governments, and Qantas has confirmed it will comply with these.
Hand luggage will be severely restricted and people will only be able to take items like wallets, spectacles and prescription medication in a clear plastic bag on board.
People travelling with infants are allowed to take nappies, baby food and milk.
From today, there will be a ban on liquids, lotions and gels being taken on flights to the US.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the UK situation highlights the importance of getting surveillance and intelligence services right.
“I hope very much that the British and the American security authorities have nipped this in the bud,” he said.
“It does show that the war with fundamentalist terrorists is real and there [are] continuing incidents and continuing threats.”
Mr Beazley says Australia is vulnerable to the same type of threat.
“These are concerns that impact globally,” he said.
“We do talk an awful lot about laws in this country but what we do need to talk more and more always is practical measures.
“We need to get our responses right and we need to keep thinking through what are the right responses.”
Graham Muldoon
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