US issues worldwide travel alert ahead of 9/11 anniversary - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:19 PM on 5th September 2011
The US State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and warned Americans living and travelling abroad to remain vigilant.
The Department has not identified any specific threats, but warned that Al Qaeda had 'demonstrated the intent and capability to carry out attacks' against the US and US interests.
Lasting legacy: The effects of the tragic events in New York are still very much evident a decade on
In particular it stated that : 'In the past, terrorist organisations have on occasion planned their attacks to coincide with significant dates on the calendar.'
The warning blankets the entire globe, with no specific country or area given greater significance.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said: 'We remain at a heightened state of vigilance, and security measures are in place to detect and prevent plots against the United States should they emerge.'
She added: 'While threats remain, our nation is stronger than it was on 9/11, more prepared to confront evolving threats, and more resilient than ever before.'
The alert will not expire until January 2, 2012.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said security measures were in place to 'detect and prevent' any plots against the United States
The tragic events of 9/11 have led to air travellers around the world having to contend with a decade of stringent security at airports.
And the attempts by terrorists to emulate the destruction wrought by the Al Qaeda September 2001 plot has meant that aviation security has had to strive constantly to remain one step ahead of the bombers.
'One thing is certain. Tight security is here to stay,' said David Learmount, operations and security editor of aerospace publisher Flight Global.
He went on: 'The hope is that the checks, although remaining stringent, will become less invasive.'
Stringent security measures at airports - including the introduction of body scanners - are a lasting legacy of the 9/11 attacks
At first, the main changes to airport security were to be seen in America where baggage checks, particularly of checked-in luggage, were made far more stringent.
But airports worldwide had to make further changes after British-born 'shoe bomber' Richard Reid was held on a Paris to Miami flight in December 2001.
A special memorial photography exhibition entitled 'Here Is New York' is being held in the city as part of the tenth anniversary of the attacks
His actions, for which he is now serving a life sentence, led to passengers passing through security often having to take their shoes off.
Another big change for UK air travellers came in August 2006 when the foiling of a plot to destroy aircraft resulted in the liquid ban.
The lengths to which the terrorists would go was shown on Christmas Day 2009 when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to explode a device hidden in his underwear on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. He currently faces charges in the USA.
As the decade has gone on airports have attempted to bring in ever-more sophisticated equipment to beat the bombers. Body scanning has been trialled in the UK, while at any airport at any time passengers may be required to remove coats, jackets and belts.
Day of remembrance: New York will mark the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in a sombre ceremony at Ground Zero on Friday
There was a time when items such as razors and nail scissors would have been allowed in hand luggage. But that is no longer the case.
America has even gone as far as introducing armed air marshals on flights.
Another change has been the re-enforcement of cockpit doors. They are now locked during flights and can withstand the strongest of assaults.
Mr Learmount said: 'It's certainly getting harder for terrorists to breach airport security. But the would-be bombers are persistent and security experts have to try to anticipate their next move. It's a game of cat and mouse.
'What the International Air Transport Association and the equipment manufacturers would ideally like to see is a situation where passengers walk through an airport security area and as they do so they are scanned, their bags are scanned, their biometric passport is scanned and the whole process is relatively painless and queue-free.
'The checks will continue. It's the way they are done that will change.'
Book your travel CALL 0808 230 1002
--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGOZAL3xhYoEzM9m3rzVZ9j3ILg8A&url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2033873/9-11-anniversary-The-US-issues-worldwide-travel-alert-marks-years-terror-attacks.html
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
