Airports beef up security

Security precautions have also been taken by airlines operating out of Trinidad and Tobago that fly to the US and UK.

TT High Commissioner to the UK, Glenda Morean-Phillip, yesterday said no TT national is among the 21 persons arrested by British security forces in connection with the terrorist plot.

British Home Secretary Dr John Reid and British Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said the authorities had foiled a major terrorist operation and the resulting heightened security measures being implemented at UK airports would cause major disruptions for passengers and delays to flights.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre in the UK raised the nation’s alert level to the highest level of “critical.” The US Department of Homeland Security has initiated a code red alert for all flights between the UK and US and raised the alert level from code yellow to orange for all commercial aviation operating in or destined to the United States.

In a statement yesterday, the Airports Authority of TT (AATT) announced that it had heightened security at Piarco and Crown Point in light of events in the UK. The AATT said more stringent checks would be made on passenger and baggage movements. The AATT said a combined canine unit from the Police Service and the Customs and Excise Division will be conducting inspections of all items allowed by the airlines as carry-on luggage.

The AATT also advised persons travelling to the US and UK to maintain contact with their respective airlines for information about their flights and any new requirements regarding their luggage. When Newsday visited Piarco airport yesterday, there were regular announcements over the public address system that any baggage left unattended would be considered a security threat and be “confiscated and destroyed.” Passengers were also advised that all liquids in their possession, including perfumes and liquor purchased in the airport’s duty free shops, would not be allowed on the aircraft.

Security officers were observed searching the baggage of passengers and checking the terminal for anything which could be considered a security risk.

Despite the heightened security, there were large numbers of persons at nearly all of the airline check-in counters. The largest groupings were at the American Airlines, Travel Span and BWIA counters. Some passengers said while they were concerned about the events unfolding in the UK and the resulting flight delays, they remained confident that the local security forces were taking the necessary precautions. BWIA, American Airlines and Continental Airlines all said they were adhering to the heightened security measures arising out of yesterday’s terror threat.

They advised passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure, minimise carry-on luggage and not to pack any liquids or gels in their carry-on baggage. BWIA officials said while its morning flight to London arrived two hours late, the rest of its flights left Piarco on time.

Asked about delays to its arriving flights from New York and Georgetown, Guyana, the officials said mechanical problems to the aircraft were involved but it was possible that increased security in the US could have delayed the New York flight. They said another BWIA flight to London was scheduled to depart TT at 8 pm yesterday. United Airlines said none of its flights into and out of TT was affected by the terror threat.

Morean-Phillip told Newsday she has received no information that any of the persons detained by British authorities were TT citizens. She said no additional security measures had been implemented at the TT High Commission and there have been no calls to the commission from nationals who were caught in the delays at UK and other European airports yesterday. At the British High Commission in St Clair, press and political officer Brett Bulling declined to comment on the level of security there. However, when Newsday visited the commission yesterday, a “No Parking” sign and construction cones were placed along part of the street near its entrance. Bulling said the British Government is advising all persons (British and foreign nationals) to continue travelling to the UK but be aware of the heightened security measures and cooperate with the authorities.

Officials at the US Embassy in Port-of-Spain said no additional security measures were implemented there and it was business as usual yesterday.