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Defence Minister warns of a possible air terror attack
Published on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 22:52, Updated on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 02:08 in Nation » India section
Tags: Defence Ministry, Terror Attacks , New Delhi
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New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony has warned of a 9/11-type terror threat from the air. While reviewing India's military readiness to face terrorist attacks, Antony called for greater coordination between the military and intelligence agencies.
According to police sources, an alert was received from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) that airports in Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi may come under attack and also that terrorists were likely to target the three hotels in suburban Chennai - Le Royal Meridien, The Trident and Radisson --all located within one to five km from the airport.
Police said security has been stepped up across Tamil Nadu, especially in view of the Mumbai terror attacks as well as the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6.
The Bureau is understood to have sent out the alert to the three airports following the intelligence reports.
The security alert came a day after top officials of Civil Aviation Ministry, Air Force, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and DGCA held a meeting in new Delhi on Wednesday to review the preparedness of "different layers" of security apparatus and safety mechanism in major airports as well in the wake of intelligence inputs.
Authorities have received "specific" information that terrorists were planning to attack airports on December 3, 4 or 5, sources said.
Keeping this in mind, sources said, "ladder-point" (at the time of boarding the plane) security checks have been introduced.
Major airports across the country, especially those in the western region, have been on high alert and extra vigil for the past few days following the terror strikes in Mumbai.
Extra surveillance has been mounted in most of the airports, with additional CISF and police personnel being deployed to keep an eye around the terminal as well as the perimeter.
Sniffer dogs have been deployed in some airports, while watchers in plainclothes were also put on the job. Sky Marshals were being put on planes flying on sensitive routes, sources said.
Antony has also been briefed about tightening of security on the Line of Control to prevent infiltration.
A week after terror attacks hit Mumbai, government of India is taking any clue of possible attack seriously and is leaving no stone unturned to buckle up the security issue.
Pakistan-trained terrorists launched coordinated attacks in Mumbai on September 26 targetting major landmarks including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Trident-Oberoi Hotel in a 60-hour frenzy, killing more than 200 people, many at the two hotels, where scores were held hostage.
(With inputs from PTI)
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