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US Raise Security Threat Level To Severe

10th August 2006 The US government said it had raised the security threat level for aviation following the announcement that British security services had foiled a plot to bomb aircraft traveling from the UK to the United States.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the threat level for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom would be raised to "severe," or red, the highest threat level and an unprecedented move for the United States in its war on terror.

Chertoff said the department was taking immediate steps to increase security measures in aviation in coordination with heightened UK security precautions.

"For that reason, the United States Government has raised the nation's threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States," Chertoff said in a statement.

The US is also deploying extra air marshals on flights between the UK and the US .

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