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PM defiant over 'al-Qaeda threat' PM defiant over 'al-Qaeda threat'
(about 1 hour later)
Britain will not yield despite a sustained threat from people associated with al-Qaeda, Gordon Brown has said after three terror attacks in the UK.Britain will not yield despite a sustained threat from people associated with al-Qaeda, Gordon Brown has said after three terror attacks in the UK.
The prime minister was speaking to the BBC after Saturday's attack on Glasgow Airport was linked to the two car bombs found in London's West End on Friday. The prime minister was speaking after a burning car driven into Glasgow Airport on Saturday was linked to two car bombs found in London's West End on Friday.
Five people have been arrested over the attacks and police are searching houses in the village of Houston near Glasgow.Five people have been arrested over the attacks and police are searching houses in the village of Houston near Glasgow.
Two were held at the airport, two later in Cheshire and a fifth in Liverpool.Two were held at the airport, two later in Cheshire and a fifth in Liverpool.
Critical condition
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the British public would not be "intimidated or let anyone stop us getting on with our lives".Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the British public would not be "intimidated or let anyone stop us getting on with our lives".
Speaking after the government's emergency response unit, Cobra, held its fourth meeting in three days, she said a formal statement will be made in the Commons on Monday.Speaking after the government's emergency response unit, Cobra, held its fourth meeting in three days, she said a formal statement will be made in the Commons on Monday.
One of the suspects held at Glasgow Airport suffered severe burns and was taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, where he is said to be in a critical condition.
Scotland Yard said two people arrested on the M6 in Cheshire overnight - a 26-year-old man and 27-year-old woman - have been brought to London for questioning.
A spokesperson said Merseyside Police had arrested a 36-year-old man and were searching two addresses in the Liverpool area.
'Maximum damage''Maximum damage'
The UK has moved to its highest level of terror alert - critical - after a burning car crashed into the airport. The UK has moved to its highest level of terror alert - critical - after a Jeep Cherokee believed to have contained gas cylinders crashed into the main doors of Glasgow Airport's main terminal and burst into flames.
Mr Brown told Andrew Marr on BBC1's Sunday AM it was "clear that we are dealing, in general terms, with people who are associated with al-Qaeda." Passengers and staff were evacuated from the airport class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6258242.stm">In quotes - Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/6257846.stm">Airport attack was terrorism class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6257388.stm">Your pictures: Glasgow alert
Mr Brown told Andrew Marr on BBC One's Sunday AM it was "clear that we are dealing, in general terms, with people who are associated with al-Qaeda".
"It's obvious that we have a group of people - not just in this country, but round the world - who're prepared at any time to inflict what they want to be maximum damage on civilians, irrespective of the religion of these people who are killed or maimed are to be," he said."It's obvious that we have a group of people - not just in this country, but round the world - who're prepared at any time to inflict what they want to be maximum damage on civilians, irrespective of the religion of these people who are killed or maimed are to be," he said.
Mr Brown also praised the "magnificent work" of police and security services and the public for being vigilant and for helping prevent what could have been loss of life. Mr Brown also praised the "magnificent work" of police and security services and the public for being vigilant.
He said people still needed to be "constantly vigilant" against what was a "long-term and sustained threat". He said people still needed to be "constantly vigilant" against a "long-term and sustained threat".
"We have to fight it in a number of different ways - militarily, by security, by police, by intelligence," he added. He added: "We've got to separate if you like those great moderate members of our community from a few extremists who wish to practise both violence and inflict maximum loss of life in the interests of a perversion of their religion."
"And I think it's important to say also on a day like this - we've got to also fight it as a battle of hearts and minds. Airport security
"We've got to separate if you like those great moderate members of our community from a few extremists who wish to practise both violence and inflict maximum loss of life in the interests of a perversion of their religion." An eyewitness to the arrests in Cheshire, Peter Whitehead, told BBC News 24 that three unmarked police cars straddled the motorway and brought traffic to a halt.
He said: "We will not allow anyone to undermine our British way of life." Counter-terrorism police made the arrests hours after Strathclyde police had confirmed they were linking the attack in Glasgow with events in London and treating it as a "terrorist incident".
Critical condition The Glasgow incident came after two Mercedes containing petrol, gas cylinders and nails were found outside the Tiger Tiger club in London's Haymarket and a nearby street on Friday, but the devices did not detonate.
Of the four people being held over the attacks, two men were arrested at Glasgow Airport, in Paisley, after their Jeep Cherokee crashed into the main doors and burst into flames.
Passengers and staff were evacuated from the airport Airport attack was terrorism Your pictures: Glasgow alert In quotes - Gordon Brown
One of the suspects suffered severe burns and was taken to the city's Royal Alexandra Hospital, where he is said to be in a critical condition.
The other two people were arrested on the M6 in Cheshire overnight and Merseyside Police later confirmed they were holding a person.
Earlier, an eyewitness to the arrests in Cheshire, Peter Whitehead told BBC News 24 that three cars straddled the motorway and brought traffic to a halt.
"It turned out they were unmarked police cars. In front of them were a couple of other unmarked police cars and they forced a car onto the hard shoulder and got the occupants out and as far as I can see arrested them," he said.
Counter-terrorism police made the arrests hours after Strathclyde police had confirmed they were linking the attack in Glasgow with events in London.
Chief Constable Willie Rae said: "There are clearly similarities, and we can confirm that [the Glasgow attack] is being treated as a terrorist incident."
Gas cylinders
Strathclyde Police had believed he was in possession of "a suspect device", but it was later found not to be explosive.
The vehicle involved has been made safe and will be examined by forensic experts.
'CRITICAL' THREAT LEVEL Critical - an attack is expected imminentlyIt is the highest of five threat levels under the new system which began in August 2006It can be based on intelligence but in this case is understood to have been raised because previous attacks suggest riskIt is the second time the UK has been 'critical' under the system
Two Mercedes containing petrol, gas cylinders and nails were found outside the Tiger Tiger club in London's Haymarket and a nearby street on Friday, but the devices did not detonate.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the decision to raise the UK's security level to critical on Saturday reflected concern that those responsible have the capability and intent to carry out further bombings.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the decision to raise the UK's security level to critical on Saturday reflected concern that those responsible have the capability and intent to carry out further bombings.
He said the similarities between the attacks suggested they were carried out by the same individuals or by members of the same cell.He said the similarities between the attacks suggested they were carried out by the same individuals or by members of the same cell.
The critical threat level, the highest one possible, indicates terror attacks are "imminent".The critical threat level, the highest one possible, indicates terror attacks are "imminent".
All flights to and from Glasgow Airport were suspended after the attack. Flights have resumed at Glasgow Airport after being suspended.
The airport is now operating a phased reopening and flights from Orlando and Ibiza have arrived. A number of other airports have stepped up security, including Heathrow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Blackpool.
And a number of other airports stepped up security, including Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Blackpool.
Security has also been tightened at airports across the US.Security has also been tightened at airports across the US.
'Major escalation''Major escalation'
Lord Stevens, Mr Brown's new terrorism adviser, said the attacks signalled a "major escalation in the war being waged on us by Islamic terrorists". Lord Stevens, Mr Brown's new terrorism adviser, has said the attacks signalled a "major escalation in the war being waged on us by Islamic terrorists".
He wrote in his column in the News of the World: "It is clear a loose but deadly network of interlinked operational cells has developed."He wrote in his column in the News of the World: "It is clear a loose but deadly network of interlinked operational cells has developed."
He also tells the paper the trick of exploding one device and shortly afterwards igniting another to catch fleeing crowds was "textbook al-Qaeda". 'CRITICAL' THREAT LEVEL Critical - an attack is expected imminentlyIt is the highest of five threat levels under the new system which began in August 2006It can be based on intelligence but in this case is understood to have been raised because previous attacks suggest riskIt is the second time the UK has been 'critical' under the system
Police have been increasing patrols and security for events in London over the weekend, including the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. He also said the "trick" of exploding one device and shortly afterwards igniting another to catch fleeing crowds was "textbook al-Qaeda".
The Met Police said plans for the concert had been "thoroughly reviewed" and advised people to arrive early as there may be delays due to increased searches. The Met Police, meanwhile, have been increasing patrols and security for events in London over the weekend, including the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium.
It said people should bring the "minimum amount" of items and there would be no access to any Wembley car parks except for people who had pre-booked a space in advance."
The British Muslim Forum condemned the attempted attacks.The British Muslim Forum condemned the attempted attacks.
"We take the heightened security level extremely seriously and urge all of our communities to remain calm, be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the authorities," chair Khurshid Ahmed said in a statement."We take the heightened security level extremely seriously and urge all of our communities to remain calm, be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the authorities," chair Khurshid Ahmed said in a statement.
"It is the duty of every British citizen to assist the police in safeguarding national security and ensuring the safety of all our citizens.""It is the duty of every British citizen to assist the police in safeguarding national security and ensuring the safety of all our citizens."
Police have urged anyone with information to phone the confidential Anti-Terrorism hotline number on 0800789321.
Police have urged anyone with information to phone the confidential Anti-Terrorism hotline number on 0800789321.
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