Last Updated: Thursday, 15 May, 2003, 16:56 GMT 17:56 UK
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Terror alert grounds Kenya flights
A suicide attack on a hotel near Mombasa killed 15
All UK flights to and from Kenya are to be suspended because of threats to British planes, the Department for Transport has announced.
The suspension starts from 2200BST on Thursday, because the threat level to UK planes has “increased to imminent”, the Association of British Travel Agents said.
British Airways has cancelled its daily departure to Kenya and is making arrangements to transfer hundreds of stranded passengers into Tanzania to fly them back to the UK.
The announcement follows warnings from the US about possible terrorist attacks throughout East Africa and south-east Asia, following Monday’s suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia which killed 34 people.
Last November there was a failed attempt to shoot down a plane carrying Israeli tourists from a holiday resort near Mombasa.
Warning
Fifteen people, mostly Kenyans, were killed in a suicide attack on the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel near Mombasa at the same time as the attempt to shoot down the plane.
The BBC’s Daniel Sandford said flights were being suspended, according to Whitehall sources, over concerns about “personnel and weaponry” being in place, although it may not necessarily be an attempt to shoot down a passenger aircraft.
It is not yet known if the change to the threat level for flights to Kenya is related to recent comments by Kenyan police about alleged al-Qaeda operatives.
Matthew Kabetu, head of Kenya’s anti-terrorism unit, told the Associated Press on Thursday that an al-Qaeda suspect may have returned to the country.
Q&A: Kenya travel plans
Al-Qaeda ‘threat remains’
US issues Kenya alert
Fazul Abdullah Mohammed is wanted in connection with the US embassy bombing in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and the attacks in Mombasa in November last year.
The Kenyan authorities have issued his photograph and details, and he is believed to be the chief architect of November’s bombing of the hotel, which killed 15 people.
Earlier on Thursday, the United States urged its citizens to postpone non-essential trips to Kenya, due to fears of possible terror attacks by groups linked to al-Qaeda.
The State Department fears an attack could be timed to coincide with Thursday’s celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, “Maulid”.
The attacks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, have been blamed on al-Qaeda by the American and Saudi Governments.
Passenger safety
British Airways operates daily services between London and Nairobi and a flight to Nairobi was due to leave Heathrow airport at 2150 BST on Thursday.
The other British airline which flies direct to Kenya is the chartered airline Monarch, which has also cancelled its weekly Sunday flight.
Kenya Airways is still flying between the UK and Kenya, but other Western airlines are said to be considering their position.
A BA spokesman added: “The safety and security of our customers is always our first priority and will never be compromised.”
An ABTA spokesman advised passengers due to travel to Kenya to contact their travel agents to make alternative arrangements.
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