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Days after an anonymous letter in Tiruchirapalli warned of Al Qaeda strikes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has alerted Indian security agencies about a similar threat to airports in the country.
Official sources said the US security agency has warned its Indian counterparts of possible attacks on airports and vital installations across the country by Al Qaeda terrorists.
Security was beefed up at all airports across the country, especially those in Chennai and other southern cities following the discovery of the letter at Tiruchirapalli airport by a sweeper last week.
The handwritten letter in Tamil claimed Al Qaeda was going to attack the Chennai airport with sophisticated technology as it had done in Thailand.
Similar attacks would follow in Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and airports in Kerala, it said.
The letter claimed about 10 Al Qaeda terrorists or suicide bombers would penetrate security and carry out attacks in airports.
The airports placed on high alert are Chennai, Kochi, Tiruchirapalli, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore, sources said.
The enhanced security measures include strict access control, heightened surveillance, peripheral security, increased profiling, X-Ray and physical checks of hand baggage and restrictions in carrying liquid and gels on board aircraft.
All airlines have been asked to request passengers to cooperate with the enhanced security drill and to reach airports a little ahead of time. "There could be some delays due to the enhanced checks," he said.