A high alert has been sounded at all airports in the country, particularly those in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, following threats of a possible terror attack by Al-Qaeda.
The security alert was issued on Wednesday after the Director of Tiruchirappali airport in Tamil Nadu received an anonymous letter warning of an attack by Al Qaeda at airports or on aircraft in South India.
Security was tightened at Tiruchirappali airport after a woman sweeper found the letter in the airport. The letter said about 10 Al Qaeda terrorists will break the security cordon and carry out attacks at airports. The airports that are placed on high alert are Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Trichy, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.
"While intelligence agencies and police are verifying the veracity of the information, we cannot take chances at any cost and have taken all precautionary measures," Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad told reporters in New Delhi, adding that enhanced security measures were already in place since the Mumbai train bombings on July 11.
According to aiport officials, there is a special mention in the letter of a car bomb and all two-wheelers and cars are being scanned carefully in coordination with state police.
Chennai Airport Director Dinesh Kumar said, "In light of this, we have taken it seriously and geared ourselves to face the situation. All procedures have been put in place."
A high-level meeting headed by IG (Intelligence) Subramanyam and Kumar, reviewed security arrangements at the airport on Wednesday following receipt of the letter.
Asked about reports that Al Qaeda operatives could have entered other airports through Chennai, Kumar said he could not comment on the matter. Police are ensuring that all vehicles entering the airport are thoroughly checked and that no vehicle remained in the airport's car park for more than the stipulated period, airport officials said.
A report from Coimbatore said strict vigil is being maintained in and around that city's airport. Security has been tightened in the airport, where passengers and visitors are being screened with metal detectors and sniffer dogs, police said.
Intelligence and police personnel have been deployed in and around the airport, they said.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has taken up the matter seriously and held a series of meetings with officials of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Home Ministry and CISF for reviewing the situation.
All necessary security measures have been put in place at all the airports to thwart any attack, official sources said in New Delhi. The measures included secondary ladder point check and thorough baggage check besides increased security at peripheral areas.
Jet Airways had last week received a similar threat against their Mumbai-London flight, while the Indira Gandhi International airport here received two threats last month. Meanwhile, the CISF has enhanced perimeter patrolling, frisking of passengers and checking of all baggage, including that of staff members. Spotters and marshals have also been alerted.
