LONDON, Feb 11: Britain drafted hundreds of troops into Heathrow airport and other key sites around London on Tuesday as a precaution against possible Al Qaeda attacks during Eid-ul-Azha.

Police said the measure was precautionary and designed to coincide with Eid.

“From time to time, it is necessary to raise levels of security activity,” the Metropolitan police said in a statement. “We think it is prudent to do so now.”

“The current strengthening of security is precautionary and is related to action being taken in other countries and the possibility that the end of the religious festival of Eid may erroneously be used by al Qaeda and associated networks to mount attacks.”

They said heightened security would be most visible at London’s biggest airport, Heathrow, and was connected to “a potential threat to the capital”.

The use of troops to support police is not unusual in Britain and was used for years in Northern Ireland to deal with the threat from Irish Republican Army guerrillas.

But this is the first time the army has been posted at Heathrow since 1994, when the IRA tried to launch a mortar attack on the airport.

British police do not habitually carry arms.

Some 450 troops were guarding the airport, with other soldiers working alongside police in central London.

Heathrow managing director, Mick Temple, called for passengers’ understanding.

“We would ask passengers to continue to be vigilant and patient in the light of any delays caused by these or any other additional security measures..,” he said.

Those passing through the airport on Tuesday morning welcomed the appearance of tanks and armoured cars on the approach to the passenger terminals.

“At first I felt quite threatened when I saw the soldiers but it does make me feel safer knowing they are here,” said Marguerite Withers, 66, flying to Dubai to visit her son.

Russell Steingolb, a 39-year-old New Yorker travelling to Paris, said: “When I saw the tanks pull up my first reaction was that this is a sign of war but as a passenger it does make me feel safer, absolutely.—Reuters