LONDON (Reuters) - Western nations, Russia and Japan pledged new joint action to fight al Qaeda Friday as Britain erected concrete barriers round parliament and the United States issued precautions against a possible truck bombing.
A Homeland Security Department bulletin obtained by Reuters gave detailed information on threats involving "vehicle borne improvised explosive devices" -- commonly known as truck or car bombs.
"(The department) has no specific information to indicate that a truck bombing of any kind is currently being planned in the United States," said the bulletin, whose distribution list included major U.S. companies.
But the department said it wanted to advise the public as well as people who "own and operate facilities" about possible indicators of "terrorist attack planning."
The United States has raised its domestic terror alert status to orange -- the second-highest level -- and many other countries have stepped up warnings to citizens since bloody suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco last week.
In London, dozens of concrete blocks, each about the size of a single bed, were erected to prevent vehicles loaded with explosives from smashing into parliament and Big Ben.
Police said the operation, after nightfall Thursday, was "carried out on a precautionary basis" and was not a response to specific intelligence about terror attacks.
"While our message is still 'alert not alarm', we would reiterate appeals for the public to remain vigilant," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Britain has long feared it might be attacked because of its unflinching support for the U.S.-led war on terror. British troops fought alongside the Americans in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites).
The Group of Eight world powers -- the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia and Japan -- said Friday they were "totally mobilized against international terrorism."
"We pledged to pursue our effort further...by supplementing measures relating to the financing of terrorism," said a statement issued after G8 foreign ministers met in Paris. It gave no further details.
CRACKDOWN ON TERROR FUNDS
But French officials have said measures to be studied at a summit of G8 leaders in Evian, France next month would include aid to help poor countries crack down against terror funds, as well as steps to enhance transport security.
In a tape broadcast by Arab television channel al-Jazeera this week and said to be from a top aide to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), threatened jihad (holy war) against Britain as well as the United States, Australia and Norway.
Al Qaeda or groups linked to it have not carried out any successful bomb attacks on Western countries since the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. They have focused instead on targets in Kenya and Bali and, most recently, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
But other countries in Europe, besides Britain, remain vigilant.
"We have always been on high alert and we remain on high alert," said a security source in Italy, who declined to be named. "We are not taking the terrorist threat lightly."
A week ago, France raised its terror alert level to "orange" against a "plausible risk of terrorist action."
The decision was taken after suicide bombings in the Saudi capital Riyadh and the Moroccan city of Casablanca that together killed 75 people.
The level of vigilance varies among European Union (news - web sites) states.
In Austria, for example, security officials say they see no direct threat from Islamic militants. Visitors to government buildings in Vienna pass in and out without the airport-style metal detectors or bag searches common in other capitals.
Saudi Arabia has arrested suspected al Qaeda supporters over the Riyadh bombings, while Morocco said its investigation into the Casablanca attacks had revealed clear links with international terrorism.
"The methods, the type of almost military organization, the way the group was highly compartmentalized and operated underground, are methods used by international terrorism," said Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel.
While many ordinary Moroccans believe the bombers acted on orders from al Qaeda, government officials have not publicly established any links with bin Laden's network.
A Homeland Security Department bulletin obtained by Reuters gave detailed information on threats involving "vehicle borne improvised explosive devices" -- commonly known as truck or car bombs.
"(The department) has no specific information to indicate that a truck bombing of any kind is currently being planned in the United States," said the bulletin, whose distribution list included major U.S. companies.
But the department said it wanted to advise the public as well as people who "own and operate facilities" about possible indicators of "terrorist attack planning."
The United States has raised its domestic terror alert status to orange -- the second-highest level -- and many other countries have stepped up warnings to citizens since bloody suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco last week.
In London, dozens of concrete blocks, each about the size of a single bed, were erected to prevent vehicles loaded with explosives from smashing into parliament and Big Ben.
Police said the operation, after nightfall Thursday, was "carried out on a precautionary basis" and was not a response to specific intelligence about terror attacks.
"While our message is still 'alert not alarm', we would reiterate appeals for the public to remain vigilant," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Britain has long feared it might be attacked because of its unflinching support for the U.S.-led war on terror. British troops fought alongside the Americans in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq (news - web sites).
The Group of Eight world powers -- the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia and Japan -- said Friday they were "totally mobilized against international terrorism."
"We pledged to pursue our effort further...by supplementing measures relating to the financing of terrorism," said a statement issued after G8 foreign ministers met in Paris. It gave no further details.
CRACKDOWN ON TERROR FUNDS
But French officials have said measures to be studied at a summit of G8 leaders in Evian, France next month would include aid to help poor countries crack down against terror funds, as well as steps to enhance transport security.
In a tape broadcast by Arab television channel al-Jazeera this week and said to be from a top aide to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), threatened jihad (holy war) against Britain as well as the United States, Australia and Norway.
Al Qaeda or groups linked to it have not carried out any successful bomb attacks on Western countries since the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. They have focused instead on targets in Kenya and Bali and, most recently, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.
But other countries in Europe, besides Britain, remain vigilant.
"We have always been on high alert and we remain on high alert," said a security source in Italy, who declined to be named. "We are not taking the terrorist threat lightly."
A week ago, France raised its terror alert level to "orange" against a "plausible risk of terrorist action."
The decision was taken after suicide bombings in the Saudi capital Riyadh and the Moroccan city of Casablanca that together killed 75 people.
The level of vigilance varies among European Union (news - web sites) states.
In Austria, for example, security officials say they see no direct threat from Islamic militants. Visitors to government buildings in Vienna pass in and out without the airport-style metal detectors or bag searches common in other capitals.
Saudi Arabia has arrested suspected al Qaeda supporters over the Riyadh bombings, while Morocco said its investigation into the Casablanca attacks had revealed clear links with international terrorism.
"The methods, the type of almost military organization, the way the group was highly compartmentalized and operated underground, are methods used by international terrorism," said Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel.
While many ordinary Moroccans believe the bombers acted on orders from al Qaeda, government officials have not publicly established any links with bin Laden's network.
