BA 'targeted by al-Qaeda'
LONDON, 17 MAY 2003 (BBC)--The suspension of UK flights to and from Kenya was sparked by a specific threat by terror network al-Qaeda to British Airways, a Kenyan minister has said. The UK Government halted flights by British airlines to the east African country on Friday amid fears an al-Qaeda terrorist attack on a British jet was imminent.

Kenya's national security minister said the threat had been directed at British Airways planes flying to the capital Nairobi.

"Intelligence reports received indicate that British Airways was a target of attacks - that is why they took such pre-emptive measures but we are assuring them and other international airlines that Kenya has stepped up security everywhere," said Kenyan minister Chris Murungaru.

He added that the "timeframe" for the attacks was from this week until the end of May.

The Kenyan flight ban was introduced as the Foreign Office issued a new warning of a "clear terrorist threat" in six East African countries - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. MORE