Here's how London transport is increasing security after the Brussels attacks
Travel to and from the Belgian capital has also been affected, with flights between the UK and Brussels cancelled for a second day.
The number of police officers has been increased across London and the UK at "key locations, including transport hubs, to protect the public and provide reassurance," Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the national lead for Counter-Terrorism Policing, said in the statement.
"The threat to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe as it has been since August 2014, meaning an attack is highly likely," he said. The Metropolitan Police is advising members of the public "to be alert but not alarmed and report anything suspicious."
Rowley said that police forces have been enhanced "as a precaution" and "not in relation to any specific information or intelligence."
Here's what you need to know about the additional security measures in London, and how travel to and from Brussels is being effected.
Travelling in London
- Transport for London (TfL) is communicating with the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police following the attacks in Brussels, a spokesperson for TfL told Business Insider.
- The Metropolitan Police Service has stationed extra officers "who will carry out highly-visible patrols at key locations" across London "as part of reassurance measures," according to a statement from Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing. "The number of officers deployed will be regularly assessed," he said.
- The British Transport Police "is deploying extra resources at key locations" and "will continue to have highly visible officers across the train and tube network," Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas from British Transport Police, said in a statement. "This does not mean we have specific intelligence about those stations where the officers are posted, just that we are prepared for any eventuality."
- Police officers are present at all stations, a spokesperson for the British Transport Police told Business Insider. Armed police will also be on patrol.
- The British Transport Police is asking passengers to keep hold of their personal belongings when travelling. "At a time when sensitivity is heightened, a misplaced bag or piece of forgotten luggage could present a serious cause for concern and is something which is easily avoidable," Thomas said.
Airports
- Heathrow Airport: The airport is working with police to provide "a high visibility presence," Heathrow Airport's chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said in a statement. "We expect flights to Brussels Airport to be affected and ask passengers travelling there to check their flight status with their airline," he said.
- Luton Airport: "Security is always our priority. The police continue to provide a high visibility presence at London Luton Airport," a spokesperson for the airport, which is working with Bedfordshire Police, told Business Insider.
- Gatwick Airport: "As a result of the terrible incidents in Brussels, we have increased our security presence and patrols around the airport," a spokesperson for Gatwick said in a statement on the airport's website. "The safety of passengers and staff at Gatwick is the airport's absolute priority."
- Stansted Airport: Police presence has been increased in the airport's landside areas as a "precautionary measure," according to a statement posted on the Stansted press office Twitter page on March 22. Flight services have also been affected. "No airlines at Stansted offer direct flights to Brussels. All other flights are currently operating as normal," one tweet said.
Flights to/from Brussels
- British Airways: Customers who have booked flights to Brussels including travel up to March 29 are able to change their flights, according to the Evening Standard. Business Insider has contacted the airline for further comment.
- Brussels Airlines: The airline which flies out of several UK airports has cancelled flights between the UK and Brussels until Thursday, the Standard reports.
Eurostar service to/from Brussels
- Eurostar service to and from Brussels was temporarily cancelled following the attacks on March 22, according to a tweet posted to Eurostar's Twitter page.
- Trains to and from Brussels are operating as usual on March 23, though the rail service is advising passengers to allow one hour to pass through security checks, a spokesperson from Eurostar told Business Insider.
- "Eurostar functions at the highest security levels," the spokesperson said, with regard to the "enhanced" security checks cited in a service announcement on Eurostar's website.
- Customers who had planned to travel to or from Brussels on March 22, or those with bookings who no longer wish to travel to Brussels on March 23, can contact Eurostar to exchange or refund their bookings for free within 60 days.