Britain was in a state of "heightened readiness" yesterday after plans for terrorist attacks in the US and Britain were found on a computer belonging to the man held responsible for the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in East Africa.
The Home Office said it did not regard the e-mails as constituting a specific threat, despite reports that US financial institutions in London had increased security precautions.
"We keep our threat level under constant review. If a specific threat arises we would review our levels accordingly," a spokeswoman said.
"If the public need to take specific action, we will issue advice and information immediately. We still say the threat remains real and serious," she added.
Press reports quoted unidentified sources in both Britain and the US saying that US banks could be targeted in Britain, but the BBC said the Home Office was seeking to calm fears regarding a possible attack.
E-mails about attacks on both countries were on a computer belonging to Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, wanted for bombing US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. He was seized by Pakistani officials eight days ago.
Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said: "We got a few e-mails from Ghailani's computer about attacks in the US and UK."
US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has issued a more specific warning, regarding a possible truck bomb directed at targets in New York, Washington or New Jersey.
The BBC's defense correspondent said the detailed planning for attacks on US buildings contrasted with "extremely vague" information on British targets.
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