BA suspends Saudi flights

British Airways today cancelled flights amid fears of a terrorist attack.

All flights to Saudi Arabia were suspended indefinitely amid fears that groups linked to al Qaeda were planning to launch a rocket attack on a British plane.

The possibility of cancelling scheduled flights to other destinations, especially in the Middle East, has not been ruled out.

The dramatic development came amid heightened tensions in Saudi Arabia where a terror cell of at least 10 militants is on the run after a shoot-out involving special forces and a helicopter gunship on Sunday in the capital Riyadh.

All flights to Riyadh and Jeddah, a total of four to each destination every week, were cancelled by the airline after a crisis meeting with officials.

BA's safety and security director, Geoff Want, said today: "As a matter of precaution we have decided to suspend all flights to Saudi Arabia for the time being and we will continue to liaise closely with the British government."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "There is credible intelligence of a serious threat to UK aviation interests in Saudi Arabia."

Sources said the terror fears revolved around fears that a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher could be used against a British plane.

It came as a British arms dealer was appearing in court in America to face charges of planning to supply a sophisticated rocket which he claimed could have been used to take down Air Force One.