Bag checks at stations

Baggage checks may be introduced at mainline railways stations in the wake of the Madrid bombings.

Police say they are considering tough new security checks for railway passengers as one tactic to thwart bombers. The move comes amid heightened fears of a terrorist attack in Britain.

Undercover officers have already been deployed on the Underground and Scotland Yard is sending anti-terrorist experts to Madrid to liaise with their Spanish counterparts.

Today it emerged that Spanish police have identified six Moroccans they believe masterminded the 10 rush-hour explosions last week which killed 200 people and left more than 1,500 injured.

One of the six identified has already been arrested. He is Jamal Zougam, who was recognised by two survivors of the blasts. He is said to have compelling links to London al Qaeda detainee Abu Qatada and the suicide bombers responsible for last year's attack in Casablanca which killed 45.

The respected Spanish daily newspaper El Pais said police sources believe the six Moroccans were the key players in a wider group that includes militants of many nationalities.

Later this week, a high-level summit of anti-terrorist experts from Britain and other EU countries is to be held in Madrid.

They will study what has been discovered so far in the Madrid investigation, exchange information and plan joint action across Europe to help the Spanish track down and capture those responsible for the atrocity.

Writing in the Evening Standard today, Scotland Yard chief Sir John Stevens admitted the terror threat to London was real but called on people to be vigilant to help defeat the threat.

Sir John also said police had succeeded in disrupting attacks that could have killed or maimed many people.