Gun cops take to skies

Undercover armed air marshalls are to be placed on UK flights to the US. Pilots’ union BALPA claimed some members might refuse to fly unless they received assurances that pilots retained control of their aircraft and knew when marshalls were on board.

The decision to introduce marshalls – all of whom will have a police or military background – is believed to have been taken in response to the heightened terror alert in the US. Air France was forced to cancel Paris flights to Los Angeles and Cincinnatti over Christmas because of security fears.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has warned terrorists could be in the “final stages” of planning new attacks in Saudi Arabia. The warning, based on intelligence, includes possible attacks on residential compounds housing UK workers.