Harry security raised after threat

By OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT

London

Aug. 3: Prince Harry’s security has been raised to the level provided to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, due to threat from an Al Qaeda cell. Specific intelligence of a threat to the 23-year-old Prince Harry was passed by British spies to Scotland Yard’s elite royal and diplomatic protection department, according to a report in the News of the World.

"In the last two weeks there has been specific intelligence of a threat to Prince Harry. Of course, given the source and the Prince’s status as a serving Army officer who has seen active service in Afghanistan, it is being treated seriously. Every precaution is being taken," the weekly newspaper quoted an unnamed security source as saying.

Prince Harry, who is currently on holiday in Africa with girlfriend Chelsy Davy, had returned to Britain in March after secretly on combat duty in Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Prince Harry spent the past 10 weeks working as a battlefield air controller and Spartan reconnaissance vehicle commander.

He was Cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed, who had led radical group Al-Muhajiroun in Britain until it was disbanded, had warned that Prince Harry’s deployment would be used as a recruiting tool for Al Qaeda and could provoke new terror attacks on Britain. Chelsy’s security too will be beefed up whenever she is with him. "When she is out with William she is assigned a member of the Scotland Yard team," the article quoted a security source saying.

It gives her a flavour of what it’s like, with a view to permanent protection should an engagement follow," the article quoted a security source said.