Direct flights between Yemen and UK suspended

Direct flights between Yemen and the UK have been suspended as part of enhanced security measures implemented by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The ban on flights between London and Sana’a comes as a response to the attempted terrorist attack allegedly carried out by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is believed to have been radicalised in Yemen.

The UK’s Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis said flights will only be resumed once the Yemeni government enhances airport security. Other security measures introduced by Brown include a new ‘no fly’ watch list to stop suspected terrorists boarding flights to the UK.

The news came on the same day that Yemeni fighter jets attacked the home of Ayed al-Shabwani, one of the leaders of the group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.