Reid warns of EU-wide terror threat

European ministers have released nearly £250,000 for urgent research into detecting liquid explosives after holding talks on the terrorist threat.

The decision to free up money from the EU budget was taken after Home Secretary John Reid briefed counterparts on the alleged plot to bring down transatlantic jets, according to Home Office sources.

Internet websites that "incite" acts of terrorism or carry bomb-making instructions could also be blocked under measures discussed during the meeting.

Earlier John Reid warned the whole of Europe faces a "very real" and "persistent" threat from terrorism.

Speaking after a meeting with EU counterparts in London, he said the problem was "not unique to the UK".

Mr Reid said: "What's clear to all of us is that we face a persistent and very real threat across Europe." Mr Reid said: "It is a threat we face here in Britain as individuals and as communities, but it's not unique to the UK. It affects us all across the European Union."

The talks were attended by French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy, German interior minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, and ministers from Finland, Portugal and Slovenia, as well as European Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini and EU Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator Gijs De Vries.

Mr Reid said Home Office minister Baroness Scotland and the Met's head of specialist operations Andy Hayman had also been present.

Mr Reid told a news conference of the reality of modern terrorism.

"The European Union and indeed the wider world is confronted by a form of terrorism that is unconstrained in its evil intention," he said. "Given the means of destruction on a massive scale which is available through modern technology and biological, chemical and other means, (it) is virtually unconstrained in its capacity and its ability to do immense harm, death and destruction."