Security tightens after bombings

Extra police were deployed at Cardiff railway stations

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has confirmed security has been stepped up around Wales after the London bombings.

Hospitals, including Morriston Hospital in Swansea, which has a specialist burns unit, were on standby to help if needed, he said.

But police stress there has been no specific threat to Wales and said there is no suggestion it is a potential target for terrorists.

Meanwhile, religious leaders in Wales united to condemn the attacks.

Speaking on BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, Mr Morgan revealed that the Welsh Assembly Government had an official on the UK government's emergency response team, Cobra, which only convenes at times of major disaster.

The official is said to be keeping ministers in Wales constantly updated.

Mr Morgan also warned against retribution and urged that no-one jump to conclusions about which community the terrorists came from.

Security at Paddington station in London after the bombings

"You should never do it and I will not stand by if anybody in Wales draws the wrong conclusion and starts to take the law into their own hands," he added.

Meanwhile, police and politicians urged that people carry on with their normal lives, but hoped a more visible security presence offer reassurance.

Extra police officers have been drafted in to carry out check along the M4, at bus depots, airports and ports.

While security had been raised against "hard targets", Mr Morgan explained that it was "pretty well impossible" to protect "soft targets" such as buses and the Tube.

Terrorism has got no religion - all Muslims throughout Wales and Britain will pray...for the people Saleem Kidwai, Muslim Council of Wales

In the meantime, he said an assembly government emergency planning official inside the Cobra committee was providing regular updates, and Wales had already carried out an exercise in preparation for just such an attack.

On Friday, archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith and Saleem Kidwai, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales, were united in their condemnation of the attacks.

Mr Kidwai told BBC Wales: "Terrorism has got no religion. All Muslims throughout Wales and Britain will pray today, Friday, our special day, for the people".

Archbishop Smith said: "The disaster would be - and we would let them win - if we allowed this sort of incident to cause more hatred."

As prayers for the dead and injured were said at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan said the attacks had "shocked people from all religious communities and of none".

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