Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the failed attack revealed there was a "new type of threat" which needed to be quickly addressed.

"First of all, in airports people will see gradually being brought in the use of full body scanners," he told the BBC.

"They will see checks for explosives traces that will be done on hand luggage. Transit passengers will also be checked as well as transfer passengers."

Mr Brown said it was impossible to know for certain that the new technology would work.

"We cannot be convinced of the absolute proof of the working at 100% level of any technology, that is absolutely true," he said.

"We have found that there is a new form of explosive that is not being identified by ordinary machines.

"We have got to go further. Our first duty is to the security of the people of this country."

Who the fcuk's Gordon been talking to exactly, especially to get movement on this so quickly?

the most heavy defended building on the planet got hit by a (so called) aircraft
it is called the 'pentagon'

They don't sound like they're worth the cost, do they?

That's OK - I don't fly anywhere now

Body scanners are to be introduced at Heathrow airport in about three weeks, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said.

He also told the House of Commons that all UK airports must have new "explosion trace detection equipment" by the end of the year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8441205.stm

I'll be interested to see if there's any anecdotal evidence of this putting people off flying

"Explosion trace"? By that do they mean burning airliners or flatten houses?