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URGENT ACTION NEEDED AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE CHANNEL

Prime Minister Tony Blair has been warned that urgent action needs to be taken to stop al-Qaeda attacking cruise liners and oil tankers, writes the Daily Mirror.

Experts warn that cruise ships with up to 5,000 passengers could be sunk by a small number of terrorists, and an attack in the English Channel could have devastating consequences to life as well as to the environment and economy.

Last month pirates attacked a luxury cruise liner off the coast of Africa with guns and rockets.

The Mirror report that security sources fear the raid could inspire terrorists to launch a Christmas spectacular against a passenger ship causing mass casualties.

In an international agreement on combating terror it concludes maritime security is the weak link in the defence against another 9/11 type attack.

The document, agreed by the Prime Minister and more than 30 other world leaders, said more must be done to lessen the "serious" risk of an attack at sea.