Hajj pilgrims warned to be 'vigilant' against terrorism

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has warned Britain's 20,000 Hajj pilgrims to be vigilant as Saudi Arabia could be the target for a terror attack.

Mr Straw said that Saudi Arabia, like many other countries, had "suffered some dreadful violence of terrorism over the last year", and that was likely to continue in the government's opinion.

"I would advise those pilgrims performing Hajj this year to remain vigilant, to take all necessary steps to protect their safety and make sure they have confidence in their individual security arrangements," he said.

Mr Straw was speaking as the Foreign Office, in partnership with the British Muslim community, sent its British Hajj delegation to Mecca to provide help and support to the thousands of British pilgrims that are expected to perform the Hajj this year.

The Secretary of State launched the delegation with Lord Patel of Blackburn (Leader of the British Hajj Delegation) and Dr Al-Dubayan (Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre), at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Regents Park today.

The delegation will leave for Mecca on 21 January and is due to return on 8 February. The Hajj takes place between 31 January and 4 February. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will contribute £30,000 towards the cost of the delegation.

Around two million people from all around the world make the Hajj pilgrimage each year. This will be the fifth-ever official Hajj delegation.

At the launch of the British Hajj Delegation at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Regents Park, Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw said: "The British Hajj delegation provides invaluable consular, medical and pastoral help to British Hajjis. Last year, the volunteer doctors and counsellors of the delegation provided assistance and advice to more than 1,500 British pilgrims, which illustrates the scale of responsibility on the shoulders of a relatively small delegation."

(gmcg)