British Prime Minister David Cameron, following the attacks in Brussels, called an emergency meeting of COBRA, the special government committee that handles national security at a time of crisis.

Britain’s level of security alert for international terrorism is currently at severe, which means an attack is highly likely, officials said.

The COBRA committee, named after Cabinet Meeting Room A in which h it holds its meeting, groups senior cabinet ministers, intelligence service chiefs, senior police officers and members of the military, including Britain’s elite SAS army unit.

Officials said the meeting would focus on the security situation in the UK and Europe in the wake of the Brussels attacks on its airport and a metro station.

Intelligence help would be offered to the Brussels authorities as well as medical experts who specialise in blast injuries.

Heathrow and Gatwick Airports reported that security had been increased as a result of the attacks.

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