UK police step up security following Berlin and Turkey attacks

Police forces up and down the country will step up their armed patrols this festive season following a political assassination in Turkey and what was believed to be a terrorist attack in Berlin, when a lorry ploughed into a Christmas market at the Breitscheidplatz square, killing 12 people.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it had created "detailed plans for protecting public events" across London during the Christmas and New Year period.

It also mentioned the "awful incident in Ankara last night", a reference to the shooting of Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, in what is believed to have been a politically motivated assassination.

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Greater Manchester Police has said it would step up security in the city and Police Scotland is "assessing its plans", says the BBC.

Security services have not raised the security threat level in the UK following the attacks, but the Met said it was considering a range of possible security measures.

"These already recognise that the threat level is at 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely, and have considered a range of threats, including the use of large vehicles," it said.

"As a matter of routine, as a precaution, we review our plans after attacks overseas, and we are doing so at present following the awful incidents in Berlin and Ankara last night."