'Ring of stone' around Tower to beat terrorists

A cordon of stone is set to be placed around the Tower of London in a major step-up in security measures to protect it from terrorist attacks.

The stone bollards will be erected around the historic castle, which attracts more than two millions visitors a year, after it was identified as a potential target in two reports by the Security Services and Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism branch.

Now Historic Royal Palaces, which runs the attraction, has asked Tower Hamlets for planning permission to erect reinforced stone bollards and metal gates at four sites near the ticket office on Tower Hill and beside the river at Tower Wharf to deter would-be car bombers. Work could start this summer.

The scheme has been approved by English Heritage and the Tower has asked for support from the Lottery Fund.

The historic palace has already been a terrorist target. One woman was killed and 41 people injured when a bomb exploded in the Tower in July 1974. The IRA was suspected of being behind the attack.