UK Parliament warns staff over Mumbai-style attack

LONDON – Britain's Houses of Parliament says it is developing plans to respond to a Mumbai-style gun attack by terrorists.

Parliament's security officials told lawmakers and staff in an e-mail on Monday that they should attempt to escape if a commando raid is launched against the iconic site.

However, officials insisted the security upgrade was not in response to any specific threat.

Contingency plans to respond to attacks by teams of terrorists armed with weapons are being drawn up for dozens of British landmarks.

Police and military special forces have also carried out drills to handle attacks of that type.

It follows recent warnings from U.S. and European intelligence agencies about a plot to attack European cities by groups of terrorists using firearms.