Friday, August 11 2006 15:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: US authorities today (Aug 11, 2006) alerted India that serial terror attacks had been planned in major Indian cities and militants, possibly from the Al Qaeda, were intending to strike a range of targets in the run-up to Independence Day.

The communication from the US embassy was passed on to Indian intelligence agencies, warning them that airports, government offices, hotels and markets could be potential targets.

Senior intelligence bureau and home ministry officials convened an emergency meeting to evaluate the information given by the US embassy even as security was tightened at all airports and government installations especially in major metropolitan cities.

According to intelligence sources, information on the "possible attack" in India was procured after a foiled terror attack Thursday in London as plotters aimed to blow up as many as 10 airplanes on trans-Atlantic flights.

At least one martyrdom tape was reportedly found during ongoing raids across England on Thursday.

"Such a tape, as well as the scheme to strike a range of targets at various places and at roughly the same time, is an earmark of Al Qaeda," said a senior intelligence official.

At least 24 people are now in custody in Britain - most of them British-born and of Pakistani descent.