Access to websites that provide information on how to make bombs or which advocate violence could be blocked by security forces in an attempt to crack down on terrorists, an emergency meeting of European Union interior ministers in London agreed today.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, who was hosting the meeting, revealed that there were several new measures discussed by the ministers that would provide a unified approach to handling any terror threat.

The current baggage checks at UK airports could be extended throughout the EU and a flying squad of counter-terror experts, who would fly anywhere within the EU to provide help to national governments, could also be created.

The meeting of interior ministers, including Nicolas Sarkozy from France and Wolfgang Schaeuble from Germany, said that they would also look at plans for a massive extension of the exchange of advanced passenger information on airline travellers so that it covers all flights into, out of and through the EU.

At the moment the information is only used on flights to America, Australia and New Zealand.

A "full exchange" of information between different police forces within the European Union that has not been filtered by national governments was also called for.

Ways to improve the traceability of commercial detonators and explosives - particularly liquid explosives - will also be examined.

The meeting also involved ministers from Finland, Portugal and Slovenia as well as Franco Frattini, the European Commission Vice-President, and Gijs De Vries, its counter-terrorism co-ordinator. The Metropolitan Police was represented by Andy Hayman, head of specialist operations.

Afterwards, Mr Reid said: "What’s clear to all of us is that we face a persistent and very real threat across Europe. It is a threat we face here in Britain as individuals and as communities, but it’s not unique to the UK. It affects us all across the European Union."

The threat was "virtually unconstrained in its capacity and ability to do immense harm, death and destruction" due to modern technology and biological and chemical weapons, he said.

He went on: "Its adherents ... would abuse our open societies, would misuse our freedoms and adapt the latest technology to their evil intent and have no regard for human life or for human rights.

"We must not and will not allow terrorists to undermine the common European values that bind our societies together and make us strong.

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