Cadets told to cover up over terrorism fears

Parents of cadets have been told their children could be attacked if mistaken for adult members of the armed forces. into crowds on Westminster Bridge and then stabbed PC Keith Palmer to death before he was killed. Five people died and 50 were injured.

The s o u rc e said: “The timing of this letter to the cadets sticks out because it follows the Westminster incident.

“The security forces never comment on specifics, but they wade through colossal amounts of information and leads and update their position accordingly.

“If I was a parent, of course I’d be worried. But I’d also follow the advice in the letter.”

The Ministry of Defence advised British service members not to wear military uniforms in public following the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby, 25, in May 2013. The order was later relaxed.

In December 2014, police officers in Birmingham were told not to wear their uniforms while travelling to and from work after extremists threatened to kidnap and murder a police officer.

Terror expert Neil Doyle believes it is sensible to warn the cadets and their families about the risks of wearing their uniform in public.

“It’s a case of belt and braces,” he said. “Similar advice has been issued to servicemen and police officers.

“There have been reports of hostile surveillance being carried out against facilities and individuals and the risk is that frustrated jihadists may go for a soft option.”

But Professor Anthony Glees, head of Buckingham University’s centre for security and intelligence studies, said: “I think it’s an extremely bad idea. It’s bad for the morale of our servicemen and women, and our young cadets.”

A spokeswoman for the MOD said: “The advice stands for itself. We can’t comment any more than that.”

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