War on Isis: London's Met police to increase armed officers to counter terrorism threat

The number of police carrying weapons in London on any given day is set to be doubled in a bid to counter the risk of a terrorist gun attack in the British capital.

Scotland Yard will announce that it will increase the number of trained firearms officers by a third as part of a tactic to deal with the increased terror threats in the wake of the attacks in Paris.

There are currently around 2,000 firearms officers in the Metropolitan Police. Some 600 extra officers are expected to receive firearms training.

Senior officers are drawing up plans on how to respond to an attack on London with a particular focus on guarding key buildings and other areas believed to be at risk, Sky News reported.

In an interview with LBC Radio, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "We are determined to increase the number of firearms officers."

The latest move by the Met has been given a "cautious welcome" by shadow home secretary Andy Burnham.

He told Sky News: "It sounds like good news but we do have to ask where the money is coming from. If it's taken out of neighbourhood policing so we see police officers come off the beat, or if it's money that isn't then available to other big cities around the country, then that wouldn't be right."