Cherie in bomb scare
Cherie Blair had to pull out of a charity event after a suicide bomb threat, it emerged today.
The Prime Minister's wife was due to speak at an annual charity event at The Dorchester in London, also attended by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.
A source said that the hotel on London's Park Lane, received an anonymous threatening phone call from an "Arab sounding" man at around 6pm last night, an hour before Mrs Blair was due to attend.
Britain's former ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer explained Mrs Blair's absence to the 220 VIP guests assembled in The Dorchester Ballroom.
He said that anyone who felt "nervous" following the threat, should also leave.
The event was an annual charity dinner in aid of, PACT - Parents and Abducted Children Together - founded by Sir Christopher's wife, Lady Catherine Meyer.
Lady Catherine, who organised the event, said: "There was some concern as someone had apparently telephoned the Dorchester and gave some sort of warning message.
"The detectives in charge of Cherie's security decided it may be too dangerous for her to come.
"We announced to the guests that someone had made threats and the detectives were worried enough to decide Cherie should not come.
"We told the guests we completely understand if you want to leave.
"In fact everybody decided they were there for a children's charity event and they all wanted to stay.
"My husband announced it and everybody stayed, nobody left.
"He basically said there has been a threat, a quite suspicious telephone call and the people in charge of Cherie Blair's security has taken it seriously.
"It was a shame Cherie could not come, she has been an amazing supporter of PACT but we completely understand that she must listen to her security people."
Another guest at the event, who did not want to be named said: "I understand there was a terrorist alert, a suicide bomber alert at about 6pm in the evening so Cherie's security decided she was not going to be there. Security was very tight.
"The security people took it very seriously."
Uniformed police officers stood guard at the main entrance and the ballroom
entrance last night.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said, "We are not prepared to discuss matters of security."
