Shooting breached tight security for 4 July

The shooting at Los Angeles airport breached extraordinary security measures designed to protect Americans on 4 July.

With more than half of Americans expressing fears that a new terrorist attack would be attempted on Independence Day - traditionally marked by parades, firework displays and large public gatherings - this year's official events were marked by unprecedented levels of security, orchestrated by the Homeland Security office in the White House. Military jets resumed the combat patrols over Washington and New York that were operated after 11 September. Other cities also got the overflights but the Pentagon would not identify them.

In New York, the Federal Aviation Administration announced temporary flight restrictions below 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) over virtually all of Manhattan, from the Hudson river to the East river, from the Statue of Liberty to the George Washington Bridge.

In Washington, hundreds of video cameras were installed along the national mall, where thousands were expected to gather last night for a firework display.

Security screening and fencing were introduced for the first time for the event.

Visitors had to open coolers and picnic baskets for inspection by police armed with hand-held metal detectors at 24 security checkpoints along a double line of fencing.

Floretta Calhoun, 78, from Indianapolis, said her worries had evaporated once she arrived. "I had a little apprehension, but I thought, you can't build your life around something like that," she said.

More than 2,000 police were on duty in Washington patrolling smaller parks along the Potomac river where crowds were expected to gather.

In New York those attending celebratory parades were screened and thousands of plainclothes police officers were deployed.

Thousands of extra police, soldiers and FBI agents were deployed across the country. The Homeland Security unit was said to be monitoring more than 2,000 events, but hundreds of thousands of people chose to celebrate at unofficial gatherings such as picnics, barbecues and parties, which would have been difficult to protect.

The FBI said a group with terrorist ties had downloaded images of two US stadiums - at St Louis and Indianapolis - from www.worldstadiums.com, which features pictures of stadiums worldwide. Both stadiums were closed for the holiday.

President Bush was scheduled last night to host an invited crowd at the White House after spending the morning with veterans in the courthouse square of Ripley, West Virginia, where he rallied the nation to defend freedom throughout the world. The terror attacks on New York and Washington had united the nation, he said. "In a moment we discovered again that we are a single people. When you strike one American, you strike us all," he said to loud applause and chants of "USA, USA".

Mr Bush spoke of the proud tradition of fighting for freedom dating back 226 years to the declaration of independence. "From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home and freedom has had a defender," he said.