Security has been
increased at UK ports, border controls and a major railway station
following the attack at the Paris office of magazine Charlie Hebdo,
which left 12 people dead.
There is not thought to be a direct threat to the UK, Downing Street said.
Silences have been held in the UK in tribute to the victims, who include two police officers and eight journalists.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack was a "challenge to our security" and "threat to our values".
Home Secretary Theresa May, speaking after chairing a meeting
of UK government emergency committee Cobra, said security had been
increased at the France/UK border - notably at the Eurostar rail
terminal in Paris and the Channel Tunnel entrance at Calais.
UK border staff had "intensified checks on passengers, on vehicles and goods coming from France", she said.
The move was a "precautionary" measure and was not as a result of any specific intelligence, she added.
Armed patrols have also been increased at St Pancras
International station, the Eurostar terminal in London, British
Transport Police said.
The UK terror threat level remains unchanged at "severe", meaning a terrorist attack is "highly likely
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said an additional UK
police officer had also been sent to join the UK's existing
counter-terror team in Paris.
There was no evidence the Paris terrorists have any ties to the UK, our correspondent added.
It comes after Mr Cameron offered France "any assistance our
intelligence agencies can give" after the shootings, which killed eight
journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor to
the Charlie Hebdo office.
Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of
Britain, also condemned the attack - believed to be in response to
cartons of the Prophet Muhammad.
"Nothing is more immoral, offensive and insulting against our beloved Prophet than such a callous act of murder," he said
Tributes have been paid to the victims during vigils in the UK and
France, while flags were flown at half-mast, including those at Downing
Street and Whitehall, on Thursday.
MPs, peers and parliamentary staff gathered in Westminster Hall at noon to mark the silence.
UK police forces were also among those who took part in silences as a tribute to the French officers killed in Paris.
Sir Peter Fahy, vice-president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said French officers died "protecting free speech".
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