Militants based in Pakistan had been planning simultaneous strikes in London and major cities in France and Germany, Britain's Sky News television reported, citing intelligence sources.

Planning for the attacks was advanced but they were not imminent, said the broadcaster.

The United States was also a possible target and President Barack Obama had been briefed about the threat, said ABC News in the US citing American officials.

Spy agencies had for some time been tracking the militants who were planning the attacks, which would have been similar to the commando-style raids carried out in Mumbai, Sky and ABC said.

Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said the leaders of the plot "had an Al-Qaeda and possibly some sort of Taliban connection projecting into Europe."

The plot in Europe was uncovered through intelligence-sharing between London, France, Germany and the US, and their cooperation led to the plot being severely disrupted, said the broadcaster.

AFP