POLICE have said they are prepared for a terrorist attack on Bucks, as speculation mounts over whether a former Aylesbury woman is behind the militant siege on a Kenyan shopping mall.

Samantha Lewthwaite - the former wife of July 7 bomber Germaine Lindsay - is believed to be a key figure in the planning of the attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi.

The death toll from the atrocity currently stands at 62 and there is mounting speculation that Miss Lewthwaite, known as the White Widow, has been killed during the siege.

Two people from London have been confirmed as being among the dead.

Speaking at a public meeting in Amersham last night, the Thames Valley's Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld said it was not outside the realms of possibility a terrorist attack could happen in Bucks.

Responding to a question from the audience, Mr Stansfeld made reference to the 2006 terror plot to blow up transatlantic aeroplanes by smuggling home made bombs on board, which led to homes and woodland around the High Wycombe area being searched.

Two men with High Wycombe connections were later jailed for life for their part in the plot.

He said: "Extensive measures are taken but we can never guarantee something 100 per cent.

"Every measure that can reasonably be taken is taken. I'm very aware we do have issues in our area - we had a major plot four or five years ago. We are not immune to it in the leafy towns of south Bucks.

"Our counter terrorism system is probably one of the best in the world."

Mr Stansfeld said the counter terrorism unit for the whole of the south east has recently been moved to the Thames Valley region.

Chiltern and South Bucks' Area Commander Steve Hockin, a former firearms officer, said: "I trained with colleagues from all of the emergency services to establish what our response to a gunman atrocity would look like.

"We've practiced this. I have even given input to our firearm officers what our approach would be.

"If God forbid it ever happens, our role is to save life and to prevent the offenders taking more life. We've trained for it and I'm as confident as we can be."