Major Terrorist Plot Thwarted

The BBC, the AP and Sky News are reporting that a major terrorist threat has been thwarted. Here's what the AP is reporting:

Authorities in London thwarted a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft mid-flight between Britain and the U.S. using explosives smuggled in hand luggage, police said Thursday. Britain's Home Secretary John Reid deemed the alleged plot significant and said it was designed to "bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life."

Authorities arrested a number of people overnight in London after a covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months, police said in a statement. The national threat level was raised to critical, a warning level that indicates the likelihood of an imminent terrorist attack. The threat rating, based on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security's model, was posted on the Web site of Britain's MI5, the British domestic spy agency.

Here's what the BBC is reporting:

A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage. Police have arrested about 18 people in the London area after an anti-terrorist operation lasting several months.

Here's what Sky News is reporting:

Sky News' Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said there were concerns that certain explosives, possibly liquid, could evade x-ray screening of hand luggage. Brunt said the threat was thought to be imminent and those arrested were mainly young, British-born Asian men. He said the plan allegedly involved people boarding flights and detonating explosives on planes over UK and US cities.

Nobody had taken credit for this attempt at the time I first posted this but it's got to be the work of a major terrorist cell and/or organization. This isn't something that amateurs could do due to the size and sophistication of the operation. I suspect that more arrests will be made later today.

UPDATE: Scotland Yard just held a press conference. We now know that "at least 21 people" have been arrested as part of "a complex" operation.

Here's a list of the restrictions imposed by the British Airline Authority:

Hand luggage

All cabin baggage will be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.

Electrical Items

This includes battery powered items such as laptops, mobile phones and iPods.

Empty Pockets

Passengers may take only the following items through a airport security search point. They must be in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag. Nothing may be carried in pockets.

Wallets

Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards, etc (not handbags)).

Passports

Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets).

Medicines

Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.

Glasses

Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases; contact lens holders, without bottles of solution.

Baby items

For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags).

Sanitary items

Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes), tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs keys (but no electrical key fobs).

Searches

All passengers will be hand searched and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be x-ray screened.

Pushchairs/Wheelchairs

Pushchairs and walking aids will be x-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs will be allowed through the screening point.

Liquids

In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying will be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

Luggage For Hold

Airports operator BAA said there are no changes to current hold baggage security measures but significant delays at airports were inevitable.

Allow More Time

Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time and to ensure that other than the few permitted items listed above, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in.

Heathrow Alert

Passengers due to travel from Heathrow on Thursday are being told not to turn up unless their journey is essential.

A BAA statement said: "We wish to stress that these are precautionary measures. During the next few days airports will be extremely busy, therefore only those intending to fly should come to the airport.

"Passengers are asked to use public transport to get to and from the airport wherever possible.

"Passengers are also asked to be patient while these additional security measures are put in place. Delays are likely and passengers are therefore asked to allow extra time for their journey."

Here's more from Scotland Yard's statement:

investigation into the alleged plot was a "major operation" which would be "lengthy and complex". "We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds." BBC security correspondent Gordon Correra said given that most liquids were being banned from flights it suggested the suspected plot involved "some kind of liquid explosive". He also said the plot had an "international dimension", while the investigation had involved the CIA. "The Americans have definitely been involved for quite some time," he said.

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Posted Thursday, August 10, 2006 4:19 AM

July 2006 Posts

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