http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm

'Plot to blow up planes' foiled



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 up to three 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.

Security at all airports in the UK has been tightened and delays are reported. MI5 has raised the UK threat level to critical - the highest possible.

According to MI5's website, critical threat level means "an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the UK".

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This disruption is one of the short term limits on freedom that are needed

Tony Shield, Chorley


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Home Secretary John Reid confirmed that there had apparently been a plot "to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions causing a considerable loss of life".

According to BBC sources the "principal characters" suspected of being involved in the plot were British-born.

In other major developments:


The US Department of Homeland Security said the increased threat level applied to commercial flights originating in the UK

The Home Office confirmed there had been three meetings overnight and on Thursday morning of the Cabinet's emergency committee, Cobra, chaired by Mr Reid, to discuss the terror alert

A spokesman for Number 10 said Tony Blair had briefed US President George Bush on the situation during the night

All passengers were banned from taking hand luggage onto flights, while the government warned of delays. Heathrow Airport has warned travellers to stay at home if possible

Heathrow airport operator BAA asked that all in-bound services not already in the air be suspended, National Air Traffic Services said

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said he did not think the police believed an attack was imminent.

I was handed a piece of paper saying that pretty much nothing could be taken on board the plane

Joe Lynam
BBC journalist at Gatwick


In full: Transport advice
At-a-glance: UK airports

"The reason for raising the threat level is in case there is some other sub-plot, back-up plot around this that the police aren't aware of," he said.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that their 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."


Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday in the Caribbean, but Downing Street said the police operation was undertaken with his full support and he had been "in constant touch".


Transparent bags

The Department for Transport set out the details of the security measures at UK airports.

THREAT LEVEL
The current threat level is assessed as critical as of 10th August 2006 - this means that an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the UK

MI5 statement


Reid's terror plea
Ministers' statement in full

Passengers will not be allowed to take any hand luggage on to any flights in the UK, the department said.

Only the barest essentials - including passports and wallets - will be allowed to be carried on board in transparent plastic bags.

"We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only," the statement said.

At Heathrow Airport, BBC presenter Fiona Bruce said there were "ranks of people" unable to get into the terminal.

"Terminal One is completely at a standstill. Nobody is being checked in at all."


Passengers have to put any carry-on luggage in plastic bags

She said it was "jam-packed", but passengers were managing to remain "good natured".

BBC journalist Joe Lynam encountered the increased security measures at Gatwick airport.

"I was handed a piece of paper saying that pretty much nothing could be taken on board the plane," he said.

"Everything had to be checked in and that includes mobile phones, ipods, wallets - even spectacle cases had to be checked in."

British Airways said that passengers who do not wish to fly on Thursday can rebook on flights leaving over the next two weeks.

David Learmount from Flight International Magazine said he expected passengers to be searched much more carefully.

He added: "This is the first time this measure has actually been taken. Certainly I've never seen hand luggage banned."






[Edited by - firefly on 08-10-2006 04:32 AM]

What is the fear level now? I'm sorry, I meant the danger level. Is it orange?
This is such a joke, I hope it's not affecting everyone. And what a perfect time. Let's try to make a connection to any of the following countries: Lebannon, Syria, N. Korea, etc. so that Bush/Blair can start thier war. Have you heard dead Iranian soldiers have been found in Lebannon? Expect more of the same (lies). A civil war in Iraq is not enough, let's start WWIII. Or is that rather, let's really get it rolling, as invading Iraq for thier many Weapons of Mass destruction was actually the start.

Please Mr. Big government, protect us weak people from the bad people. We can no longer think and need you to think for us. But, we will gladly fight and kill for you. Oh, and please take our many guns away also. (Note Constitution comment below) Just add to our fear level so that we are forced to join your Fear Parade. Oh, take the constitution completely away. It has bad things in it. It says bad things like overthrowing a crazy government is good and rights and stuff like that!

Please note my sarcasm. Also, I'm aware some of these alerts may be real, but the Fear mongering is getting out of hand. Have you all heard that CNN is changing it's name to CIA, they might as well, they've got enough of thier employees there.

PEACE out,
Earthmansurfer

who are the real terrorists? us or them? it's all a matter of perception.

Yeah but this has to be the lamest 'plot' yet- from what I gather, and this isn't if this isn't a load of BS, the plan was to take some bombs onto the planes IN THEIR HAND LUGGAGE! Does that even constitute a serious plot? Didn't anyone tell them that all hand luggage is scanned in great detail before you even get on the plane?!

The timing of this hullabaloo is also dodgy- I live in Britain and yesterday the government was just talking about the need for tougher anti terrorist laws and how we'd need to sacrifice our freedoms (the usual crap), and then the next day they do this big raid (on a plot that was doomed to fail anyway!).

Posted by earthmansurfer:

What is the fear level now? I'm sorry, I meant the danger level. Is it orange?
This is such a joke, I hope it's not affecting everyone. And what a perfect time. Let's try to make a connection to any of the following countries: Lebannon, Syria, N. Korea, etc. so that Bush/Blair can start thier war. Have you heard dead Iranian soldiers have been found in Lebannon? Expect more of the same (lies). A civil war in Iraq is not enough, let's start WWIII. Or is that rather, let's really get it rolling, as invading Iraq for thier many Weapons of Mass destruction was actually the start.

Please Mr. Big government, protect us weak people from the bad people. We can no longer think and need you to think for us. But, we will gladly fight and kill for you. Oh, and please take our many guns away also. (Note Constitution comment below) Just add to our fear level so that we are forced to join your Fear Parade. Oh, take the constitution completely away. It has bad things in it. It says bad things like overthrowing a crazy government is good and rights and stuff like that!

Please note my sarcasm. Also, I'm aware some of these alerts may be real, but the Fear mongering is getting out of hand. Have you all heard that CNN is changing it's name to CIA, they might as well, they've got enough of thier employees there.

PEACE out,
Earthmansurfer

I'm sorry, but the threat of bombings is real. You must live in fantasy land to be ignorant of revent events in Britain, Spain and the US. I also don't believe the men and women in our armed forces are mindless drones, as you suggest.

The bottom line is this stuff sells in the media (Just turn on the news to learn about what kinds of crimes those dangerous minorities commit), so this is nothing new. Fear is also what political thinktanks use to pedal conspiracies and skewed intepretations to people like you ("Bush is trying to take away our civil rights so he can do XYZ" etc.) Wake up and smell the coffee

i'd probably be alot more afraid of missiles & bombs landing on my house than of some terrorists blowing up the plane i'm riding on if i lived in the middle east... living in fear must really suck... to think there are those who have to live with it everyday of their lives makes me appreciate alot more that i don't have to.

Apparently, it was a British energy drink, mixed with a 'gel' and it was going to be set off by an MP3 player or a watch.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/10/us.security/index.html

Plane plot involved energy drink, MP3 player, official says
Air travel in chaos after plot to bomb airliners exposed

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Terrorists planned to use MP3 players and energy drinks to blow up as many as 10 jetliners bound for the United States, authorities said Thursday.

A senior congressional source said it's believed the plotters planned to mix a "British version of Gatorade" with a gel-like substance to make an explosive that they would possibly trigger with an MP3 player or cell phone.

British and Pakistani authorities joined forces to block the plot to bomb the airliners, officials said.

British police acted urgently overnight, arresting 21 people in what U.S. government officials said privately could have been the biggest terrorist attack since 9/11.

Five suspects in the plot are still at large, ABC News, citing U.S. sources, reported on its Web site.

Information gathered after recent arrests in Pakistan convinced British investigators they had to act urgently to stop the plot, sources told CNN.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the plans were "suggestive of an al Qaeda plot," and President Bush said the arrests are a "stark reminder" that the U.S. is "at war with Islamic fascists." (Watch Bush say what the arrests mean for the U.S. -- 2:37)

Bush thanked British Prime Minister Tony Blair for "busting this plot." (Full story)

Authorities immediately banned all passengers headed to or departing from U.S. airports from carrying any liquid in their carry-ons. The massive lines that resulted at security checkpoints made chaos of air travel worldwide as flights were delayed or canceled. (Full story)

The effects of the plot rippled across the globe Thursday.

* The U.S. raised the terror threat level to "severe" for all flights leaving Britain for the United States. Britain raised its alert level to "critical."

* Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ordered the National Guard to Boston's Logan Airport, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the National Guard to airports in his state.

* Besides banning liquids, British police are also banning passengers from carrying electronic key fobs, which have the potential to trigger bombs. (Watch what passengers must do at the world's busiest international airport -- 3:06)

* A U.S. administration official said the plot targeted Continental, United, British Airways and American Airlines flights to New York, Washington and California. (Map of flight delaysexternal link)

* As many as 10 flights were targeted, and the plot may have involved up to 50 people, U.S. officials told CNN.

* U.S. and British officials said some suspects could still be on the loose and their investigations were continuing.

* Indications are that all of the 21 arrested were British citizens and some were of Pakistani ethnicity, a senior U.S. intelligence official said.

* In a sign of the heightened security, Chertoff said the U.S. was dispatching extra air marshals to Britain.

* Chertoff said it was unclear if all suspects were in custody.

Chertoff said the plotters were "getting close to the execution phase."

"There were very concrete steps under way to execute all elements of the plan," he said.

The plot was "intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale," London's Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said. (Full story)

Chertoff said the plan was reminiscent of a plot by 9/11 coordinator Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who in 1995 had envisioned detonating bombs on 11 airlines possibly traveling over the Pacific Ocean.

The plot was "as sophisticated as any we have seen in recent years as far as terrorism is concerned," Chertoff said. (Watch Chertoff detail the threat to blow up jetliners -- 7:38)

CNN terror analyst Peter Bergen said two factors pointed to the influence of al Qaeda. He said al Qaeda was "obsessed" with commercial aviation and that the timing of the plot was "very interesting."

"It's not clear when this was going to be implemented ... but we are coming up on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. They do want to make a big statement," he said on CNN's "American Morning."

The U.S. threat level has been raised to the highest level of "severe," or red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Full story)

In addition, the threat level has been raised to "high," or orange for all commercial flights operating in or coming to the United States, the DHS said.

The nation's overall terror threat level has not been altered.

Thursday was the first time the DHS has raised the threat level for a specific group of flights.

New security restrictions

"Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from being carried on the airplane," a DHS statement said.

Increased security means airline passengers around the country should show up at least two hours early for all flights, an official with the Transportation Security Administration told CNN. (Watch tips on how to get through security faster -- 1:45)

British and U.S. security agencies quickly moved to impose strict limits on carry-on items in the wake of Thursday's arrests, causing extended delays at airport security checkpoints. (Full story)

The British Airports Authority said no hand luggage would be allowed onto planes leaving British airports until further notice.

British Airways canceled all short haul flights in or out of Heathrow Airport for Thursday, and delays were stacking flights up at airports across Europe. (Full story)

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.


[Edited by - Killa4luv on 08-10-2006 2:49 PM]

I don't watch the news anymore and when i heard about it, I was like "Whatever", but it sucks that we might not be able to life safely anymore. I think that Bush will be the cause of the first war on U.S. soil in however many years it's been... I don't even know. What I do know this is... The gov't wants you to be scared. They want us to live inside the box, and they want us to die slowly. This is the truth, and if you don't believe me, go to YouTube.com and type in NEW WORLD ORDER.

It's impossible to just be thankful it was stopped? I've been in and out of Heathrow a few times lately, and my little sister, who is pregnant, her husband and my 20 month year old nephew are scheduled to fly from there this week.

The Adminstration has repeatedly used terrorism for it's political advantage, when they could have used it to unite the country. Consequently, it's impossible to have anything but contempt for them.

Yup, when memos have been revealed that prove that they have used terrorism to market their domestic agenda more effecively, cynicism is reasonable and understandable.