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Plane Terror Plot Thwarted
Updated: 07:56, Thursday August 10, 2006
Police say they have disrupted a major plot to blow as many as 20 planes over UK and US cities with explosive devices smuggled aboard as hand luggage.
Police are have arrested 20 people in London - the culmination of a covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months.
Passengers trying to board international flights from the UK are not being allowed to carry on normal hand luggage.
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.
Worries over screening
The Home Secretary John Reid said the alleged plot was a "major threat" to bring down a number of planes.
The Home Office's level of security - indicating public risk - has been raised from 'severe' to 'critical'.
The swoop followed a pre-planned intelligence led operation by the Met's anti-terrorist branch and security service.
A police statement said: "This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex. We will provide further information as soon as possible."
Lengthy queues at airports have been reported and a Transport Department spokesman said delays were inevitable.
"Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time. These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year."
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Major UK air terror plot thwarted
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 1 hour ago
A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight has been thwarted in a joint intelligence-led operation by the Metropolitan Police's anti ...
GOOGLE NEWS UPDATES:>>
Airports on red alert over terror plot
SOURCE:
A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight was thwarted in a joint intelligence-led operation by the Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist branch and security service, police said today.
It is believed that the aim was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board the aircraft in hand luggage.
It is believed that the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the USA.
Overnight, police arrested a number of people in London - the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months.
Following this morning's police action, security at all UK airports has been increased and additional security measures been put in place for all flights.
A Department of Transport spokesman said: "With immediate effect, the following arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring between flights at a UK airport."
All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.
Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets:
:: Pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags));
:: Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets);
:: Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic;
:: Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases;
:: Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution;
:: 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);
:: 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).
All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be X-ray screened.
Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.
In addition, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to a secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids discovered must be taken from the passenger.
There are no changes to current hold baggage security measures.
The spokesman added: "Regrettably, significant delays at airports are inevitable. 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.
"These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure.
"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. In light of the threat to aviation and the need to respond to it, we are asking the travelling public to be patient and understanding and to cooperate fully with airport security staff and the police.
"If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact their airline or carrier."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds. This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex."
end
10 August 2006
