Airline terrorism plot foiled! Terror Plot Foiled in London Heathtrow Airport!

Airline bomb plot foiled: 24 arrested: UK airports in chaos

Posted at 9:00am on 11 Aug 2006

A British Airways aircraft lands at Heathrow Airport, near London August 10, 2006. British police said onThursday they had thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the United States and arrested more than 20 people.[Reuters]

British police have foiled the worst airline terror plot since September 11.

They announced on Thursday they have disrupted a plot to blow up aircraft mid-flight between Britain and the United States, with bombs smuggled aboard in hand luggage.

Police say it would have caused "mass murder on an unimaginable scale."

The plot is believed to have involved a "liquid chemical" device: 24 people have been arrested in raids across Britain. Home Secretary, John Reid, says police are confident the main players have been detained.

A U.S. Homeland Security official said the 24 suspects were all British citizens. The British Press Association said they were of Pakistani origin.

Statements issued by New Scotland Yard & Home Secretary

First news of the arrests was issued by New Scotland Yard headquarters in London at 5.35am (1435 AEST) Thursday. The statement was six paragraphs, 140 words.

"Today's arrests are the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months," the statement said; adding that the investigation was likely to be "lengthy and complex".

British Home Secretary John Reid then made a brief statement shortly after 7am.

In the 2-minute, 53-second television announcement, he revealed the country's terrorism alert had been raised to the maximum level - "critical" - at 2am.

On Wednesday, Mr Reid said in a speech that Britain was facing its "most sustained period of serious threat" since the end of World War II from a new breed of "unconstrained" terrorist using "means of mass destruction".

London Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner, Paul Stephenson, said the severity that the plot represented could not be stressed too highly. He told reporters: "this was intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale."

Airport delays amid intense checks

UK airports are in chaos after flights were cancelled and security measures increased and all hand luggage has been banned for flights.

Airline passengers are being allowed to take only the barest essential hand luggage aboard, such as passports and wallets.

Passengers are being warned to expect long delays.

European carriers have cancelled short-haul flights to and from Heathrow and some flights from London's second airport, Gatwick.

"Stark reminder" that US "at war with Islamic fascists"

President George Bush says the plot is a "stark reminder" that the United States is "at war with Islamic fascists."

A White House spokesman says Mr Bush talked twice by phone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the plot, on Sunday and Wednesday.

The American government heightened security on passenger planes, and raised the threat level for commercial flights from the United Kingdom to its highest level.

US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the Islamic militant group al Qaeda might have been involved.

An IMS, which can sniff out explosives
or dangerous chemicals.

Security measures

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

British Airways says no electrical or battery-powered items will be allowed in the cabin, including laptops and mobile phones.

A number of European airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways, AirFrance and KLM, have cancelled flights into Heathrow. Flights have also been cancelled from Belgium and Greece.

British Transport Minister, Douglas Alexander, says he realises the heightened security measures will cause major disruptions for passengers; but they are unavoidable.

Bomb plan included sports drink, camera - ABC News

ABC News reported on its Web site on Thursday that the suspects planned to conceal liquid or gel explosives inside a modified sports beverage drink container and trigger the device with the flash from a disposable camera.

Citing U.S. sources, the network said the plotters planned to leave the top of the bottle sealed and filled with the original beverage; but add "a false bottom, filled with a liquid or gel explosive."

It said: "The terrorists planned to dye the explosive mixture red to match the sports drink sealed in the top half of the container."

A police detective carries items from
a house in the Walthamstow area of
north London, during a raid by British police.

Extra security measures to be announced

There are to be higher security measures for air passengers leaving New Zealand and heading to the United States.

The Aviation Security Service says it's been reviewing the terror threat throughout the night.

General manager, Mark Everitt, says the extra security measures will be announced on Friday morning and will involve additional checks of all hand luggage.

Delays to Air NZ flights

Air New Zealand flights from Heathrow to Auckland are experiencing delays because of the disruption.

Both Air New Zealand and Qantas say they are complying with temporary security measures introduced by the UK authorities. Only essential items, such as passports and wallets, will be allowed to be taken on board, in transparent plastic bags.