'Aircraft terror plot' uncovered
· Threat level raised to critical
· Plot 'to blow up US-bound flights'
· '10 planes targeted'
Mark Oliver and agencies
Thursday August 10, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
A major terror plot to kill hundreds of people by detonating explosives on transatlantic passenger flights was disrupted overnight, the home secretary, John Reid, said today.
The alleged plot was to cause near simultaneous blasts on as many as ten flights from the UK to the US, using explosives smuggled into passenger cabins inside hand luggage....
(snip)
...Police said 21 people had been arrested in London, the Thames Valley and Birmingham. Sources said those arrested were British-born and were held as part of an operation, involving the security services, that has been ongoing covertly for several months.
At 2am, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the UK terror alert from severe to critical - its highest level - for the first time. The Home Office website defines that as meaning an attack is expected "imminently".
There were fears that individuals linked to the alleged plot may still be at large.
The US government responded by raising its threat assessment to red, the highest level, for commercial flights from Britain, and the department of homeland security barred passengers from carry any liquids or lotions onto flights.
"We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted," Michael Chertoff, the US homeland security secretary, said.
Reuters, quoting a police source, said it appeared the alleged plan revolved around liquid-based explosives, and all passengers were being told they could not carry liquid onto flights.
Heathrow officials said all milk for babies would have to be tasted by an "accompanying passenger".
There was no indication that security services expected an attack today, but it had been decided to move against the terror suspects overnight.
Mr Reid said anti-terror officers had carried out a "major counter-terrorism operation to disrupt what we believe to be a major threat to the UK". "We are doing everything possible to disrupt any further terrorist activity," he added.
Downing Street said Tony Blair, who is on holiday in the Caribbean, was being kept constantly informed of developments and had briefed the US president, George Bush, overnight....
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