news details |
|
|
| Foiled mid-air terror attack cripples London airport | | | London, August 10,
Thousands were stranded at the Heathrow and Birmingham airports after Britain said it had foiled a plan to "commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale" by blowing up nearly 10 aircraft in the air, leading to flight cancellations and the arrest of 21 terror suspects.
Terrorists had planned to "commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale" by destroying up to 10 passenger planes in air, Scotland Yard deputy commissioner Paul Stephenson said on Thursday.
He described the threat posed to aviation in Britain as "unprecedented".
Police said 21 people had been arrested in connection with the plot in London and Birmingham, most of them "British-born", police sources said.
The group behind the plan was believed to have planned "near simultaneous" attacks with liquid chemical explosives carried on board the planes in hand luggage, the BBC said.
The security scare led to immediate disruptions in air traffic out of London and Birmingham, with British Airways suspending all short-haul and European flights and Birmingham cancelling all flights for the day.
Several European airlines, including Germany's Lufthansa, cancelled flights to Britain. The US also cancelled flights from Britain.
Earlier, Home Secretary John Reid said there had been a significant" terrorist plot aimed at bringing down a "number of aircraft through mid-air explosions with a considerable loss of life".
Prime Minister Tony Blair, on holiday in Barbados, had discussed the "imminent threat" with US President George Bush.
Reid announced that Britain had, for the first time ever, been placed on the highest level of alert. The level "critical" meant that an "attack was imminent".
One security expert said this could mean that a "plot was actually under way".
Security sources said the police had broken up a group that had been "watched for a while" and that had "put together the material" for an attack.
The BBC said a "wave of attacks" had been planned.
The plan was believed to have been to attack aircraft flying from Britain to the US with devices smuggled on board in hand luggage.
Authorities said no hand luggage can now be taken on board and that only travel documents and essential medicines would be allowed, that too if in see through bags.
All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing British airports.
All passengers were checked by hand and their footwear was investigated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
