British police arrest 24 suspected of planning to blow up planes By USA TODAY staff
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-10-britain-terror_x.htm?csp=34 LONDON — An alleged plot to use liquid explosives smuggled inside carry-on luggage to blow up 10 American planes over the Atlantic was in its "final stages" when British police arrested 24 suspects Thursday, authorities said. "We are confident that we've prevented an attempt to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale," London's deputy police commissioner, Paul Stephenson, said Thursday. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the plotters intended to smuggle liquid explosives and detonators onto planes in beverages, electronic devices and other carry-on items. ON DEADLINE: Bush points to 'Islamic fascists' The would-be terrorists hoped to target U.S. flights from Britain to major airports in New York, Washington and California, all major summer tourist destinations, one U.S. intelligence official told the Associated Press. The targeted airlines: American, Continental and United. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information. A counterterrorism official said the plot involved 10 flights. In Green Bay, Wis., President Bush called the foiled plot a "stark reminder" that the United States is "at war with Islamic fascists." The 24 people picked up in raids in London, in its suburbs and in Birmingham in central England were arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. Searches continued in several locations throughout the day. A senior U.S. counterterrorism official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, told AP that authorities believe dozens of people — possibly as many as 50 — were involved in the conspiracy. ABC News quoted unidentified U.S. officials briefed on the plot as saying five suspects were still being urgently hunted. British officials disclosed no details about the plot or those arrested, although one police official indicated the people in custody were British residents. A French official in contact with British authorities described the arrested as originating from predominantly Muslim Pakistan. Great Britain raised its threat level to "critical" — the highest — indicating danger of an imminent attack. U.S. authorities, for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, raised the U.S. terrorist alert to "red" on all flights from Great Britain. The level for other flights was raised to "orange," or high. Air travel restrictions include a ban on all carry-on liquids. The security clampdown disrupted air traffic between the USA and Britain and created a ripple effect for passengers throughout Europe. London's Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, was closed to almost all incoming flights, creating huge crowds and confusion. Passengers lucky enough to catch a flight were banned from carrying hand luggage or liquids. In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration issued new rules for all flights. Passengers will not be allowed to carry liquids onto planes indefinitely, although liquids such as cosmetics will be allowed in checked baggage. Investigation ongoing The plot, foiled one month before the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, was well planned and well financed, authorities said. "It was sophisticated. It had a number of members, and it was international in scope," Chertoff said Thursday. He said it appeared to involve a "significant number of operatives." "They (the alleged plotters) were in the final stages of planning before execution," he said. Chertoff declined to say whether any bombs had been constructed but said the group "had accumulated the capabilities necessary" to carry out the attack. It was not immediately clear who may have been behind the plot, although Chertoff said it had all the markings of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. ABC News quoted sources as saying Western intelligence agencies had identified three of the alleged ringleaders. It said two were believed to have traveled recently to Pakistan and later had money wired to them from Pakistan, purportedly to purchase airline tickets for suicide bombers. The suspects arrested in Britain were "homegrown," though it was not immediately clear if they were all British citizens, said a British police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Police were working closely with the South Asian community, the official said. British Home Secretary John Reid said he believes the authorities have arrested the "main players in this particular conspiracy" but emphasized that the investigation was continuing and said more arrests were possible. The British Broadcasting Corp. reported that police evacuated homes in High Wycombe, 30 miles northwest of London, near one of the homes that was being searched. The BBC showed video of a house where police officers were visible. Police refused to confirm the report or to discuss any details of the continuing searches. Peter Clarke, head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said the investigation had been going on for several months and involved British intelligence and police forces as well as unnamed international agencies. While British officials declined to publicly identify the 24 suspects, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris they "appear to be of Pakistani origin." He did not give a source for his description, but said French officials had been in close contact with British authorities. Pakistan's government said later its intelligence agents helped Britain crack the plot and had arrested some suspects. "Pakistan played a very important role in uncovering and breaking this international terrorist network," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tasnim Aslam said, but she declined to give details. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, vacationing in the Caribbean, briefed Bush on the situation overnight, Blair's office said. Travelers wait longer At airports on both sides of the Atlantic, authorities were attempting to normalize new screening procedures, but disruptions seemed likely to continue for several weeks. Huge lines formed at ticket counters and behind security barriers at Heathrow and other British airports. At airline check-in desks, attendants gave passengers clear, resealable bags to carry the few things allowed as carry-on items: wallets, passports, toiletries and keys. Everything else had to be placed into check-in luggage. Thousands of people, stranded by canceled flights, stood or slept on almost every available space, including tables. Faced with a three-hour flight delay, Margo McIntyre, 62, of Burns Flat, Okla., described three ways to pass the time waiting for her flight: "Eat, drink, shop. We still have a few British pounds to spend." At Washington's Dulles airport, security lines snaked the length of the terminal. Screeners confiscated toothpaste, hair gel, aftershave, cologne, lipstick, and lip balm — anything that resembled a liquid or gel. VIDEO: Major delays Passengers also faced a second screening at the gate for flights departing for London, as well as for randomly selected flights. In a new sign of the times, hastily scrawled messages were taped to ticket counters to reinforce the new rules: "No liquid or gels permitted aboard aircraft." This story was written by USA TODAY's Douglas Stanglin with contributions from César Soriano in London, Barbara DeLollis and the Associated Press. Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
