http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-08-10_1103300.html Italy steps up anti-terror security Foiled bomb plot in Britain causes havoc at airports (ANSA) - Rome, August 10 - The Italian Interior Ministry said on Thursday that it had stepped up security at potential terrorist targets following a major bomb plot alarm in Britain .
"Security at potential targets has been intensified, particularly regarding structures linked to the United Kingdom," the ministry said in a statement . It stressed, however, that there were no "specific alarm signals" for Italy . Premier Romano Prodi, who is on vacation in his home town of Bologna, said that "we are not taking any other special measures at the moment" . "But it's clear that our guard remains high and it certainly won't be lowered in the future," the centre-left leader said . British police said on Thursday morning that they had thwarted a plot to blow up several airplanes in mid-flight between Britain and the United States . More than 20 suspects were arrested in overnight raids in and around London and Birmingham . London Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson told reporters that "we are confident we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction. Put simply, this was intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale" . Sources close to the investigation said up to 10 planes had been targeted in the plot which was believed to involve an explosive liquid chemical . Security has been beefed up at both British and US airports, causing massive delays and cancellations . British carriers including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic banned hand luggage on flights, informing passengers that they were to pack all mobile phones, computers and handbags with their checked-in luggage . Passengers were also banned from taking liquids on board except for essential medicines. Parents with babies were told that milk would be allowed providing they agreed to taste it in front of security officials . The alarm caused havoc at Italian airports as well, with cancellations and long delays of flights to London . British Airways urged Italian passengers to abandon or postpone any travel plans involving British destinations . Security measures were also stepped up at Italian airports, with spot checks on passengers' hand luggage . The Interior Ministry said it was not considering a hand luggage ban at the moment . It said its anti-terrorism committee CASA was meeting on Thursday afternoon and that Interior Minister Giuliano Amato was "personally following developments" . The scare sent shares down in Milan in line with other European exchanges. The bourse fell 1.06% in morning trading . Shares in national flag carrier Alitalia tumbled almost 3% while insurance firms fell around 1% . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
