Original Post
BBC: "'Airlines terror plot' disrupted" | CNN: "UK foils aircraft terror plot"
Quote:Reports, as always at times so close to events like this, are pretty sketchy. But so far radio reports seem to be indicating that its believed that the liquid explosives were to have been smuggled aboard in hand luggage. Current disruptions include Heathrow airport being closed until at least 3pm local time, according to the BAA, and passengers in other UK airports are being forbidden to take hand luggage, aside from small personal items and essential documents in an issued transparent plastic bag. News reports say the US Department of Homeland Security have raised their terror alert (how long since we heard of those?) to red, though the website is still at orange. So pretty much 13 months after London was hit by the July 7th bombings, we have another alleged attempt to kill civilians on planes. I wonder how this is going to effect airport security in the long run?
A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on to as many as 10 aircraft in hand luggage. Police arrested about 18 people in the London area and West Midlands after an anti-terrorist operation. High security is causing delays at all UK airports, Heathrow is closed to incoming flights, and MI5 has raised the threat level to critical. According to MI5's website, critical threat level - the highest - means "an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the UK". Home Secretary John Reid confirmed that there had apparently been a plot "to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions causing a considerable loss of life". According to BBC sources the "principal characters" suspected of being involved in the plot were British-born.
