Posted on 08/09/2006 11:18:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Thursday they have thwarted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the United States, arresting a number of people in the London area.
Britain's security service MI5 raised the threat level to the country to "critical" from "severe," meaning an attack is expected imminently.
News of the arrests and heightened security threat came amid high international tension over Israel's war against Hizbollah in Lebanon.
Police said the aim of the plot was to detonate bombs smuggled on board aircraft in hand luggage.
"A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight has been disrupted in a joint, pre-planned, intelligence-led operation by the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist branch and security services," a London police spokesman said.
He said police believed the intention was particularly to target flights from Britain to the United States.
The BBC said about 18 people were arrested.
The police spokesman could not confirm the figure, saying only that an unspecified number of people had been detained in London during the night. The operation was the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months, he added.
Following the arrests, security at all British airports was increased and additional security measures put in place for all flights.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come under strong criticism at home and abroad for following the U.S. lead and refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas.
The security alert comes 13 months after four Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people on London's transport network on July 7 last year.
The Home Office Web Site showed the threat rating had been raised to "critical" from "severe" earlier on Thursday. Britain has a five level rating for security threats, ranging from low to critical, which is the highest level.
Watch the Muzzies come out to defend these monsters...and half the UK and 2/3 of the EU population backing them up.
God Bless the British!
Terrorism is no threat, this is a police matter, nothing to see here move on.
Just saw something of this on the local news. Things seem to be afoot here in this country with the missing Egyptian "students" and the detainee with 15 cell phones. Wondering if we're next?
Blair's fault!!
Amazing, the bias that they build into every article. "Muzzie crazies caught plotting to blow up airlines. British support of US policy justifies it".
passengers will need to undergo thorough screenings, shoes xrayed, etc, no carry-on , baby formula will need to be taste tested by security
Chertoff says no big deal, just some students playing hooky is all.
Can you blame them for not wanting to try? George Bush is an evil man. He and his country are evil! /sarcasm
Hey wait a minute, no names provided yet (ha ha ).
What odds they aren't called Smith or Brown ...
Dead cert I reckon.
Hi Norm.
I'm updating this here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1680953/posts
Time to nuke Iran.
The Brits are on it! In January, I was sitting in the lounge at Heathrow waiting for my flight to LAX. It finally pulled away from the gate 2 hours late. While on the taxi way, the captain came on the horn and said "sorry for the delay, but there were 3 gentlemen whose papers for the United States were just not right and I didn't feel comfortable leaving until their baggage was found and off loaded." Nothing more said but I did a thankful swallow.
Wonder what steps we will be taking?
Kudos to the Brits...another terrible day that didn't happen...keep up the good work!
Long past time for that...
Now we are up to 18...if every flight had 2 or 3 we still need to capture a bunch more!
hang or otherwise execute the perps without trial .
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