15 Held In Pakistan As Scale And Intricacy Of Threat Is Revealed

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 8-15-2006 | Duncan Campbell - Randeep Ramesh - Vikram Dodd

[blam]

15 held in Pakistan as scale and intricacy of threat is revealed

New York police briefing sheds light on alleged conspiracy

Duncan Campbell in Islamabad, Randeep Ramesh in Lahore and Vikram Dodd
Tuesday August 15, 2006
The Guardian (UK)

Up to 50 people across the world may have been part of the alleged conspiracy to explode bombs on planes heading from Britain to the United States, it emerged yesterday. New details about the alleged plot are contained in a briefing document from the counter-terrorism section of the New York police department. It says: "Bombs were to be placed on up to ten different airliners. Explosives were to be detonated mid-flight over the Atlantic ... Liquid explosives were to be used as the main charge ... [they] would have been smuggled on board ... then assembled on board."

The document says three terrrorists would have been assigned to each plane.

Yesterday Britain's most senior police officer said there was so much intelligence by last Wednesday about the alleged plot that action had to be taken.

Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said: "We have been behind this group of people for some time. What we always have to do is balance waiting to gather more evidence and make sure you get all the people, against the risk to the public by not moving in earlier.

"That's the decision that was reached last Wednesday evening. There's a point where the information reaches a level of concern that means if you don't take action it is indefensible."

A total of 23 people were arrested last Thursday and are still being questioned.

In another sign of the global nature of the investigation, 15 more people were reported to have been arrested in Pakistan. Known militants already serving sentences are also. . .

[traditional1]

But wait!

Wasn't Karl Rove included in the arrest? DU said he was behind the political stunt to gain advantage by coming up with this ruse....

/sarc

[The Electrician]

Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said: "We have been behind this group of people for some time. What we always have to do is balance waiting to gather more evidence and make sure you get all the people, against the risk to the public by not moving in earlier.

Of course he forgot to mention the requirement to provide a boost to Joe Lieberman in the Demo/Commie primary...