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U.S. Agents Search BA Jet at Washington Airport
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. security officials detained a British Airways Boeing 747 on arrival at a Washington D.C. airport on Wednesday and spent several hours searching it, the Department of Homeland Security said.

Department spokeswoman Rachael Sunbarger told Reuters that BA Flight 223 to Dulles Airport from London "has been detained and remains on the tarmac for further screening." She gave no further details.

Local media reported the plane, carrying 247 passengers and 17 crew, landed at 7:06 p.m. The reports said those on board were ferried to the terminal building about three hours later.

The United States raised its terror alert to its second highest level 10 days ago, citing the possibility of terror attacks over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

U.S. officials say they believe al Qaeda, blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon (news - web sites) using hijacked planes, is plotting further hijackings.

Last week six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles were canceled when U.S. intelligence warned French authorities that the passenger lists included suspicious names.