Al-Qaida planned US blitz (Al Qaeda)

Austraila Herald Sun ^ | Jan. 4, 2004 | Ben English

[FairOpinion]

THE panic gripping passenger flights on both sides of the Atlantic was sparked by the discovery of an al-Qaida plot to simultaneously hijack several aircraft and crash them into key US sites.

Top of the list was the White House, but the terrorists also aimed to hit nuclear power stations on the US east coast, unspecified targets in Los Angeles and the giant Valdez oil terminal in Alaska. American and British intelligence operatives learned of the plot from a tip-off on the weekend before Christmas.

The informant said Islamic fanatics planned to hijack flights operated by British Airways, Air France and AeroMexico.

The warning explains the 10 groundings of airliners in Europe and America during the festive break, including two in a row of BA223 -- the afternoon flight between London and Washington.

British security agents were last night conducting an intense manhunt for two al-Qaida operatives they believe intended to board flight 223 wearing shoe-bombs.

They also believe the would-be hijackers may be carrying legitimate US, British, or other Euro passports in a bid to evade stringent security checks.

Another theory is that an extremist may have infiltrated the ranks of airline pilots.

US investigators will screen all pilots flying into America in a bid to uncover any such deadly mole.

British foreign intelligence agency MI6 is sifting through more than 150 terrorist threats a day as world authorities grapple with the biggest perceived threat to security since September 11.

More flights from British airports are expected to be cancelled this week.

Revelations of Osama bin Laden's latest audacious plot came after a court in Milan heard of London's key role in his terror network.

Leaked police transcripts were released to the court showing that as recently as June 2002, al-Qaida considered the British capital to be the organisation's European nerve centre.

Members could be smuggled in and out of Britain on false passports with apparent ease.

But by March last year, London was considered dangerous, perhaps reflecting a major crackdown that led to 500 arrests of terror suspects since September 11.

The documents formed part of a dossier against seven al-Qaida suspects on trial in the Italian city.

[FairOpinion]

Terror alert is definitely not over...

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[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I have a hard time believing any of those flights could have enough gas to go from their origin to the Valdez facilities.

Maybe the plan was to take the Aeromexico plane after it got to LA to Alaska but that's a long flight to make over many A.F. bases (something like 7-8 hours I would guess but at least as long as flying from Seattle to the East Coast) without getting shot out of the sky.

[NormsRevenge]

definitely not .. Bump

[GeronL]

panic gripping passenger flights on both sides of the Atlantic

what panic???

[LPStar]

Weren't some LAX - Europe flights cancelled/delayed also? Those would have a ton of fuel on board.

[jempet]

Well, I can tell you one thing that is certain... 3 Mile Island must have been of some concern lately. The amount of air patrols going over my house since about a week before Christmas is pretty impressive. Add to that the number of single engine prop planes flying around, and it seems like they were worried about it. I live about 15 minutes from TMI, and at one time worked there in the IT department. I am really hoping security has gotten a hell of alot better since than. When I worked there, you just needed your security badge, and I had my car searched in a random check once in 2 years....

[Gunslingr3]

Maybe the plan was to take the Aeromexico plane after it got to LA to Alaska but that's a long flight to make over many A.F. bases (something like 7-8 hours I would guess but at least as long as flying from Seattle to the East Coast) without getting shot out of the sky.

If we're compelled to shoot down an airliner, that's going to be more than a marginal victory for the terrorists.

[kingu]

Alaska is 9 hours from everywhere. It is why Anchorage is becoming such a huge cargo hub -- it is a handy central point for a lot of international shipping.

[kingu]

What strikes me as curious is how little attention is being put on to the international cargo agencies. I wasn't paying attention the other day when I went to make a delivery to the FedEx terminal at the airport and I drove up to the base of the plane...

I thought I was going to be shot on sight. Instead, a helpful ground crew member told me how to take a shortcut to the shipping counter.

[Tall_Texan]

British security agents were last night conducting an intense manhunt for two al-Qaida operatives they believe intended to board flight 223 wearing shoe-bombs.

So, if the plan was to crash the plane into a specific target, why the shoe bombs? To hold the passengers at bay? Don't think that's going to work this time. I think even the Frogs would try to fight them.

At least now we know what took 3 hours to deplane at Dulles. The Brits must have thought we Americans had a shoe fetish.

[Myrddin]

I have two more domestic flights scheduled in the last two weeks of January. One week in Birmingham, AL and the other in Chicago, IL. The Birmingham trip puts me at a huge coal-fired electric plant. Both locations are more interesting targets than my little town in Idaho. Both trips will be even more intrusive at the TSA counter. I'm more concerned about my "on the ground" time than the actual flights.

[Pro-Bush]

Bump!

[Thinkin' Gal]

I wasn't paying attention the other day when I went to make a delivery to the FedEx terminal at the airport and I drove up to the base of the plane... I thought I was going to be shot on sight. Instead, a helpful ground crew member told me how to take a shortcut to the shipping counter.

Unless you look Arab or have a Muslim "shoe bomber" type aura, look at the bright side: the average ramp worker simply discerned immediately that you were of no threat. You passed his/her intuitive profile test, recognizing that you were a real American who didn't need to be shot on sight. :-)

Now if the ground crew looked suspicious (maybe I'd better not go there), then we have worse problems than a lack of gates/guards. What good will it do if you are prevented from accidentally accessing a plane, while those who continually work on or near aircraft, are Al Qaeda sympathizers. How can they screen people out, who merely have an interesting circle of personal jihad-loving friends (no paper trails or prior jobs at the local NOI chapter)?

Where was it (Logan?) that they reviewed employee files and discovered a bunch of illegals and/or criminals? What red flags weren't on paper, that they missed? Yeesh.

[Cindy]

re post no. 10...Links Of Interest:

WREG.com - News Channel 3, Memphis TN: "LETTER THREATENS FedEx PLANES" (December 30, 2003) (Read More...)

SUN-SENTINEL.com - South Florida's Latest News: "FBI INVESTIGATES LETTER WARNING OF DANGER TO FedEx AIRPLANES" (December 30, 2003) (Read More...)