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FEB 2, 2004 Chem-bio attack fears force flight cancellations Air France, BA cancel 9 flights after new intelligence on likely release of chemical or biological agents by Al-Qaeda men

WASHINGTON - Fears that Al-Qaeda terrorists would use a new tactic of releasing a chemical or biological agent on an airliner, or transport a radiological device in the cargo-hold, forced the cancellation of several international flights yesterday.

United States security officials gave only sketchy information on new intelligence, which again raised fears of possible Sept 11-style attacks.

Western airlines, primarily British Airways and Air France, cancelled nine flights to and from the United States scheduled for yesterday and today.

They also grounded flights from Europe to the US around Christmas, citing intelligence on Al-Qaeda plans.

'We have received threat reporting that indicates Al-Qaeda's desire to target these particular flights,' a US official said on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence enabled US authorities to identify flights potentially at risk, but the official said further details were not available.

'There is some sketchy information that inserts (weapons of mass destruction) in connection with aviation,' said another security official.

The possibilities, as described by three intelligence officials, included the release of an undetectable biological agent, such as smallpox virus or anthrax spores, aboard a plane which passengers would then unwittingly spread.

There was also the possible release of a chemical agent to debilitate passengers and crew so a plane could be hijacked, and sneaking a radiological device aboard a plane inside a piece of luggage.

In discussions with British, French and American airline officials, US authorities required enhanced security precautions that some airlines could not take.

'It became easier to just cancel the flights,' an administration official said.

British Airways said it had cancelled flight BA223 to Washington yesterday and today, and the return BA222 flights to London on the same days.

Yesterday's BA207 London to Miami flight was also cancelled.

'We cancelled these flights on advice from the British government for security reasons,' an airline spokesman said, without giving details.

Air France scrapped two Paris-Washington flights.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told France's TF1 TV station: 'We have been for several months in an extremely tense international environment...Air France has thus decided to take necessary measures and suspend the flights, I think it's a wise decision.'

Yesterday, for the first time, a flight by a US-based carrier was cancelled.

Continental Airlines Flight 17, scheduled to fly from Glasgow to Los Angeles, was cancelled because the carrier was 'unable to obtain the necessary security clearances from the Department of Homeland Security and their international counterparts,' a Continental spokesman said.

Several intelligence officials said that Al-Qaeda appeared desperate to mount a spectacular attack to show its followers, new recruits and financial donors that it remains a viable terrorist organisation.

Central Intelligence Agency officials say 75 per cent of Al-Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

US intelligence officials say they do not know for certain why Al-Qaeda may be particularly active now.

Copyright @ 2003 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.