Posted on 08/09/2006 10:17:04 PM PDT by gary_b_UK
A major terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight has been disrupted by police, Scotland Yard says.
It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board aircraft in hand luggage.
During the night, police arrested a number of people in London after a counter-terrorist operation they said had lasted several months.
Police believe the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the US.
The Department for Transport said security at all UK airports has been increased.
Passengers on all flights will not be allowed to take any hand luggage on to any flights in the UK.
Only the barest essentials - including passports and wallets - will be allowed to be carried on board in transparent plastic bags.
The authorities will know the liquid agent (nitro etc, as used in Bojinka) can be smuggled aboard in smallish quantities inserted in body orifices in later adaptations of this plan. The main aim of present searches would be to prevent the original plan of bringing in prepackaged liquid agents, and a method to ignite it.
Those who travel regularly will know that electrical outlets for laptops etc are usually available in business and first class... and other sources of electrical supply (spark) from common seats and entertainment equipment.
But the bottom line is, if you have ever traveled out of Heathrow, you already know - 1, what a predictable joke their security was (I could name certain examples, but don't think it's wise to do so openly) and - 2, How many Muslims work in the airport and have easy access to the aircraft in their various positions, as well as to the passengers. For eg, I hope the Duty Free is permanently over for starters... those workers are allowed to possess certain items in the secure zone which cleared passengers are not. They also bring bagged Duty Free right to the gate to hand to passengers. Perfect opportunity for the many RoP workers hand over contraband in person....
Unknown (undisclosed) liquid.
Liquid Explosive Devices is the term being tossed around.
I believe everyone is busting their butts right now...my opinion.
I'm sure the Dummies will claim that Blair is "overreacting".
It only takes one mistake (phone call) from an excited jihadist to mess up a plan. Bet at least one of the missing students is connected to the British group.
I don't know; trying to wake up and get caught up.
Very prescient.Anti-terror critics just don't get it, says Reid
John Reid [British Home Secretary] yesterday accused the government's anti-terror critics of putting national security at risk by their failure to recognise the serious nature of the threat facing Britain. "They just don't get it," he said.The home secretary yesterday gave the thinktank Demos his strongest hint yet that a new round of anti-terror legislation is on the way this autumn by warning that traditional civil liberty arguments were not so much wrong as just made for another age.
"Sometimes we may have to modify some of our own freedoms in the short term in order to prevent their misuse and abuse by those who oppose our fundamental values and would destroy all of our freedoms in the modern world," he said.
Mr Reid said Britain was now facing "probably the most sustained period of severe threat since the end of the second world war" and that the country was facing a new breed of ruthless "unconstrained international terrorists".
The European human rights convention had been drawn up 50 years ago to protect against fascist states but now the threat came from "fascist individuals" unconstrained by such conventions, agreements or standards. Everyone across the political, media, judicial and public spectrum needed to understand the depth and magnitude of the threat.
The majority of the public understood its seriousness but there were those who "just don't get it", whose opposition was undermining the struggle. They included:
· Politicians who opposed the anti-terror measures the police and security services said were necessary to combat the threat.Mr Reid argued that since 2000 almost 1,000 people have been arrested for terror-related offences, with 154 of them charged and 60 suspects now awaiting trial. Four significant terrorist plots had been disrupted. But the opposition from politicians, media commentators and judges had left the government ill-prepared to tackle the threat.· European judges who passed the "Chahal judgment" that prohibited the home secretary from weighing the security of millions of British people if a suspected terrorist remained in the UK against the risk he faced if deported back to his own country.
· The media commentators who "apparently give more prominence to the views of Islamist terrorists rather than democratically elected Muslim politicians like premier Maliki of Iraq or President Karzai of Afghanstan".
"In spite of these successes we remain unable to adapt our institutions and legal orthodoxy as fast as we need to," he said. "This is the area that puts us at risk in national security terms. There have been several contributory factors to this, including party political point scoring by the Conservative and Liberal opposition during the passage of key anti-terrorism measures, through to repeated challenges under the Human Rights Act and the convention, which I continue to contest."
He said at a time when a single terrorist with access to weapons of mass destruction could cause irreparable damage, their opposition meant he could not always prosecute, deport or detain foreign suspects.
The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Mark Hunter, said Mr Reid was right to call for cooperation from all sections of the community but "he needs to make sure the government's counter-terrorism strategy encourages rather than undermines that cooperation".
No more than ever. My sister is flying domestically today but now I'm worried.
Their cell phones better be going off like crazy.
Okay - I'm not awake but here my recollection:
In the book The New Jackals by Simon Reeve, which was about OBL and Ramzi Yousef, the FBI said Yousef was the most experienced bomber they'd ever worked to find. He's in jail now but knew how to make bombs using ingredients hidden in a contact lens case and a watch.
Hands up who likes a conspiracy theory. Look at the chart of the amex airline index since 18.30 london time yesterday. Did someone have prior knowledge of today's terror unit/police action?
placemarker
And that crusty old leftist and dictator-worshipping scab Mike Wallace eagerly volunteered to hold the chisel.
Holy crap!! I was half kidding when I said this sounded like a "24" episode. Then I just heard that the British have a "Counter Terrorist Unit"!
From your post- this needs to be pounded into the head of every ACLU lawyer and liberal:
John Reid [British Home Secretary] yesterday accused the government's anti-terror critics of putting national security at risk by their failure to recognise the serious nature of the threat facing Britain. "They just don't get it," he said.
The home secretary yesterday gave the thinktank Demos his strongest hint yet that a new round of anti-terror legislation is on the way this autumn by warning that traditional civil liberty arguments were not so much wrong as just made for another age.
"Sometimes we may have to modify some of our own freedoms in the short term in order to prevent their misuse and abuse by those who oppose our fundamental values and would destroy all of our freedoms in the modern world," he said.
Mr Reid said Britain was now facing "probably the most sustained period of severe threat since the end of the second world war" and that the country was facing a new breed of ruthless "unconstrained international terrorists".
Have a good day Liberty Valance.
'Somehow I have a feeling other plots are going on out there....scary.'
Yes, more than just concern about airplanes.
A lot of pieces moving tonight.
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I rather very strongly agree. I have an odd sort of feeling. Somewhat contradictory . . . That we aren't likely to go full bore into WWIII but that there is going to be some major efforts on the part of the Jihadi's to rachet things up considerably. And I don't think the London thing is the only thing scurrying along under the surface. Not by a significant margin. Don't know if the other plots will surface more or less dramatically nor how soon.
Peter Clarke, head of Anti-Terrorist Branch - opens by saying we must be careful not to be prejudiced against any group.
Plot to conceal explosive devices - devices constructed in UK. Timing of plots subject to investigation.
Today marks the combination of an investigation that's lasted several months and will last long into the future.
Take a flying leap!! Surveillance gets these dudes...not pussy footing. Warrant? This is war and since you can't keep a damn secret, this is how it has to be and it's the President's duty not some kind of privilege granted by Congress for "secrets" in wartime!!
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