"U.S. Raises Airline Threat Level: al-Qaida link suspected"

Thursday, August 10, 2006

U.S. Raises Airline Threat Level
By LARA JAKES JORDAN
The Associated Press


WASHINGTON, (AP) -- The U.S. government raised its threat warning to the
highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States early
Thursday in response to a terror plot uncovered in London. Multiple flights
to multiple American cities were put on alert, a western counterrorism
official said.

In addition to the highest alert for flights from Britain, the alert for all
flights coming or going from the United States was also raised slightly. The
government said it was banning beverages, hair gels and lotions from
flights, explaining only that liquids emerged as a risk from the
investigation in Britain.

"We believe that these arrests (in London) have significantly disrupted the
threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated
or the plot completely thwarted," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael
Chertoff in announcing that the threat level for flights from Britain to the
United States has been raised to the highest "severe or red" level.

"To defend further against any remaining threat from this plot, we will also
raise the threat level to high, or orange, for all commercial aviation
operating in or destined for the United States," Chertoff said.

It is the first time the red alert level in the Homeland Security warning
system has been invoked, although there have been brief periods in the past
when the orange level was applied. Homeland Security defines the red alert
as designating a "severe risk of terrorist attacks."

A statement issued by Chertoff said "currently, there is no indication ...
of plotting within the United States."

A U.S. law enforcement official said there have been no arrests in the
United States connected to the plot.

A senior U.S. counterterrorism official said authorities believe dozens of
people and as many as 50 were involved or connected to the overseas plot
that was unraveled Wednesday evening. The plan "had a footprint to al-Qaida
back to it," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because
of the sensitivity of the situation.

It was not believed to be connected to the Egyptian students who disappeared
in the United States more than a week ago before reaching a college they
were supposed to attend in Montana. Three of the 11 have since been found
and the FBI has said neither they nor the still-missing eight are believed
to be a threat.

The plan involved airline passengers hiding masked explosives in carryon
luggage, the official said. "They were not yet sitting on an airplane," but
were very close to traveling, the official said, calling the plot "the real
deal."

Another Western counterterrorism official, also speaking on condition of
anonymity about the highly sensitive investigation, called the investigation
"very serious."

U.S. intelligence has been working closely with the British on the
investigation, which has been ongoing for months, the second official said.

Authorities have not yet arrested or detained all suspects who are believed
to be involved in the plot, the official said, prompting Chertoff's alarm.

"Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security
Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities
and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security
requirements," Chertoff said.

"Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are
prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from
being carried on the airplane."

He said the changes take effect at 4 a.m. local time across the United
States and will be undated as warranted.

Chertoff said travelers in the United States "should also anticipate
additional security measures within the airport and at screening
checkpoints."

Multiple airlines with flights to multiple U.S. airports were at risk,
according to a western counterterrorism official. Another official refused
to identify the airlines because they were still being notified of the
threat but referred to them as the "usual suspects." In the past, U.S.
cities with terrorism threats or plots have included Washington, New York,
Boston and Los Angeles. Airlines whose planes were hijacked on Sept. 11,
2001, were United Airlines and American Airlines. British Airways has also
dealt with numerous threats in recent years.

"These measures will continue to assure that our aviation system remains
safe and secure," Chertoff added. "Travelers should go about their plans
confidently, while maintaining vigilance in their surroundings and
exercising patience with screening and security officials."

Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said in London that the prime minister,
vacationing in the Caribbean, had briefed President Bush on the situation
overnight.

There was no immediate public reaction from the White House. Bush is
spending a few days at his ranch near Crawford, Texas.

The Homeland Security Department devised the alert system after the Sept. 11
attacks. The last time the U.S.government raised the terrorist risk here to
orange, or high, was in July 2005 after the subway bombings in London. It
was lowered to yellow a month later, the elevated risk status that has been
the norm since the system was created.

U.S. authorities, including the Transportation Security Administration,
planned a news briefing early Thursday.

In London, Britain's Home Secretary John Reid said the alleged plot was
"significant" and that terrorists aimed to "bring down a number of aircraft
through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life."

Police arrested a number of people overnight in London after a major covert
counterterrorism operation that had lasted several months, but did not
immediately say how many. Heathrow airport in London was closed for most
European flights.

The national threat level in Britain was raised to critical - a warning
level that indicates the likelihood of an imminent terrorist attack. The
threat rating was posted on the Web site of Britain's MI5 - the British
domestic spy agency.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************