"London Police: Plot's 'intent was mass murder on an unimaginable scale'"

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Heathrow shut to incoming flights  
Passengers are being asked to be patient when facing delays
Plot allegedly involved liquid explosives in carry-on luggage
United Kingdom - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

 
Heathrow Airport has been closed to all incoming flights that are not
already in the air, following a police anti-terror operation. 

British Airways said it had cancelled all its short-haul UK and European
inbound and outbound flights to and from Heathrow until 1500 BST. 

Stringent security measures have been put in place at airports across the
UK. 

German carrier Lufthansa, Spanish airline Iberia and Olympic have all
cancelled flights to the UK. 

There are no flights from Brussels to London. 

In addition, Air France flights from Paris to Heathrow have been grounded
temporarily while the backlog at the airport is cleared. 

Passenger concern 

BAA has urged all passengers planning to fly out of Heathrow airport to
postpone their plans and remain at home unless the journey is essential. 

BBC News website's Krishan Ramakrishnan at Heathrow said travellers at the
airport were not as worried by the security operation as by the
inconvenience of taking just passports and medicines on the plane. 

Courteney Dane, who travelling back to Australia, said: "I'm worried about
the cost and the fact I've got a 24 hour flight with nothing to read. I'm
not really worried about the security, it's just a nuisance." 

Our reporter said there was a massive queue to get in to the Terminal Four
building. 

He said many travellers were working out ways to travel to Europe by
alternative methods, such as Eurostar. 

BAA strongly advises all passengers not to travel to Heathrow airport unless
the journey is essential and there is an increased police presence at London
Underground stations leading to the airport. 

Heathrow management took the decision to close to all flights not already in
the air due to the congestion at the airport. 

Manchester Airport has said there are delays on all flights of between one
and three hours. 

At Gatwick, airport worker Warren Tarling said he had never seen the airport
so busy. 

"It gets busy sometimes but not like this," he said. 

"There's thousands upon thousands of people. All flights out of the airport
have been delayed. 

"Most people have been polite but some have been angry. Generally people
have been understanding because of the nature of the problem." 

Long delays 

Donald Morrison, a spokesman for BAA at Glasgow Airport, said there would be
delays at security for all passengers. 

"We are bringing in additional security staff as we speak and we are hoping
that passengers will be able to pass through security safely and swiftly but
we would advise passengers to give themselves extra time when they come to
the airport." 

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said all airports and airlines
operating into and out of the UK would be on a heightened state of security.


"Maximum security unfortunately will involve immediate and severe
disruptions for passengers with significant delays likely at all UK
airports," he said. 

"What these changes mean in practice is that all hand baggage will now have
to be checked in with only a small number of essential items allowed through
search controls. 

"Exceptions will be in place for those travelling with infants and for
prescription medicines. 

"Extra security arrangements will be in place for flights to the United
States." 

Passengers are being asked to check in most items of baggage, apart from
wallets and purses, identity and travel documents, prescription medicines,
spectacles and sunglasses and keys. 

Those travelling with children will be allowed items essential for caring
for them on the flight. 

Mr Alexander said passengers wanting detailed information should contact the
airline they were due to travel with. Information would also be available on
the Home Office, the Department for Transport and Foreign Office websites. 

UK Metropolitan Police: Intent was Mass Murder

London's Metropolitan Police said a months-long intelligence operation by
the anti-terrorist branch and security service resulted in several arrests
overnight.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Paul Stephenson said the
alleged plotters had intended "mass murder on an unimaginable scale".

According to a Scotland Yard news release, the aim of the alleged plot was
to explode devices carried aboard planes in handheld luggage. The threat was
posed especially on flights from Britain to the United States.

"This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex,"
Scotland Yard said in a statement.

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

It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on to as
many as ten aircraft in hand luggage. Police were searching addresses after
a total of 21 people were being kept in custody after 25 arrests in the
London area and West Midlands.

"We are doing everything possible to disrupt any further terrorist activity.
This will mean major disruption at all UK airports," John Reid said, adding
the move to raise the alert level was "precautionary."

Hand luggage will not be allowed into the cabin of a plane and passengers
will only be allowed to take a wallet, travel documents and other essential
items in a plastic bag.

"All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items
they are carrying must be X-ray screened," a BAA statement added.

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