Now that we know more about the planned terror attack against the US and UK, does anyone wonder if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s August 22nd date to respond to an incentive package offered to him by the UN Security Council was set intentionally to occur after the fact?
…or is that a little too tin-foil hat-ish?
Discuss.
Doc Searls writes of his experience at Logan Airport in Boston today.
ABC News is reporting that at least two of the terror plot suspects had prepared martyrdom video tapes. The terrorists planned a dry run within two days.
— The U.S. raised the terror threat level to “severe” for all flights leaving Britain for the United States. Britain raised its alert level to “critical.”
— Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ordered the National Guard to Boston’s Logan Airport, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the National Guard to airports in his state.
— Besides banning liquids, British police are also banning passengers from carrying electronic key fobs, which have the potential to trigger bombs.
— A U.S. administration official said the plot targeted Continental, United, British Airways and American Airlines flights to New York, Washington and California.
— As many as 10 flights were targeted, and the plot may have involved up to 50 people, U.S. officials told CNN.
— U.S. and British officials said some suspects could still be on the loose and their investigations were continuing.
— Indications are that at least 21 of those arrested are British citizens and some were of Pakistani ethnicity, a senior U.S. intelligence official said.
— In a sign of the heightened security, Chertoff said the U.S. was dispatching extra air marshals to Britain.
— Chertoff said it was unclear if all suspects were in custody. The plotters were “getting close to the execution phase.” He added, “There were very concrete steps under way to execute all elements of the plan”.
Via CNN
Gatorade and an iPod. Who would have thought those two items and others like them could be used to take down an airplane?
Terrorists planned to use MP3 players and energy drinks to blow up as many as 10 jetliners bound for the United States, authorities said Thursday.
A senior congressional source said it’s believed the plotters planned to mix a “British version of Gatorade” with a gel-like substance to make an explosive that they would possibly trigger with an MP3 player or cell phone.
Will we now finally wake up and understand the lengths at which these fanatics will go to kill innocent people?
UPDATE: ABC News says terrorists planned to use energy drinks and the flash mechanism from disposable cameras to ignite the explosives.
British officials warn that an attack could still be underway as they continue their search for more suspects.
Scotland Yard officials do not believe they have captured all the members involved in today’s terror plot out of Heathrow Airport and are urgently searching for more suspects.
Authorities are concerned that those still at large may well have instructions to act now if the plot was disrupted, and they have not ruled out other cities and airports as possible targets of attacks. ABC News has been told that this is a well organized, “for real” plot, not an informant’s suggestion.
The Blotter continues to provide excellent coverage of the developing story.
21 24 people have been arrested in the U.K. after an investigation uncovered a major terror plot targeted at U.S. bound aircraft leaving London’s Heathrow airport. According to reports, the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled in hand luggage on to as many as 10 aircraft.
The 24 suspects appeared to be of Pakistani descent with strong links to al Qaeda and Pakistani operatives.
Airports worldwide are on high alert. In the U.S., a ‘red alert’ – the highest alert level – was issued. Intense security measures are in effect. In London, carry-on baggage of almost all kinds has been eliminated.
U.S. Homeland Security personnel stated that the terrorists appeared to have planned to use multiple persons aboard each flight to assemble peroxide-based liquid or gel high explosives. The materials could easily be hidden in water bottles, tooth paste tubes, juice boxes or any number of other type of small containers that passengers regularly carry onto flights.
At least nine transcontinental flights from American, United and Continental airlines were targeted in the plot. ABC News has learned that terrorists planned to attack the planes three at a time, waiting an hour between each attack.
According to federal authorities, two or three bombers would each carry a separate portion of the bomb onto the plane to avoid detection. Once onboard the bomb would be assembled and then detonated by using heat or friction.
British authorities had been tracking some of the suspects for several weeks but stepped in to round up the plotters when they began to book flight reservations.
The TSA has banned all liquid carry-ons on U.S. flights.
As you can imagine, the wait to get through security at most U.S. airports is growing. At my airport, Seattle Tacoma International, the time in line is now 82 minutes.
— UK Airports swamped
UPDATE: The alleged plot ringleaders have been identified.
Live TV Coverage: ABC NewsNow | BBC | CNN International |
Bloggers: Brenden Loy has a massive round up. Michelle Malkin too. Hot Air has been covering the news since it broke, as has Pajamas Media. As usual, the Counterterrorism Blog is all over this.
Other MSM news links (courtesy of Drudge): Plan to blow up 6-10 planes in mid-flight over ocean | ‘Mass murder’ bomb plot | May have been ‘the Big One’ | ‘Suggestive’ of al-Qaida | UK police hold 21 | REPORT: Citizens of Pakistani Descent | Britain on highest alert | USA raises air security alert to red for first time |
Statement by Homeland Security | Text: Chertoff’s Statement | FLASHBACK MONDAY: London-to-Boston flight returns to Heathrow because of security issue | Britain facing ‘most sustained threat since WWII’ | Bush Statement | How the terrorists were caught |