From the BBC
Flights out of the UK are today have been massively disrupted following an apparent disruption of a plot to blow up planes in flight from the UK to the US. It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled in hand luggage on to as many as 10 aircraft operated by United, American and Continental airlines.
Police are searching premises after 21 people were arrested. Home Secretary John Reid said had the attack gone ahead it would have caused a loss of life of "unprecedented scale". He said they were "confident" the main players are in custody, but neither the police nor the government is "in any way complacent".
The plot was thought to have involved a series of "waves" of simultaneous attacks, targeting three planes each time. He also said the plan "revolved around liquids of some kind".
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said the alleged plotters had intended "mass murder on an unimaginable scale. We are confident that we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction and to commit, quite frankly, mass murder," he said. "We believe that the terrorists' aim was to smuggle explosives on to aeroplanes in hand luggage and to detonate these in flight. We also believe that the intended targets were flights from the United Kingdom to the United States of America."
According to BBC sources the "principal characters" suspected of being involved in the plot were British-born. There are also understood to be links to Pakistan. Despite the arrests the threat level had been raised "in case there is some other sub-plot, back-up plot around this that the police aren't aware of".
The Department for Transport set out the details of the security measures at UK airports. Passengers are not allowed to take any hand luggage on to any flights in the UK, the department said. Only the barest essentials - including passports and wallets - will be allowed to be carried on board in transparent plastic bags.
Some may accuse the government of scare tactics or perpetrating a ruse to facilitate a raft of more draconian anti terror laws. Such people would call me naïve or brainwashed but in the same way that I do not believe the government had any hand in 7/7 I do not believe they would pull a stunt like this. That does not mean the authorities do not get things badly wrong – de Menezes and the recent Forest Gate raid spring to mind.
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12 comments:
I think the government may be guilty of playing up the threat with this one - 21 people have been arrested under an Act which has an extremely low conviction rate, and there's been no real concrete evidence produced (though, admittedly, it's still early days).
Given that they've been aware of this - in some form or another - for about a year, I don't think it was entirely coincidence that the decision to move on it came so quickly after John Reid's call for greater powers.
I wondered if you were going to blog about this. You don't disappoint, jams!
I've kept tabs on the story all morning at work on talk radio. I'm sure the plot will thicken in the following days. Coast To Coast radio's resident conspiracy theorists are shooting for mayhem to occur on August 22 or 23. At least that's the info. I heard through my custom made tin foil hat. :)
This sends a shiver down my spine because we simply do not know what we have let ourselves in for and what the long term consequences of the war in the Middle East. Terrorist atrocities such as this are an invisible threat. No amount of armies can stop it because it will just be done. In my opinion the long term consequences were clearly not acknowledged when it should have been apparent to the parties involved. A war with no specific target inevitably involves the innocents. I am just at a loss to what the solution to all these might be. How can you put an end to terrorism?
On the other hand Matt there is not a lot to be gained in playing up threats too much. In the light of our participation in Iraq and Blair's perceived support of Israel in Lebanon to play the terrorism card cynically would be counterproductive. I don't think the public would buy it.
I couldn't not blog this ewbl. While the conspiracy nuts are having a field day but the mundane is usually far more chilling. All it takes is a few well motivated people and you have chaos. They don't need a huge support network either.
I wish I knew what the answer was obokun. You try and smash you perceived enemy and more enemies pop up like dragons teeth. Figthing terrorists like a traditional army won't work. Some of the tactics that can be eployed would turn us into monsters
let's not forget the folks on this side of the pond. it is our election season and we over here are quite jaded. not to downplay your threat at all- if there was one- but your government and mine have been cozy in bed of late- and certain folks over here are not doing so well in the polls. the movie- 'world trade center' just opened here in theaters and before our primaries there was the arrest of the 'miami morons' who allegedly plotted but had no plan- to blow up stuff in chicago. just take it with a grain of salt until proof is forthcoming.
NO doubt Blair has been far too close to Bush for far too long, much to the opposition of the majority of british people. Time will tell if it is not another balls up along the lines of Forest Gate but there is no mileage here in creating scares out of thin air.
How can you put an end to terrorism?
Actually, there is a way. Stop being afraid of dying. That's the advantage suicidal terrorists have over us. They are not afraid to die. We are. Ultimately, despite West's technological advantage, this is a very equal fight. I don't know who will ultimately win it, except that it will be the stronger (and the braver) side...
How do you translate that into action Sonia?
jams, you could hijack a plane, and then and then....that when you have a little time for it...
Hmm red, I think when I have time I will just loaf in front of the television!
jams, International Man Of ACTION! lol
Hell yes ewbl, I WIND my own watch!
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