LONDON — Europe has delayed flights amid the foiling of a major Al
Qaida-aligned strike on airliners to the United States.
Officials said the plot appeared to be connected to Al Qaida. They said
the suspects did not plan an immediate strike against the airliners.
"We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat,
but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the
plot completely thwarted," U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
said. ''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."
Officials said Scotland Yard has arrested 20 suspects accused of
planning to bomb passenger jets to the United States. Under the reported
plan, each of the suspects was to have detonated a liquid-based explosive
device aboard an airliner.
"A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight has
been disrupted," a London police spokesman said.
Both Britain and the United States have increased their threat level,
with London raising its alert to "critical." At least one European airline,
Germany's Lufthansa, has canceled flights to London.
"We are doing everything possible to disrupt any further terrorist
activity," British Home Secretary John Reid said on Thursday. "This will
mean major disruption at all UK airports."
Britain has imposed restrictions on airline passengers. The British
Airports Authority banned the transport of all liquids and announced an
additional search at the boarding gate.
British Airways has prohibited hand baggage for passengers leaving
Britain. This would include laptop computers and mobile phones.
