Foiled Terrorist Attack
The Brits are on the job. They have discovered a plot to blow up several transatlantic airplanes in midflight. Were these plotters those dastardly saffron-robed buddhists again? Nope. Members and followers of the Religion of Peace.
From the AP here:
British authorities said Thursday they had thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up several aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives smuggled in carry-on luggage, averting what police described as “mass murder on an unimaginable scale.” Home Secretary John Reid said British police and government were confident the main suspects had been arrested.
Huge crowds formed at security barriers at London’s Heathrow airport as officials searching for explosives barred nearly every form of liquid outside of baby formula.
Officials raised security to its highest level in Britain _ suggesting a terrorist attack might be imminent _ and banned hand-carried luggage on all trans-Atlantic flights.
The extreme measures at one of the major international aviation hubs sent ripple effects throughout the world. Heathrow airport was closed to most flights from Europe.
The U.S. government responded by raising its threat alert to its highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States amid fears the plot had not been completely crushed. The alert for all flights coming or going from the United States was also raised slightly.
In Washington, two U.S. counterterrorism officials said the terrorists had targeted United, American and Continental airlines. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.
Police arrested 21 people in London, its suburbs and in Birmingham as part of a major covert counterterrorism operation that had lasted several months, Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said. Searches continued in a number of locations.
Police are confident they have disrupted a plot against aircraft which was “intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale,” he said.
The US has raised the threat level at airports much higher as well. There is currently a ban on liquids for carry on, and all carry on luggage is being searched. Only baby formula is allowed on domestic flights right now. All hair gels, lotions and other grooming supplies must be stored in checked luggage.
There are rumors that all electronic devices may be banned soon. This would include laptops, ipods, cellphones and PDA’s.
The security lines at US airports are currently very long. It is time to take some serious steps to protect American citizens, and stop useless searching of carry on luggage. Its time to begin intelligent profiling of airline passengers. The Israelis do a great job screening passengers, so I think we should adopt their tactics. Yes, some racial and ethnic profiling may be included in “intelligent profiling” but other indicators of terror suspects would include nervousness and other behavioral patterns.
I just know its going to be a huge pain to fly anywhere. I may just decide to FedEx my luggage somewhere a day before my flight and meet up with it at my hotel room.
Michelle Malkin has more detailed coverage here.
