Common Folk Using Common Sense

Trackbacked at All Things Beautiful, blonde sagacity:

From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
August 10, 2006

The Department of Homeland Security is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in coordination with heightened security precautions in the United Kingdom. Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States. Currently, there is no indication, however, of plotting within the United States. 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.

For that reason, the United States Government has raised the nation’s threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States. This adjustment reflects the Critical, or highest, alert level that has been implemented in the United Kingdom. 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. Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements. Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from being carried on the airplane. This determination will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. These changes will take effect at 4:00 AM local time across the country. Travelers should also anticipate additional security measures within the airport and at screening checkpoints.

Says ALa: “Thank God the ACLU or NYT didn’t get wind of the ongoing efforts…”

The foiled plot was “intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale,” Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson said.

British Home Secretary John Reid said the plotters planned loss of life on “an unprecedented scale.”

The intelligence that uncovered the plot “makes very strong links to al Qaeda,” a senior U.S. administration official told CNN. The arrests were the result of a “covert counter-terrorist operation,” police said.

Stephenson said 21 people were arrested by London, Birmingham and Thames Valley police overnight in an ongoing operation.

The nation’s overall terror threat level has not been altered. Yet. While there is no indication of plotting within the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff issued a statement saying “we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted.”

A U.S. administration official said the terror plot targeted Continental, United, and American Airlines. The plot involved hiding masked liquid explosives in carry-on luggage. The alleged terror plot comes more than five years after Briton Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his sneakers on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001, only a few months after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. Passengers thwarted his plan, and the plane landed safely in Boston.

UPDATED LIST from Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, GA, USA, 0900 EDT:

• Liquid items may be packed in checked baggage, but will not be allowed in carry-ons.
• Any passengers who attempt to carry liquid items through security will be asked to dump those items out, regardless of what they are (except for the exclusions noted below).
• Laptop computers, cellphones, and Blackberry or Blackberry-style devices may not be carried through security; they must be in checked baggage.
• All shoes, regardless of make or model, must be removed and passed through the X-ray machines.
• Prescription medicine will be permitted on board, even in liquid form, provided that the name on the prescription bottle matches the name of the passenger.
• Baby food and formula will be allowed for passengers traveling with babies, but is subject to inspection by security officials.
• Passengers are advised to arrive one hour earlier than usual to allow for additional time spent in the security screening area.
• Passengers traveling to the U.K. are advised to contact their air carrier for details on flights and additional restrictions.

Department of Homeland Security, passenger aircraft, al Qaeda, terrorist, cellphones

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