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The Anatomy of the Foiled Plot in London
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ShareAugust 10, 2006 9:47 AM
The world learned of a terrorist plot Thursday that would have caused mass death and destruction aboard a number of passenger jets had British authorities not aggressively investigated and arrested many of the plotters.
More than 20 suspected terrorists were arrested in England by early Thursday morning, in an operation that involved British intelligence, Scotland Yard and assistance by a number of other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including those in Pakistan.
ABC News has learned that two "significant arrests" in Pakistan in recent days may have significantly accelerated the pace of the investigation.
Many of the alleged terror plotters appeared to be of Pakistani descent. It appears that they were probably "homegrown" terrorists with strong links to al Qaeda and Pakistani operatives. This new generation of terrorists have figured significantly in plots in the U.S., London and Canada in recent months.
In this case, the plotters apparently intended to assemble small but powerful bombs in flight and use them to take down flights from England to the United States in an operation that was just days away.
Airport security was tight in both nations. A "red alert" -- the highest alert level -- was issued in the U.S., and a "critical" state was issued in England. Passengers are undergoing intense scrutiny -- carry-on baggage of almost all kinds has been eliminated in Britain and delays abound at London's Heathrow, the world's busiest airport.
According to a Department of Homeland Security briefing to the aviation sector, the terrorists appear to have planned to use multiple persons aboard each flight to assemble peroxide-based liquid or gel high explosives. The bomb-making materials could easily be concealed in small containers -- water bottles, tooth paste tubes, juice boxes and any of the other numerous person items passengers traditionally take into the passenger compartment of commercial 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 and before any of the suspects purchased tickets.
British authorities have shared parts of the investigation with the FBI, and out of concern for leaks, only the barest details were shared with regional authorities as late as last night.
Now there is a continued concern that other members of the cell remain on the loose and may remain a present danger to intercontinental air traffic as well as air traffic in Europe. Raids were expected to continue in England throughout the day, and authorities were said to be seeking the "factories" where the bomb parts were prepared.
U.S. authorities, meanwhile, were running down leads to ensure no plotters or associates were within U.S. borders and intent on causing harm.
August 10, 2006 in U.K. Airline Terror Plot | Permalink | User Comments (250)
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How can the Brits solve this and we mange to loose 12 Egyptian students? Thanks to M5. A big thanks to the Brits.
M
Posted by: Marty | Aug 10, 2006 12:18:34 PM
People need to start thinking WHY this is happening. The infalmation of the situation in the Middle East. With the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the support of Isreal's oppresion of the Lebannese and Palestinian people no wonder people are trying to fight back agaisnt oppresion. Think of yourself in this position, would you not fight agaisnt this?
Terrorism is not right, I'm not saying that. But what needs to be addressed is stopping people from feeling this resentment. We need to stop this tit for tat, it will only end in the death of more innocent people.
Posted by: George Connor | Aug 10, 2006 12:18:42 PM
Yeah, Bush saves the world again! GIVE ME A BREAK
Posted by: Sarge | Aug 10, 2006 12:19:08 PM
Bush: "It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the Unites States of America"
Amen.
Posted by: Andy | Aug 10, 2006 12:19:11 PM
Suppose the Brits were listening in on international phone conversations?
Posted by: Chuck Capan | Aug 10, 2006 12:23:25 PM
Why is US government still supporting Pakistan????????
Mr.Bush please clean out your ears and hear out what Indian government has been saying atleast now...........
Posted by: df | Aug 10, 2006 12:23:41 PM
execute those terrorists
Posted by: kawy | Aug 10, 2006 12:24:30 PM
Thank you Britian.......
Posted by: M ike | Aug 10, 2006 12:26:34 PM
another skirmish in the war on terrorism. There will be more.
Posted by: Fred | Aug 10, 2006 12:27:32 PM
here's the question that should be asked: by diverting the nation's resources from the war against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to the unnecessary war in Iraq, and by not capturing/killing bin Laden and al-Zawahri, has this president and his policies enabled this sort of thing to happen?
Posted by: Jeff | Aug 10, 2006 12:28:26 PM
I would help if you told us why these people are so intent on killing us. What is their vision? What are their goals? I know that you know, so please, let us know.
Posted by: Allen Land | Aug 10, 2006 12:29:56 PM
I'm grateful for God's blessing on our 2 countries, and the on the labors of our counter-terrorism. Truly this is the hour we must stand together. Let us seek God to gether for His continued mercies.
Posted by: Baker | Aug 10, 2006 12:31:26 PM
It's gotta be TATP, the terrorists' bomb of choice.
Posted by: TexasRainmaker | Aug 10, 2006 12:32:38 PM
Do people still think the Bush administration is doing nothing about the terror threat?? I think not...
Posted by: Marc Cramer | Aug 10, 2006 12:32:52 PM
It's fortunate the New York Times did not find out about the investigation weeks ago. I'm sure they would have warned the terriorist on their front pages.
Glc
Posted by: GL Cline | Aug 10, 2006 12:34:07 PM
Already the self-proclaimed "progressive" thinkers have found a way to blame Bush, Cheney and Halliburton. Unbelievable!
Why don't you "progressives" do the world a favor and go ahead and drink the rest of the kool-aid?
Posted by: Jonathan Myers | Aug 10, 2006 12:35:09 PM
WHy all the silence about whether these were islamic? I couldn't find a single news story that highlighted that obvious fact.
Also, isn't the term "terrorist" all wrong, and shouldn't it be replaced with islamic fascist? Of course that won't happen - until the public abandons media that fails to tell us the truth about what is going on we will continued to be lied to.
I also thank god for George Bush - on this one issue anyway. Turns out he was right all along!
Now if he would only modify his stance on immigration - that's going to have to come anyway.
Posted by: B. Samuel Davis | Aug 10, 2006 12:35:27 PM
How does the fact that these terrorists were "home-grown" betray underlying problems in british society? It is rejection by their "home" society that causes immigrant youth to seek affirmation and social acceptance elsewhere. This is not simply a problem associated with being muslim. Exclusion of immigrants from their new community is a social issue, and until it is addressed it will continue to produce these outcomes--home-grown terrorists.
Posted by: angela | Aug 10, 2006 12:38:11 PM
Thank you U.K. for your efforts. It seems those who truly recognize the threat of terrorism are globally ridiculed, but instances like this show what the world is up against. Not armies fighting other armies, but Islamic terrorists targeting innocent civilians. How warped must a mind be to justify this?
Posted by: DJ | Aug 10, 2006 12:38:16 PM
Question: "Why wasn't the term "Muslim" or "Islamic" used ANYWHERE in this article??
Is it because you believe there is no connection there?"
Answer: ABC Reporters Brian Ross and Richard Esposito (and their empty-suit editors) lack basic intellectual honesty, courage, or both. (Sort of like Reuters and their phony photos.)
The MSM IS the enemy within.
m. r. o'donnell
Posted by: m. r. o'donnell | Aug 10, 2006 12:39:06 PM
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