BBC Reports UK-U.S. Terror Plot Foiled

j823777 was one of several readers to point out a BBC report that "A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the U.S. has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate up to three explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage. Police have arrested 21 people in the London area after an anti-terrorist operation lasting several months. Security at all airports in the UK has been tightened and delays are reported. MI5 has raised the UK threat level to critical — the highest possible." spo0nman adds a link to the Associated Press's coverage. Update: 08/10 12:57 GMT by T : Several readers have pointed out new restrictions imposed as a result of this plot on passengers' carry-on luggage. In the UK, nearly all possession (including laptop computers) must be carried in the cargo hold; while their rules don't yet go quite as far, U.S. airlines are stepping up their enforcement of carry-on-restrictions, including banning substances like toothpaste.

Comments

Re:Wonderful

[RobotRunAmok]

I wonder if the mousse in my hair will get me a trip to gitmo...

Not if your airplane breaks the time barrier and lands in 1986.

Why oh why

[kahei]

WHY do these terrorists specifically hate those of us who are scared of flying??

Re:TSA just anounced the new restrictions on

[Anonymous Coward]

They better ban snakes too

Security

[Ed Almos]

Security at airports is not 'tightened' it's fucking impossible. Anyone travelling from the UK to the USA will find that it's quicker to walk.

Ed Almos

Re:Questions

[geoffspear]

One can only wonder how long it will take some bright airport security guard to realize that blood is a liquid and insist that all passengers be cryonically frozen before boarding.

nightmare scenario

[Bazman]

friends of mine are flying home from UK to Australia soon. With two small kids. And under the restrictions, no kids toys. 18 hours with two kids and nothing to keep the occupied.

I suspect the rest of the plane would prefer a terrorist attack.

The Scottish Home Secretary

[Flying pig]

Announces that us liberal left wingers just don't get it on terrorism. Judges refusing to convict without evidence, evidence which they are not allowed to see because those lefty judges are themselves security risks. Ridiculous human rights legislation that prevents him from simply locking up anybody he feels like. Over-zealous government agencies that want to investigate how the police came to shoot an unarmed man sitting harmlessly in a train and then spread FUD about it afterwards. The same idiot left wing liberals who think that perhaps if we had a more even handed and rational policy in the Middle East we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.

At the risk of being accused of covert racism, it's perhaps worth pointing out just how much of the UK government is controlled by Scots, from the Prime Minister down. The Scots have something of a reputation for violence and aggression, and if you want to point out that the Rt Hon Anthony Blair, MA, Barrister-at-Law is an upper class Scottish lawyer, it was just such an upper class Scottish lawyer that organised the Glencoe massacre, for his own advantage.

Actually, I think our police and security services on the whole do a pretty good job, especially outside London (where there is a lot of institutional corruption.) But they deserve better politicians.

Re:Latest

[cap0ne]

The only thing left for the terrorists will be explosive clothing. They'll find a way to weave C4 right into their shirts in a visually pleasing plaid pattern. But instead of actually carrying out their mission of martyrdom, they will simply mail a sample to CNN, have Bin Laden make a vague recording about it.

I can picture the result now: planeloads of people sitting wide-eyed and paranoid while shivering in little paper gowns - the kind with the backsides missing like you get at the hospital. The terrorists will not be able to stop laughing.

Re:Good work

[brainburger]

I think the problem there is that we have been at level 'severe' for some time. The danger is believed to have gone up, and they need to show this.
Perhaps there aren't enough steps in the scale.
We need 'like, really severe', and 'almost critical -no really!' as well.

Re:Good work

[AGMW]

Perhaps there aren't enough steps in the scale.

What we need is a scale that goes all the way up to eleven. You see previously they'd be at level 10 and thinking they need a little bit more but with no where to go ...

Re:completely secure!

[giafly]

<sarcasm>Of course, terrorists don't drink unhealthy substances in the last hours before a suicide attack.</sarcasm>

Proof: "Suicide bomber Hasib Hussain ate a last meal at McDonald's before blowing up the No. 30 bus on 7 July, killing 13 people." - Bus bomber stopped for a Big Mac

Re:Good work

[pianophile]

Nobody's asking you to drink a big foamy glass of piss here.

Please don't change the subject. We're talking breast milk, not American beer. ;-)

Re:completely secure!

[raehl]

If it will burn their esophagus out on the spot and cause them to cough up blood on the screener, that might just be a clue for the screeners that the substance isn't really toothpaste.

Apparently you're not using a very good toothpaste. You wouldn't believe how white my teeth are. (My gums are a little red though.)