Plot to blow up planes foiled

[Say Again Over]

'Plot to blow up planes' foiled

A major terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight has been disrupted, Scotland Yard says.
It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage, with flights from the UK to the US being targeted.

During the night, police arrested a number of people in London after a counter-terrorist operation they said had lasted several months.

Security at all airports in the UK has been tightened and delays are expected.

The Department for Transport said security at all UK airports has been increased.

Passengers on all flights will not be allowed to take any hand luggage on to any flights in the UK.

Only the barest essentials - including passports and wallets - will be allowed to be carried on board in transparent plastic bags.

"We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only," the statement said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm

______________________________________

These guys may be up to something in the U.S. as well:

2 Held on Terror Charges in Ohio

The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 9, 2006; 10:44 PM

MARIETTA, Ohio -- Two men were charged Wednesday with money laundering in support of terrorism after authorities said they found airplane passenger lists and information on airport security checkpoints in their car.

Deputies stopped Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, 20, and Ali Houssaiky, 20, both of Dearborn, Mich., on a traffic violation Tuesday. They found the flight documents along with $11,000 cash and 12 phones in the car, said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.

Prosecutor Susan Vessels declined to say how the phones, cash or flight information involved terrorism.

Abulhassan and Houssaiky admitted buying about 600 phones in recent months at stores in southeast Ohio, said sheriff's Maj. John Winstanley. The men said they sold the phones to someone in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb.

Investigators going through the car after the pair were pulled over in Marietta, about 90 miles southeast of Columbus, also found a map that showed locations of Wal-Mart stores from Ohio through Kentucky, Tennessee and into North and South Carolina, Vessels said.

FBI spokesman Mike Brooks in Cincinnati said his office was notified about the arrests and an agent was investigating.

A message seeking comment was left Wednesday evening with Ray Smith, a public defender who represents Abulhassan. Houssaiky did not yet have an attorney, Vessels said.

Abulhassan and Houssaiky did not speak at a hearing Wednesday in Marietta Municipal Court in which a judge set their bond at $200,000, Vessels said. Another bond hearing was set for Thursday.

The charges allege the two laundered between $5,000 and $25,000, Vessels said. A conviction carries a maximum 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080902073.html

Not good.

 

[Groundpounder]

The news in Boston is saying no carry on baggage is being allowed on flights to the UK.

 

[nwa_contrails]

No one allowed to carry anything on board...esp. liquids...I guess they were planning on using liquid explosives? - Today Show

Yea, this ain't good...

 

[pilotyip]

But the supposedly growing Anti-war momentum in this country will take care of all that. We will just say you guys win, and then they will leave us alone. It is all so beautiful and simple. I think a guy named Chamberlain, brought peace to England back in 1938 using the same methods.

 

[Say Again Over]

Heard a rumor that US airspace is closed to flights from the UK, anyone hear anything about this?

 

[Turkey Shoot]

But the supposedly growing Anti-war momentum in this country will take care of all that. We will just say you guys win, and then they will leave us alone. It is all so beautiful and simple. I think a guy named Chamberlain, brought peace to England back in 1938 using the same methods.

Don't bother with the facts! I recall in history, I had a prof tell me we study so as not to repeat it. Sadly, we will do just that.

 

[FN FAL]

But the supposedly growing Anti-war momentum in this country will take care of all that. We will just say you guys win, and then they will leave us alone. It is all so beautiful and simple. I think a guy named Chamberlain, brought peace to England back in 1938 using the same methods.

From a country that can't even win the "war on drugs", we bring you the "war on terrorism". Stay tuned for previews of the 7th glorious season, where kidnappers keep their victims across the street from US Army outposts...

 

[Guitar rocker]

At least we had some communication going on this time in order to catch these folks.....without the egos. Very much unlike with the FBI and CIA....as it relates to the USS Cole and thereafter.

 

[Murdoughnut]

But the supposedly growing Anti-war momentum in this country will take care of all that. We will just say you guys win, and then they will leave us alone. It is all so beautiful and simple. I think a guy named Chamberlain, brought peace to England back in 1938 using the same methods.

I don't think it's an anti-war movement per say, I think it's an anti-"this"war movement, as in the war in Iraq. No one seems to be questioning our presence in Afghanistan. My family members who are retired military are all opposed to the War in Iraq, but I wouldn't call any of them "anti-war". They just believe it isn't (or at least wasn't initially) related to the War on Terror.

 

[ACT700]

I hate to say it, but until people accept the fact that profiling is necessary, these idiots will have a free hand to do their thing.

 

[FN FAL]

God save the Queen and all English cuisine!

 

[Murdoughnut]

I hate to say it, but until people accept the fact that profiling is necessary, these idiots will have a free hand to do their thing.

I agree totally - I'm a statistician by trade so it befuddles me that there is no systematic profiling - just makes logical sense. I guess the argument against it is that then they'll attract non-arab looking folks to do their business. But other than black Muslims, I'm not sure who'd they get.

If that happens, I could totally see the guys from Super Troopers spoofing it.

"Hey Ramathorn, how many virgins are you going to end up with?"
"What's that all about?"
"They think I'm Arab."
"You're not?"

 

[honeycomb]

I don't hate it...

I hate to say it, but until people accept the fact that profiling is necessary, these idiots will have a free hand to do their thing.

I'll tell you what I hate....Everyone is now (again) treated like the terrorists. (Like the CREWS/ALL YOUNG NON-ISLAMIC MEN.)

But, we can't not profile the Young Islamic Men that get on airplanes. Of course we got luck this time.

More people will stop flying.

 

[81Horse]

... But other than black Muslims, I'm not sure who'd they get. ...

Chechen women, perhaps.

 

[pilotyip]

FN FAL, if you have the answers please step forward and save us.

 

[Murdoughnut]

Chechen women, perhaps.

Yeah, that's true.

 

[FN FAL]

FN FAL, if you have the answers please step forward and save us.

No, I think IKE said it best in his farewell to the union address on January 17, 1961.

 

[Murdoughnut]

No, I think IKE said it best in his farewell to the union address on January 17, 1961.

What an excellent speech - I'm teaching an International Politics class this Fall on the side and I'm definitely going to make it a discussion point for the students to read.

My favorite line ... "Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration."

Too bad our polarized government doesn't follow this idea.

Speaking of the military-industrial complex, I hear good things about this new movie "Why We Fight". Anyone seen it?

 

[FN FAL]

Speaking of the military-industrial complex, I hear good things about this new movie "Why We Fight". Anyone seen it?

I have, the nice thing about the movie was they were not picking on Republicans or Demorcrats in the film. However, it was interesting seeing the old footage of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam...

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/shakinghands_high.wmv

 

[big_al]

But the supposedly growing Anti-war momentum in this country will take care of all that. We will just say you guys win, and then they will leave us alone. It is all so beautiful and simple. I think a guy named Chamberlain, brought peace to England back in 1938 using the same methods.

ignorance is bliss

you must be extremely happy

 

[Guitar rocker]

I'll tell you what I hate....Everyone is now (again) treated like the terrorists. (Like the CREWS/ALL YOUNG NON-ISLAMIC MEN.)

But, we can't not profile the Young Islamic Men that get on airplanes. Of course we got luck this time.

More people will stop flying.

Yah, we go through security with our uniforms on but with the one way ticket, we get the special search....and Achmed and gang roll right through no problems at all. Instead of treating all of us like terrorists, why not profile? Ive seen 80 year old ladies and 7 year old kids getting pulled over for the search but young middle eastern men go through with no problem. It's almost as if our society doesnt want to pull these folks over because we are trying to be so politically correct so as not to offend anyone not to mention that the civil rights activists are in a sense trying to prove that there is no problem with these folks. For the most part, that is probably true, but it's the few bad apples that ruin it for everyone else. Had this plot not been foiled, those few bad apples would have killed a lot of people and crippled aviation all over again.

How many airliners is it going to take to finally get some profiling going here? 10? 20? 50? When are we going to learn?

 

[jknight8907]

Great. Just in time for me to get to fly to California under all this crap. Makes me want to fly myself. If it weren't for maxing out at 120 knots, I would!

 

[Crizz]

So, when deadheading or jumpseating not in uniform one must check bags to bring toothpaste now?

 

[ATRCAPT]

I hate to say it, but until people accept the fact that profiling is necessary, these idiots will have a free hand to do their thing.

Bingo! We have a winner!

 

[Flightjock30]

less people will fly now due to fear...just like after Sept 11th...airlines will face more financial losses, etc etc. This industry SU*KS!!!! It can really mess up an economy by screwing with the airlines.

 

[Guitar rocker]

less people will fly now due to fear...just like after Sept 11th...airlines will face more financial losses, etc etc. This industry SU*KS!!!! It can really mess up an economy by screwing with the airlines.

Mmmm, maybe not so. British authorities must be doing something right. They communicate with one another.....a hard lesson that our friends at the CIA and FBI had to learn about post 911. But if everyone is doing their job, arresting the right folks and communicating as they should be, we passengers shouldnt be worried about getting on an american airliner and traveling. If we did some profiling, that would boost the publics confidence as well.

 

[jknight8907]

So, when deadheading or jumpseating not in uniform one must check bags to bring toothpaste now?

Duh. Don't you know how DANGEROUS that stuff is? It has to be controlled!


*snicker*

 

[ultrarunner]

I hate to say it, but until people accept the fact that profiling is necessary, these idiots will have a free hand to do their thing.

I agree...no reason whatsoever NOT to pull folks based on profile. The ACLU can kiss my A$$ on that one!

 

[pullmyfinger]

Whats to stop one from carrying a supply of toothpaste in a plastic tube, crammed up his A$$ ?

 

[pullmyfinger]

Nevermind... I forgot that the discomfort of doing this would be a concern for any would be suicide bomber.