hand baggage barred on u.k. flights on alleged ter, page-19

From ABC


UK police foil terrorist plot
By Stephanie Kennedy in London and wires

British police say a major terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight has been disrupted.

Police have arrested more than a dozen people after a major counter-terrorist operation.

It is thought the plan to detonate explosive devices smuggled onto aircraft in hand luggage targeted flights from the United Kingdom to the United States.

Security at all airports in Britain has been tightened and major delays are expected.

Passengers will not be allowed to take hand luggage on to any flights, only the bare essentials including passports and wallets will be allowed to be taken on board in transparent plastic bags.

Britain has immediately gone on its highest alert for terrorist attacks, raising the level issued by the domestic intelligence service MI5 to "critical" from "severe", where it has been for several weeks.

The plan was uncovered in a joint operation by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch and security service that lasted several months, the Metropolitan Police says.

British Home Secretary John Reid says that Britain faces "the most sustained period of severe threat since the end of World War II."

He says that while the security services would deliver 100 per cent effort and dedication, they could not guarantee a 100 per cent success rate in fighting terrorism.

"Our security forces and the apparatus of the state provide a very necessary condition for defeating terrorism but can never be sufficient to do so on their own," he said.

Hand luggage ban

British Airways has announced it will not allow any hand baggage on any of its planes leaving UK airports.

"British Airways, acting on instruction from the UK Government, wishes to advise passengers that no items of hand baggage can be carried on board any aircraft departing any UK airport," the airline said in an e-mailed statement.

"The UK Government has advised that this instruction will apply to all airlines operating from UK airports."

BA says no electrical or battery-powered items, such as laptops and mobile phones, will be allowed in its cabins.

Britain's Department of Transport says in a statement on its website that security at all UK airports has been increased and additional security measures have been put in place on all flights.

The British Airports Authority says that all passengers will be hand searched, and that their footwear and all items they carry will be x-rayed. It adds that all passengers on flights to the United States will be subject to a secondary search at the boarding gate. All liquids will also be removed, BAA says.

Dublin-based airline Ryanair says passengers should expect significant delays.

- AFP/Reuters

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