Chertoff: Threat ‘suggestive of an al-Qaida plot’

updated 4:23 p.m. ET Aug. 10, 2006

WASHINGTON - The United States issued its highest terrorism alert for commercial flights from Britain and raised security for all air travel Thursday after a major terror plot was foiled in London. The Bush administration said the scheme was “suggestive of an al-Qaida plot.”

The terrorist attack foiled by British authorities on Thursday was aimed at blowing up as many as 10 airplanes on trans-Atlantic flights, and plotters had hoped to stage a dry run within two days, U.S. intelligence officials said. The actual attack would have followed within days.

The test run was designed to see whether the plotters would be able to smuggle the needed materials aboard the planes, these officials said. They spoke only on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject matter.

Heightened security measures quickly produced long lines at airport checkpoints as the government banned passengers from carrying nearly all liquids and gels aboard flights. The ban extended to toothpaste, makeup and suntan lotion. Baby formula and medicines were exempted.

U.S. counterterrorism officials said the alleged plotters envisioned blowing up multiple aircraft using bomb components brought on board in a benign state and combined once the planes were aloft.

These officials described a threat aimed at United, American and Continental Air Lines, and flights to the major summer tourist destinations of New York, Washington and California.

“We were really getting quite close to the execution phase,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told an early morning news conference.

Virginia’s deputy homeland security director, Steven Mondul, said that in a morning conference call, federal officials pointed to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, Los Angeles International and Dulles Airport outside Washington as “major destinations for flights originating from the United Kingdom.” No specific warnings were issued for these facilities, he added.

Severe risk of attack
The decision to raise the threat level for flights from Britain to “red,” indicated a severe risk of terrorist attacks. The change requires airlines to give the government in advance the names of all passengers aboard planes headed to the United States from Britain. Currently, the names must be provided within 15 minutes of take-off.

All other flights in the United States were put under an “orange” alert — one step below the highest level.

President Bush personally approved raising the terror alert on Wednesday, according to his spokesman, Tony Snow. “It is safe to travel,” but “there are going to be some inconveniences,” Snow added.

The president, in brief remarks from Green Bay, Wis., said the events showed that “this nation is at war with Islamic fascists.” Administration officials said that most of the 21 plot suspects arrested by English authorities were British citizens of Pakistani descent and Muslims.

National Guard troops activated
In addition to the federal government, state and local authorities responded to word of a thwarted plot.

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced plans to activate National Guard troops to help with security at Boston’s Logan Airport for the first time since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

In Miami, police officers who normally come to work in plain clothes were told to don their uniforms. The subway system in the Washington, D.C., area got a security upgrade, too, in the form of an increased police presence in and around stations.

Federal officials released few details of the reported plot, first made public by authorities in Britain.

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