Reply #377: AP: British Say Plot Involved 10 Airliners

[Eugene]

British Say Plot Involved 10 Airliners


Thursday August 10, 2006 9:01 PM

AP Photo LON126

By DANICA KIRKA

Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - British authorities said Thursday they thwarted a terrorist plot
to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives
smuggled in hand luggage, averting what police described as "mass murder
on an unimaginable scale."

-snip-

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the terrorists planned
to use liquid explosives disguised as beverages and other common products and
set them off with detonators disguised as electronic devices.

An American law enforcement official who was briefed on the investigation said
it appeared the liquid to be used was a "peroxide-based solution" to be detonated
by an electronic device that was not specified, but could be anything from a
disposable camera to a portable digital music player. The official spoke
on condition of anonymity because British authorities had asked that no
information be released.

-snip-

A U.S. intelligence official said the plotters had hoped to target flights to major
airports in New York, Washington and California. A counterterrorism official said
the plot involved 10 flights.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6006848,00.html