U.S. Says Terrorists Planned Dry Run

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http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060810/D8JDP0TG0.html

U.S. Says Terrorists Planned Dry Run
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Aug 10, 4:00 PM (ET)

By LARA JAKES JORDAN


WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 hoped to stage a dry run within two days, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

The actual attack would have followed within days.

One official said the suicide attackers planned to use a peroxide-based solution that could ignite when sparked by a camera flash or another electronic device.

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.



Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, left and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales hold a press briefing, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006, in Washington about the terror threat uncovered in Britain. The U.S. government issued its highest terrorism alert ever for commercial flights from Britain to the United States in response to a terror plot disrupted Thursday in London and raised the threat level for all domestic and international flights. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)