AP: At least four major plots foiled since July 7: Reid

At least four major plots foiled since July 7: Reid
[dead link]

posted here August 13, 2006

British police raid internet cafes where plotters are believed to have started planning operations

London: British authorities have thwarted “at least four major plots” on British soil since the deadly July 7 bombings last year, home secretary John Reid told BBC television on Sunday.

Reid said all four plots would have led to significant loss of life, and added that around 24 terror investigations were currently being pursued by the police.

Britain’s national security threat level was upped to “critical” on Thursday after police swooped on 24 people over an alleged plot to blow up aircraft en route to the United States.

“We think we have the main suspects in this particular plot,” Reid told the BBC News 24 channel.

“I have to be honest and say on the basis of what we know, there could be others out there ... so the threat of a terrorist attack in the UK is still very substantial.”

As police widened their investigation into the bomb plot suspects, detectives raided a series of internet cafes, including one near Heathrow, where the plotters were believed to be planning to start their operations.

One person detained in Britain on Thursday was released without charge on Friday night, leaving 23 in custody.

The 23, most of them of Pakistani origin, include a taxi driver, an accountant, a student, a pizza delivery man and a security worker, as well as several Muslim converts, according to British newspapers.

Police, who have up to 28 days to release or charge the suspects, successfully applied for further warrants to detain 22 of the group. They will apply on Monday to hold the remaining suspect for longer.

1/3rd flights cancelled

London: Airlines cancelled almost a third of flights from Britain’s busiest airport on Sunday, plunging travellers into a fourth day of travel chaos triggered by an thwarted alleged airplane bomb plot.

British Airways said it had scrapped 30 per cent of flights from Heathrow Airport on the instructions of airport operator the British Airports Authority, or BAA.

The airport operator said 70 per cent of flights on all airlines at Heathrow were expected to operate, but warned that tough new screening measures for passengers and luggage meant delays were inevitable.

BAA’s chief executive for Heathrow, Tony Douglas, said the airport was doing its best, but that delays “will go on until the security threat level is reduced”.