Seattle PI : British search wooded area in plot probe

British search wooded area in plot probe

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | September 14, 2006

LONDON -- Forensic officers searched a wooded area Thursday after witnesses reported finding suspicious materials near the city where terror suspects were arrested in an alleged plot to bomb trans-Atlantic airliners in August.

The area was west of London alongside the M40 highway near the southern outskirts of High Wycombe, England.

Officers specializing in explosives were called to the area Wednesday night when members of the public reported the suspicious materials. On Thursday, a section of the woods was cordoned off with police tape while officers conducted searches.

The British Broadcasting Corp. reported that youths found bottles and told the police. Sky News said several bags were found.

Police would not describe the items or speculate if they were linked to the suspected terror plot, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police said. She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.

The area being searched was near the M40 motorway, a major highway connecting London to northern cities, police said. One lane was closed during the search.

"Explosives officers attended the scene last night as a precautionary measure," the police spokeswoman said.

Forensic tests will be carried out on items that are removed from the scene.

On Aug. 9-10, police launched a major anti-terror operation in High Wycombe, London and Birmingham after foiling an alleged terror plot to detonate liquid explosives aboard up to 10 U.S.-bound airliners. Investigators have recovered chemicals, bomb-making equipment and six martyrdom tapes.