U.S. raises alert for airlines to “RED”, the highest level reached to date, after British authorities’ arrest 21 in plot to blow-up UK to U.S. flights.

By Brendan Smith
brendansmith@transworldnews.com

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has raised the color coded alert system from “YELLOW” (elevated) to “RED” (severe) in response to a plot by terrorists to use a “liquid chemical” device to bring down planes traveling from Britain to the United States. The DHS revealed that “Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.”

The “RED” alert pertains to commercial flights originating inside the United Kingdom. Domestic and all other flights originating outside of the UK have gone to an “ORANGE” alert (high).

British authorities responded in turn by raising their alert system to “CRITICAL” suggesting their belief that “an attack is expected imminently.”

Many flights out of London’s Heathrow airport have been cancelled and the remaining flights are experiencing long delays while high level security has been implemented. With the discovery of a “liquid chemical” plot all carry on luggage has been banned. Included in this list are laptop computers, mobile phones, iPods, and remote controls. Britain has also barred passengers from carrying liquids aboard planes. This ban includes hair care products, beverages and lotions.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has restricted liquids from all flights as well.

According to reports the terrorists had been monitored for several months leading up to the arrests Wednesday night when authorities felt the plot had reached an extremely advanced stage. A U.S. counter-terrorism official stated that the terrorists had not boarded any plane but they were very close to traveling.

As many as six airplanes had been targeted by the terrorists with an apparent plan to carry out simultaneous attacks. The transatlantic flights included destinations to New York, Washington and California.

Britain’s Home Secretary John Reid commented on what could have happened had the plan been carried out, “loss of life to innocent civilians would have been on unprecedented scale.”

Based on the decision to implement the highest level of alert possible, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, “Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements.”

Travelers in the United States and Britain can expect long delays.

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