Al-Qaida plot to hijack plane in UK

WND ^ | 8-24-03 | N/A

[JustPiper]

Intelligence uncovered by the FBI indicates al-Qaida terrorists plan to hijack an aircraft in Britain within the next two months and fly it into an ''important'' building.

British Airways and other leading airlines operating in and out of Britain have been put on alert. The report says the most likely targets for the hijackers were aircraft taking off from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, according to a report in the London Telegraph.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security circulated a warning to American and British airlines on July 30, saying terrorists working in teams of five were likely to try to attempt hijackings using common items carried by travelers, reports the paper.

''Recent reporting on al-Qaida from intelligence sources indicated that terrorists might try to modify electronic items for use as weapons in order to circumvent improved security screening, '' the warning said, according to the paper.

American officials say the intelligence was collected during a raid on an overseas al-Qaida residence in recent months.

Information about converting camera-flash attachments into stun guns or explosive devices was found in the home of a suspect in the May bombings in Saudi Arabia. Another al-Qaida experiment detailed attempts to disguise a detonator and explosive inside a camera.

The suspect is understood to be behind the warnings. Intelligence officials say intercepted terrorist communications have corroborated the man's claims.

An FBI spokesman, quoted by the newspaper, said information about possible attacks identified Italy, Australia and the United States as ground targets for the hijacked plane.

[Cindy]

Links of Interest...

SEATTLE TIMES.com: "SECURITY AT SEA-TAC: WHY YOU'RE STILL AT RISK" by Cheryl Phillips and Chris Maag (August 24, 2003) (Read More...)

WorldNetDaily.com: "10 MYTHS OF AVIATION SECURITY Expert: Airport Workers, Air Cargo Still Not Screened for Explosives" by Paul Sperry (August 18, 2003) (Read More...)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "STUDY: NEW 9/11-STYLE ATTACK LIKELY" ARTICLE SNIPPET: "LONDON - Another Sept. 11-style terrorism attack is "highly likely" in the United States, which ranks fourth in an index assessing the risk to 186 countries, a research company said Sunday.") (August 17, 2003) (Read More...)

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: "ATTACK ON AMERICA!" (Updated) (Read More...)

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a REUTERS article: "CANADA ARRESTS 19 IN CASE WITH SEPT. 11TH PARALLELS" (August 22, 2003) (Read More...)

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a CanWest News Service Article by Brian Krebs and Joseph Menn, with files from Jason Fekete: 'SOBIG' VIRUS TRACED TO CANADIAN COMPUTER" (August 23, 2003) (Read More...)

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding an ABCnews.go.com article by Alexandra Salomon: "Terrorists' Twin Tower Images, Secret Porn Messages" (May 8, 2003) (Read More...)

FBI.gov - War On Terrorism: "SEEKING INFORMATION"

FBI.gov: "MOST WANTED TERRORISTS"

[JustPiper]

Thank you Cindy! Time to hold our breath again ;(

[Dog]

fyi..

[prairiebreeze]

If they'd fly it into something in Paris or Hamberg........just kidding.

Prairie

[csvset]

If they'd fly it into something in Paris or Hamberg

In December 1994, Islamic terrorists hijacked plane in Algeria and flew it to Marseilles, France. They wanted to top the fuel tanks off and then fly to Paris.

The speculation was that they wanted to crash it into a Parisian landmark.

Their plot failed when French commandos stormed the plane and killed them.

You can read about it here GIGN at Marseilles Airport

The US knew about plans, (Project Bojinka), to hijack planes and crash them into buildings since 1995. You can read about Project Bojinka hereCIA, FBI Knew Since 1995 About Possible Hijack Scheme

[prairiebreeze]

Well I was half-joking on my first early morning cuppa coffee, but you bring up events that are interesting. I barely remember this so will try to look at your links later.

I was going to ask why the French are being so difficult at this point regarding terrorists etc. when they were nearly attacked in the past. Then I remembered OKC and the first WTC attack. I guess it takes something huge to get people's attention. Like the UN HQ bombing, perhaps we have the UN's attention now.

Prairie

[csvset]

I was the house guest of some French folks in Cannes, France when the plane landed in Marseilles.

Watching televised reports about the hijacking, my hosts assured me that the the French government wasn't going to allow the Islamic hijackers to leave the airport alive.

Thank goodness.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I getting worn out from saying this over and over. Until what was done to Carthage is done to Mecca, the savages will continue with their assault on us.

[Coop]

Unless they overcome the crew of a cargo plane (entirely possible) and use it as a missile, I simply don't see the 9/11-type hijacking scenario working again. The passengers & crew know the terms now, and will not let it occur. The terrorists may succeed in getting another Shanksville PA (God bless those heroes), but not another Pentagon or WTC.

[rrrod]

we can only hope..not kidding!