Massive Airliner Terror Plot Thwarted [Updating]

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Early Thursday morning, British authorities revealed they had arrested 21 men in connection with an imminent plot to blow up several commercial airliners simultaneously, en route from Britain to the U.S.

The arrests were made in the London and Birmingham areas.

In response, Britain's security services raised its threat level to "critical" from "severe," the highest of its five ratings, suggesting "an attack is expected imminently."

"Currently, there is no indication ... of plotting within the United States," [Homeland Security Secretary] Chertoff said. "We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted."

Threat levels:

U.S.:  Elevated (Yellow)
Aviation Sector:  High (Orange)
Air travel from UK:  Severe (Red)
British airport security: Critical

Police said the plot, which involved hiding explosive devices in passenger hand baggage, was "an attempt to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale"...

Home Secretary John Reid said the plot was "very significant" and designed to "bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life."

New airport security measures, from the TSA website:

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.

Exception: Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines

• Beverages purchased in the sterile area must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
• Passengers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. will be subject to a more extensive screening process.

Chertoff says the plot is suggestive of Al Qaeda, given its level of sophistication and international scope.  The plot is thought to have involved carrying liquid explosive components as well as electronic detonating equipment in carry-on luggage.  Reports claim between 6-10 airliners were targeted.

The investigation is ongoing and news reports this morning indicated British authorities may be looking for as many as 30 suspects in addition to the 21 in custody.

Elsewhere:
Hot Air provided updates throughout the night.
Michelle Malkin has a good round-up of coverage.
Ace is also all over it.
Mary Katherine Ham is keeping an eye on the timing-questioners, who ponder:

And isn't it queer that the emergency is declared within a day of Republican party leader Ken Mehlman launching an all-out offensive against Democrats following Joe Lieberman's loss in Connecticut, an offensive in which Mehlman, the White House and Republican operatives are claiming that Democrats no longer care about national security or the war on terror.

And just at that moment we get our FIRST ever red alert. Beam me up, Scotty.

Do I sound as if I don't believe this alert? Why, yes, that would be correct. I just don't believe it. Read the article. They say the plot had an "Al Qaeda footprint." Ooh, are you scared yet?

Meanwhile, the Kos Kommenters are already convinced the plot was a Rove/Cheney/Bush contrivance intended to steer attention away from their Lamont win.  Wow - paranoid, asinine, and megalomaniacal all at once.

"   ...terror alert is RIGHT ON TIME!! How friggin' predictable."

"Rove and Shirt Off will play the alert card, for they have nothing else in their hands."

"The timing just seems a little too good, with the release of that 9-11 movie and the Lieberman loss."

"...mission accomplished, knock off the front page how badly the GOP is doing in election news."

"Whenever there is a terror alert, look back two days to see what caused it."

"Manipulation, smoke and mirrors, shock and awe are the primary tools of the Spanish Inquisition Department of Homeland Security (brought to you by the flaming elephant of the GOP -- 'flaming' 'cuz it's crashing and burning)"

Speaking of questionable timing, I wonder if authorities are questioning the Mythbusters today.  I watched last night's episode and it was chock full of handy ways to turn household liquids into various explosives.  Mentos and soda, methane and soapy water, dry ice and water...  Hmm.

Pajamas Media has a big roundup, including this Daily Telegraph primer on homemade liquid bombs.

"We are talking about common, everyday chemicals that are used in perfumes, cosmetics, drain cleaner, batteries, or could for example be stolen from school labs.

"These materials are easy to obtain and hard to detect, and could be smuggled in small amounts in small containers because it doesn't take much to blow an aircraft up."
...
"It can be colourless, pale yellow or brown but you can add colour to make it resemble anything you like, such as fizzy drinks or even baby food.

"In a handbag under an X ray machine it would just appear that you were carrying a harmless liquid, there would be no way of picking it up.

"And once on the plane it would only need a small spark to ignite it. The bomber would probably attempt to get close to the hull and cause a big bang, easily enough to crack the shell and bring down the plane."

Comforting.

Not surprisingly, it's getting ugly at the airports.

Air travelers dumped their water bottles, tossed their suntan lotion and waited hours in ever lengthening lines Thursday morning as airports ratcheted up security and delayed flights after authorities uncovered a terror plot in Britain.
...
At Newark Liberty International Airport, the security checkpoint line for Terminal B, home to most international flights, stretched the entire length of the terminal - roughly six football fields - and was barely moving.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will activate the National Guard to assist with security at Boston's Logan Airport.

Scrappleface asks the tough question...

This Times Online article makes a compelling case for TATP being the possible substance in question.

A prime candidate for this would be triacetone triperoxide (TATP), the explosive used by the July 7 bombers. Its two raw ingredients are both liquids, which could potentially be carried on board in sufficient quantities in containers such as bottles of shampoo or contact lens solution.

These could then be mixed in a toilet to make TATP, which is a crystalline white powder. The problem here is that the solid has to be dried before it becomes a reliable explosive. It can also be difficult to detonate, as attested by the failure of the attempted suicide attacks on London on July 21 last year.

The need to get detonators through airport security would also increase the chances of detection.

The problems of assembling and then detonating an improvised bomb of this sort in an airline toilet could explain why the terrorists targeted so many aircraft. It is likely that many of the devices would have failed, so attacking 10 flights would have greatly increased the chances of blowing up one or two.

TATP, aka acetone peroxide, or "the Mother of Satan", is also believed to have been used by shoe bomber Richard Reid.

A few minutes' worth of internet research has informed me that the only things I'd need to have on a plane to whip up some Mother of Satan in the lavatory sink are acetone, hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, and ice.  A would-be bomber would barely even need to disguise the components.  Nail polish remover, hair bleach, batteries, and a complimentary in-flight beverage would just about complete the shopping list (albeit in crude form).  If the raw materials were needed in purer form, they're all available over the counter and could easily be toted in toiletries.

Why the terrorism pointers?  Hey, the more we know about what to look out for, the better.  If the shifty-looking fellow across the aisle from us seems to be hoarding ice, maybe we'll pay more attention to what he's hauling out of that toiletry bag before heading to the lav.

Market Update:

On word of the disrupted plot, crude oil futures fell by nearly 2% 3%, based on the assumption that demand for jet fuel would fall off as air travel declines.  Shares of American and European airlines also took a beating.

NYMEX September crude oil price per barrel:

Remarks by the President upon landing in Wisconsin:

"The recent arrests that our fellow citizens are now learning about are a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.

 

"I want to thank the government of Tony Blair and officials in the United Kingdom for their good work in busting this plot. I thank the officials in Washington, D.C. and around our country who gather intelligence and who work to protect the American people. The cooperation on this venture was excellent – cooperation between U.K. and U.S. authorities and officials was solid. And the cooperation amongst agencies within our government was excellent.

 

"This country is safer than it was prior to 9/11. We've taken a lot of measures to protect the American people. But obviously, we're still not completely safe, because there are people that still plot and people who want to harm us for what we believe in. It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the United States of America. And that is why we have given our officials the tools they need to protect our people.

 

"Travelers are going to be inconvenienced as a result of the steps we've taken. I urge their patience and ask them to be vigilant. The inconvenience is – occurs because we will take the steps necessary to protect the American people.

 

"Again, I appreciate the close cooperation between our government and the government of the United Kingdom. The American people need to know we live in a dangerous world, but our government will do everything we can to protect our people from those dangers."

With no signs of being related, an incident earlier today aboard a [now safely landed] Qatar Airways flight involving a 21-year-old Eritrean man may have been a failed hijacking attempt. (HT: Allah)

Flopping Aces has posted a copy of the new "No liquids" signs on display at airport checkpoints.

U.S. intel officials say the terrorists were planning to stage a dry run within two days, which has sparked a new Hot Air thread.

According to CBS sources, the substance to be used was indeed "the Mother of Satan" TATP.

Also tracking updates:

Wizbang, Protein Wisdom, Counterterrorism Blog