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Latest News
Anti-terrorist operation
This is the text of the statement delivered outside NSY to media by Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson this morning: "This was a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction and commit mass murder. "I would want to join the Commissioner who is fully briefed and has been here at New Scotland Yard since early this morning in paying tribute to officers from the Met's Counter -Terrorist Branch and the security services for the work they have undertaken to disrupt these activities.
"We believe that the terrorists' aim was to smuggle explosives onto aeroplanes in hand luggage and to detonate these in flight. "I can confirm that a significant number of people are currently in custody and the operation is ongoing. The majority of those arrests have been in London but we have also made arrests in ThamesValley and Birmingham. We are grateful for the support and assistance of our colleagues across the country. We are currently searching a number of addresses. DAC Peter Clarke Head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch will give further details about this part of the operation later this morning. "As the operation got underway we spoke to community leaders to make them aware that a major anti-terrorist operation was taking place but without giving specific details about locations. Extensive dialogue will continue throughout the operation. "We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety upper most in our minds. This is a major operation, which will inevitably be lengthy and complex. The UK is now at the highest possible level of alert. We will consider the threat in its wider sense and take whatever action is necessary to protect the Country. "Measures have already been put in place to restrict hand luggage taken onto aircraft. This will inevitably cause delay and we ask people for their continued help and patience during these difficult times. "We are looking for the public to remain calm, patient and vigilant, but we cannot stress too highly the severity of the threat this plot presented. This was mass murder on an unimaginable scale." ____________________________ A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight has been disrupted in a joint pre-planned intelligence-led operation by the Met's Anti-terrorist Branch and Security Service. It is believed that the aim was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board the aircraft in hand luggage. It is also believed that the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the USA. Overnight police have arrested a number of people in London. These arrests are the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months. We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds. This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex. Home Secretary John Reid said: "Overnight the police, with the full knowledge of Ministers, have carried out a major counter-terrorism operation to disrupt what we believe to be a major threat to the UK and international partners.
"The police, acting with the Security Service MI5, are investigating an alleged plot to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life. "At 2am this morning the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the UK threat state to its highest level: 'Critical'. (The new threat level definitions are available at the Home Office internet site at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/counter-terrorism-documents?version=1 ) "This is now being publicly announced as I promised to Parliament last month. This is a precautionary measure. We are doing everything possible to disrupt any further terrorist activity. "This will mean major disruption at all UK airports from today. But as far as is possible we want people to go about their business as normal." For information on travel please visit the Department for Transport Internet site at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about_612280.hcsp
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