Coordinated Effort Significantly Disrupts Terrorist Plot

CBP Increases Security Posture at Airports Washington, D.C. - Early on the morning of August 10, British law enforcement authorities arrested a number of individuals related to a terrorist plot seeking to potentially detonate explosives on multiple aircraft from the United Kingdom and destined to the United States. As a result, and coordinated with our international law enforcement partners, the Secretary of Homeland Security raised the Homeland Security Threat Condition level for all flights from the U.K. destined for the U.S. to Severe, or Red, and all other international and domestic U.S. flights to High, or Orange. "The individuals in custody are alleged to have engaged in a plot to detonate liquid explosives on board multiple commercial aircraft departing from the United Kingdom and bound for the United States. This plot appears to have been well planned and well advanced, with a significant number of operatives. The terrorists planned to carry the components of the bombs, including liquid explosive ingredients and detonating devices disguised as beverages, electronic devices, or other common objects," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "While this operation was centered in Great Britain, it was sophisticated, it had a lot of members, and it was international in scope." This plot was well advanced. In other words, they had accumulated and assembled the capabilities that they needed, and they were in the final stages of planning before execution. I don't want to get very specific for investigative reasons about each individual step. But this is not a case where this was just in the initial thought stage. There were very concrete steps underway to execute all elements of this plan." Although the arrests in Britain have significantly disrupted this major threat, we cannot assume that it has been completely thwarted or that we have fully identified and neutralized every member of this terrorist network." We've been working much more closely with the British to follow what appeared to be an accelerating plan to carry out a very, very serious terrorist act. Clearly what was envisioned were multiple explosions in multiple aircraft. I do think a point that's very important is this: This was a very sophisticated plan and operation. This is not a circumstance where you had a handful of people sitting around coming up with dreamy ideas about terrorist plots. The conception, the large number of people involved, the sophisticated design of the devices that were being considered, and the sophisticated nature of the plan all suggests that this group that came together to conspire was very determined and very skilled and very capable." The links to al Qaeda are being assessed and a plot of this sophistication is suggested of al Qaeda tactics," added Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales reiterated that while there is currently no indication of any plotting within the United States, the federal government is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector. The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the entire intelligence community will continue to aggressively pursue every lead and shred of intelligence that arises from this or any other terrorism case. This has been our practice since 9/11." Our enemies should know that we are just as equally intent on stopping them. We will continue to work around the clock with our colleagues around the world to dismantle their operations one person at a time." As we have stated many times before, we are a nation at war. [These] actions are a stark reminder that the threat is real and that we have a deadly enemy who still wakes every morning thinking of new ways to kill innocent men, women and children, and dreams every night about wreaking the destruction on freedom-loving countries." Chertoff noted that We're going to learn a lot more in the course of the investigation, and I would rather have more protection and then scale it back as we become more reassured than underestimate the problem and find out, God forbid, that we have made a tragic mistake." While specific law enforcement actions have been taken to significantly disrupt and dismantle this specific terrorist threat, CBP has taken a number of heightened protective measures to ensure that all proactive efforts are taken to maintain the security of our air travel and identify other potential high-risk individuals. As part of the response to this heightened threat condition, CBP is performing intensive passenger screening, prior to departure from the gate, of all flights scheduled for departure from the U.K. and destined for the U.S, including the risk-based screening of manifest information. In addition, passengers on these flights and all other international flights will be subjected to heightened inspections upon arrival in the United States. Specifically, CBP has increased enforcement efforts in international arrival areas, using risk-based targeting and deploying special response teams including baggage and aircraft search teams, baggage x-ray equipment, specially trained canine units, and explosive detection technology. These efforts will complement domestic actions taken by the Transportation Security Administration.