Airport chaos as police foil terror plot

Airports across Britain are facing major delays, following the disruption of a terrorist plot to blow up flights travelling between UK and the US.

It is believed that the plot involved plans to smuggle explosives aboard several airliners with the intention of detonating the device mid-flight.

It is believed that the plan was to target as many as ten aircraft, with three US airlines reportedly being targeted.

Scotland Yard said that the plot had been designed to cause "mass murder on an unimaginable scale".

The plot has caused security levels to be increased at airports across the UK, leading to delays at airports across the country.

Passengers are being asked to use public transport to travel to airports where possible and to allow plenty of extra time for their journey.

Heathrow airport is the worst affected by the delays. The airport has been closed to incoming flights. British Airways cancelled all of domestic and European flights and warned that long-haul flights would be hit be delays.

However, there were reports on Thursday afternoon that incoming short-haul flights had resumed.

Ryanair and easyjet also cancelled all flights in and out of most London airports on Thursday.

London-bound flights from around the world, including the US, Germany, France, Italy and Spain were also cancelled.

The British Airports Authority have urged passengers not to go to any airports unless their flight is absolutely necessary.

Passengers are not being allowed to take hand language onto flights in the UK. Passengers are only being allowed to take essential items, such as passports, travel documentation, wallets and purses and some medical items on board with them, carried in transparent plastic bags.

MI5 have raised the security alert level in Britain to 'critical', the highest level meaning that "an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the UK".

The threat level has also been increased in the US by the Department of Homeland Secretary for commercial flights travelling from Britain to America.

It was reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is currently on holiday with his family in the Caribbean, had briefed US President George W. Bush on the situation during the night.

It is understood that 21 people have been arrested in London, Birmingham and Thames Valley in connection with the plot.

Properties in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire were raided by police on Thursday morning, it was reported.

The investigation, carried out by MI5 and police, is understood to have been on-going for several months.

(KMcA)