Statement by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, Head of The Anti-Terrorist Branch
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THE FOLLOWING IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEPUTY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER PETER CLARKE, HEAD OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST BRANCH, CENTRAL HALL, ON 10th AUGUST 2006 AT 11.50:
"I would like to give you some details about the counter terrorist operation, which took place overnight. I shall focus purely on the criminal investigation. As always, I must preface my remarks with a request for restraint - and by that I mean restraint in the reporting of events so far as they relate to those who have been arrested. We must all, please, be careful to say or do nothing that might prejudice the right of any individual to a fair trial.
The investigation has focused on intelligence, which suggested that a plot was in existence to blow up transatlantic passenger aircraft, in flight. The intelligence suggested that this was to be achieved by means of concealed explosive devices smuggled onto the aircraft in hand baggage. The intelligence suggested that the devices were to be constructed in the United Kingdom, and taken through British airports. The number, destination and timing of the flights that might be attacked remain the subject of investigation.
This has been, and continues to be, a fast moving investigation.
Today marks the culmination of one phase of what is a major operation that has already lasted several months, and will undoubtedly last long into the future.
During the investigation an unprecedented level of surveillance has been undertaken and our objective is to gather intelligence and evidence in support of the investigation. We have been looking at meetings, movements, travel, spending and the aspirations of a large group of people. This has involved close co-operation, not only between agencies and police forces in the United Kingdom, but also internationally. As is so often the case in these investigations, the alleged plot has global dimensions.
The investigation reached a critical point last night when the decision was made to take urgent action in order to disrupt what we believe was being planned. As always in these cases, the safety of the public was our overriding concern.
Throughout the night a significant number of arrests were made. All the arrests were made on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of Acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The people arrested remain in custody in London where officers will pursue the investigation from the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist branch.
Searches are also underway at a number of business and residential premises in London and elsewhere. We anticipate that these will take some time to complete.
I am sure you will understand and realise that this is a very early stage in what will be a meticulous, painstaking criminal investigation. We will now be embarking on the next stage of the investigation, an investigation that will take us wherever the evidence leads. As and when I am able to do so, I will give out information on the progress of the investigation. But please be aware that we will only release specific information when we are sure it is correct. At this very early stage it is not appropriate for me to answer questions. I will give you further information only when I am able and it is appropriate to do so. At this point I must focus on the criminal investigation and any subsequent legal process, and refrain from speculation."
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Statement by Deputy Commissioner, Paul Stephenson at 09.50 outside New Scotland Yard
"We are confident that we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction and commit mass murder.
The Commissioner has been fully briefed and he is at NSY today. He and I want to pay tribute to officers from the Met's Anti-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 airplanes in hand luggage and to detonate these in flight.
We also believe that the intended targets were flights from the UK to the USA.
Overnight we have arrested 21people. The majority of those arrests have been in London but we have also made arrests in Thames Valley and Birmingham. We are currently searching a number of addresses. We are grateful to our colleagues in other force areas for their support. 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. This 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 people in London and throughout the Country.
Measures have already been put in place to restrict hand luggage taken onto aircraft. This will inevitably cause significant delay and we ask people to remain calm, patient and vigilant at this very difficult time.
Put simply this was a plot to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale."
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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.The police believe the alleged plot was a very significant one indeed.
At 2am this morning the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the UK threat state to its highest level - 'Critical'. (See Home Office link below)
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. (See Dept. of Transport link below)
Home Office Threat Level and Advice Page
Department of Transport Advice Page
Published by Press Bureau, Metropolitan Police
Published on 10/08/2006
Scotland Yard in London

 Einer Stellungnahme des britischen Innenministers John Reids zufolge, die vom Newsservice des Metropolitan Police Service verbreitet wurde, hat die britische Polizei in Zusammenarbeit mit dem britischen Inlandsgeheimdienst MI5 mehrere Terroranschläge auf Flugzeuge vereitelt, die, wie verlautet, vermutlich von Großbritannien in Richtung der Vereinigten Staaten starten und dann in der Luft zur Explosion gebracht werden sollten.


'''Neue Sicherheitsbestimmungen für Flüge in Großbritannien'''
Was ist erlaubt?

* Reiseunterlagen
* Geldbörsen 
* Brieftaschen für persönliche Dokumente, 
* verschriebene Medikamente
* Brillen und Sonnenbrillen
* Kontaktlinsen
* Babynahrung, Milch und Reinigungsutensilien.
* Schlüssel

Was ist nicht erlaubt?

* Handtaschen und sonstiges nicht oben aufgeführtes Handgepäck
* nicht sicher identifizierbare Medikamente
* Brillenetuis
* Reinigungslösung für Kontaktlinsen
* Schlüsselanhänger
* Schlüssel mit elektronischen Türöffner
* Mobiltelefone, Laptops sowie andere elektronische Geräte



Der Sprengstoff sollte in flüssiger Form per Handgepäck ins Flugzeug geschmuggelt werden. Die Scotland Yard sprach von einem geplanten „Massenmord unvorstellbaren Ausmaßes“. Diese Anschläge konnten laut CNN in einer großen, „monatelang“ vorbereiteten Anti-Terror-Aktion von Polizei und Geheimdiensten vereitelt werden. 25 Tatverdächtige wurden vergangene Nacht festgenommen, inzwischen sind aber vier wieder freigelassen. Die restlichen 21 Personen wurden laut Polizeiangaben hauptsächlich in London, aber auch in Thames Valley und Birmingham festgenommen. Der amerikanische Geheimdienst erklärte, bei dem versuchten Anschlag seien bis zu 50 Personen beteiligt gewesen. Laut Sky News sollten sechs Flugzeuge gesprengt werden, darunter laut CNN Flüge von United, American und Continental Airlines nach New York, Washington und Kalifornien.

Die britische Polizei sprach bei der Festnahme der Verdächtigen von einer Kooperation zwischen britischen und ausländischen Polizeiorganisationen und Geheimdiensten.

Um zwei Uhr heute früh verfügte die Arbeitsgruppe der Polizei für die Analyse terroristischer Gefahren (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre), die Terrorwarnstufe auf die höchste Stufe zu setzen: „Critical“, was bedeutet, dass die Gefahr von Terroranschlägen akut gegeben ist. Auch wurden die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen an den Flughäfen verstärkt: Handgepäck ist bis auf weiteres – auf Anweisung der britischen Regierung – in Flügen von und nach Großbritannien nicht mehr erlaubt; auch Laptops, Handys, Brillenetuis und MP3-Player dürfen nicht mehr mit an Bord genommen werden. Selbst Babymilch und -nahrung muss vor den Augen der Sicherheitsbeamten von den Passagieren probiert werden. Grund dafür ist die Vermutung, dass die Terroristen versucht haben, Flüssigkeiten an Bord zu schmuggeln, die gemischt einen hochexplosiven Sprengstoff ergeben. Der Flughafen Heathrow wurde teilweise geschlossen. Gleichzeitig verkaufte binnen kürzester Zeit der Eurostar 2.300 Tickets.
Die britische Polizei warnte vor schweren Störungen im Flugverkehr, bat aber die Bevölkerung, ihren normalen Tagesgeschäften nachzugehen.

Das FBI hat sich ebenfalls eingeschaltet und will demnächst ein Statement abgeben.

Die Deutsche Lufthansa hatte am Morgen alle Flüge nach Großbritannien bis 14:00 Uhr ausgesetzt. Ryanair setzte rund 100 Flüge aus, darunter auch den Flug Altenburg-London-Stansted. Später gab die Lufthansa bekannt, alle Flüge aus Deutschland zum Londoner Flughafen Heathrow würden bis 20 Uhr gestrichen. 33 Flüge der Airline mit 5.000 Passagieren waren nach laut Auskunft einer Lufthansa-Sprecherin vom Nachmittag davon in Deutschland betroffen. Auch weitere europäische Flugesellschaften strichen Flüge in das Vereinigte Königreich. 

Die Sicherheitsmaßnahmen an deutschen Flughäfen wurden durch das Bundesinnenministerium weiter erhöht. Was dies bedeute, wurde nicht erklärt, aber Reisende wurden dazu aufgefordert, frühzeitig bei den Sicherheitskontrollen zu erscheinen. 

Die Börse reagierte auf die Nachricht von den geplanten Terroranschlägen mit Kurseinbrüchen. Vor allem British Airways und andere britische Touristikunternehmen waren davon betroffen.