Pak airports on high terror alert following foiled Al-Qaeda parcel bomb plot
November 3rd, 2010 - 2:25 pm ICT by ANIIslamabad, Nov 3(ANI): The Pakistan government has reportedly issued a ‘high terror alert’ at all international airports in the country after the alleged Al-Qaeda plot of parcel bombs on two United States-bound flights was foiled by intelligence agencies.
The packages, which were being shipped by air from Yemen to synagogues in Chicago, were discovered on last Friday at East Midlands Airport in Nottingham, and at a courier facility in Dubai.
“The only thing we can do is be more cautious and security on all the airports across Pakistan has already been tight due to prevailing law and order situation,” the Dawn quoted an official associated with aviation industry, as saying.
“We have a far better security at all the airports and international best practices are in place across all the international airports,” he added.
The official, however, refused to comment as to what security measures were in place at airports saying that the “matter is sensitive” and “security can be compromised”.
According to reports, the evil plot is believed to have been masterminded by Yemen-based American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Saudi Ibrahim Hassal al-Asiri is thought to have made the bombs.
Al-Asiri is also believed to have made the device involved in the failed Christmas Day bomb plot over Detroit last year.
The package found in the UK was on board a UPS cargo aircraft, while the other, in Dubai, was found in a FedEx sorting facility.
Authorities in Yemen are currently investigating another 24 suspect parcels.
The US’ postal services have temporarily stopped accepting inbound mail originating in Yemen. (ANI)
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- Yemeni police arrest woman suspected of mailing printer bombs - Oct 31, 2010
- Al Qaeda targets Christmas, plans to make toy bomb - Nov 07, 2010
- Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula claims 'cargo bombs' responsibility - Nov 06, 2010
- Al Qaeda plans explosion in UK during Christmas - Nov 07, 2010
- Bomb discovery underscores threat from Yemen, al-Qaeda: US offficial - Oct 30, 2010
- UK officials deny 'Yemen bomb defused 17 minutes before scheduled explosion' - Nov 05, 2010
- Al-Qaeda leader Al-Awlaki killed: Yemen - Sep 30, 2011
- Yemen bomb went on two passenger jets: Qatar Airways (Lead) - Oct 31, 2010
- Earlier flight might have been dry run for parcel bomb plotters - Nov 02, 2010
- Plane lands safely at JFK amid global terror alerts - Oct 30, 2010
- Yemen charges US-born radical cleric Al-Awlaki for first time - Nov 03, 2010
- Al Qaeda's Al Asiri said to be Yemen parcel bombmaker - Oct 31, 2010
- 'Lone wolf' terror plotter arrested in New York - Nov 21, 2011
- Qatar Airways says parcel bomb found in Dubai traveled on passenger flights - Oct 31, 2010
Tags: asiri, aviation industry, better security, bomb plot, cargo aircraft, christmas day, east midlands airport, evil plot, fedex, hassal, inbound mail, intelligence agencies, international airports, pakistan government, parcel bomb, parcel bombs, security measures, terror alert, ups cargo, us postal services