A dawn swoop by officers at premises in the UK thwarted what was described as “the most significant terrorist plot since September 11.”
At least six flights from London to three US cities had been targeted for mid-air explosions – a plan that could have cost thousands of lives.
Police and security staff in Nassau were preventing passengers from taking liquids, gels and other substances onto the aircraft. And cars entering the airport area were being subjected to additional security screening.
With a massive build-up of passengers at London’s Heathrow airport, it’s possible that scheduled British Airways flights to Nassau will be delayed.
In fact, flights worldwide were badly affected by yesterday’s developments.
International reports revealed that 21 people were arrested in England for plotting to blow up six airplanes in mid-flight between Britain and the US. Experts said A1 Quaeda operatives were the likely culprits.
Heathrow airport, Europe’s busiest terminal, shut down immediately and officials banned all hand luggage on any flight out of the UK as a precautionary measure, causing significant disruption.
Also, US authorities raised their security threat level to red, warning that they could not be sure that the plot had been “completely thwarted”.
According to some reports, the plan was to detonate explosives smuggled in “carry-on luggage” when the planes were in mid-flight over US and UK cities.
Bringing some focus on just how severe these plans were, the Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson was quoted as saying: “Put simply, this was intended to be mass murder on an unimagin able scale.”
The Bahamas US Embassy yesterday released an advisory to air travellers stating that they should still go about their plan confidently, but should maintain “vigilance in their surroundings” while exercising patience with screening and security officials.
“Travellers departing from the Lynden Pindling International Airport and Grand Bahama International Airport will not be allowed to carry liquids into the cabin of the aircraft, including beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel and other items of similar consistency.
“Passengers will be allowed essential medicines and, if a baby or small child is travelling, baby formula, breast milk or juice,” the report read.
Echoing these sentiments, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin encouraged passengers to comply in advance with these new protocols.
“These measures will require longer waits at the airports and passengers are asked to be patient, to arrive as early as they can, and to comply in advance with the directives on those items that cannot be permitted on board.
“It should be noted that the prohibited items may be placed in checked baggage. The measures will apply throughout the country where commercial flights are destined to the US or the United Kingdom,” she said.
Mrs Hanna-Martin said the public will be kept abreast of any new additional security as they occur, including whether the threat level had been reduced or discontinued.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said he had been in contact with tourism officers in the UK, and up until yesterday morning had had no reports in decreases in bookings to the Bahamas.
“There was no immediate change of bookings for British Airways, which comes here tomorrow, and Virgin Airlines, which comes on Monday. So up to this point the answer is no.
“We have at the ministry been talking to the Hotel Association about informing visitors to the island that upon leaving what they can and cannot do.
“And we are meeting with visitors as well to explain to them what is going on to ensure that once they get to the airport there is no difficult situation for them,” he said.
General manager of the Airport Authority Joseph Reckley said they had since increased the number of securitv personnel at the airport to include police and Defence Force officers.
“The police, of course, would have received their instructions. We are observing any vehicles coming in, we are increasing the foot patrols in various areas, and also our vehicle patrols,” he said.
Noting growing anxiety among some travellers with the approaching anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001, Mr Wilchcombe said his ministry was aware of, and very concerned with, the issue.
“We are very concerned, but the reality is that we are better prepared today than we certainly were five years ago. We do have our officers on alert and we are monitoring our situation, but there is only so much you can do.
“Because if a situation was to occur – let’s hope nothing happens – the truth of the matter is there would be a period where people would just not move.
“That’s just the reality. So, yes, we are prepared for whatever circumstances might occur. We just hope that nothing occurs and that authorities around the world are vigilant. We believe and hope that there is nothing for us to be overly concerned about beyond.heyond the circumstance right now,” he said.
By PAUL TURNQUEST, Tribune Staff Reporter
