Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the army today to expand its ground offensive into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah strongholds and rocket stockpiles in southern Lebanon.
Assembling bombs in flight and then detonating on board--the alleged outline of the plot that led to the arrests of at least 24 people in Britain--is not an entirely new idea. In early 2004, a British newspaper, the Observer, reported that "security sources" believed Islamic militants had conducted "dry runs" on flights between the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa of a brand-new style of attack: Suicide bombers would carry pieces of explosives, items like wires or batteries not banned on airplanes, past security screeners. They would then build a bomb in flight.
Consumers went on a buying spree in July, boosting retail spending numbers more than expected. Despite higher oil prices, retail sales grew 1.4 percent during the month, the Commerce Department reported today. It's the biggest rise since January and comes after a 0.4 percent decline in June sales.
Terrorism suspects plotting to blow up American planes headed from the United Kingdom to the United States were planning to smuggle hydrogen peroxide-based liquid/slurry explosives in modified sports drink bottles, U.S. News has learned. The suspects had figured out a way to modify the bottoms of the factory-sealed bottles and fill them with the explosives that were similar to those used in other recent attacks in London, and at least nine planes were targets, the official said. So far, British police have arrested at least 24 suspects in the plot, which had been months in the planning.
AP - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accepted an emerging Mideast cease-fire deal and informed the United States of his decision, Israeli officials said Friday.
AP - Investigators have uncovered no signs of U.S.-based terrorists linked to a plot to blow up airliners headed to the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday.
AP - British officials Friday identified 19 of the suspects accused of planning to blow up U.S.-bound aircraft in the biggest terrorist plot to be uncovered since 9/11. In Pakistan, officials reported signs of an al-Qaida connection and said they had detained a "key person" in the case.
The U.S. and France said Friday they have agreed on the text of a deal to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. As Israeli forces massed along its border with Lebanon, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told AP that Israel was still open to a negotiated solution. CNN understands the deal would create a 400-square-mile zone from which Hezbollah militia would be excluded.
Two suspects had contact with suspected al Qaeda operative in Pakistan, officials sayOriginal tip about plot came from Britain's Muslim community, according to British intelligence officialBank of England releases names of 19 suspectsWarning renewed for U.S. citizens visiting Pakistan
Air travelers might have to get used to stuffing lipstick and lotion into their luggage rather than carry it with them in the wake of a plot to destroy airliners with liquid-based explosives, security experts say.
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