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 - The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution Friday that calls for an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and authorizes 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
AP - Investigators on three continents worked to fill in the full, frightening picture Friday of a plot to blow U.S. jetliners out of the Atlantic skies, tracking the money trail and seizing more alleged conspirators in the teeming towns of eastern Pakistan.
AP - Federal investigators are pursuing leads in the United States related to the foiled plot to blow up flights from Britain but so far have found no evidence of terrorist activity, Bush administration officials said Friday.
A U.N. deal to end Israeli-Hezbollah fighting passed the Security Council with a unanimous vote Friday. As part of the deal, up to 15,000 U.N. troops would be deployed to the area, joined by 15,000 Lebanese troops. The Israeli and Lebanese governments have indicated they will accept the plan, but Hezbollah has so far not said whether it will stop its attacks.
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
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