Current Affairs

The UK shuts Down

Stanstead this morning (10/8/06)

A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said.
It is thought the plan was to detonate up to three explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage.
Police have arrested about 18 people in the London area after an anti-terrorist operation lasting several months.

Without even having to lift a finger, to do anything the Terrorists have in affect acheived exactly what they wanted, Chaos and Confusion, anger and frustration. They have also in effect shut down the UK, or more specifically the capitol. They have achieved more by this then they would by any bomb, they have not affected 1,000's of people but probably millions.

Every UK airport has extra security measures in place, as the UK has been placed on the highest possible security alert - CRITICAL. Which basically means that a terrorist attack is imminent.

I am due to fly out of Heathrow on Saturday 12th August, for India. I may make the flight I may not, it depends on what the situation is going to be in a couple of days. But at the moment it sounds pretty horrendous -

• No hand luggage allowed on any flight, unless it is essential medicines or essential items for infants such as nappies.
• Glasses are allowed, but not glasses cases, contact lens cases allowed but not their solutions.
• Babies bottles with milk in, will have to be tested by the carer of the baby to prove it is baby milk, before been allowed on the aircraft.
• No duty free allowed on aircraft that is of a liquid form, so booze and perfume are out.
• At 9:30 am some airports were suggesting there could be delays through check in of up to 5 hours.
• Lufthansa has cancelled all flights to the UK
• No flights other than those already inbound are allowed into Heathrow.
• Queues for Terminal 1 at Heathrow were 3 deep OUTSIDE the terminal at 9:00 am.
• All travellers for Heathrow have been advised to turn back and go home.

Be prepared to drink it, even if it's Breast!

So at the moment it is another 9/11, and nothing has yet occurred. It has all been based on intelligence and by God it must have been some damn good intelligence to feel the need to have the chaos it has generated.

The chaos is likely to continue for a while too, extra enforcements apply to flights to the states as these are the ones most likely to have been targetted.

But what I would like to know, is why announce the alert at 2am? Why then, when most people are in bed, and then get up and go to the airport without listening to the radio or watching the TV. There must have been so many people arriving and not knowing why they are not allowed to take Jimmy's favourite toy on the aircraft.

It is also a fault of the government not to let us know what to expect should the alert state go up. I am ex-forces so I know what sort of things to expect, but the average guy in the street doesn't have a clue. Because of this their anger and frustration has the potential for boiling over.

Yes indeed the Terrorist has achieved exactly what he wanted to, it is fantastic that nobody has so far been killed or injured, but I fully expect that as the situation continues, someone IS going to be hurt, due to the frustration of someone wnating to get on a plane. The worst scenario imaginable though is for someone to detonate a bomb in the middle of a Terminal now. Packed with travellers, going nowhere, unable to escape, if the blast doesn't kill them the ensuing panic and crush will. Result maximum casualties from minimum effort.

It is my beleif that if someone is determined enough it doesn't matter how many security measures are in place, one day, somewhere, someone will get through the net.