CATEGORY:TERRORISM
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By Wallace J.A (Inside Grenada correspondent)


AUGUST 10, 2006 – Today, British authorities thwarted an allege plot by terrorists to commit mass-murder by blowing-up several aircrafts mid-air from the United Kingdom to the USA. It is believed that the terrorists intended to smuggle explosive devices onboard in hand held luggage and detonate these explosives when in flight.

The British Metropolitan Police have arrested a number of people overnight in London after a major clandestine counter terrorism operation that had lasted several months. It is believed that up to 25 persons have already been arrested. The British threat level has been elevated to its highest level, “critical”. This threat level was posted on the Web site of Britain’s MI-5 – the British domestic spy agency. Investigations are currently ongoing and a number of other arrests is expected to be made in the next few hours and days ahead.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the Americans have responded by raising their threat assessment to the highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States. There is absolutely no doubt that the national security level in the US has also been elevated as a direct consequence of the foiled terrorist plot in London. The horrendous destruction of the twin-towers in New York and the resulting massive loss of human life on 9/11 are no doubt indelibly etched on the minds of the American people and people around the world and it is expected that security will be significantly beefed-up in a number of countries, especially at airports.

There is unprecedented security at Britain’s Heathrow airport, one of the busiest airports in the world. Passengers are screened very carefully and a number of temporary security measures are in place. There has been a cancellation of all flights to the airport except those that are already in the air. Laptop computers, mobile phones, iPods, liquids and remote controls are among items currently banned from being carried on planes. People carrying liquid medication are expected to take the required dosage to confirm that the substance is indeed medication.

Events currently unfolding in the UK and the USA are likely to impact heavily on the Caribbean region as well as other areas around the world. In Grenada, for example, thousands of visitors are expected to come into the country from both sides of the Atlantic for the country’s carnival celebrations on August 14 & 15. With the cancellation of flights, coupled with a sudden but understandable fear to fly on airplanes at this time, fewer visitors will be coming into the country. This will significantly limit the economic benefits that should be realized from staging this year’s carnival celebrations.