United States officials say they have learnt of new threats of airline
suicide hijackings planned for the latter part of the northern summer.
The information was gleaned in recent interrogation of high-level
al-Qaeda captives and corroborated by other means, including electronic
intercepts, the officials said.
They described the planned hijackings as similar to those of September
11, 2001.
Intelligence services have discovered information "related to
al-Qaeda's continued interest in using commercial aviation here in the
United States and abroad," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the
Department of Homeland Security, adding that warnings had been issued to
the appropriate airline and security personnel.
"We are continuing to investigate the credibility of the information,"
Mr Johndroe said. Homeland Security officials said they had no immediate
plans to raise the Government's threat index but that the level of threat
was evaluated every day.
"We routinely provide intelligence information to the private sector,
and state and local law enforcement, so that they may be informed and take
any necessary precautions," Mr Johndroe said.
Aviation security had been greatly strengthened since September 11 with
the introduction of reinforced cockpit doors, federal air marshals and
federal baggage screeners, he said.
But the new threats could result in increased random checks and
searches of passengers and baggage at airports.
The Washington Post
