Pakistan Link In British Terror Plot

'Key Person' In Case Held In Pakistan; Pregnant Woman Among Suspects

(CBS/AP)  At Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, around 70 percent of flights were running, and most inbound flights arrived on time, though flights from the United States — which increased security measures in the wake of the threat — were heavily delayed.

On Thursday, the U.S. issued its highest terrorism alert ever for commercial flights from Britain to the United States and raised the threat level to the next highest level for all domestic and international flights.

The threat of liquid explosives led to a ban on carrying nearly any kind of fluid aboard an aircraft. Mothers tasted baby bottles in front of airport security guards to prove it contained milk or formula – not a component of an explosive.

By Friday morning, more passengers were prepared for the ban on liquids in carry-on bags and were packing items like makeup, perfume and suntan lotion in checked luggage instead.

That helped shrink the check point lines for flights to lengths closer to normal Friday morning at Miami International Airport, spokesman Greg Chin said. Passenger traffic was moving more smoothly at New York's major airports as well, and the flight delays Friday morning were generally no more than 15 minutes, said Tiffany Townsend, a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The raids in Britain on Thursday followed a monthslong investigation, but U.S. intelligence officials said authorities moved quickly after learning the plotters hoped to stage a practice run within two days, with the actual attack expected just days after that.

The test run was designed to see whether the plotters would be able to smuggle the needed materials aboard the planes, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Targeted were United, American and Continental flights from Britain to major U.S. destinations, which counterterrorism officials said probably included New York, Los Angeles and Washington. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the individuals plotted to detonate liquid explosive devices on as many as 10 aircraft.

The raids Thursday were carried out at homes in London, the nearby town of High Wycombe and in Birmingham, in central England. Police still guarded homes in High Wycombe, where the Muslim community expressed outrage that their community and children have been thrust into the international spotlight.

"They are considered ordinary British Muslims and they haven't caused any harm to anyone," accountant Mohammed Naeem said of the suspects. "They come from decent families."

Many of the suspects arrested in Britain were said to be British Muslims, and neighbors said at least two were converts to Islam.

Imtiaz Qadir, of the Waltham Forest Islamic Association, said one of the suspects was a woman in her 20s who had a 6-month-old child. "They have taken the child too, because it needs to be with its mother."

Neighbors identified another suspect as Don Stewart-Whyte, 21, from High Wycombe, a convert who changed his name to Abdul Waheed.

"He converted to Islam about six months ago and grew a full beard," said a neighbor, who refused to be identified. "He used to smoke weed and drink a lot, but he is completely different now."

The complete list of suspects whose assets were frozen follows, as released by the Bank of England:

1. ALI, Abdula, Ahmed
DOB: 10/10/1980
Address: Walthamstow, London, United Kingdom

2. ALI, Cossor
DOB: 04/12/1982
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

3. ALI, Shazad, Khuram
DOB: 11/06/1979
Address: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

4. HUSSAIN, Nabeel
DOB: 10/03/1984
Address: London, United Kingdom, E4

5. HUSSAIN, Tanvir
DOB: 21/02/1981
Address: Leyton, London, United Kingdom, E10

6. HUSSAIN, Umair
DOB: 09/10/1981
Address: London, United Kingdom, E14

7. ISLAM, Umar
DOB: 23/04/1978
Address: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

8. KAYANI, Waseem
DOB: 28/04/1977
Address: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

9. KHAN, Assan, Abdullah
DOB: 24/10/1984
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

10. KHAN, Waheed, Arafat
DOB: 18/05/1981
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

11. KHATIB, Osman, Adam
DOB: 07/12/1986
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

12. PATEL, Abdul, Muneem
DOB: 17/04/1989
Address: London, United Kingdom, E5

13. RAUF, Tayib
DOB: 26/04/1984
Address: Birmingham, United Kingdom

14. SADDIQUE, Muhammed, Usman
DOB: 23/04/1982
Address: Walthamstow, London, United Kingdom, E17

15. SARWAR, Assad
DOB: 24/05/1980
Address: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

16. SAVANT, Ibrahim
DOB: 19/12/1980
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

17. TARIQ, Amin, Asmin
DOB: 07/06/1983
Address: Walthamstow, London, United Kingdom, E17

18. UDDIN, Shamin, Mohammed
DOB: 22/11/1970
Address: Stoke Newington, London, United Kingdom

19. ZAMAN, Waheed
DOB: 27/05/1984
Address: London, United Kingdom, E17

[alphaa10-2009]

yearight7-- You are correct that some in Pakistan support al Qaeda, but the majority does not explicitly take sides-- the division is more like 1/3 for Musharaf, 1/3 for al Qaeda and the rest want to live quietly non-aligned. The al Qaeda centers of power are completely removed from the population centers of Pakistan, chiefly among the Pashtun and other tribal, frontier areas.

So, the typical Pakistani is not al Qaeda, by any means. Some Pakistanis resent Musharaf for seizing power in a military coup, which made him a military dictator by most definitions. But most active plots against Musharaf of late have come from al Qaeda.

[yeahright7]

reply to alphaa 10:
well my mistake to imply all of any group - obviously not all of any group are "bad"

you talk as though pakistan has been this all supporting group of people who have done nothing but help in this effort (which I will agree they have been helpful in some ways) but it doesn't put a side the fact that bin laden is believed to be hold up and supported by their people either..

[alphaa10-2009]

yeahright7--
Clearly, you have trouble with the concept that the Pakistanis are *major* allies in combating al Qaeda. They are doing much more than you-- at risk to their own lives-- to "reign in" (sic) the people who threaten us.

Were it not for the Pakistanis you condemn, our so-called "war on terror" would not have gotten to first-base. Try putting a squad of recon Marines in downtown Lahore, and see how far they get interrogating the natives for intel about bin Laden.

[alphaa10-2009]

MaryBethinCT-- Part 2
Many of the UK plotters in the subway bombings and now in the airliner plot had parents who were completely ignorant of, and not in sympathy with their activity. Some parents, in fact, helped authorities with what they did know of particular people associated with the plots. Some came forward on their own, at great risk to themselves. You could not ask for better neighbors than that.

Cultural assimilation is still understood as the ultimate objective of immigration. But all over the world, even in the US, with the wave of illegal (and legal) hispanic immigrants, it is clear the first impulse of newcomers is to isolate themselves in a homogeneous community-- ie. a self-made "ghetto". The Polish, Italian, Irish, etc. immigrants did it on their arrival, as did the early Chinese. The Germans simply moved past and created towns in the interior. This tactic was often to soften the culture shock, as you can imagine you might want if you moved to Pakistan, or even as close as Mexico (where you would be required to speak Spanish as part of your citizenship). For greater understanding, try to put yourself in their place.

[alphaa10-2009]

MaryBethinCT-- Part 1
It is a great mistake to associate ethnic background or recent immigrant status with the actions of a violent few. Every group has a spectrum of people, some exemplary citizens and some not. Native-born Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City bombing) reminds us native birth does not always mean immunity to violent tendencies. Our general rate of violent crime with handguns is the worst in the world.

Granted, the so-called Islamic jihad is making an earnest effort to recruit among naturalized and second-generation US citizens. The same effort continues around the world. But for every Islamic convert to jihad, there are many times more people of MidEast descent who have no sympathy with jihad violence and simply want to live in peace with their communities, practice their professions and raise their kids. In fact, you can thank many of them that you can sleep in relative peace, because they risk their lives to make sure their violent brothers do not carry their plots very far.

[yeahright7]

well then I suggest the very "supportive" and "helpfull" and "assistive" pakistani's reign in their very loving, peacefull and extremely joyfull suicide killing brethren before they reap terror upon the rest of the unsuspecting world...

[alphaa10-2009]

yeahright7-- The Pakistani assistance has been extremely helpful to us in foiling al Qaeda. A majority of the captures or killings of al Qaeda principals has been done with active involvement-- if not exclusively-- by Pakistani forces and/or neighbors working in concert. For that alone, the US has an enormous debt to that country.

You need to understand how much of an ally Pakistan has been, post-911. Without Pakistani intel and assistance in the Pakistani border provinces and al Qaeda activity there, the activity with air strikes and drone monitors would be severely curtailed. Pakistani army units have pursued and engaged al Qaeda units directly, and the border provinces are often as much a wild "frontier" to them as to US and Afghan forces, literally next door.

After 911, had Pres. Musharaf not given a green light to Bush to attack the Taliban in Afghanistan, we might have had to force an access route and had a war with two countries, not one. Pakistanis also have been generally supportive in other anti-terror activities, and their assistance continues a major asset.

[yeahright7]

you know it's kinda interesting that if you have a problem with your computer these days and need tech support you are calling pakistan for your tech help?? why in the world are we giving them any money and allowing them any benefit of our countries success if they feel so compelled to "blow" us up and or do us harm at any cost - first things first that needs to stop.... not to mention trying to communicate with them is near impossible...

[rcliff9424-2009]

From the first day our President opened his mouth to the world, it was inevitable we would be hated much more than we were. Talking down to these countries like the big bully on the block was sure to ignite more hatred. He tried to apologize but it was much to late. He comes across as a sweet soul but it has been proven that he is ruthless. Stem Cell research as an example. How many will die because of his stupid belief.

[kalatur]

Islamists require the world to conform to their world view. "Diversity" to them equates with tolerance of infidels. Of course they feel threatened. The world has passed them by as they are frozen in their unevolving past. So they lash out like an injured animal.

[somarmahmoud]

What happen in these days of increasing in terror plots is because of the administration of president Bush and its wrong policy in the middle east

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[ikiplagat]

I am so proud of the UK and US security operators.The problem with these Islamic extremists is that they never get to the table to talk and dialogue with anyone.Their thinking is just impulse and and stupidly follow a bogus religious doctrine.

Many people blame President Bush,but i think he has done alot to make sure these guys are crushed.Infact i am willing to join any armed force aimed at killing all the fanatics starting with Bin Laden

[fred-barney1]

If the world survives the next 20 or 30 or 50 years...future historians will sadly remember the first half of the 21st century as the period when WWIII was fought.

[cantshutup]

SINGINRICK SAID:The only answer to end all of the violence in the world is Jesus Christ. The world has turned their back on God and they wonder why we have so many problems. The very problem is RELIGION. I'm not talking any specific religion here. I am saying that Jesus tells us in the Bible that we should love one another, even our enemies. Can you imagine how much better this world would be if we actually adhered to this teaching by our Lord? There would be no starvation, no poverty, no homelessness, why???? Because we would all love each other and everyone would help each other in times of need. Unfortunately because of SIN and the devil, this world has turned against God's will.
Posted by singinrick at 02:55 PM : Aug 10, 2006

singinrick, i you have the same idea that muslim fanatics have...if the world would only embrace what you believe it would be better...you are truly deluded

[cbsnewssv]

Peaceful ways to make it harder for terrorists to operate with abandon:

1. All law enforcement learn Arabic.
2. Mix in some multicultural neighborhoods within those pure Arabic neighborhoods. Try to become friends with the Arabic people. If you try to be friends and they pull away, that's a warning sign.