EU MULLS TERROR THREAT, BRITAIN QUESTIONS 24 AIRLINE PLOT SUSPECTS

by Robert MacPherson August 16, 2006

LONDON (AFP) - Britain gave a continental dimension to the threat of Islamic terrorism, declaring that Europe as a whole is facing a "very real" and "persistent" risk of a devastating attack.

Six days after the thwarting of an alleged plot to put suicide bombers on to US-bound airliners, Home Secretary (interior minister) John Reid met European Union colleagues in London to map out a common strategy.

"What's clear to all of us is that we face a persistent and very real threat across Europe," said Reid after the talks, at which the European Commission promised to introduce a series of measures to strengthen airport security, boost cross-border intelligence sharing and tighten controls on explosives.

"It is a threat we face here in Britain as individuals and as communities, but it's not unique to the United Kingdom. It affects us all across the European Union."

Security worries escalated later Wednesday on news that a United Airlines flight from London to Washington was diverted to Boston, and its passengers and baggage searched, because of what officials called an "unruly" traveller on board, though the incident did not seem to be related to terrorism.

Police meanwhile were granted more time to question 23 mostly young British Muslims in connection with the alleged plot which triggered unprecedented security -- and travel chaos -- at major airports.

They were all arrested in raids in London and elsewhere a week ago; a 24th suspect was picked up Tuesday. Under anti-terrorist laws, they can all be held without charge for no more than 28 days, subject to regular court approval.

In Islamabad, officials said Pakistan was holding a man who is "apparently related" to one of the British suspects, and that a senior Al-Qaeda figure in Afghanistan is thought to have planned the foiled attacks.

Few details have been released, but it appears that the plot involved suicide bombers smuggling liquid explosive disguised as drinks on to US airliners, then detonating them with electronic devices in mid-air.

Reid refused to confirm or deny if Britain was seeking the extradition of suspects -- two British and five Pakistani -- from Pakistan, but he expressed his "gratitude" to Islamabad for its role in the investigation.

London's main Heathrow airport, the busiest international airport in the world, and other facilities were running almost normally again Wednesday, after prolonged chaos and disruption.

However, British Airways cancelled 35 flights at Heathrow and 11 at Gatwick -- and it also emerged that 20,000 pieces of baggage have gone astray at Heathrow over the past seven days.

The GMB trade union warned Wednesday that baggage at Gatwick has been piling up in open trolleys on tarmacs, to be handled in many cases by temporary workers who are not fully trained.

Those taking part in Wednesday's talks in London included the French and German interior ministers, Nicolas Sarkozy and Wolfgang Schaeuble, as well as Kari Rajamaki from Finland, which holds the rotating EU presidency.

European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, who was also present, said Brussels would draft new measures to enhance airport security and cross-border cooperation before the Finnish presidency ends in December.

He suggested steps to encourage what he called "a European Islam", including the training of imams, and the blocking of Internet websites deemed to be inciting terrorism.

Frattini also said the European Commission -- the executive arm of the 25-nation EU -- would be bringing forward new proposals in the coming days relating to controls on liquid explosives and commercial detonators.

European ministers also released 350,000 euros (450,000 dollars) for urgent research into detecting liquid explosives following Wednesday's meeting, a Home Office spokeswoman told AFP.

Sarkozy, the French interior minister and likely presidential candidate, meanwhile said there was "a pile of elements that make one think that the Al-Qaeda connection is not far removed from what could have happened."

He recalled that "a heightened threat" of terrorist attack remained in France "even if, at the moment we speak, there is no known link with what could have happened in Britain".