2006 transatlantic aircraft plot: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

[[File:2006-08-10 police raid walthamstow london uk-NOISEedit.jpg|thumb|190px|right|Police at the scene of one of the raids, on Forest Road, [[Walthamstow]], London]]

The '''2006 transatlantic aircraft plot''' was a [[Terrorism|terrorist]] plot to detonate [[Explosive material|liquid explosives]], carried aboard [[airliner]]s travelling from the [[United Kingdom]] to the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], disguised as soft drinks.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob |last=Sherwood |author2=Stephen Fidler |title=MI5 tracked group for a year |work=Financial Times |date=10 August 2006 |access-date=17 February 2009 |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/cbed2e12-28b5-11db-a2c1-0000779e2340.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026170433/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/cbed2e12-28b5-11db-a2c1-0000779e2340.html |archive-date=26 October 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The plot was discovered by British [[Metropolitan Police]] during an extensive surveillance operation. As a result of the plot, unprecedented security measures were initially implemented at airports. The measures were gradually relaxed during the following weeks, but {{As of|2025|lc=y}}, passengers arewere still not allowed to carry liquid containers larger than {{cvt|100&nbsp;ml|mL|USfloz}} onto commercial aircraft inat their [[handmost luggage]]airports inaround the UK and most other countries, {{As of|2025|lc=y}}world.

Of 24 suspects who were arrested in and around London on the night of 9 August 2006, eight were tried initially for terrorism offences associated with the plot. The first trial occurred from April to September 2008. The jury failed to reach a verdict on charges of conspiracy to kill by blowing up aircraft but did find three men guilty of conspiracy to murder and acquitted one other of all charges. DuringIn September 2009, a second trial (of the now seven originally accused but with the addition of another man) found three men guilty of conspiracy to kill by blowing up aircraft and one other guilty of conspiracy to murder, while the 'additional' man was exonerated of all terrorism charges.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8242238.stm |title='Three guilty of airline bomb plot' |date=7 September 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710154805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8242238.stm |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During July 2010, a further three of the accused were found guilty at a third trial at [[Woolwich Crown Court]] of conspiracy to murder.<ref name=BBC12710>{{cite news|title=Would-be suicide bombers jailed for life |date=12 July 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10600084.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711220841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10600084.stm |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Thus, of the nine men tried, two were acquitted and seven found guilty of conspiracy charges.

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The plotters planned to use [[organic peroxide|peroxide]]-based [[Explosive material|liquid explosives]];<ref name="BBC-disrupted"/> the Metropolitan Police said that the plot involved [[acetone peroxide]], (TATP),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |title=Five key questions for anti-terror investigation |work=The Guardian |___location=London |date=19 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |first=Sandra |last=Laville |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224030453/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/aug/19/terrorism.world |archive-date=24 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> which is sensitive to heat, shock, and friction, and can be initiated with fire or an electrical charge, and can also be used to produce improvised detonators.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Brian |last=Bennett |author-link=Brian T. Bennett |author2=[[Douglas C. Waller|Douglas Waller]] |date=10 August 2006 |title=Thwarting the Airline Plot: Inside the Investigation |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1225453,00.html |access-date=18 February 2009 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121220545/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1225453,00.html |archive-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electronpusher.org/?p=517 |work=Electronpusher |title=Practical Chemistry |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726022111/http://www.electronpusher.org/?p=517 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=March 2009}}

During the trial of the conspirators, the prosecution stated that each bomber would board a plane with the "necessary ingredients and equipment". They would then construct the devices mid-flight and detonate them. The hydrogen peroxide would be placed in {{cvt|500&nbsp;ml|mL|USfloz}} plastic bottles of the [[Oasis (drink)|Oasis]] and [[Lucozade]] soft drinks. A sugary drink powder, [[Tang (drink)|Tang]], would be mixed with the hydrogen peroxide to colour it to resemble a normal soft drink.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Hydrogen peroxide is widely available for use as hair bleach and along with the other ingredients can become explosive if mixed to a specific strength. The mixture would be injected into the bottles with a syringe. The bottle's cap would not have been removed and the hole would have been resealed, thereby allowing the device to resemble a normal, unopened drink bottle when screened by airport security.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The use of liquid explosives with dissolved powder is similar to the composition used in the [[21 July 2005 London bombings]], using [[hydrogen peroxide]] and [[chapati]] flour, activated by a [[detonator]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6687311.stm BBC NEWS | UK | Bomb would have been 'devastating'], 9 July 2007, accessdate: 8 February 2016</ref>

A second substance, a type of high explosive, would be hidden within an [[AA battery]] casing; this small explosive charge would detonate the main bomb. The charge would be detonated by linking the bottle of explosives to a light bulb and a [[disposable camera]]. The charge from the camera's flash unit would trigger the explosion.<ref name="BBC airliners plot">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7329221.stm |access-date=18 February 2009 |title='Airliners plot': The allegations |date=3 April 2008 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009132853/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7329221.stm |archive-date=9 October 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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{{Main|Security repercussions due to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot}}

[[File:Heathrow Terminal 5 airside 020.JPG|right|thumb|[[London Heathrow Airport]]]]In the immediate aftermath of the first arrests, passengers were forbidden from carrying any liquids, apart from baby milk, onto flights between the United States and the United Kingdom. Since passengers could purchase beverages after passing airport security checkpoints in some American airports, gate checkpoints were also introduced at such airports.<ref>{{cite news|title=Romney activates National Guard for Logan Airport – Boston.com |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/10/romney_to_activate_national_guard_for_logan_airport/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724201342/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/10/romney_to_activate_national_guard_for_logan_airport/ |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=12 April 2009 }}</ref>

{{As of|2025|lc=n}} passengers are still not allowed to carry liquid containers larger than {{cvt|100|mL|USfloz}} onto commercial aircraft in their [[hand luggage]] in many airports around the world. However as airports install advanced [[CT scan|computed tomography]] (CT) scanners, those restrictions are gradually being removed or relaxed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lindsay |first1=Jessica |title=Airport liquid rules are changing — which ones are scrapping the 100ml limit? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/29/airport-liquid-rules-changing-across-europe-ones-scrapping-100ml-limit-23774520/ |access-date=11 August 2025 |work=Metro |publisher=Associated Newspapers Ltd |date=29 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===

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[[File:IMG 2558 Tents exterior Heathrow 14 august 2006.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Tents on the car park in front of terminal 4. [[Heathrow]], 14 August. Erected to give people a place to stay while waiting for their flight to depart]]

A few hours after the beginning of the confusion, aircraft began to fly out of London Heathrow, although in reduced numbers. The situation remained chaotic with long queues of passengers waiting to check-in and get through the strengthened security procedures. Some aircraft were reportedly leaving Heathrow with only transit (i.e., connecting passengers hence already screened elsewhere though not for the {{cvt|100 |mL|USfloz}} limit on hand luggage) passengers aboard.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

On Sunday 13 August 30% of flights out of Heathrow were cancelled to reduce pressure on screeners.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nick |last=Mathiason |author2=Oliver Morgan |author3=Rob Sharp |title=BA criticises Heathrow as travel mayhem grows |work=The Observer |___location=London |date=13 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/aug/13/theairlineindustry.terrorism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506093002/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/aug/13/theairlineindustry.terrorism |archive-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 15 August flight cancellations had fallen to 47 flights at Heathrow, and 8 Ryanair flights from Stansted. It was reported by BA that 10,000 items of baggage belonging to their passengers had gone missing. It was anticipated that cancellations would reduce on 16 August, with 90% of flights expected to depart as scheduled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bags misplaced at Airports |work=BBC News |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=18 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4795821.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722081717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4795821.stm |archive-date=22 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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On 12 August a public argument broke out between [[BAA plc|BAA]], the operator of Heathrow and other airports, and [[British Airways]], with [[Willie Walsh (Irish businessman)|Willie Walsh]], BA's Chief Executive, accusing BAA of not being able to cope with the increased security and baggage checks. [[Ryanair]] also called on the British government to employ police and military reservists to speed up the full body searches which were now mandated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryanair calls for reservists to speed up checks. |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=14 August 2006 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-16380023_ITM |access-date=8 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020035729/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-16380023_ITM |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Three days later on 12 August 2006 the owner and operator of London Heathrow, [[BAA plc|BAA]] ordered airlines using the airport to make a 30 per cent reduction in departing passenger flights (something BA was already having to do as many passengers missed flights due to the extra time it took to clear security), to help reduce delays and cancellations.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben |last=Hoyle |author2=Rosemary Bennett |title=Travel chaos as airlines ordered to slash flights |work=The Times |___location=London |date=14 August 2006 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article608319.ece |access-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110222221609/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article608319.ece |archive-date=22 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 18 August Ryanair's CEO, [[Michael O'Leary (businessman)|Michael O'Leary]] delivered an ultimatum to the British government demanding the resumption of normal hand baggage dimensions and hand screening one passenger in four instead of one in two within one week, otherwise Ryanair would sue the Government for compensation under section 93 of the [[Transport Act 2000]]. The government responded that the actions were taken under the Aviation Security Act 1982, and no compensation was payable.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryanair issues luggage ultimatum |work=BBC News |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=19 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5261908.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215085622/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5261908.stm |archive-date=15 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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==External links==

===UK press===

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm '"Airlines terror plot'" disrupted] (—[[BBC News]])

* [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/ Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible?] (—''[[The Register]])''

===International press===

* [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-10-britain-terror_x.htm British police thwart alleged major terrorist plot] (—''[[USA Today]])''

* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0810/terror1.html 24 questioned after prevention of terror plot] (—[[RTÉ News and Current Affairs]])

* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10395577 Britain says it foils '"mass murder'" plane bomb plot] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821185827/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10395577 |date=21 August 2019 }} ()—[[Reuters]])

{{US War on Terror|state=collapsed}}

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[[Category:Failed airliner bombings]]

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[[Category:Islamic terrorism in Canada]]

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