Terror In the Skies: UPS Planes Targeted

From Michelle Malkin:

Terror in the skies: UPS planes targeted; Updated


By Michelle Malkin • October 29, 2010 11:32 AM Scroll for updates…



Looks like there has been a coordinated attack on UPS planes worldwide today. Reports are breaking on a Yemen-Chicago plane stopped in London with a bomb on board. Planes also pulled over in Newark and Philadelphia.



Wild guess: It wasn’t planned by a Catholic or Mormon network. (Sarcasm off.)



Which MSNBC host will blame the Tea Party first?



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Update: Conflicting reports on whether there were explosives on the Yemen-Chicago plane.



More on the suspicious packages:



uthorities are investigating a series of suspicious UPS packages across the East Coast – including one inside a delivery truck in Brooklyn, law enforcement sources said.



Cargo planes have been grounded at airports in Newark and Philadelphia and the NYPD bomb squad surrounded a UPS truck in at MetroTech in downtown Brooklyn, officials said.



“We’re investigating what we believe is a possible explosive device on board that truck,” said top NYPD spokesman Paul Browne.



Investigators believe an explosive device was on the truck, which was initially believed to be in Long Island City, law enforcement sources said.



However, detectives learned the truck left Queens and is now in Brooklyn. Authorities have surrounded a loading dock at 4 Metrotech, police said. The Manhattan Bridge was also shut down as a precaution.



The truck is believed to be connected to the threats against the UPS planes, according to law enforcement sources.

Reuters:



A suspected bomb was found on Friday in Britain on board a cargo plane headed to the United States, where authorities were investigating other cargo flights for “potentially suspicious items” in New York, Philadelphia and other cities.



The plane, a United Parcel Service (UPS.N) flight that stopped in Britain while traveling to Chicago from Yemen, was carrying an ink toner cartridge converted into a bomb, CNN reported.



An FBI source told Reuters that initial tests in Britain revealed no explosives.



British police said the plane carrying the suspicious package was being checked at a distribution center at East Midlands Airport, some 160 miles (260 km) north of London.

TSA statement:



“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is aware of and monitoring reports of potentially suspicious items onboard cargo flights that landed safely at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia International airports. Out of an abundance of caution the planes were moved to a remote location where they are being met by law enforcement officials and swept.”

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Yemen: A timeline of attacks



Update: UAE officials now reporting that device found on Chicago plane WAS explosive. Military jets escorting Yemen flight landing at JFK.



Update: Several packages now confirmed as threats. President Obama is quick, for once, to address the American people to confirm threat. US points finger at Al Qaeda.



Islamic jihad? What Islamic jihad. Oh, yeah, that Islamic jihad.