Would-Be Terror Plot Snarls Travelers - and Their Packing

The announcement of yesterday's foiled terror plot still has the world reeling, especially in airports. Lines at Newark Airport spanned the length of terminals as news revealed the plot was to blow up 10 planes bound from England to the U.S., using liquid explosives in carry-on luggage. British authorities have arrested two dozen suspects, and what's more, the Bank of England released the names of 19 suspects, after freezing their bank accounts. While Mayor Bloomberg was quick to point out there there were "no members of this group here" in NYC, NYPD is working with Scotland Yard to look over the suspects' data. And the dry-run would have been this weekend. Goodness...

The city's tourist arm, NYC Visit, is trying to make sure tourists don't freak out and cancel their plans, while some travelers are looking at taking the trains instead. Well, "patience" will be the mantra for any airport travelers these days - authorities are asking travelers to pack as little as possible to make things speedy. What we think is nice: The JFK Courtyard Marriott is stocking up on saline solution, toothpaste, and other liquidy beauty aids their guests might need.

Check out the NY Times' complete coverage of the terror plot - we thought the article about it being Al Qaeda-like and complex was interesting. Especially about the plot being "Bojinka inspired." Bojinka plots got that named after a 1995 plot to bomb eleven American airliners in the Asia-Pacific region during Pope John Paul II's visit to the Philippines. Gothamist remembers this very well because we happened to be traveling from Asia back to the U.S. during that time and had to go through 2-3 hours of security checks - and, yes, made sure not to pack any liquids in our bags. Better safe than sorry.

Are you being affected by the new carry-on restrictions?

Photograph by Benny Snyder/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 11, 2006 8:38 AM

Comments [rss]

anado

I flew out of Laguardia yesterday at noon. A friend had told me that it would take me 5 hours to get through security. From the time that I got to the check-in line, till I was walking away from security it took me 20 minutes. I was so happy about that.

nola

Apparently the only thing you learned while in Amsterdam is that they have lots of dope and nudity. Typical of a lefty.

So you advocate changing our policies to accommodate Muslim fascists? Nice. And also typical of our craven left.

Bob

Isn't Amsterdam one of the "most free" countries in the world, with liberals laws regarding drug use and sex, basically a very permissive society.

Yet if these terrorists "hate our freedom" (at least that is the verbal garbage coming out of our favorite Conservative talking heads) so much, how come Amsterdam hasn't been blown up or faced major terrorist attacks?

Such a free country, yet they have escaped major damage...so odd.

Maybe cause the "terrorists" actually don't hate our freedom, they just hate our government's policies?

(I have been to Amsterdam, I know enough about the place, thank you.)

nola

The plot was discovered because UK police can engage in the kind of aggressive investigations that liberals whine about. It is easier for UK police to grab phone and bank records than police over here. Fortunately Bush is doing everything he can to make such investigations possible over here and sniveling liberals will live to lose another election.

And Bob should quit talking about Amsterdam since he clearly knows nothing about the place.

g

Right, mod. This plot was discovered because of intelligence, police work, and good investigation. Fighting a war in Iraq had nothing to do with it. Just shows the fallacy of the "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here" idea. These were UK nationals, brought up in a democracy, who still were plotting to blow up planes. No ties to Sadaam, no meetings with Osama as far as anyone can tell. Better intelligence, not more war, will win this fight.

Bob

Want to know the truth? The US aided in the busting up of this ring because they legally obtained wiretaps. Not illegially, LEGALLY.

That is where the outrage from the "loony left" comes from, the fact that King Bush decides to do things unconstitional.

Liberals want our country to be safe, but we are not willing to shit on the Constitution to do it.

And oddly enough, this bust was aided by the US by not shitting on the Constitution.

Amazing what one can do, and still be considered "Pro-America"

And last I looked, Amsterdam hasn't been blown up. Yeah, some kook killed an artist, does that equal 3000 dead?

moderate

No, disaster was averted because of good, old fashioned policework. Just another misconception of the fundamentalist right.

what's the freq

OK, what's Mr. Van Gogh's number?

Thank God, this plot was Foiled, Foiled I say.

Go Lamont.

nola

Bob - Ask Theo van Gogh if the Muslims are "conveniently ignoring Amsterdam." And speaking of scare tactics - why do liberals keep howling about wiretaps and bank records? A disaster was just averted because Blair and Bush had the good sense to ignore the loony left.

calm

I'm disturbed by the panicked, wild-eyed overreaction to this foiled plot. How much are we willing to give up for the illusion of a totally safe world?

Is nobody (cough, government, cough) going to suggest that we take a more rational approach to dealing with the threats of the modern world?

will

can the conspiracy talk, bob. if They were as competent and ruthless and cynical as you believe, why aren't you in a re-education camp?

but anyway, i have my doubts to the viability of their plan anyway -- i'm no expert but anything this big and this complicated is bound to break somewhere. as it obviously did. but where were they testing the mixing of the explosives and their detonation? from what's been released it just seems that everything had to be a little too just so for it to ever have worked out fully. (granted, a 10% success rate would still be awful, and seeing that 10 747s do carry more passengers than were murdered on 9/11 the consequences of success would be grave indeed.)

Bob

Know what time it is, kids?

Its time to be scared again!!!!

Mid-Term elections are coming up in a few months, so get ready for a rollicking good time!!!

Willie Horton is safely in jail, but this time, it is the evil Muslims who hate our freedom!!! (yet why do they conveniently ignore Amsterdam?)

So be very afraid!!!