Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Security talks held over cargo bomb plot

Pa
Thursday 04 November 2010 10:19 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Aviation industry leaders will meet Transport Secretary Philip Hammond later today to discuss security in the wake of the air cargo bomb plot.

Airlines, airports and parcel companies will be among those represented at the meeting in London.

Earlier this week Home Secretary Theresa May had announced that Mr Hammond would be having "a high-level meeting" to discuss the next steps in aviation security.

One of the explosive devices in last week's incident was on board a Chicago-bound UPS courier aircraft which ended up at East Midlands Airport in the UK.

The other was being transported by FedEx to Chicago and was located and identified in Dubai.

Both explosive devices originated in Yemen and are thought to have been made and dispatched by al Qaida.

Today French interior minister Brice Hortefeux said one of the two devices was defused just 17 minutes before it was set to explode.

Speaking on a French TV station, the minister did not say which of the two bombs he was referring to or say where he got his information.

Explosives were packed into toner cartridges of computer printers in the two packages discovered last week.

The banning of the carrying of toner cartridges larger than 500g in passengers' hand luggage on flights departing from UK airports was one of the new security measures announced by Mrs May earlier this week.

She also said the banning of the carrying of toner cartridges by air cargo into, via or from the UK unless they originated from a known consignor - a regular shipper with security arrangements approved by the UK Department for Transport.

Mrs May also announced she was extending the suspension of unaccompanied air freight to the UK not just from Yemen but also from Somalia.

She also said that all aspects of air freight would be reviewed and there would be updating of guidance given to airport staff based on what had been learned from the Yemeni incidents.

The toner cartridge bans will initially be in place for one month while longer-term measures are worked out, Mrs May said.

The Yemeni incidents had followed a call by British Airways chairman Martin Broughton for the easing of some airport security checks.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in