Air travelers ditched toothpaste and hair gel, homeland security officials hunkered down in secured command posts and bomb dogs sniffed D.C. subways and airports Thursday after British authorities foiled a terrorist plot to set off explosives on planes, apparently including at least one headed to Dulles International Airport.
U.S. House Homeland Security committee member Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton told The Examiner that counterterrorism officials said the terrorists had planned to board a British flight to Dulles Airport and mix a peroxide-based fluid with a light-bulb filament to set them off with detonators disguised as electronic devices.
In a coordinated attack described by terrorism experts as bearing the hallmarks of al-Qaida, planes flying from London and headed to the United States were to explode one by one, killing thousands of people.
Passengers on United Flight 923 from London’s Heathrow Airport arrived at Dulles at 1 p.m. largely unconcerned about their security, even though their flight may have been a primary target in a foiled terrorist plot.
“I think people have grown to accept the state of the world,” said London-to-Dulles passenger Jim McConnell of Charlottesville.
Heavily-armed policepatrolled past two-hour-long security checkpoint lines at Dulles, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
TSA officers held open clear plastic garbage bags as passengers dumped all liquid-containing bottles — including lipstick, cologne and suntan lotion. Adults carrying baby formula had to have an infant with them and taste the formula in front of officers.
After hearing about the lengthy lines, Dave Paulus of Annapolis rushed with his two children to Reagan National three hours before their flight left and promptly ran into an hour-long check-in line.
“But we’re not going to quit,” he said.
By mid-afternoon, most waits at Reagan National had shortened but the line at U.S. Airways still stretched nearly out the door. About a third of the flights were delayed by at least 30 minutes.
Airport officials said travelers should expect more delays today.
D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said intelligence suggests the attacks appeared to have been focused on a mid-flight explosion and that the city of Washington itself was not an actual target.
“The arrests overseas are a good reminder that terrorism is a constant threat, and I’m gratified that this despicable plot was foiled,” Williams said.
District officials were notified of the U.K. terrorist plot at 1 a.m. Thursday and immediately went on a heightened alert.
Police Chief Charles Ramsey activated the joint operations command, sent out specialized units and turned on 19 closed circuit cameras to electronically monitor downtown.
Metro subway travel slowed as transit police with dogs conducted sweeps of random stations, railcars and buses.
At BWI, an Air Canada jet made an unscheduled landing on a remote runway at 4:10 p.m. after an unknown and unclaimed package was reported on board, but a search revealed nothing dangerous, airport officials said.
The passengers were taken by bus to Reagan National.
According to a Department of Homeland Security statement:
» “No liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry-on baggage. Such items must be in checked baggage.
This includes all beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel and other items of similar consistency.
Exceptions: baby formula and medicines, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint.”
» Inbound passengers aboard international flights “will be subject to heightened inspection upon arrival in the U.S.”
» Visit www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/ for more information.
Bill Myers, Christy Goodman, Mike Rupert and Monte Martin contributed to this report, which also includes information from the Associated Press.
