'UK flights targeted in terror plot'
This was the headline in the yesterday's Sunday Post, with a full front page article, have not seen any reference to this in any other newspaper.
Would be interested to hear if anyone has any knowledge of this apparent threat, certainly I have had no warning of anything untoward from the airline that I fly for, is it just another disgraceful way of selling newspapers or is there any credence to this? Are Alicante and Valencia now to be considered high risk airfields?
UK flights targeted in terror plot
By Adam Docherty
BRITISH security services have warned the Spanish authorities that Islamic terrorists may be planning to board UK-bound aircraft in order to carry out terror attacks.
The Spanish Home Office has confirmed it received a warning specifying that airports in the Valencia region have been targeted — and that terrorists plan to use stun guns to overpower crews.
It added that the suspects are North Americans of Arab origin who have been in terrorist training camps in the Middle and Far East.
Although the terrorists’ main objectives are not known, Spanish and British security chiefs realise that the UK is still a prime target because of the war in Iraq.
Valencia airport and nearby Alicante airport serve the Costa Blanca resorts of Benidorm and Alicante. They are popular destinations for Brits who fly out of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester to get away from it all over the festive season.
Warning
The Spanish alert was also linked to information from the United States which gave warning that a group of 13 people who had been training in either Syria, the Arab Emirates or South Africa, were trying to gain entry to the US to carry out attacks.
Four of this group, aged between 18 and 24, were arrested at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport carrying pistols, pepper sprays and other personal defence items.
Airport security staff have been told to watch out for two men, Yusuf Ferhan and Nurettin Ferhan who entered Europe via Holland.
Security services in Spain have upgraded their counter-terrorism measures following the warnings.
Tom Cain, of the English-language Costa Blanca News, said from his office in Benidorm, “Staff at airports have been put on full alert.
“Officials said terrorists were planning to take control of an aircraft bound for the UK.
“They wouldn’t specify what the terrorists intended to do, but I don’t think you have to use too much imagination.”
Shortage
The day after the alert was issued last week security officials at Alicante revealed they don’t have enough security staff to step up operations.
Mr Cain added, “A colleague arriving at Alicante airport on a flight from England last week couldn’t believe how lax security was. All he was met with when he came through the gates was other passengers.
“It doesn’t inspire confidence.”
The Home Office does not comment on sensitive security issues, and a spokeswoman for the British Airports Authority, which controls seven UK airports — Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Southampton — also declined to comment.