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A major terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight has been disrupted by police, Scotland Yard says.
It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board aircraft in hand luggage.
During the night, police arrested a number of people in London after a counter-terrorist operation they said had lasted several months.
Police believe the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the US.

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Police say they believe they have foiled a plot to smuggle explosive devices in airline hand luggage to blow up planes in mid-flight.
The targets are said to have been flights between the Britain and the US.
Overnight police have arrested a number of people in London.
The Met says the arrests are the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months.
It follows a pre-planned intelligence led operation by the Met's anti-terrorist branch and security service.
Police say they believed the aim was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board the aircraft in hand luggage.
It is believed that the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the USA.
"We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds," said a police statement.
"This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex. We will provide further information as soon as possible."

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The Department for Transport has issued advice to air passengers after a suspected plot to blow up planes was prevented:
Following this morning's police action, security at all UK airports has been increased and additional security measures have been put in place for all flights.
With immediate effect, the following arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring between flights at a UK airport.
All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.
Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets:
# Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags)
# Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets)
# Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic
# Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases
# Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution
# For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)
# Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes)
# Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
# Keys (but no electrical key fobs). All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be X-ray screened.
Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.
In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate.
Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.
There are no changes to current hold baggage security measures.
Regrettably, significant delays at airports are inevitable. Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time and to ensure that other than the few permitted items listed above, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in.
These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure.
We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only.
In light of the threat to aviation and the need to respond to it, we are asking the travelling public to be patient and understanding and to cooperate fully with airport security staff and the police.
If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact their airline or carrier.

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