WASHINGTON (AP) - A counter-terrorism official says ten flights were part of the alleged plot to blow up planes heading to the US from Britain. And the plan was to bring disassembled bomb components aboard, then put them together during the flight. Those officials describe a threat aimed at United, American and Continental.
As for which flights were targeted, a Virginia homeland security official says federal authorities singled out three American airports. He says they are Dulles, which is in Virginia near Washington, D-C, as well as Kennedy in New York and Los Angeles International.
Meanwhile, officials in Pakistan claim that country's intelligence helped the British crack the plot.
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President Bush says the alleged terror plot in Britain is a "stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists."
He says terrorists will "use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom" and to "hurt this nation."
The plot allegedly involved blowing up several U-S-bound aircraft.
Speaking at an airfield in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Bush went on to say that America is safer than it was prior to 9/11 because the government's taken a lot of measures to protect people. But he added "obviously we're not completely safe because there are people still plotting."
Bush flew from his Texas ranch to Wisconsin for events including a Republican fund-raiser.
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Air passengers are encountering major delays and long, snaking security lines at US airports today, after security was ramped up following an alleged British-hatched terror plot to down planes.
Officials at Palm Springs International say the alert level there has been raised to "Orange" or "High." If you're flying out of LAX this morning, expect some delays there as well.
At Atlanta's airport the security line has spilled outside the terminal, with at least 700 people waiting in humid, 77-degree temperatures.
The scene is the same at Newark Airport in New Jersey, where one security screening line is six football fields long and barely moving.
In Massachusetts, the governor is activating the National Guard to help with security at Boston's Logan Airport. The last time that happened was after Nine-Eleven.
But getting through security isn't even the worst part for travelers actually headed to London today. One woman at New York's Kennedy Airport says her family called her, urging her not to get on a plane. But she says "You wake up and what are you going to do...the flight is today."
