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Police probe ''ink cartridge bomb'' on plane
(KUNA) -- British counter terrorism detectives were liaising with colleagues in the United States tonight over reports of suspicious packages on cargo flights, it was revealed here.Officials are investigating reports of several packages on aircraft in the eastern United States cities of Philadelphia and Newark, New Jersey. In Britain, parts of East Midlands Airport were sealed off earlier following the discovery of a suspicious package. Police called to a freight distribution building and a number of offices at the Donington site were examining a suspicious package. Several aircraft, including a United Parcel Service jet in Philadelphia, were moved to a remote location so law enforcement officials can investigate. A Metropolitan Police front man said reports that a suspected bomb has been found on a flight in London were inaccurate. Reports in the United States said a suspicious toner cartridge was found on a cargo plane that landed in London on a flight from Yemen bound for Chicago. It has been claimed that tests found no traces of explosives. A Department for Transport front man said: "We are not aware of anything in London. There is a police operation ongoing at East Midlands airport." A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the incident and it is a matter for the police. The Department for Transport is taking the lead on this." Police evacuated a distribution centre at East Midlands Airport after a suspicious package was discovered in the early hours today. Officers announced there was no threat shortly before 10am but put cordons back up again at about 2pm. A police spokeswoman said: "The package is being re-examined as a precaution and as such the cordons that were originally put in place have been reinstated. This has meant that a freight distribution building and a number of offices have been closed together with internal airport roads - Beverley Road and Argosy Road. "The airport continues to operate as normal and has been throughout. The safety of the public and emergency personnel remains our priority and we are working closely with the airport and the emergency services. The Department for Transport is taking the lead on this." Later, Government officials in the United States said a suspicious package in Britain prompted the searches of cargo aircraft. It was claimed British workers found a toner cartridge which had been manipulated with wires attached to it, and a white powder. Tests for explosives proved negative but concerns about similar devices sparked the alert across the Atlantic. A front man for Gatwick Airport, which does not operate UPS freight, said there were no problems at the airport. Posted by: Fred 2010-10-29 |
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