Terror alert for airports

Air security was under review today after a terror alert was sparked by an explosive device on a cargo plane at a Midlands airport.

Printer cartridges with wires attached were spotted by staff at cargo hubs at East Midlands Airport and in Dubai after setting off from Yemen, for the US.

It is believed a British secret agent in Yemen may have foiled a mail bomb plot after his tip-off led police to a freight distribution centre at East Midlands Airport.

Home Secretary Theresa May today announced all direct flights from Yemen to the UK have been suspended after confirming the package contained explosive material.

President Barack Obama said the devices were a "credible terrorist threat".

Mrs May said the British government's emergency committee had met yesterday and was meeting today.

"The forensic work continues," she said. "We are reviewing the security measures for air freight from Yemen."

Intelligence agencies believe the packages are linked to Al Qaeda in Yemen, and were destined for Jewish places of worship in Chicago.

The discovery of the packages on FedEx and UPS cargo planes triggered security alerts in the US, UK and Middle East. Other planes at US airports were checked because they were thought to contain items from Yemen.

US officials later said that the two packages had been made inert.

Forensic experts in the UK are studying the substances found to try to understand how they were to be used. How they were to be detonated and against which target, is uncertain.

President Obama said: "Although we are still pursuing all the facts, we do know that the packages originated in Yemen. We also know that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula continues to plan attacks against our homeland, our citizens and our friends and allies."