British police say they have disrupted a major terrorist plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight using explosives hidden in hand luggage.
A statement released Thursday by British police headquarters says anti-terrorism squads arrested several people in the London area overnight as part of an intelligence operation that lasted several months.
Officials say they believe terrorists were planning to attack flights from Britain to the United States.
Authorities have dramatically stepped up security measures at British airports, causing considerable delays.
Airline passengers are not being permitted to take any hand baggage with them onto planes. Airport staff are requiring passengers to check-in everything except for bare essentials such as passports and wallets.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
