(UK) Scotland: Terror Strike at Glasgow Airport
By Jeffrey Imm
Sky News reports another "terror strike" in the United Kingdom today, this time in Scotland at Glasgow Airport. Sky News reports that the latest incident involving a flaming Jeep Cherokee SUV ramming Glasgow Airport terminal "is being treated as a terror attack" -- Sky News video report
Per Sky News:"Two Asian men are being held after a burning Jeep was rammed through the terminal building at Glasgow airport... [s]ince the attack, Blackpool airport has been shutdown and security has been tightened at Newcastle and Edinburgh airports."
Later, Sky News also reported that one of the men "was found wearing a suspicious device". Officers would not say whether it was a suicide belt.
Moreover, Sky News is also reporting: "Hundreds of shocked holidaymakers were in the area at the time, and witnesses said some of them removed gas cylinders from the jeep before it caught fire. There are reports the occupants - described as Asian males - were trying to pour petrol on the flames."
Witness reports state they saw between 2 and 4 "Asian males" in the Jeep SUV, and some witness reports stated that they saw molotov cocktails in the Jeep SUV.
BBC reports witnesses stating it appeared the men deliberately tried to set the car on fire. "It looked like they had Molotov cocktails with them... They sort of burst them round about the flames to make sure the car would go up big style."
BBC reports that: "Strathclyde Police said two people had been arrested and detained in connection with the incident. The airport has been evacuated and all flights suspended following the incident at 1515 BST. "
UK Channel 4 states "The police say at the moment they don't know if this is linked to yesterday's foiled car bomb attacks in London, but with witnesses talking of the car trying to ram the entrance and the men holding things that looked like petrol bombs - those at the airport are in little doubt this was a car bomb attack."
CNN reports that "Witnesses describe one of the Jeep's three passengers shouting 'Allah' as a he fought with police and a second man set himself on fire. 'He was shouting something. 'Allah,' something, ''Allah.' Every time he threw a punch, he was saying 'Allah.' "
ITN News states: "Downing Street have announced that Prime Minister Gordon Brown will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency contingencies committee later to discuss the incident." The London Times reports that "A Home Office spokesman said that the official security alert level remains at 'severe', as it has been for some time." London Times also reported that "The Queen is in Scotland today for the inauguration of Scotland's third Parliament".
The US "is boosting security presence at airports in the wake of terrorist acts in London and Glasgow", the White House confirmed to FOX News.
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UPDATE ON ARRESTS
Associated Press reports on arrests:
--- 2 Arrested After Car on Fire Rams Glasgow Terminal
--- Police Arrest 2 More in Connection With London, Scotland Terror Incidents -- two suspects were arrested in Cheshire - in addition to two arrested in Glasgow at airport attack -- Cheshire suspects arrested by a joint swoop by specialist officers from London and Birmingham
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ABC News reports that a senior US law enforcement officer states that "U.S. law enforcement officials received intelligence reports two weeks ago warning of a possible terror attack in Glasgow against "airport infrastructure or aircraft'".
ABC News also reports that "counter-terrorism analysts estimate that the apparently coordinated attacks in Great Britain are the work of a sleeper cell that could include as many as 20 individuals."
Sources:
Sky News: 'Terror Strike' As Burning Jeep Hits Glasgow Airport
Sky News video report
BBC: Blazing car crashes into airport
BBC: Eyewitness 'tackled' burning man
CNN: Blazing car rammed into Glasgow Airport
UK Channel 4: Two arrested after Glasgow car ram
ITN News: Car smashed into Glasgow Airport
The London Times: Blazing car driven into Glasgow Airport terminal
FOX News: U.S. Orders Boost of Airport Security in Wake of London, Glasgow Terrorist Acts
Sky News: Brown: 'Be United, Resolute And Strong'
ABC News: US Warned of Glasgow Threat Two Weeks Ago
ABC News: Sleeper Terror Cell on the Loose in U.K.
CNN: Glasgow Terrorist Shouts "Allah" in Fighting Police (my title)
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