Airport chaos hits North-East as alleged terrorist plot foiled

Security sources say that an attack was believed to have been imminent and could possibly have been mounted within a couple of days.

Home Secretary John Reid said that the plot was designed to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life.

Security at all UK airports, including Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley, was increased and passengers faced massive delays as they arrived to check in this morning.

Travellers were warned that they could not take any hand luggage on board flights.

Specific restrictions on liquids prompted speculation that the terrorists were planning to smuggle liquid explosive devices on board.

Passengers continued to wait patiently at Newcastle International Airport as the expected delays stretched to between an hour and 90 minutes.

Few people were abandoning their travel plans, an airport spokeswoman said.

"The anecdotes we are hearing are that everyone is happy to go through the extra security arrangements, and feeling safer", she said.

Long queues in every direction were filling the departure terminal, watched by uniformed police who were keeping a low profile.

Kara Cutler, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was traveling with her husband Robert and 16-month-old Madeleine, who was making her first flight today.

Mrs Cutler said she had packed a small bag of toys to amuse her daughter on the plane, but they would not be allowed to fly with them.

"We will just have to wait until we get to her uncles house in London now", she said.

Mrs Cutler said she believed if she tasted Madeleines baby food at the security desk, she would be allowed to fly with it.

NHS manager Denise Young, 42, from Bedlington, Northumberland, was flying out for her summer holiday to Zante with her husband Stephen and eight-year-old daughter Sarah.

She said: "We were told in the shop that we would have to finish our water bottle before we get on the plane, so I hope they will be supplying us with bottles on the aircraft.

"But the queues are not too bad because we are aware of what is happening and this is okay considering the news only broke early this morning."

At Durham Tees Valley Airport passengers accepted the situation as necessary to ensure their safety.

Pat O'Neill from Easington, near Saltburn, arrived at Tees Valley Airport from Egypt this morning with her husband John, an engineer who works in Cairo.

She said: "There's a presence of police inside the airport, but vey few people.

"It is good to see,it makes you feel secure."

John added: "It is inconvenient, but it is better to be safe than sorry."

If it had been successful, the terror plot would have been the first spectacular since last year's July 7 attacks on London, which killed 52 people.

If a large number of aircraft had been involved, it could have rivalled the death and destruction of the September 11 attacks on the US.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: It is believed that the aim was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board the aircraft in hand luggage.

It is believed that the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the USA.

It is believed that around 18 or 19 people in London and the Thames Valley were arrested last night.

At 2am this morning the UK terrorist threat alert was raised to its highest level - CRITICAL.

A Department of Transport spokesman said: "All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports."

Passengers were told they could take a few items such as passports medicines and nappies on board in a clear plastic bag.

All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be X-ray screened.

The spokesman added: "These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure."