Obama: Yemen devices a 'credible terrorist threat' - They appear to have explosive material, he says

[Turborama]

Source: MSNBC

They appear to have explosive material, he says; Chicago synagogue, Jewish center were intended recipients

NBC News and news services
updated 13 minutes ago

Calling it a "credible terrorist threat," President Barack Obama said apparent explosive material was found on two U.S.-bound packages from Yemen, triggering searches of flights with other packages from Yemen and an investigation into whether al-Qaida was behind a new terror plot.

Sources told NBC News that both packages contained toner cartridges with wires and white powder. The devices were found in Britain and Dubai last night.

Homeland Security said in a statement it was taking new measures, "including heightened cargo screening and additional security at airports."

A law enforcement official told NBC that the two packages were addressed to a synagogue and a Jewish community center in Chicago.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39911024/ns/us_news-airliner_security/

---

Earlier Story From AP..

UAE source: 'explosive device' discovered in Dubai in cargo shipment from Yemen bound for US

A suspicious device discovered in an air cargo shipment in Dubai that was headed for the U.S. contained explosive materials, an official UAE security source said Friday.

It was the first confirmation that any of the suspicious packages reported Friday contained explosives.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said late Friday the "explosive device" was found in the last 24 hours in a courier company's regional hub and originated in a shipment from Yemen.

The source told The Associated Press there has been "close cooperation between several intelligence and security agencies around the world following the discovery of shipments, using various international couriers, containing an explosive device originating in Yemen."

More: http://www.newser.com/article/d9j5i7984/uae-source-explosive-device-discovered-in-dubai-in-cargo-shipment-from-yemen-bound-for-us.html

Live Coverage

Al Jazeera English: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11655222

[24601]

1. Don't fly this weekend - Airport security will be a bitch n/t

[kestrel91316]

2. Obama's little speech - brief, calm, and to the point. And I love how

ha apparently sees no need to invade Yemen or bomb the shit out of it over this.

[ixion]

3. too late, we're already in Yemen...

and running daily bombings somewhere in the world.

[nalnn]

5. Bombing Yemen

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we're bombing Yemen somewhat often now...

[ArcticFox]

4. Aren't we already bombing Yemen now and then?

[kestrel91316]

14. I should have specified: Bush-style invading with 500,000 troops, and bombing

them back to the stone age. A la Iraq and Afghanistan.

[countrydad58]

30. Naw

Bush couldnt even invade right, him and Rummy try to do it on the cheap & sent around 100,000 troops for the illegal Iraq war.

[katty]

6. o the reThugs must be lovin' this before election...rattle

Obama before election, they will just use this like they use everything else for their own promotion.

[ProgressiveMajority]

8. Makes you wonder if there is a TEAbagger behind this!

I've been expecting a right wing terror attack before the election, wouldn't surprise me if this was it.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. Live coverage on MSNBC right now (1:43pm pst)

Interesting questions and answers.

[CHIMO]

9. Suspicious items were explosive: Obama

Source: CBC News


U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that suspicious packages found on planes in the United Kingdom and Dubai contained explosive materials, and he has directed the Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies to take whatever steps are necessary to protect Americans from a terrorist attack.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/10/29/us-planes-packages.html#ixzz13maZARJI

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/10/29/us-planes-packages.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. -

:scared:

[Pab Sungenis]

11. BULLETIN; DEMOCRATS ARE KEEPING YOU SAFE.

The Obama Administration has averted another terrorist attack on our soil.

[woo me with science]

13. +100. This is a much more useful approach

than all the ridicule and making light of this incident I am seeing in other threads.

[zappaman]

15. +1000

spot on!

[uppityperson]

28. Very much so. Thanks.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slackmaster]

12. Great. Now we have an excuse to bomb Yemen.

Where does it end?

[totodeinhere]

16. This could be a good political opportunity for the Democrats.

President Obama needs to be all over this. If he is seen as being strong against a potential terrorist threat, it will help us in the upcoming election and perhaps it might even allow us to retain control of the House.

[jberryhill]

22. NO

This is one of the things that I didnt like about the Bush Administration, and would not like now.

Politicizing security is not a game that should be played. Period.

[Wednesdays]

23. Really.

Rubbing hands and saying, "Oh, goodie, a possible terrorist bombing. What an opportunity!" :eyes:

That sort of thing is (as it should be) the last thing on President Obama's mind.

[ProgressiveMajority]

24. Yup. Pretty much takes the rug out from under Repubs claims of "better on security"

Obama should come out in front and point out that this was stopped on his watch, and Democrats should as well. It's a good thing this was stopped, if it can be used to accomplish ANOTHER good thing (keeping Repukes out of office) than all the better. More good is better than less goodness.

Also, it's worth noting that this was stopped through NORMAL international co-operation, not water-boarding people or bombing someone.

[jberryhill]

27. We just got rid of one grandstanding asshole

I do not want another.

[uppityperson]

29. Are you seriously worried Pres Obama will become a "grandstanding asshole" like shrub was?

Wearing those tighty flight suits and showing off his socks? "bring in on, smirk"?

HOW is Pres Obama becoming a "grandstanding asshole"? Or maybe you mean someone else.

[jberryhill]

36. I didn't say he was

Read that to which I was responding. Others in the thread have suggested he become one.

viz "Obama should come out in front and point out that this was stopped on his watch"

Reading is fundamental.

[uppityperson]

37. Thanks for clarifying. It's getting a bit weird around here this week

snark is also fundamental

[oberliner]

17. Explosive packages bound for Chicago synagogues

President Barack Obama said Friday that initial examination of two packages bound for Chicago from Yemen determined that they apparently contained explosive materials. The packages were apparently bound for Jewish synagogues in the Chicago area.

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/2162934-418/chicago-packages-according-obama-security.html

[ixion]

18. and now -- get ready for it -- more civil liberties erosion! Hurray for Freedom.

:puke:

[JCMach1]

19. UAE actually has pretty tight security... this sounds like the Al Quaeda B-Team

as maybe they thought their express package would go straight to the U.S.

Oops

[DFab420]

21. Haha

I just had a horrible vision of the "A-Team" theme music playing with a bunch of terrorists running around, one with a mohawk, the other with gloves and cigar...

But yea, it's nice to see their ideas are getting less and less sophisticated...

[2Design]

25. threats = elections = so many ways to cripple us - send huricanes, oil spills,

electric grid, SOOOOOO taking off shoes, belts, etc at airports isn't really protecting us

[ProudDad]

26. Ah, "explosive material"...

[The abyss]

32. LOL good call! Love the graphic

The next thing that goes boom in this country will have the direct authorization of the US government.

Emmanuel Goldstein extraordinaire!

[boppers]

38. PETN

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/29/security.concern/index.html?hpt=T1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentaerythritol_tetranitrate

[Dave From Canada]

31. Be honest. If the weekend before a mid-term election, Bush had given a speech to announce a

disrupted terror plot, how many of you would be calling bullshit? Or better yet, posting terra, terra, terra!

[bemildred]

33. Me, I would be calling bullshit.

And I would have an excellent chance of being right.
:hi:

[ixion]

34. Indeed. Right there with you...

:hi:

[Hawkeye-X]

35. Scary.

My sister lives in the Jewish neighborhood in Chicago (West Rogers Park area). I just hope they tripled up the patrols for the neighborhood.