THURSDAY AUGUST 10
Police stage overnight operation to thwart alleged large-scale terrorist attack. Cobra emergency committee told that five aircraft were to be targeted in first wave of attacks; further attacks were to follow using liquid explosive or devices concealed in bottles.
Twenty-four suspects arrested in Britain, “two or three” in Pakistan. Britain’s security alert level raised to critical. Airports get new security guidelines, including a ban on all hand luggage and liquids
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
Treasury freezes assets of 19 of the 24 suspects and names them on Bank of England website; sources disclose that they have been under surveillance for several months.
A Briton captured in Pakistan, Rashid Rauf, 25, is named as a key suspect.
Pakistani authorities make several more arrests and one of the 24 suspects arrested in Britain is released without charge. Police granted an extension until August 16 to question the suspects
SATURDAY AUGUST 12
Police search King’s Wood, High Wycombe, close to the scene of Thursday’s raids, for bomb-making chemicals and components
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
John Reid, the Home Secretary, says that British counter-terrorist agencies are investigating 24 “major conspiracies”. Baggage restrictions relaxed
MONDAY, AUGUST 14
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Terrorist threat level downgraded from critical to severe.
Government discusses plans to introduce passenger profiling at airports to focus on individuals posing the greatest risk
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15
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New suspect arrested, bringing the number of people in custody to 24. First inquiries made about extraditing Rashid Rauf from Pakistan
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16
Police return to court to seek further time to question suspects. Mr Reid says that substantial evidence has been amassed; sources say that it includes surveillance material, documents and chemicals that could be used in making explosives