Cargo sparks security alert at international airports
Baku, October 29 (AZERTAC). Security alerts are under way in the US, UK and Middle East after suspicious packages were found in Britain and Dubai.
The White House said the packages had been found overnight on two planes in transit to the US from Yemen.
Investigations are continuing at Newark in New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
A spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation in Chicago said the community had been warned to be on the alert in the wake of the discoveries.
"We were notified this morning that synagogues should be on the alert," the spokeswoman, Linda Haase, told Reuters news agency. "We are taking appropriate precautions and are advising local synagogues to do likewise."
The suspicious package in the UK was believed to be on its way to Chicago.
The US Homeland Security Department announced that new aviation security measures were being taken in light of the alert.
The White House said in a statement: "Based on close co-operation among US government agencies and with our foreign allies and partners, authorities were able to identify and examine two suspicious packages, one in London and one in Dubai.
"Both of these packages originated from Yemen. As a result of security precautions triggered by this threat, the additional measures were taken regarding the flights at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia International Airports."
The suspicious item found in the UK was reported to be an ink toner cartridge that had been tampered with. Sources told the BBC it was not a bomb but was "potentially sinister".
A suspect package from Yemen on a delivery truck was also examined in Brooklyn, New York, and was later declared safe.
New York City`s police commissioner Ray Kelly said: "Obviously, examination of other packages are going on at other airports: Newark Airport, one. Philadelphia is the other one here. And some in Europe and in airports in the Middle East."
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