Britain halts flights from Yemen in bomb terror alert

ALL direct flights from Yemen to the UK were halted last night amid fears that a suspicious package found on a US-bound cargo flight at a British airport was a "dummy run" for a mail bomb terror attack.

US President Barack Obama said last night that initial examinations of the package and a FedEx package found in Dubai, also bound for the US, showed they appeared to have contained explosive materials.

The Home Office stopped flights in light of a security alert caused by a toner cartridge with wires attached to it, discovered during a check at East Midlands Airport yesterday. The package was bound for Chicago from Yemen, via Philadelphia.

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Mr Obama's comments contradicted earlier suggestions that the package found in Britain did not contain explosives.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "Safety and security of the UK remains my number one priority. We are working closely with our international colleagues and will continue to do so."

Police were called to a freight distribution centre at East Midlands Airport after a routine search when workers found a toner cartridge which had been altered with wires attached .

Officials in the USA moved cargo flights away from terminals and swept planes for any other potential devices.

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FedEx has stopped all shipments from Dubai and is liaising with the FBI. Other freight and shipping firms are co-operating with the authorities and the Metropolitan Police counter terrorism command is believed to have taken over the inquiry in Britain.

A spokesman said: "At this stage there is nothing to suggest any location was being targeted in the UK."

East Midlands Airport said a precautionary cordon was in place but flights were unaffected. The centre is used by a number of companies, including UPS, Royal Mail and DHL.

Earlier this year, the United States and Britain temporarily closed embassies in the Yemeni capital Sanaa over fears of a terrorist attack.