Foiled “Meat Grinder Bomb” Terror Plot Triggers Heightened Airport Security

Police raids in Australia revealed that at least one terrorist group was prepared to proceed with a plot to bring down a commercial airliner using improvised explosive devices.

A series of raids by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has revealed an elaborate plan to take out a passenger plane with explosives hidden in common household devices. Authorities say that in light of the disrupted plot, security will be tightened at airports across Australia.

“Some of the measures will be obvious to the public, some will not be,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced at a press conference on Sunday. ”You can expect longer delays to make sure that more screening is being done on baggage, both hold luggage as well as hand luggage.”

The weekend raids involving five properties in the suburbs of Sydney, resulted in the arrest of Khaled Merhi, Abdul Merhi, Khaled Khayat and Mahmoud Khayat. The four men have not yet been charged, but police say it is believed that all of the suspects have ties to ISIS militants abroad.

“In recent days, law enforcement has become aware of information that suggested some people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist act using an improvised device,” AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters. “We do believe it is Islamic-inspired terrorism. Exactly what is behind this is something that we will need to investigate fully. At this time we don’t have a great deal of information on the specific attack, the location, date or time. However, we are investigating information indicating that the aviation industry was potentially a target.”

According to the The Daily Telegraph, the four alleged terrorists were in the final stages of a plot to cause an explosion onboard an international airline flight using improvised devices disguised to look like common household meat grinders. Police believe the two father-and-son terror cells intended to strike a commercial airline flight departing Australia and heading to the Mideast.

By Sunday, both Qantas and Virgin Australia had sent text alerts warning air travelers about increased security measures and suggesting that passengers plan to arrive at the airport earlier than planned. Only minor delays have so far been reported at airport security checkpoints.

[Photo: Shutterstock]