Friday, August 11 2006 12:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US today (Aug 10, 2006) put airline travel on the highest alert as Bush Administration said the foiled terrorist scheme to blow up America-bound flights from London was 'suggestive' of an al-Qaeda plot while warning that all those behind the plot may not have been arrested.

"It was sophisticated, it had a lot of members and it was international in scope. It was in some respects suggestiveof an al-Qaida plot," Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff told sources here.

"We were really getting quite close to the execution phase," Chertoff said, while maintaining that it was unclear if the alleged plot had anything to do with the upcoming fifth anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11,2001.

The terrorist were reportedly planning to blow up flights bound for Washington, California and New York.

Chertoff said there was no indication of any plotting in US but argued that all those involved in the plot may not have been arrested.

Airline travel was placed on red alert, the highest threat level, and security beefed up at different points at the airports. All liquids and gels have been banned from flights, including tooth paste, makeup and suntan lotion. Baby formula and medicines were exempted although passengers will have to be ready to have these examined if asked to.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who addressed the press conference along with Chertoff, said intelligence agencies were going over evidence to see the linkages with the al Qaeda and vowed that the US, "a nation at war," would dismantle operations of terrorists.