The plot was discovered by authorities after utilizing an informant's abilities to decipher encrypted e-mails. British police and MI5 then identified the terrorist cell that had been video recording potential targets.
The reported plan was to involve the release of sarin gas, a highly toxic substance that the United Nations has classified as a weapon of mass destruction. As well as Parliament, the terrorists may also have been targeting the Underground system.
The ability to crack the code the terrorists were using also enabled "several other" plots to be discovered.
Security officials are also said to have stated that Parliament's security is "unacceptable". A special forces team is said to have examined existing security measures and reported that a Black Cab could be used by suicide bombers to attack, and that a forthcoming Guy Fawkes exhibition could present an opportunity for an attack.
This page is archived, and is no longer publicly editable.
Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.
Please note that due to our archival policy, we will not alter or update the content of articles that are archived, but will only accept requests to make grammatical and formatting corrections.
Note that some listed sources or external links may no longer be available online due to age.
The text of this article has been released into the public domain. In the event that this is not legally possible, this article may be used for any purpose, without any condition, unless such conditions are required by law. This applies worldwide. Copyright terms on images, however, may vary, so please check individual image pages prior to duplication.
This page is archived, and is no longer publicly editable.
Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.
Please note that due to our archival policy, we will not alter or update the content of articles that are archived, but will only accept requests to make grammatical and formatting corrections.
Note that some listed sources or external links may no longer be available online due to age.
The text of this article has been released into the public domain. In the event that this is not legally possible, this article may be used for any purpose, without any condition, unless such conditions are required by law. This applies worldwide. Copyright terms on images, however, may vary, so please check individual image pages prior to duplication.