Britain Downgrades Terror Alert Status

Britain has downgraded its security alert status from critical to severe as it struggles to get back to normal following last week’s terror arrests.

Authorities suggested an attack was no longer imminent after 24 people were taken into custody Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up 10 commercial planes headed to the United States.

“I want to stress … that the change in the threat level does not mean that the threat has gone away,” Home Secretary John Reid said Monday.

“There is still a very serious threat of an attack. The threat level is at severe, indicating the high likelihood of an attempted terrorist attack at some stage, and I urge the public to remain vigilant.”

All but one of the suspects were questioned over the weekend, but it’s not known what was learned. Britain recently passed controversial legislation that allows authorities to hold terror suspects for 28 days without charging them – and the recent arrests are the first test of that new law.

Accompanying the downgraded threat level came slightly relaxed airline travel regulations from the British Department of Transport. They said passengers would be allowed to bring a briefcase-sized bag aboard the plane – and books, laptop computers and iPods would be permitted again. Heathrow Airport said it wouldn’t be adopting those new rules until Tuesday however.

Reid denied that the change had anything to do with cancelled flights and crowded airports. Almost a third of flights leaving Heathrow had to be cancelled Sunday. British Airways was forced to cancel 100 flights to Europe from that hub and all of its domestic flights from Gatwick.

One of those arrested in Britain on Thursday has since been released without charge, and a judge will decide Monday on whether another will remain in detention.

In addition to the British arrests, 17 people were taken into custody in Pakistan in connection with the alleged plot. They include Rashid Rauf, a British national that Pakistani intelligence officials have called a key suspect. He’s believed to have ties to a senior al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan.

• At Pearson Airport, there are still no liquids or gels allowed on any flight. Juice and aerosols have now been added to the list of banned carry-on items. Those items must be packed inside luggage. Passengers can bring formula and breast milk aboard. Electronics like BlackBerries and computer laptops are also permitted. For the full list of what you can and can’t bring aboard a plane, click here.