Hijack warning puts airports on high alert

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Airports across the country were put on high alert today after a warning that a plane flying to Europe or the United States could be hijacked to Bangladesh by Pakistan-based terrorists to seek the release of Mohammed Afzal Guru.

Additional security measures were put in place following intelligence reports, said an official at the civil aviation ministry.

She said the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had received reports of a possible hijack attempt on December 7. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was informed and all airports are on alert now.

Guru was sentenced to death for his involvement in the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament. The five gunmen who stormed the Parliament House were shot dead by security guards while ten other people lost their lives in the encounter.

Some days ago, a letter warning of imminent attacks at airports or on aircraft in southern India prompted officials to issue a security alert for airports there. The letter was sent to the director of domestic airport in Trichy.

UNI SU MSJ DS1400