Unearthing of terror plot won’t affect Obama’s India trip

The White House,however,said the latest terrorist plot would have no impact on Obama’s upcoming trip to India and other Asian nations.

“Whenever the (US) President travels,we take a very careful look at what the threat environment might be and look at what the terrorist environment is. So we’re taking this into account,but at this point there is no effect,” said John Brennan,Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism.

Obama is scheduled to leave for Mumbai — his first stop in India — next Friday; which would be the start of his 10-day Asia trip that would also take him to Indonesia,South Korea and Japan.

In Mumbai,Obama is expected to stay in the Taj Mahal hotel that had witnessed the 2008 terrorist attack.

Obama,who was briefed by his top intelligence officials and national security aide on the latest terrorist threat to the US,told reporters in a hurriedly-convened White House press conference that there had been a “credible terrorist threat against our country.”

Obama was first informed about the threat at about 10.35 pm local tome on Thursday and had been updated on the developing plot throughout.

The Administration would not spare any efforts in investigating the origins of the suspicious package,Obama said. He said agencies have “identified two suspicious packages bound for the United States,specifically,two places of Jewish worship in Chicago.”

The packages were identified in Dubai and Britain,he said.

“Initial examination of those packages has determined that they do apparently contain explosive material,” he said.

Obama vowed to take “whatever steps are necessary to protect our citizens from this type of attack,” and announced that there would be “additional screening” of some planes in Newark and Philadelphia. More “protective measures” would be taken for “as long as it takes,” he said.

Noting that Americans should know that authorities were “taking this threat very seriously,” Obama said the American people should be confident “we are not wavering in our resolve… to root out violent extremism in all its forms.”

National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said the two packages had been identified and isolated. Both the packages originated in Yemen.

“There was explosive materials in both the packages,which was intended and designed to do harm,” he said.

The US is looking at all possibilities on who could be behind the terrorist plot.

Obama said the latest events underscored the necessity of remaining vigilant,coordinating with the friends and allies.

Brennan,who spoke to the Yemeni President over the latest events,said the packages would be carefully screened.

“This is an active and ongoing investigation; we’re working very closely with our partners in Yemen,” Brennen said. “As we continue with this investigation,we are trying to understand who is behind it,and trying to understand the scope of the threat.”.

“We are trying to make sure we understand any other threats that are out there. Making sure we are taking a close look at other packages that might have other materials in them.”