No active devices have been found in the U.S. but something was found in England, officials said, without releasing information. Now U.S. searches are being conducted as a precautionary measure.
U.S. and European authorities are attempting to thwart what may be an ongoing bomb plot in which more than a dozen potential bombs were shipped to the United States aboard numerous air carriers , federal sources said, and then distributed onto UPS cargo trucks in New York, and possibly New Jersey, according to ABC News.
Two cargo planes have been isolated at Philadelphia and Newark Liberty international airports after possible devices were found onboard. The devices, which are not believed to be 'live,' may have been shipped from Yemen through Birmingham, England, and on to the U.S. As many as 15 of the devices are believed to have been shipped.
Another potential device was found in England at the East Midlands Airport on a cargo flight that originated from Yemen and there are reports that plane's next stop was Chicago. In that case, a manipulated toner cassette tested negative for explosive material.
"Package was cleared and was not dangerous. Area where package was found still cordoned off," a spokesman at East Midlands told ABC News. "At 03:30 am, a suspicious package was found in the cargo area, away from passengers and other planes. No flights disrupted and no passengers harmed."
It is unknown how many-- if any-- of the suspected devices currently under investigation are live, however authorities in England have reportedly already defused one such device.
New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey authorities as well as federal authorities are attempting to track down the suspected improvised devices and bomb technicians are on the scene of the numerous suspected devices already located at banks in Queens and at other locations.
The original intelligence that tipped authorities came from a non U.S. source, according to ABC News.
US airports on high alert
The Chicago Department of Aviation is "aware of the situation. The FBI is the lead authority on the situation," spokeswoman Karen Pride said.
There is no noticeable change in security at O'Hare International Airport from the outside of the building, but airports across the U.S. are on high alert due to the possible threats.
