Britain's home secretary says the country's threat level remains at critical, one day after police arrested key figures in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners over the Atlantic Ocean.
John Reid today expressed confidence that the main suspects in the case are in custody, but he said the investigation will continue. He also praised Pakistan, which reported a major role in uncovering the plot.
On Thursday, British authorities arrested 24 suspects. Officials say they could have been just days away from smuggling liquid explosives onto as many as 10 U.S.-bound airplanes and blowing them up.
The Bank of England froze the assets of 19 of the arrested suspects who appear to be Muslims. Many of them are believed to be of Pakistani origin.
U.S. and British news reports quote officials as saying about five suspects could still be at large.
Security remains tight at airports around the world. Authorities in the United States are not allowing passengers to take any liquids or gels with them into the airplane cabin.