Yemen: Woman Arrested in Bombing Plot

Yemeni Officials: Woman Arrested in US Bomb Plot

VoA News: Yemeni officials say a woman has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in sending two explosive packages from Yemen intended to reach the United States.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Saturday security personnel had surrounded a house where the woman was believed to have been hiding. He did not give the location of the house.

The packages, addressed to Jewish places of worship in Chicago, were found Friday on cargo planes at airports in Britain and the United Arab Emirates.

U.S. officials say the packages were discovered after Saudi Arabian intelligence gave the United States information on the plot.

In London Saturday, British Home Secretary Theresa May said the package intercepted in Britain could have brought the airplane down if it had exploded. She also said all cargo originating in Yemen and coming into Britain has now been halted.

Also Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the terrorist plot with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah.

The White House said Mr. Obama thanked King Abdullah for the “critical role” played by Saudi officials to disrupt the plot.

It said President Obama praised the professionalism of American and British services involved in stopping the attack, in his conversation with Mr. Cameron. Mr. Obama said his top counter-terrorism official, John Brennan, will continue to speak regularly with his British counterpart to prevent future terrorist attacks.