Hijack Plot Triggers India Terror Alert

India steps up airport security after hijack plot uncovered
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2010 2:14 AM CST
Hijack Plot Triggers India Terror Alert
An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard at Indira Gandhi International airport, in New Delhi, India.   (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

India has issued a terror alert and stepped up airport security after intelligence agencies discovered a plot by militants linked to al-Qaeda to hijack an Air India plane bound for a neighboring South Asian country, AP reports. The threat was uncovered during the interrogation of a militant leader captured last week.

Airport checks have been tightened and extra air marshals assigned to flights. The alert comes just days after Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that terror groups linked to al-Qaida were trying to incite a new war between India and Pakistan. (More hijack stories.)

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