PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command officials are monitoring the situation following today’s arrest in the United Kingdom of several suspects in a plot to blow up airliners bound for the United States.
Senior USNORTHCOM and NORAD officials were notified and began coordinating with Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to ensure full situational awareness and appropriate response posture because of this plot.
"We continue to monitor the situation and remain vigilant," said Maj. Gen. William G. Webster, Director of Operations for U.S. Northern Command.
"As part of our homeland defense mission we are ready, willing and able to deter, defend against and defeat threats to the homeland," Webster said.
It is inappropriate to speculate or comment on any current operational activities or discuss future force protection measures. USNORTHCOM and NORAD remain vigilant to potential terrorist threats and are prepared to respond to threats in all domains – on land, in air or at sea.
USNORTHCOM conducts operations to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and, as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provides military assistance to civil authorities, including consequence management operations.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America.