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17:38 GMT
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (KUNA) -- The White House said on Friday that President Barack Obama was notified late on Thursday night of a potential terrorist threat on two planes in transit to the United States.
"The President directed U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security, to take steps to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and to determine whether these threats are a part of any additional terrorist plotting," said the statement from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. "The President has received regular updates from his national security team since he was alerted to the threat".
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies on Thursday night discovered potential suspicious packages on two planes in transit to the United States, Gibbs said.
"Based on close cooperation among U.S. government agencies and with our foreign allies and partners, authorities were able to identify and examine two suspicious packages, one in London and one in Dubai," he said. "Both of these packages originated from Yemen".
As a result of security precautions triggered by this threat, the additional measures were taken regarding the flights at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia international airports, Gibbs said. (end).
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