The British press swarmed the story

The British press blanketed the terror plot story. Here are some of the main sites and samples of what they said:

The Guardian:

An alleged plot to kill thousands of people by detonating explosions on up to 10 transatlantic flights from UK airports was disrupted overnight. The home secretary, John Reid, today said such an attack could have caused civilian casualties on an "unprecedented scale".

The Mirror:

A major terrorist plot to blow up aircraft mid-flight and commit "mass murder on an unimaginable scale" has been foiled by police. It's believed that terrorists planned to smuggle liquid explosive devices concealed in hand luggage onboard transatlantic flights from the UK to the US. Twenty-one people were arrested overnight in London, the Thames Valley and Birmingham after months of counter-terrorist surveillance came to a head.

The BBC:

A plot to blow up planes in flight from the UK to the US and commit "mass murder on an unimaginable scale" has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled in hand luggage on to as many as 10 aircraft.

The Telegraph:

A major plot to "commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale" by destroying passenger jets in mid-air has been foiled, police said today. The targets were flights leaving British airports destined for America.

Reader comments to The Daily Mail ranged from support for police to sarcasm:

I think people should be supportive of our MI5/Met, they have very difficult job to do in order to keep this country safe.

— Chanda, London

Over the past weeks, Blair like the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel has been here and there and everywhere minding everyone's business but Britain's. Making big useless noises about Lebanon and then sidelined by his mate Bush in favour of Chirac. Now that there is something in this country, which he should be dealing with, he is sunning himself in Barbados. If, as he would have us believe, (but not many do) he has his finger on the pulse, why is he not here dealing with this terrorist threat? ... — Terence, Hereford, UK