Saudi Authorities Reportedly Arrest 2 Pilots, Confiscate Planes Loaded With Explosives

Two Islamic terrorists had already packed their GA aircraft with explosives and were intent on diving them into a British Airways 777 before they were nabbed by authorities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That word comes from a senior member of Britain's parliament, who says he'll provide more details after the legislative assembly reconvenes from Christmas break.

Patrick Mercer, a Tory spokesman for British Homeland Security, says 380 people were on board the BA flight from Riyadh. He says the terrorists intended to crash their small planes into the jetliner as it taxied for takeoff. Mercer quoted "unimpeachable" Saudi sources in telling the story.

Officially, the British Foreign Office Sunday renewed its warning to travelers in Saudi Arabia, saying new attacks may be imminent. "We continue to believe terrorists are planning further attacks in Saudi Arabia, and that these could be in the final stages of preparation. The threat includes, but is not limited to, residential compounds," said a Foreign Office statement.

Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he had "reliable" intelligence that Islamic terrorists planned to hijack an aircraft and crash it into the Vatican, hoping to kill the Pope.

"A hijacked plane into the Vatican," Berlusconi told Milan's Libero newspaper. "An attack from the sky, is that clear? The threat of terrorism is very high in this instant. I passed Christmas Eve in Rome to deal with the situation. Now I feel calm."

FMI: www.tsa.gov