Putin ‘planted parcel bomb in package at UK warehouse in rehearsal for terrifying transatlantic flight attack’

PUTIN is suspected of planting a parcel bomb inside a package on a flight heading to the UK in a terrifying rehearsal of an attack.

It comes after a suspect package caught fire in a DHL depot in England, prompting the US to ramp up checks on parcels from Europe.

The order was based on secret intelligence that pointed to deadly sabotage plans.

Flagship carrier United Airlines banned all mail weighing over 16oz following the “classified” order from the US government.

It came days after a suspect blaze at a DHL warehouse in Minworth in July.

The Wall Street Journal claimed explosives were concealed in "electric massagers implanted with a magnesium-based flammable substance" and "part of a wider Russian plot".

Four suspected saboteurs have been arrested in Poland after parcels posted there caught fire.

Prosecutor Katazyna Calow-Jaszewska said the group was testing routes to send explosives to North America.

United Airlines bosses issued a ‘temporary embargo’ on September 18 sparking a backlog at Heathrow.

The document, shared with The Sun, states: “Following recent United States Government recommendations, all foreign post over 16oz/455g originating in Europe, and mail traveling as freight is temporarily embargoed. 

“Shipments of US military and US Department of State mail are exempt from this temporary embargo.

"Stations must review their extended booking list to ensure compliance with the advisory. Please arrange any shipments already tendered to be collected by foreign post at earliest convenience.”

Other US airlines are understood to have followed suit – sparking the chaos at Heathrow, with US-bound mail from across Europe and the Middle East filling warehouses.

An emergency amendment – with restricted access – was passed in August by the US Transportation Security Administration requiring carriers to submit additional details of shippers and consignees to the US Customs and Border Protection agency.

Some sources said the new directive was part of the US Air Cargo Advanced Screening System which allows customs officials more time to determine if “dangerous” goods were US-bound - with powers to order crews to unload cargo believed to be “suspicious”.

Its implementation followed “specific classified intelligence” of organisations seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in international air cargo security, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Sources told The Sun mail was backlogged “floor to ceiling” at Heathrow. 

An insider said: “It’s absolute chaos and virtually no mail to the US is leaving across the Atlantic.

“Although the secret US directive to carriers was issued in August, United Airlines only took action on September 18 – after the Israeli pagers attack across Lebanon. It’s feared a retaliation of some kind could be in play – with terrorists targeting the West seeking to take revenge. The consequence is the postal ban.”

United Airlines was approached for comment.

A US Government official said at times industry partners adopt additional security measures above and beyond US government requirements, but there is no US government order prohibiting mail from coming to the United States.

A spokesperson added: "Our information indicates that mail is continuing to move to the United States, even if certain carriers have imposed their own restrictions."