U.S.-bound explosives identified

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The explosive found in two packages shipped from Yemen addressed to two Chicago synagogues this week was identified and neutralized, officials said.

One flight was halted in Dubai and the other in Birmingham, England, late Thursday and early Friday on FedEx and UPS courier flights. Parcels aboard each flight contained the explosive known as PETN (pentaerythritol trinitrate), the BBC said Saturday.

UPS and FedEx both issued statements saying they would suspend shipments from Yemen.

U.S. and British intelligence agencies believe the packages are linked to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, the report said.

PETN is the same explosive used in a failed plane-bombing attempt in Detroit in December 2009. A law enforcement official told CNN the suspicious package found in England was an altered printer toner cartridge containing wires, a circuit board and a white powder

Friday afternoon, President Barack Obama said the discovery of the explosives by "friends and allies" of the United States led to "additional screening of some planes in Newark and Philadelphia."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement travelers should expect more stringent security measures.

"Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams and pat downs, among others," the agency said.