Dramatic police raids today narrowly averted terror on a global scale by thwarting an Al Qaeda plot to destroy passenger aircraft using suicide bombers fitted with exploding turbans.

The deadly plot used specially modified turbans – identical to the one pictured by our actor below – that were packed with plastic explosives, and detonated by a small fuse to be lit by the suicide bomber.

Although the modified turbans were unwieldy and guaranteed to attract attention, it is believed the bombers relied on Political Correctness among airline security staff to be allowed to board the plane. According to our source in the intelligence community, a ‘dry run’ had already taken place, where 2 men wearing the huge turbans had successfully boarded passenger airlines without being searched.

A brief statement issued by the police read :

“This morning, acting on intelligence that a major terrorist attack was imminent, police carried raids at a number of addresses in Leeds and Birmingham. Although searches are still ongoing, we have recovered a large amount of terrorist paraphanelia, including explosives, turbans, and a number of airline tickets. Local residents have been evacuated whilst the area is made safe, and 17 people have been arrested”

“We will issue a full statement shortly, but suffice it to say we believe we have today averted a major terrorist incident”.

“Anybody seeing a person wearing bulky and suspicious headgear should not approach them, and should call police immediately. We especially advise the public against using cricket bats or similar implements to attempt to remove the headgear from a suspicious person as they may be booby trapped”.