Officials said they have established that the email was sent from a yahoo address that was created on Friday, the same day that the email was sent to several airlines, the media and the local US Embassy.

They have also established that the email was sent from Guyana and were hunting the author of the suspicious email.

Acting CEO of CJIA, Ramesh Ghir

On Monday, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Ramesh Ghir said that security remains at ‘Alert Condition 3’, the highest ranking on a three-tier scale requiring maximum security measures.

The email warned that a series of planned releases of very toxic chemicals at US, African and Caribbean airports onboard American Airlines, North American and BWIA aircraft is about to be launched.

Mailed from an email address atayuv@yahoo.com, the attack is said to be planned by an independent militant group. The Guyana Government through a statement said that it believed that the threat was a prank. Officials said that over the next few days, the US and the Guyana Government will make a definitive decision on the email.

The author of the email spoke of releasing "6 viles" of the cocktailed substance at the arrival of "North American Flight 0091." This should have taken place on Sunday, but according to the Ghir, nothing unusual has occurred since the email threat was issued and flights continue to operate uninterrupted.

Following the threat, the airport activated its contingency plan and a meeting of the Airport Emergency Committee was convened with representatives from the US Embassy, the FBI and the US Transportation Security Administration.

Stemming from the stepped up security, passengers will not be allowed to carry liquids, gels, aerosols and powders in their hand luggage.

When Caribbean Net News visited the airport yesterday, there were no visible signs of increased police presence as indicated by airport officials, but Ghir assured that security has been beefed up.

"You may not be able to observe it with your naked eye, but they are here and all of the officers including airport operators have been advised to be on the alert for anything suspicious," Ghir stated.

Ghir assured that hospital officials, the army and the police have been trained to deal with the eventuality of a chemical reaction. He said that passengers are cooperating with airport officials despite the rigid screening checks and airline operators were assisting in the process. "We are awaiting advice from the police and based on their advice we will determine if we will come down to Alert Condition 2 or we stay at 3," Ghir said.