Yemen terror alert: Obama says explosives found

US President Barack Obama has said initial examinations of two suspicious packages bound for the US show they appeared to have contained explosive materials. He said the packages, found in the UK and Dubai on two overnight cargo planes from Yemen, were destined for Jewish places of worship in Chicago.

According to BBC News, Security alerts are under way in the US, UK and Middle East.The White House later said Saudi Arabia had provided information that helped identify the threat.

The two packages found in Britain's East Midlands airport and in Dubai have now been made inert, US officials say.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May later said that the device found in Britain "did contain explosive material".

"But it is not yet clear that it was a viable explosive device. The forensic work continues," she added.

The security alert saw two other cargo planes owned by the freight company UPS searched in Newark and Philadelphia. UPS said it had suspended its shipments out of Yemen.

Another suspect package from Yemen was examined on a delivery lorry in New York, and later declared safe.