U.S. looking for upgraded underwear bomb with different type of explosive, TSA says

Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri constructed the first underwear bomb used in 2009 plot. / CBS

(CBS/AP) ASPEN, Colo. - U.S. security officials are on the lookout for a new type of explosive, after analysis of an upgraded underwear bomb intercepted by a CIA operation in Yemen.

Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole told an audience at the Aspen Security Forum that the device smuggled out by a double-agent in an operation earlier this year was an upgrade from the underwear bomb carried by Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to try to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner which was on route from Amsterdam on Christmas 2009. Abdulmutallab was one of the 300 people were on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253. At his trial, he called the underwear bomb a "blessed weapon" to avenge poorly treated Muslims.

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"We found in the Underwear Plot, Part 2...that a different type of explosive had been used than the previous one," Pistole said, "so we have gone back and recalibrated all the equipment and we have been working with our canine to detect this different type of explosive."

The CIA intercepted the device earlier this year, thwarting an ambitious plot by al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden. The device was made of the same explosive material PETN that is normally used in al Qaeda bombs, that would not be detected by airport metal detectors. However, an ex-TSA administrator told CBS News that the full body scanners would have detected the device.

The new model also had a more sophisticated trigger mechanism, an apparent attempt to fix the defective trigger that burned the bomber but failed to ignite the bomb in the Christmas attack.

[moatsad2071]

victorias secret ?

[fisher1949]

This is just more fear mongering from TSA and DHS in a pitiful attempt to justify their miserable existence. Pistole is clearly desperate to prove that his agency has some value in the face of overwhelming evidence that all of this is a $60 billion a year farce.

The so called bomber was a CIA operative not an Al Qaeda terrorist,, so there is an obvious question whether Al Qaeda or the CIA developed the explosive that Pistole says his goons can now detect.

Despite his claims, TSA will simply continue to harass and molest passengers and their children, confiscate approved items and otherwise subject innocent passengers to unnecessarily abusive and humiliating procedures without adding any value to security.

Their theory must be that if they make security the most miserable aspect of flying, people will think it is making them safe. TSA is most corrupt and mismanaged agency in government and needs to be replaced before their incompetence kills people.

[w_roos]

But, does it feel sexy??

[random_radar]

News Flash!

Due to the threat of underwear bombs, passengers will not be allowed to wear underwear.

The TSA assures the public that all potential threats, particularly well-endowed women, will be checked for compliance.

Air travel promises to be much safer and more enjoyable!

[woozybarnes]

Practice must be real depressing.

[JackNauti]

Funny, since Umar the "Underwear Bomber" most likely was given his "bomb" by government officials (CIA or other).

Google "Kurt Haskell".