Bomb Threats Posed By Everyday Items

(AP)  The next terrorist attack could be carried out by airline passengers who hide bomb ingredients in hair gel or baby milk bottles and assemble their weapon in a locked restroom, security experts warn.

The announcement Thursday of a foiled plot to blow up jetliners flying from London to the U.S. using explosives hidden in hand luggage could be the opening of a new chapter in air travel. Experts said travelers can expect hours-long security checks, visual inspections of prescription drugs and bans on everyday items.

Bomb experts and troubleshooters for airline security interviewed by The Associated Press said mobile phones, computers, wrist watches or anything else with a battery should be prohibited from flights.

Perhaps most chillingly, they warned that security staffs at airports are not looking for the right things — and the change in tactics required would likely overwhelm current security operations.

"That theater we see, of people taking off shoes, is not going to stop a suicide bomber. The terrorists have already sniffed out the weak spots and are adopting new tactics," said Irish security analyst Tom Clonan, who noted that security measures usually are designed for the last attack, not the next threat.

He said a terrorist group will almost certainly try to blow up a plane with a bomb assembled on board unless security measures improve fundamentally.

Anti-terrorist authorities in Britain and the United States declined to describe the bomb design in the foiled plot — whether it was primarily liquid or, more likely, contained liquids in a more complex ingredient list.

Whatever the case, experts predicted passengers may soon have to change their travel habits radically.

"Every businessman needs to have his laptop on a long-haul flight, and now you won't be able to. Even a battery-operated watch would provide enough power for a detonator. All you need is one shock," said Alan Hatcher, managing director of the International School for Security and Explosives Education in Salisbury, England.

Airlines have toyed with the idea of banning innocuous personal-care items from carry-on luggage following previous security scares, only to have the focus change because of the difficulty of enforcing tougher rules.

But Thursday's developments could dramatically increase the likelihood that security will come first no matter what the logistical hurdles.

The technology for the kind of liquid or crystallized explosives possibly involved in the thwarted terror plot is not new.

The threat first appeared in January 1995 in the Philippines, when police stumbled on a suspected al Qaeda plot to target U.S.-bound planes with bombs based on nitroglycerine carried on board in containers for contact lens solution.

At that time, aviation authorities announced plans to ban aerosols, bottled gels and containers of liquids holding more than 30 milliliters, about an ounce, on U.S. airliners departing Manila, but the idea was never properly enforced.

Even then, baby formula was excluded from the ban — even though, in powdered form, it can provide a good vehicle for masking crystallized explosives.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page »

[jweymouth-2009]

I read these comments and realize that if this generation were the generation of World War 2, Germany would have all Europe and Japan would have all Asia and the United States would probably be a nuclear wasteland from German Atomic Weapons delivered by V2 rockets. No war was won by bringing the troops home. I think Bush would be justified in implementing the draconian policies that Roosevelt implemented at this point. You are with us or against us and if you are against us, the complete destruction of your ability to function as a society (what we exactly did to Japan and Germany). Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba- complete and total war and the destruction of these regimes-Hamas, Hezbollah should be totally destroyed. I realize this will take years and cost many lives on both sides-maybe my life and the life of my children, but it must be made infinitely clear that to pick a war with us will result in the total annihilation of your society: a Carthaginian Peace. There is no peaceful coexistence with these animals - look at Israel-they were attacked in 1948 and they defeated the Arabs. They were in a position of strength and decided to give back the land they had conquered in wars of aggression against them. It did not bring peace, the Moslems wanted more. Peaceful coexistence can be another word for surrender. Enough already.
Note that Carthage hasn't been a problem in a while.

[nursenanny-2009]

I used to love to fly, but not any more. There is no enjoyment left. By the time I get through security, I could have driven where I want to go. I agree with the person who said get the troops out of Iraq and take care of business at home. We have gone over there, presumed to change a culture thousands of years old, destroyed the place, spent too much money, destroyed the US's reputation and now we are going to rebuild the country that is producing some of the idiots who are harming us. What does that say about the intelligence of our foreign policies? What does it say about the willingness to neglect our citizens who are paying for the war? Get smart, Washington, and work on what we need here. Bush Administration: do what you were hired to do.

[ediemeyers]

Why not ban all liquids and gels completely (not just carry on). The terrorists could pre-mix the cocktail put it in the luggage set for baggage in the underbelly of the plane and STILL set it off!!

Again, Homeland Security is not thorough enough to provide complete restrictions.

[alphaa10-2009]

My suggestion to aircraft makers is to retroinstall emergency relief panels or relief valves in the airliner fuselage/pressure hull, sufficient to contain the force of a small explosion inside an airliner cabin. It is the rupture of an airliner fuselage which destroys the aircraft.

This would help address most of the "carry-on" bombs made of multiple parts.

[nalabus]

Who will buy all of the banned products for a travelier when they arrive at their destination if tooth paste, baby food products, watches, computers, cameras and all other items?? I have been in the area of research over the years and know that detection technology is advanced enough that almost everything can be detected. I feel that Homeland Security should direct the tax payers money to better technology rather then its normal knee jerk reactions of banning everything that might be suspect. dectection technology is s key weapon against terrior but we are seemly failing to keep up with better technology. My guess is if you want to be 100% safe, close down all of the airlines, buses and trains. That why everyone would be safe but of course we would not travel. I feel that fear is driving our nation into a shock state where everything will be soon controled by government and all of our liberties and freedoms will soon be a thing of the past. When the founding fathers created our nation no one tried to make a "safe" zone so that they could create a nation. If the terriorist come after the US then we should go after them in the same violent way they come after the US or us. One can not fight terror with "nice rules against the enemy. But if products will be banned for travel then our government should then issue a $50.00 chet to every travlier when they arrive to cover items. That would be very fair.

[aka_busyness]

Something needs to be done to protect travelers, yet to allow them to travel with needed items at hand. It seems that at this rate, we soon won't be able to carry anything on board. How soon before baby formula isn't allowed on board, and then how can families with babies fly? I have no expertise in these things, but what about hearing aids? Are these going to be banned next? Yes many people need their computers with them, and we all love our cell phones, and the thought of having to take off our watches is odd, but these are still optional items. What about people who have medical needs? Will air travel soon be off limits to them?

Get the bloody troops out of Iraq and spend money on addressing these sorts of issues so that modern conveniences aren't compromised and so that the American people can carry on their lives is safety.

Let's re-address our priorities.