How did a firecracker get through security at the airport?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

re: recent plane incident.
How on earth did an incendiary device get through security - a firecracker?

[timeforpeace]

1. It was in Amsterdam. Try asking them.

[Don Caballero]

2. Firecracker?

I have not heard that reported.

[bridgit]

3. Such a catalyst can be made from a slurry of kitchen matches - may not even be a firecracker...

Just something that fizzles and goes *pop* at the end

[lib2DaBone]

4. It was some type of explosive in his underware...

..he got thru Dutch Security...

I cringe to think what this is going to mean to American travelers....

TSA is going to go into super-wharp-drive stupid

Everyone take off your pants at the gate....

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. worrying if international airports don't have adequate screening of explosives

[lazer47]

5. You don't seem to grasp the totality of it,

First he wasn't a 92 yr old lady with a hand bag, he is an ethnically disadvantaged person from Nigeria,
:sarcasm:

[yodoobo]

6. you can get most anything non-metal though if you put in

your pocket.

really not that hard to figure out.


TSA is focus'ed on water bottles and razor blades.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. that is worrying

[monmouth]

7. They took my little bottle of "special" shampoo ( we blondes are

fussy about the shampoo..LOL). I was furious and told the girl it was a formula my hairdresser made to maintain my color (she was a horrid redhead) and she said it just wasn't allowed and proceeded to throw the little bottle in the dumpster. Now, as a blonde, dumb or not, I take great umbrage in having my shampoo dumped but this guy gets on with a firecracker in his shorts???? Maybe 'cause I was going to Jersey? Thinking of how to pack my "special" shampoo in my drawers next time I fly. Bah humbug..

[Yupster]

8. Not really very hard.

He had it strapped to his leg under his pants. Why would that be caught?

[Way2go]

22. Others may have been caught & we just didn't hear about it

It's very possible that he got by "with a little help from his friends"...and may not have ever realized they were his "friends".

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. Isn't that a deficiency?

[WeDidIt]

9. The PETN (explosives usually used as a detonator) was sewn into his underwear. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. I really don't like the idea of explosives in my underwear.

[WeDidIt]

12. I'm pretty sure this guy was burned badly by the experience

I suspect he may even be eligible for a Darwin award.

[Adelante]

11. Not a firecracker

The plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was organized and launched by al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently sewed bomb materials into the suspect's underwear before sending him on his mission, federal authorities tell ABC News.

Investigators say the suspect had more than 80 grams of PETN, a compound related to nitro-glycerin used by the military. ...

The device intended to blow up the Northwest flight was made at the location in Yemen, according to Abdulmutallab, and consisted of a six-inch packet of powder and a syringe with a liquid. Both were sewn into the student's underwear so they would be near his testicles and unlikely to be detected, he told agents.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/northwest-bomb-plot-planned-al-qaeda-yemen/story?id=9426085

[HipChick]

14. Is it wrong to wish him being ball-less?

or at least them being crispy fried..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. Great Balls of Fire.

[WeDidIt]

18. You will only know when the Darwin Awards come out

I suspect he's now eligible, though.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. shouldn't security be able to detect PETN?

there are so many deficiencies in security

[Libertas1776]

13. I don't know...

ask the Dutch that.

[Bluebear]

16. It was a mixture similar to nitro-glycerine, not a "firecracker"

You are operating on 24-hour old news, some passengers said it sounded like a firecracker.

[Forkboy]

17. See, I'd make a lousy terrorist.

There's no way I'm putting some nitro anywhere near my love spuds. :scared:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. "Love spuds!"

:rofl:

[carlbenator2]

21. A Lousy Terrorist

I don't think he intended to live to share the love

[snagglepuss]

19. I read it was loose powder which he then ignited. nt

[robdogbucky]

23. It was first widely reported

by several news agencies as merely firecrackers.

It was revealed that the originating airport in Africa passed an inspection by DHS or TSA or some other American agency charged with examining foreign airports just a couple of months ago.

Curious, confused reporting.

Typical for a skeleton crew holiday weekend news effort.

Still, this seems like a nut job wannabe, like most of the recent "terrorist," efforts thwarted.




Just my dos centavos


robdogbucky

[snagglepuss]

24. You are being kind saying the reporting was confused. Its been lousy.

The reporting is just as shocking as the act. Even though its a holiday I don't see why it has it taken several days to establish it was powder not firecrackers.

[bridgit]

28. Yes. And CNN went from 'he had extensive connections with' to 'he had none' in the span...

in about 45min - odd that