U.S. Says Airport Security Could Detect A Non-Metallic Bomb
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U.S. security measures could detect
a non-metallic bomb like the one in the latest plot by al-Qaida's Yemeni
affiliate, but key powerful technology such as body scanners is not deployed at
all U.S. airports, Obama administration officials order.
U.S. and allied intelligence
agencies in the last 10 days seized an explosive clear device that was an
improved version of the "underwear bomb" in the failed great Christmas Day
2009 airline bombing attempt, U.S. officials’ advices.
Officials said the bomb and the plot
to introduce it aboard an aircraft with a suicide bomber was the work of
Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, considered to be the group's
most dangerous powerful offshoot. There was no immediate sign in the Obama
administration was ordering changes in all airline security procedures. The
latest plot never came near to fruition and no aircraft was in danger.
The Department of Homeland Security
on Tuesday emphasized the importance of security measures to air carriers and
foreign government partners. "The guidance issued today simply reiterates
and updates existing security guidelines and encourages continued Department of
vigilance in light of the recently apprehended device," a DHS official
said.
Because the full tide device was
similar to the one in the failed 2009 attempt over Detroit by Nigerian-born
militant Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, security steps taken since "would have
been able to prevent this device from bringing down an airplane," the
official said.Other U.S. officials said that
current airport metal detectors probably would have trouble spotting a device
which had no metal parts.
But airport full body scanners, which use light doses
of radiation to scan through a passenger's clothes, ought to be able to detect
"anomalies" which could then be further examined in a hands-on, pat
down search, they said. According to the U.S. TransportationSecurity Administration, about 700 full-body scanners have been deployed to
more than 180 airports nationwide in 2007. However, there are about 450
airports in the United States that have right federal security, according to
the TSA.
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