The recently publicized destruction of the amplifier in France is not
surprising after reading the following article. It appears that the French
are very careless in these matters. Conclusion: Avoid travel to France if
you have anything with you other than typical tourist items, and even then,
be prepared to find some additional things (perhaps explosives) when you
arrive at your destination. Hopefully, the explosives will not be
discovered by the authorities (which they likely will) - resulting in your
arrest!
73,
Riki, K7NJ - 4X4NJ
Source: Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1367287,00.html
Careless French bomb squad causes terror alert
Amelia Gentleman in Paris
Monday December 6, 2004
The Guardian
A moment of carelessness had humiliating consequences for French bomb squad
officers, when they accidentally mislaid an explosive device, hidden for
training purposes in an unknown passenger's suitcase, triggering a global
terror alert.
Officers training sniffer-dogs at Roissy airport outside Paris this weekend
slipped 150 grams of plastic explosive in the side pocket of a blue bag,
selected randomly from luggage waiting to be loaded on to a plane.
While they went to find a trainee dog to sniff it out, baggage handlers put
the suitcase on a conveyor belt, where it was swiftly dispatched on to a
waiting plane.
Last night the explosive was still missing.
Since the bomb squad officers had failed to check where the bag was
travelling to, they had no option but to inform staff on 90 flights heading
out of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport on Friday evening of the possible
presence of explosives in the hold. Police, airlines and airport officials
all over the world were put on standby.
French police admitted that there had been "a momentary lack of
surveillance", but in a damage limitation exercise, tried to reassure their
colleagues internationally that the small package had no detonator, and
would not react to movement, shock or fire, and was therefore "no more
dangerous than a bar of chocolate".
The embarrassment was nevertheless profound.
Four of the flights were en route to the United States, some were domestic
French flights and others took off for Japan and Brazil.
The 362 passengers on an Air France flight to Los Angeles were evacuated
from their plane and delayed for three hours while their luggage was
inspected.
The US Transportation Security Administration said several planes were
searched on arrival in New York. US news channels carried reports of the
oversight hourly.
The two officers responsible are to face an internal investigation.
"It's clear that there was an error. This kind of thing should not happen,"
a police spokesman said last night.
French airports have intensified their anti-bomb surveillance measures after
Richard Reid passed through security with explosive hidden in his shoe two
years ago and boarded a flight to Miami.
No passenger has yet reported finding bomb-making materials in their
baggage.
A police spokesman conceded that the owner of a dark blue suitcase with a
retractable handle and wheels might be in for an unpleasant shock when he
discovered the lump of clay-like explosives planted in a side pocket.
"One could imagine that the passenger might feel annoyed," he said.
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