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Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
I really enjoyed this statement: "There was a slight delay," Hulsey
said. "That needs to be corrected." Apparently, shoes are much more of a danger than a man with a baggy full of gunpowder and a cannon fuse...details, people, details! Best Regards, Bill Mattocks *** QUOTE *** http://www.times-standard.com/Storie...834286,00.html Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse By James Tressler The Times-Standard Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - County officials call for 'protocol' improvements McKINLEYVILLE -- How is it that a man whose checked bag contained what appeared to be a bomb at the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Saturday was still allowed to board the airplane? Why did it take airport security personnel three hours to call the Sheriff's Department to dispose of the explosive? These are a couple of key questions raised in the wake of Saturday's incident, in which airport security found an apparent bomb in the checked baggage belonging to a man bound for Miami with his wife and infant. The device was discovered at around 9 a.m. during routine security checks. The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident, possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody. According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse -- was to be used in conjunction with the man's professed hobby, which apparently had something to do with cannons. According to Gainey, the man gave the same explanation to federal Transportation Security Administration security personnel when the device was discovered at the Arcata-Eureka Airport. Security and airline officials confiscated the device, but apparently both were satisfied with the man's explanation and let him and his family continue their journey. Gainey said the Sheriff's Department didn't get a call from the airport until shortly after noon, three hours after the incident took place. An explosive expert from the department was dispatched, with the deputies under the impression that the incident was happening that very minute. The Sheriff's Department ordered the terminal evacuated, and it wasn't until deputies showed up that they found out the incident had long since been over, Gainey said. Sheriff's officials then contacted San Francisco International Airport, but the man had already boarded his flight for Miami. Federal authorities contacted the man and questioned him when he arrived in Miami. Gainey said the man is not in custody, and federal officials have indicated that they'll leave it to the county to pursue any possible criminal charges. Carrying an explosive device into an airport can constitute a felony. Gainey said reports are being compiled and will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office, which has the decision on whether to file charges. Meanwhile, county officials on Monday were still puzzling over the incident. Airport Manager Jacqueline Hulsey, who started her job two weeks ago, said she's concerned as to why the man was allowed to board the plane and why it took so long for the Sheriff's Department to be notified. "There was a slight delay," Hulsey said. "That needs to be corrected." She said she'll be calling together TSA, Sheriff's Department and airline officials in the near future to go over the incident in hopes of providing "a protocol" for handling future situations. Sheriff Gary Philp conceded he wouldn't feel very comfortable if he boarded a plane knowing a bomb had been discovered in one of its passenger's luggage. "I'd have a few questions on my mind," Philp said. "There seems to have been problems in this situation. Things just weren't communicated the way they should've been. The normal procedure would be to call the authorities and have them deal with it -- before they let the person on the plane." Still, law enforcement officials did praise TSA security for finding the explosive in the first place, regardless of any subsequent slip-ups. County Administrative Officer Loretta Nickolaus said, however, the incident reveals wrinkles in communications that need to be ironed out in the new security setup established in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Nickolaus, the county's top executive, didn't find out about the incident until several hours after it had happened. "It's really important that we all work together," Nickolaus said. *** END QUOTE *** |
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Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
Bill - I'm disappointed - a man of your experience realises surely that nail
clippers, butter knives etc are the real danger!!! "The Bill Mattocks" wrote in message om... I really enjoyed this statement: "There was a slight delay," Hulsey said. "That needs to be corrected." Apparently, shoes are much more of a danger than a man with a baggy full of gunpowder and a cannon fuse...details, people, details! Best Regards, Bill Mattocks *** QUOTE *** http://www.times-standard.com/Storie...834286,00.html Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse By James Tressler The Times-Standard Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - County officials call for 'protocol' improvements McKINLEYVILLE -- How is it that a man whose checked bag contained what appeared to be a bomb at the Arcata-Eureka Airport on Saturday was still allowed to board the airplane? Why did it take airport security personnel three hours to call the Sheriff's Department to dispose of the explosive? These are a couple of key questions raised in the wake of Saturday's incident, in which airport security found an apparent bomb in the checked baggage belonging to a man bound for Miami with his wife and infant. The device was discovered at around 9 a.m. during routine security checks. The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident, possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody. According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse -- was to be used in conjunction with the man's professed hobby, which apparently had something to do with cannons. According to Gainey, the man gave the same explanation to federal Transportation Security Administration security personnel when the device was discovered at the Arcata-Eureka Airport. Security and airline officials confiscated the device, but apparently both were satisfied with the man's explanation and let him and his family continue their journey. Gainey said the Sheriff's Department didn't get a call from the airport until shortly after noon, three hours after the incident took place. An explosive expert from the department was dispatched, with the deputies under the impression that the incident was happening that very minute. The Sheriff's Department ordered the terminal evacuated, and it wasn't until deputies showed up that they found out the incident had long since been over, Gainey said. Sheriff's officials then contacted San Francisco International Airport, but the man had already boarded his flight for Miami. Federal authorities contacted the man and questioned him when he arrived in Miami. Gainey said the man is not in custody, and federal officials have indicated that they'll leave it to the county to pursue any possible criminal charges. Carrying an explosive device into an airport can constitute a felony. Gainey said reports are being compiled and will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office, which has the decision on whether to file charges. Meanwhile, county officials on Monday were still puzzling over the incident. Airport Manager Jacqueline Hulsey, who started her job two weeks ago, said she's concerned as to why the man was allowed to board the plane and why it took so long for the Sheriff's Department to be notified. "There was a slight delay," Hulsey said. "That needs to be corrected." She said she'll be calling together TSA, Sheriff's Department and airline officials in the near future to go over the incident in hopes of providing "a protocol" for handling future situations. Sheriff Gary Philp conceded he wouldn't feel very comfortable if he boarded a plane knowing a bomb had been discovered in one of its passenger's luggage. "I'd have a few questions on my mind," Philp said. "There seems to have been problems in this situation. Things just weren't communicated the way they should've been. The normal procedure would be to call the authorities and have them deal with it -- before they let the person on the plane." Still, law enforcement officials did praise TSA security for finding the explosive in the first place, regardless of any subsequent slip-ups. County Administrative Officer Loretta Nickolaus said, however, the incident reveals wrinkles in communications that need to be ironed out in the new security setup established in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Nickolaus, the county's top executive, didn't find out about the incident until several hours after it had happened. "It's really important that we all work together," Nickolaus said. *** END QUOTE *** |
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Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brenda Gainey, federal authorities detained and questioned the man when he arrived in Miami on Saturday afternoon. But federal authorities have indicated they are satisfied with the man's explanation that the device -- described by Gainey as a baggy of gunpowder with a common-grade fuse -- Come on Bill you just made that whole thing up didn't you. Admit it... It can't really be true. |
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Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
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Explosive at airport uncovers security lapse
Dick Locke wrote:
On 16 Dec 2003 21:49:30 -0800, (The Bill Mattocks) wrote: The passenger is believed to be a Humboldt County resident, possibly from Salyer, but Sheriff's Department officials said Monday they were withholding the man's identity because he is not in custody. I going to venture a WAG that he's a good old boy from the backwoods who grows and sells dope to local authorities and his name does not include the word "Mohammed." Yeah. I am betting that if he was a skin color other than white, it would have been an issue. Is it legal to transport this stuff by checked baggage? |
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