Explosions at Brussels Airport
If some provincial media are not lying, then looks like the airport and metro were part of "plan B" for those jihadists, and initially they were thinking of the nuclear power plant(s):
Un agent de sécurité dans le nucléaire tué à Charleroi: son badge d'accès a été volé ! - DH.be
Un agent de sécurité dans le nucléaire tué à Charleroi: son badge d'accès a été volé ! - DH.be
"The Evening" (Le Soir) newspaper says the badge was not stolen.
http://www.lesoir.be/1163392/article...riste-dementie
Last edited by Rwy in Sight; 26th Mar 2016 at 12:53. Reason: Adding a link from "Le Soir" paper.
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In Manila, all luggage is run through Xray before being allowed into the terminal. This would be difficult to implement worldwide, and as others have mentioned, it simply moves the screening queue but does not eliminate it. Thus, a target still exists where people are crowded with lots of luggage.
The bigger picture here is one that not many of you are expressing, especially those of you who make a living in this industry: If this type of event were ever to become even slightly more frequent, then the air travel industry will be crippled. If flying becomes a game of Russian roulette, then this will quickly lead to the next bust in what has always been a boom/bust industry.
The bigger picture here is one that not many of you are expressing, especially those of you who make a living in this industry: If this type of event were ever to become even slightly more frequent, then the air travel industry will be crippled. If flying becomes a game of Russian roulette, then this will quickly lead to the next bust in what has always been a boom/bust industry.
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Robert, you are correct. At my airport, you could, at certain times of the day, take out 500 with a car bomb in front of the terminal entrance. No real way to stop it without vehicle checks on the side of the freeway.
Perhaps the trick is multiple screenings?
At Tel Aviv, every car, lorry and bus entering the airport (only two ways in) goes through a checkpoint. Most are waived straight through; others asked a few questions, and a very small number are stopped and searched.
Between vehicle drop off and entering the terminal there is a security person simply monitoring the flow of people. Probably only 0.1% are stopped and questioned. Of course as is well known, passengers are thoroughly questioned before check-in (or for web check-in, before the usual security screening). The answers are irrelevant, its the way the person behaves that gives the clue as to their intentions.
This permits for a reasonably smooth flow of people without creating a bottleneck that would be a delight to any would be bomber. The result of this (including profiling) is that I can take as much liquid onto the aeroplane as I like (as long as its a non-stop flight). A much more sensible approach, but it may only work for airports that are below a certain size on terms of passenger numbers. Not sure it would work for Heathrow, but might for Manchester...
At Tel Aviv, every car, lorry and bus entering the airport (only two ways in) goes through a checkpoint. Most are waived straight through; others asked a few questions, and a very small number are stopped and searched.
Between vehicle drop off and entering the terminal there is a security person simply monitoring the flow of people. Probably only 0.1% are stopped and questioned. Of course as is well known, passengers are thoroughly questioned before check-in (or for web check-in, before the usual security screening). The answers are irrelevant, its the way the person behaves that gives the clue as to their intentions.
This permits for a reasonably smooth flow of people without creating a bottleneck that would be a delight to any would be bomber. The result of this (including profiling) is that I can take as much liquid onto the aeroplane as I like (as long as its a non-stop flight). A much more sensible approach, but it may only work for airports that are below a certain size on terms of passenger numbers. Not sure it would work for Heathrow, but might for Manchester...
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Look guys, SLF here, get over your hysteria please. 20 were killed in Brussels metro, 11 at airport. Nobody is talking about doing security checks of every passenger in the underground systems in the world's major capitals. Being stuck in a strongly confined space with an explosive set off by some idiot tends to be deadlier than a wide open space. Also, if you have a security check, invariably there is then the crowd in front of the security check ...
The reason why people want stiff security checks for planes is not for the sake of the passengers, it is because Ben Laden turned the planes themselves into weapons. Plane hijackings are old hat.
Edmund
The reason why people want stiff security checks for planes is not for the sake of the passengers, it is because Ben Laden turned the planes themselves into weapons. Plane hijackings are old hat.
Edmund
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Espada is correct re. Israeli security screening:
"The answers are irrelevant, its the way the person behaves that gives the clue as to their intentions."
I worked in Israel for 12 months & underwent many pre-flight screenings at Ben Gurion.
After a couple of experiences, I realised the slightly farcical nature of what was being conducted - after being 'interrogated' & screened, it was possible to exit the terminal building for a cigarette, then wander (unscreened) back in. I could easily have collected my fusing devices etc from a waiting accomplice.
But that's not how the system works (& works *very* effectively).
It detects would-be perpetrators, not their weapons.
Dean
"The answers are irrelevant, its the way the person behaves that gives the clue as to their intentions."
I worked in Israel for 12 months & underwent many pre-flight screenings at Ben Gurion.
After a couple of experiences, I realised the slightly farcical nature of what was being conducted - after being 'interrogated' & screened, it was possible to exit the terminal building for a cigarette, then wander (unscreened) back in. I could easily have collected my fusing devices etc from a waiting accomplice.
But that's not how the system works (& works *very* effectively).
It detects would-be perpetrators, not their weapons.
Dean
Last edited by deanm; 27th Mar 2016 at 23:37. Reason: Spulling!!
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One week after the tragedy, Brussels Airport began to test its operations in hopes of resuming flights. Tests included running a makeshift check-in area, inspecting security and fire procedures and handling suitcases, according to Reuters. About 800 airport staff members took part in the drill, The Guardian reported.
If security requirements are met, the airport should be able to offer limited services starting Wednesday afternoon, but will only be able to accommodate 800 people an hour — as opposed to 5,000 people an hour before the attacks, a spokesperson for Brussels Airport Company told Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir.
“Although the structure of the building is intact, it will all have to be rebuilt, from the air conditioning to the check-in desks. And that will take months,” said Brussels Airport Company CEO Arnaud Feist, according to the BBC.
“The priority is safety,” Feist told Le Soir.
If security requirements are met, the airport should be able to offer limited services starting Wednesday afternoon, but will only be able to accommodate 800 people an hour — as opposed to 5,000 people an hour before the attacks, a spokesperson for Brussels Airport Company told Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir.
“Although the structure of the building is intact, it will all have to be rebuilt, from the air conditioning to the check-in desks. And that will take months,” said Brussels Airport Company CEO Arnaud Feist, according to the BBC.
“The priority is safety,” Feist told Le Soir.
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Last Saturday I was at a major and busy regional airport, not in UK, B or F, but not that many miles from Brussels. I was surprised at the TOTAL lack of any form of security presence either outside or inside the terminal. I happened to have to walk through a good length of the large terminal and did not see a single policeman! I guess they obviously don't believe they could be a target. I hope they're right!
The reopening of Brussels airport has been delayed due to a strike by the police who feel that new security measures do not go far enough and their concern that too many airport employees have criminal records.
Brussels attacks: Police strike halts Brussels airport reopening - BBC News
Brussels attacks: Police strike halts Brussels airport reopening - BBC News
