Brit girl arrested for bomb "joke"
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Once upon a time I was departing Manchester, returning to work abroad.
While waiting in the dep. lounge a work colleague arrived for the same flight.
As we sat talking he mentioned something to do with his work - producing bill's of material (BOM's). As he was happily blabbing away about his BOM's I noticed a couple of armed police approaching... luckily I managed to shut him up (being from God's country, I was a bit more aware of the connotations ) before they heard... and they passed by.
Phew... !
We often had a bit of a laugh about it afterwards, how easily we could have changed accommodation for the night......... !!
While waiting in the dep. lounge a work colleague arrived for the same flight.
As we sat talking he mentioned something to do with his work - producing bill's of material (BOM's). As he was happily blabbing away about his BOM's I noticed a couple of armed police approaching... luckily I managed to shut him up (being from God's country, I was a bit more aware of the connotations ) before they heard... and they passed by.
Phew... !
We often had a bit of a laugh about it afterwards, how easily we could have changed accommodation for the night......... !!
Someone asked about the right to free speech. It does not extend in this case any more than it would to someone screaming fire in a crowded theatre when there wasn't.
Females with backpacks are the en vogue weapon of choice in Israel for blowing stuff up.
I wonder how many would say it would be an over the top reaction to stop another British citizen Richard Reid for saying he had a bomb in his shoe as that sounds almost as comical as impossible.
This girl will get the scare of her life and be let go. Perhaps she will remember to read the placards at the screening areas.
Females with backpacks are the en vogue weapon of choice in Israel for blowing stuff up.
I wonder how many would say it would be an over the top reaction to stop another British citizen Richard Reid for saying he had a bomb in his shoe as that sounds almost as comical as impossible.
This girl will get the scare of her life and be let go. Perhaps she will remember to read the placards at the screening areas.
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The penalties may seem harsh for a young lady but there can not be a double standard when it comes to security. Just because the remarks were uttered by a young western female does not warrant the excuse that they were just a joke (and 3 times???). Maybe some on this board would be less quick to jump to her defence if it had been a middle eastern male who had made that same joke?
Having had the 'pleasure' of going thru US security 4 times in the last 2 weeks, I will have to say that despite the added time and inconvenience (shoes off, laptop out, finger prints and photo) I was treated courteously at all times. Perhaps because I treated the people who were doing their jobs with courtesy too. It does not take much to play by the rules.
Whether such checks are effective or not are a different matter, but they do give me a sense of security (maybe false) when on the aeroplane. Much more so than if no checks were conducted at all. And when you are a frequent traveller, I think this counts for a lot.
My opinion anyway.
Having had the 'pleasure' of going thru US security 4 times in the last 2 weeks, I will have to say that despite the added time and inconvenience (shoes off, laptop out, finger prints and photo) I was treated courteously at all times. Perhaps because I treated the people who were doing their jobs with courtesy too. It does not take much to play by the rules.
Whether such checks are effective or not are a different matter, but they do give me a sense of security (maybe false) when on the aeroplane. Much more so than if no checks were conducted at all. And when you are a frequent traveller, I think this counts for a lot.
My opinion anyway.
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A very stupid situation.
No doubt the yanks would stick her in Guantanamo if they thought they could get away with it.
American paranoia has always made talking to immigration officers or security people a bit of a joke. Anyone who has ever filled in a visa waiver form knows exactly what I'm talking about.
Q1. Are you coming to the United States for the purpose of:
a: terrorism?
b: homicide?
or
c: genocide?
Q2. Are you a member of the Communist Party?
Q3. Are you a polygamist?
Q4. During the period 1939-1945, were you or any members of your family, friends or associates of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party of Germany?
I mean, come on, most people from the rest of the world could not help but find this sort of ludacrous questioning at least faintly idiotic.
It only serves to create the wrong reaction when people arrive in the country, and disillusion people who up until reading the form probably had more respect for the genuine security problems that America is suffering from.
BUT... and this is the point.
When in someone elses country, you simply have to act in an appropriate way, regardless of what you happen to think about human nature and the way you believe people ought to treat each other.
If you don't like the way a certain country works then DON'T GO THERE.
Humour is inappropriate in certain situations. Unfortunately, people often resort to it when they are nervous.
Another thing is for sure, locking up some girl from England who made a silly mistake with what she said at the wrong time will not in any way reduce terrorism in America. It is THEY who are missing the point here as well.
No doubt the yanks would stick her in Guantanamo if they thought they could get away with it.
American paranoia has always made talking to immigration officers or security people a bit of a joke. Anyone who has ever filled in a visa waiver form knows exactly what I'm talking about.
Q1. Are you coming to the United States for the purpose of:
a: terrorism?
b: homicide?
or
c: genocide?
Q2. Are you a member of the Communist Party?
Q3. Are you a polygamist?
Q4. During the period 1939-1945, were you or any members of your family, friends or associates of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party of Germany?
I mean, come on, most people from the rest of the world could not help but find this sort of ludacrous questioning at least faintly idiotic.
It only serves to create the wrong reaction when people arrive in the country, and disillusion people who up until reading the form probably had more respect for the genuine security problems that America is suffering from.
BUT... and this is the point.
When in someone elses country, you simply have to act in an appropriate way, regardless of what you happen to think about human nature and the way you believe people ought to treat each other.
If you don't like the way a certain country works then DON'T GO THERE.
Humour is inappropriate in certain situations. Unfortunately, people often resort to it when they are nervous.
Another thing is for sure, locking up some girl from England who made a silly mistake with what she said at the wrong time will not in any way reduce terrorism in America. It is THEY who are missing the point here as well.
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Ok it was a silly remark, but behind that remark appears to be an inappropriate attempt at humour.
Silly yes, hanging offence, no!
It is correct that people doing the same at UK airports are carted off to the nick yes, and sometimes they are charged, to me it seemed a total waste of time money and effort, a quick search and a b****king would suffice, and maybe even the airline refusing to carry them, that should be the end of it.
Once its been established that the remark is frivilous then any action afterwards becomes vindicitive in my opnion, the effort and money would be better spent on better security.
Silly yes, hanging offence, no!
It is correct that people doing the same at UK airports are carted off to the nick yes, and sometimes they are charged, to me it seemed a total waste of time money and effort, a quick search and a b****king would suffice, and maybe even the airline refusing to carry them, that should be the end of it.
Once its been established that the remark is frivilous then any action afterwards becomes vindicitive in my opnion, the effort and money would be better spent on better security.
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Yes I agree, a very stupid thing to say
, but I think jail is a harsh. Maybe more appropriate to remove her from the flight and have her buy another ticket at her own expense to fly back, plus if delay costs then charge them to her, she should be able to pay them back in maybe 10 or 20 years after she has graduated!
these type of incidents are relatively few and far between but you need some sort of deterrent so that people will be well aware of the consequences. Jail time is excessive but inconvenience the culprit the way they have inconvenienced the rest of the passengers and crew. Waste her time and money and see how she likes it
, but I think jail is a harsh. Maybe more appropriate to remove her from the flight and have her buy another ticket at her own expense to fly back, plus if delay costs then charge them to her, she should be able to pay them back in maybe 10 or 20 years after she has graduated!these type of incidents are relatively few and far between but you need some sort of deterrent so that people will be well aware of the consequences. Jail time is excessive but inconvenience the culprit the way they have inconvenienced the rest of the passengers and crew. Waste her time and money and see how she likes it
Yes, she was very stupid!
Yes, the American authorities, in their inevitable way, overreacted!
Would a terrorist carrying a bomb declare the fact - twice, and then allow himself/herself to be arrested without setting it off?
She should have been held for 24 hours, given a severe reprimand and warned that if she ever did anything like that again she would then have to take the full consequences. As it is, six months just waiting for trial is simply OTT.
God Bless America!
Yes, the American authorities, in their inevitable way, overreacted!
Would a terrorist carrying a bomb declare the fact - twice, and then allow himself/herself to be arrested without setting it off?
She should have been held for 24 hours, given a severe reprimand and warned that if she ever did anything like that again she would then have to take the full consequences. As it is, six months just waiting for trial is simply OTT.
God Bless America!
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Her ignorance and naivety are breathtaking. Now she faces jail. Well that is how the they do things there in them thar places. To say she was stupid is an understatement. To say she will get 6 months is an overstatement - IMHO. I think they will let her sweat a while.
However, here is something to ponder. On TV tonight, OK it was on Judy and Richard's prog
- they spoke to one Randy Bossman, a senior police officer from Dade County. He said, and I quote: "she told us THREE times that she had a bomb when we queried it three times." "On the third occasion we arrested her and placed her in jail to appear in court." He further stated that it is possible that "she could spend six months in jail." Now it is up to the judge.
I think they will probably give her the spanking she deserves and send the stupid little idiot home.
But.................I recall someone getting two years after telling someone he had a bomb. Here at LGW I think.
However, here is something to ponder. On TV tonight, OK it was on Judy and Richard's prog
- they spoke to one Randy Bossman, a senior police officer from Dade County. He said, and I quote: "she told us THREE times that she had a bomb when we queried it three times." "On the third occasion we arrested her and placed her in jail to appear in court." He further stated that it is possible that "she could spend six months in jail." Now it is up to the judge.I think they will probably give her the spanking she deserves and send the stupid little idiot home.
But.................I recall someone getting two years after telling someone he had a bomb. Here at LGW I think.
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Cry Wolf
Wow,
Some interesting responses from both sides of the Ocean.
Not sure about things in the UK..but what happens when someone goes into a crowded building/theater and cries "Fire"
Is there much difference in going into an airport and saying three times that you have a bomb? Would people say the US authorities were to heavy handed if during a potential evacuation if someone were to get hurt? I know that they take other passengers safety very seriously..and it may have caused an evacuation...what then?
I don't see much difference. This isn't stupidity or a prank. This is serious! She should be dealt with harshly.
My .02
Some interesting responses from both sides of the Ocean.
Not sure about things in the UK..but what happens when someone goes into a crowded building/theater and cries "Fire"
Is there much difference in going into an airport and saying three times that you have a bomb? Would people say the US authorities were to heavy handed if during a potential evacuation if someone were to get hurt? I know that they take other passengers safety very seriously..and it may have caused an evacuation...what then?
I don't see much difference. This isn't stupidity or a prank. This is serious! She should be dealt with harshly.
My .02
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Well she received a dose of reality. Long before all this hysteria about security. People were always being pulled up and arrested for joking about bombs. Bombs on planes is hardly a new phenomena.
I think in practice most people get a heavy ticking off. But she compounded it by repeating it. I doubt if she'll do much in the way of jail time. There was a recent case where an Irish Gaelic footballer made a similar remark. He ended up in court and only got community service. He had to travel back and forth to the US for the court case. I bet he kept his mouth shut then.
You do have to wonder sometimes, what gets into people who make 'jokes' like that?
I think in practice most people get a heavy ticking off. But she compounded it by repeating it. I doubt if she'll do much in the way of jail time. There was a recent case where an Irish Gaelic footballer made a similar remark. He ended up in court and only got community service. He had to travel back and forth to the US for the court case. I bet he kept his mouth shut then.
You do have to wonder sometimes, what gets into people who make 'jokes' like that?
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Whereas here in the "less paranoid" UK the maximum penalty for such a "joke" is a paltry seven years imprisonment.....
The US are treating the stupid girl exactly as she deserves.
There is absolutely nothing clever, funny, vaguely amusing about claiming to have a bomb or gun in your bag. Every single claim has to be taken seriously, duty of care and common sense, which wastes the valuable time of officers who could be needed elsewhere. Terminals get evacuated, flights delayed. People miss meetings, flight connections etc because some berk comes out with a stupid joke that the security staff have heard many times before and have to take seriously.
All you fantastic observers of human behaviour who can tell from this side of the Atlantic, via television pictures, that she is 'just a silly girl' should give up your day jobs and get involved in the security business straight away because you are light years ahead of everyone else.
3 times she stated she had a bomb!!! Given every opportunity to apologise and eat humble pie she continued to be crass and repeat the claim. Serves her right if she has to stay in jail for a couple of years.
Don't waste your sympathy on her she doesn't deserve it.
There is absolutely nothing clever, funny, vaguely amusing about claiming to have a bomb or gun in your bag. Every single claim has to be taken seriously, duty of care and common sense, which wastes the valuable time of officers who could be needed elsewhere. Terminals get evacuated, flights delayed. People miss meetings, flight connections etc because some berk comes out with a stupid joke that the security staff have heard many times before and have to take seriously.
All you fantastic observers of human behaviour who can tell from this side of the Atlantic, via television pictures, that she is 'just a silly girl' should give up your day jobs and get involved in the security business straight away because you are light years ahead of everyone else.
3 times she stated she had a bomb!!! Given every opportunity to apologise and eat humble pie she continued to be crass and repeat the claim. Serves her right if she has to stay in jail for a couple of years.
Don't waste your sympathy on her she doesn't deserve it.
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I travelled to the US & Canada last year & found security & immigration okay. Maybe cause I complied with them, remained panfaced & kept from making any wisecracks (a very difficult feat for me). I was apologetic if need be (definitely needed at the Canadian border when reentering the US with a soaked passport, my eh waterproof moneybelt wasn't as waterproof as I thought & my visa waver form looked like a smudge). 
Immigration & airport security have so much power in the jurisdiction of their own jobs that it never pays to be smart, back answer & give cheek to them even if they are rude, abrupt or even if you know they are acting outside the boundaries of their remit. They decide whether you get on the plane or into their country, it pays to keep that in mind. Challenge them or back answer them, you won't be going anywhere so leave your grievances as I did for when I got home & could email the TSA. If they ask a question, answer the question they ask in a relevant, straight to the point, respectful & polite way IMHO. Its a serious business, treat it seriously!
As someone said here if you treat security with immigration & security with respect & learn to keep your mouth shut & not make any inappropriate remarks for the short time while you're in their vicinity you should have no difficulty & breeze through. I mean I've one of the most acidic, black sense of humours going but one has to know where & when to draw the line. Some people will never learn, many who get into trouble, I believe, bring the trouble on themselves.
Blimey, what she say it three times for, was she thick or had a few screws loose or something, doesn't sound to me like she was all there?
Immigration & airport security have so much power in the jurisdiction of their own jobs that it never pays to be smart, back answer & give cheek to them even if they are rude, abrupt or even if you know they are acting outside the boundaries of their remit. They decide whether you get on the plane or into their country, it pays to keep that in mind. Challenge them or back answer them, you won't be going anywhere so leave your grievances as I did for when I got home & could email the TSA. If they ask a question, answer the question they ask in a relevant, straight to the point, respectful & polite way IMHO. Its a serious business, treat it seriously!
As someone said here if you treat security with immigration & security with respect & learn to keep your mouth shut & not make any inappropriate remarks for the short time while you're in their vicinity you should have no difficulty & breeze through. I mean I've one of the most acidic, black sense of humours going but one has to know where & when to draw the line. Some people will never learn, many who get into trouble, I believe, bring the trouble on themselves.
Blimey, what she say it three times for, was she thick or had a few screws loose or something, doesn't sound to me like she was all there?
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She's too stupid for words. She's obviously so immature and unaware of the big bad world that it would have been more appropriate to take her to a mental institution for psychriatric evaluation.
She must have slept through 9/11. If 9/11 had happened in London, we would have been equally sensitive - I watched the events unfold on the day and saw my staff in tears. It was an incomprehensible and unspeakable act.
She should spend a month in jail, be hauled before the fiercest judge in the American Judiciary, given a verbal roasting until she dissolved into tears and then deported in handcuffs, banned from ever entering any United States of American land for life.
Then maybe these stupid morons will get the message that terrorism and death are not a matter for humour.
She must have slept through 9/11. If 9/11 had happened in London, we would have been equally sensitive - I watched the events unfold on the day and saw my staff in tears. It was an incomprehensible and unspeakable act.
She should spend a month in jail, be hauled before the fiercest judge in the American Judiciary, given a verbal roasting until she dissolved into tears and then deported in handcuffs, banned from ever entering any United States of American land for life.
Then maybe these stupid morons will get the message that terrorism and death are not a matter for humour.
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I'm sorry but this is a "mature" 21 year old student who obviously did not take the non compulsory course in Newspaper reading or TV viewing.
For all of you who go on about she did not look like Osam or have a knapsack full of handgrenades you might have forgotten the young lady that was hauled off an El aircraft at the gate with a nice cuddly teddy bear full of explosives that he "boyfriend" had given her.
For all of you who go on about she did not look like Osam or have a knapsack full of handgrenades you might have forgotten the young lady that was hauled off an El aircraft at the gate with a nice cuddly teddy bear full of explosives that he "boyfriend" had given her.
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its not the job of security to ascertain the seriosness of a persons response to questioning. the consquences of a wrong judgement are way too serious.
Looks can be deceiving. It shouldn't matter whether shes a 21 yr old student, an 80 yr old granny, or an osama lookalike
for sure, scare the crap out of her, fine her, give her community work. highlight the case such that others wont be so stupid.
But, prison is not the type of life experience that will be of benefit to her or anyone else. many naive people leave prison hardened crims. Its a great place for networking. is that what you want?
whoever here seriously advocates prision time, shows complete lack of judgement. It scares me that the few advocates on this website are in command of aircraft
O\z
Looks can be deceiving. It shouldn't matter whether shes a 21 yr old student, an 80 yr old granny, or an osama lookalike
for sure, scare the crap out of her, fine her, give her community work. highlight the case such that others wont be so stupid.
But, prison is not the type of life experience that will be of benefit to her or anyone else. many naive people leave prison hardened crims. Its a great place for networking. is that what you want?
whoever here seriously advocates prision time, shows complete lack of judgement. It scares me that the few advocates on this website are in command of aircraft
O\z
To everyone who asks the
"When will these stupid people ever learn?" questions.
They will NEVER learn. If they were able to learn from their experience or others', they wouldn't be stupid.
Stupid people will always be stupid. They don't read newspapers, they don't watch the news on tv. They will NOT change.
Please don't act surprised when this happens again and again.
"When will these stupid people ever learn?" questions.
They will NEVER learn. If they were able to learn from their experience or others', they wouldn't be stupid.
Stupid people will always be stupid. They don't read newspapers, they don't watch the news on tv. They will NOT change.
Please don't act surprised when this happens again and again.
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First time I heard the `bomb' gag I was 14, and so was the guy that said it. We thought we were very witty, though the RAF Regiment types we said it to didn't seem so amused. Still, they rolled their eyes at us and waved us through the gates of the base we were visiting. I guess times have changed ... and I don't think I would've found it so funny by the time I got to 21, but that was so long ago I can hardly remember.
But I still think this is way OTT for the girl to be remanded in custody, facing trial and a potential 6 months in jail, for chrissake! Some respondents to this thread getting on their high horses about how stupid she was might well try thinking back to how much they knew about the world when they were 21. Seems to me that cuffing, questioning her, searching her and her luggage and inconveniencing her by making her miss her flight might be sufficient to get the message across, since she wasn't actually carrying anything hazardous.
I really do worry about what's happening to the USA ... Always loved going there for visits. Not sure I'd be so keen
anymore.
But I still think this is way OTT for the girl to be remanded in custody, facing trial and a potential 6 months in jail, for chrissake! Some respondents to this thread getting on their high horses about how stupid she was might well try thinking back to how much they knew about the world when they were 21. Seems to me that cuffing, questioning her, searching her and her luggage and inconveniencing her by making her miss her flight might be sufficient to get the message across, since she wasn't actually carrying anything hazardous.
I really do worry about what's happening to the USA ... Always loved going there for visits. Not sure I'd be so keen
anymore.
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Doc Manhatten - I wonder how tolerant you would feel if:
(a) You'd served with the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland at the height of the "troubles" and seen a bomb hidden under a baby in a pram.
(b) You'd lost workmates or family members killed by terrorists in the 09/11 tragedy. (We all think of the World Trade Centre, but don't forget the airline passengers and crew who lost their lives too!)
(It is said, though I haven't experienced it thankfully, that when an airliner goes down, the check in and gate staff recall in vivid detail each passenger they dealt with on that flight and that the memory never fades!)
(c) You'd lost workmates or family members in the Lockerbie bombing.
The airline industry is an extremely "incestuous" (figureatively) one. Many airport workers have lost family and friends in terrorist incidents and many security personnel have served in the Armed Forces. "Jokes" concerning terrorism at airports are NOT funny and, to many airport workers, brings back very painful memories!!!
Okay, 6 months bird may seem harsh - why not a period of community service working in an extablishment like the Royal Hospital at Chelsea working with ex-servicemen who have fought terrorism at close quarters (delightful gentlemen, every one!)
I think her sense of humour may mature, somewhat!
FYI, thousands of Brits (and other nationalities) still visit the USA for holidays and business trips and have no problems at all with the American people - whether the bell hop or the Police Officer. They have the same protocols as anywhere else in the world - respect them, they'll respect you! If you're challenged, answer questions politely, let 'em look in your bag, let 'em put your shoes through the scanner and, if you're honest, legal, decent and truthful, you'll not have any problems!!!
(a) You'd served with the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland at the height of the "troubles" and seen a bomb hidden under a baby in a pram.
(b) You'd lost workmates or family members killed by terrorists in the 09/11 tragedy. (We all think of the World Trade Centre, but don't forget the airline passengers and crew who lost their lives too!)
(It is said, though I haven't experienced it thankfully, that when an airliner goes down, the check in and gate staff recall in vivid detail each passenger they dealt with on that flight and that the memory never fades!)
(c) You'd lost workmates or family members in the Lockerbie bombing.
The airline industry is an extremely "incestuous" (figureatively) one. Many airport workers have lost family and friends in terrorist incidents and many security personnel have served in the Armed Forces. "Jokes" concerning terrorism at airports are NOT funny and, to many airport workers, brings back very painful memories!!!
Okay, 6 months bird may seem harsh - why not a period of community service working in an extablishment like the Royal Hospital at Chelsea working with ex-servicemen who have fought terrorism at close quarters (delightful gentlemen, every one!)
I think her sense of humour may mature, somewhat!
FYI, thousands of Brits (and other nationalities) still visit the USA for holidays and business trips and have no problems at all with the American people - whether the bell hop or the Police Officer. They have the same protocols as anywhere else in the world - respect them, they'll respect you! If you're challenged, answer questions politely, let 'em look in your bag, let 'em put your shoes through the scanner and, if you're honest, legal, decent and truthful, you'll not have any problems!!!
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I'm certainly not advocating being soft on those who perpetrate these crimes ... But it seems to me one could establish fairly quickly that this girl was no threat, just young and ignorant. So I still think her treatment was unwarranted. Could be there's something about this incident I don't know ... did she resist? Was she abusive? If not, then I stand by my earlier post.