Heathrow: Man Held Over 'Ammunition'
 

From Yahoo news 14/1/04

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040114/140/ejebe.html

Police are questioning a Sudanese man arrested at Heathrow airport in possession of "suspected ammunition".Airport operator BAA said security processes had detected the man, who had flown in from Washington DC and was intending to fly on to Dubai.The arrest follows American insistence that armed sky marshals should travel on some US-bound planes after security concerns over the festive period.

The man was arrested under the Firearms Act and not under anti-terror laws.

Police sources said he was not a known terrorist suspect.

Virgin Atlantic confirmed the man was a 45-year-old passenger on its Washington to London VS022 flight.

In a statement, the airline said: "The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is Virgin Atlantic's top priority.

"The item seized did not pose a threat to our aircraft. Screening of passengers at Washington Dulles airport is the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration."

The US request that air marshals should travel on some flights was followed by repeated disruption to BA's London to Washington BA223 flight.

The British airline pilot's union Balpa, which opposes the air marshals plan, said the incident proved that security on the ground was what was most needed.

A spokesman said: "Obviously there will be a lot of questions asked in America as to how he got on the plane undetected."

Warm and Fuzzy re US Airport Security - Not
 

This story does make you wonder about how effective the security screening is in the US. :(

LT, your post is exactly what went through my head on reading the article.

If I am missing something please correct me, but didn't the guy get on the VS flight in the US with the articles that he was arrested for. With all the b*ll**** that has been thrown about over the past couple of weeks, what possibly could the passenger have been carrying that would have passed through US security, yet led to his arrest in the UK.

For all the "willie waving" US security has been doing of late, coupled with some of their requests (toilet queues etc....), somebody has got egg on their face.

"Washington Dulles airport is the responsibility of the Transportation Security Administration."

Booze is easy, Cordite too difficult.....no doubt all the fault of security chief's absence in jail for drunk driving.
No doubt if VA crew were carrying, it would have been detected after Pax had boarded and SWAT team would decimate the aircraft......more bollocks from our allies.

I think some parts of the US baggage screening are a joke, often implimented just to say they are doing something.

Example:
I was on MYT048 at the weekend, Sanford to Lgw. I check in with 2 bags. There is a notice at check in advising passengers to remove locks from bags, as random chechs are in progress and locked cases / bags could cause delay or damage.
My thoughts wondered about someone being able to steal my contents or worse a baggage handler who wasn't screened for his job or when he goes airside every day, smuggling something in my unlocked bags.
On arriving at Lgw and collecting my bags (over 40 minutes after getting off the plane) I fing my expensive lock has been cut off my holdall bag and a security zip tie put in its place. (brocked lock was inside with a note about random checks and tough **** etc.)
It turns out that about 10 % of the bags had been opended and checked at Sanford.

Do I have a problem with checks, no I want the best security when I travel. What I am unhappy about is that these checks are totally random, not based on any x-ray information. Why else would they search my holdall bag with dirty washing, but not my abs case that contained 4 aircraft brake cylinders, a parking valve, 8 dehydration plugs and some rudder pedals. What must they have looked like on the x-ray.

To me this looks like a case of being seen to do something rather that doing something meaningful.

Note: Does anyone know what happened on MYt047 on boxing day. Why he had to hold over philly for an hour (causing a divert to Norfolk vir. for fuel). What a sleepy little place that was.

Is there any possible excuse other than "Duh, we stuffed up!"

Security lapse
 

Well it does totally prove the point that you have to get security sorted on the ground...both in terms of pax/baggage screening and the area around airports to reduce the risk missiles etc.

It is even more surprising that he got through security even though he was from a country that has been linked with terrorist activity in the past and was travelling on from London to an Arab state! So this wasn't an 'innocent' 82 year old grandmother from Miami.

Looks like the TSA have been fannying around with sky marshall seating plans and what food they're gonna eat in-flight rather than the real security issues. Like many of my good friends in the States have said "there are plenty of have-a-go pax now a days" so time to concentrate more on ground security

You are mistaken...
 

....TSA and FBI let him get through just to check British antiterrorist controls...

Now they are upgraded from RED to ORANGE (don't forget you have many color barriers to pass until you reach GREEN!)

Gramps................of course! Why didn't I think of that!

Of course, the Sky Marshall would have been keeping a close eye on him.

Where's Wino's reply? Perhaps he's still deliberating.

Deliberate, Who? Wino?
 

When God is on your side you NEVER deliberate!

And how many .......

times was Flight 233 to Washington Dulles, cancelled or delayed at the insistance of US security!

And they want to go to Mars!!!

SoS

BAA security to take over all US airport security....someone has to show them how to do it properly! Bet we dont hear so much sabre-rattling from our American cousins now about how good they are.........
If it wasn't such a serious lapse of security we could be laughing. Mind you, a snigger goes a long way!

BBC have reported in 10 o'clock news that the man concerend has now been re-arrested under anti-terrorism laws following questioning at a central london police station. They have 48 hours to charge or release him, but if my memory serves me right, they may apply to the Home Secretary for an extension to hold him for up to one week without charge for further questioning.

All very very embarrassing and concerning for the US. I should think the likes of Virgin and BA will be asking some very very searching questions of the authorities at Washington Dulles.

When will the US finally get its airport security in order?

Heathrow: Man held Over'Ammunition
 

Its just been announced on the BBC 10 o'clock news that the man previously arrested after been found to be carrying live ammunition at Heathrow Airport has been rearrested.
This time he has been arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Laws.
Presumedly to allow the authorities to hold him for longer to question him.

This incident suggests that the American Security Services need to take a look at their own competence before they start telling other countries how they should operate.At least it proves that all the experience we have gained combating terrorism over the years is still proving to be successful

We can still teach the Yanks a thing or to.

Yup, another triumph for US security. :(

The only thing that surprises me is the lack of Yanks on this thread defending Uncle Sam's honour and blaming it all on the rest of the world.

Well, it looks like we got his photo and fingerprints before the Americans - and we did it without sky marshalls!

The Sudanese bloke probably walked straight through whilst the TSA t*****s were strip searching the crew.

Nice one Uncle Sam, pardon me whilst I check how many people are queueing for a crap!

Any more great ideas?

When blind panic, paranoia and PR-led initiatives are replaced by cool thinking and a rational overview of the whole situation.

SoS

Singapore Defence

"Did you pack this suitcase yourself"

" Yes Your Honour"

"Please explain the 'white powder'"

"Transit through US of A - by their regs had to leave case unlocked yoyr honour"