Archives

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has called for heightened vigilance, urging law enforcement officials to be on the lookout for bombs hidden in shoes and bulky clothing, a bureau official said Tuesday.

It was just over a year ago, on December 22, 2001, that a British-national named Richard Reid was arrested trying to light a shoe-bomb and blow up his flight from Paris to Miami.

"This is not an alert that went out. It was basically a reminder to law enforcement agencies that this incident took place last year," said FBI spokesman Bill Carter.

"They should be alert to the possibility of basically trying to sneak explosive devices or improvised devices in any type of shoes, clothing or baggage," he added.

US authorities have been on an "elevated" state of alert since Islamist terrorists hijacked and crashed four commercial jetliners into US targets killing more than 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.

At the busiest travel time of the year, the US winter sends travellers to the airport replete with thick shoes and bulky coats. If Santa were traveling by commercial airline, he might well have been searched this year.

New safety guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration -- which assumed control of passenger inspections over the summer -- require most travellers to remove coats and belts, and many must remove their shoes as well.

"Since Thanksgiving, the beginning of the holiday system, we've been doing our job and doing it well," said TSA spokesman Brian Doyle.

"But honestly, you wouldn't believe what people try and get away with. Since we took over the airports last February ... we've confiscated 35,000 box cutters, 981 firearms and 1.8 million knives of varying sizes. I mean I don't know what people are thinking," Doyle said.

The September 11 hijackers took control of their planes using box cutters and small knives.

Meanwhile the FBI issued an alert Monday seeking information on Amer El-Maati "in connection with possible terrorist threats in the United States," the FBI said in a statement.

The statement did not specify if El-Maati was wanted in connection to any groups, such as the al-Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the September 11 attacks.

Yet Americans' faith in air travel seems to be renewed this year.

"We're forecasting some 59.1 million Americans will be traveling this holiday season. Out of that we're expecting a seven percent increase in air travel and a three percent decrease in road travel," said Justin McNaull, spokesman for the American Automobile Association, which annually tracks holiday travel.

"Why the decrease in road travel? Well, it's a normalization, really. Last year Americans didn't feel safe to fly. But with the new TSA screeners more people are going back to the skies," he added.

Despite all the security, the TSA said it does not expect delays this holiday citing a smooth Thanksgiving. By December 31 the administration will have 54,000 full time screeners working to screen through not only passengers, but as of the same date their luggage as well.

With the new luggage check -- an estimate three million bags a day -- also come new guidelines.

The administration has asked that travelers not lock their luggage as any suspicious bags will be manually searched. Locked bags will be forced open. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager