1. Mere coincidences all compiled to paint this picture. Unfortunate but possible.
2. A probing run. Typically before terror attacks you see probing efforts. The idea is to see what works to get passed security without ever doing anything that can really get you in trouble. You pack things that are very similar to what the real bomb later will be like, without ever using explosives etc. Plausible deniability is the name of the game. If you consistently get through security with three Vaseline jars taped together and repackaged, electrical wires in the case and residue of SEMTEX on a vapor test, obviously such a technique would work when you carry real explosives instead of Vaseline. Using women or children as part of terrorist schemes is typical od Middle Eastern groups. So even this can be a part of the deception plan. Almost always you have probing efforts before any really large terrorist attack. They test your security capabilities, procedures, etc.
It would make sense considering the anniversary of 9/11 just passed. I hear that the guys in Germany were given until the 15th to act. Just about enough time to have us let down our guard some.
I’m not surprised to heat this. I wonder how many groups have actually got stuff past the screeners. The scarier thought is that some of the screeners might be sympathetic to jihad and let them on the planes.
It is time to test how long the testers hold up to waterboarding.