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Box-Cutters on Board (All flights to be searched)
abc news ^ | 10-17-03

Posted on 10/17/2003 10:35:23 AM PDT by wheelgunguru

W A S H I N GT O N, Oct. 17— The FBI is investigating the discovery of three suspicious bags aboard two commercial aircraft in the United States that contained box-cutters and at least one note questioning air safety, officials said today.

Discovery of the bags late Thursay night has led to a government order that all U.S. commercial flights be searched by security personnel within 24 hours, according to a senior law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The items were found in bags aboard two Southwest Air Lines planes that are now on the ground in Houston and New Orleans, officials said. The bags were not found in suitcases or other luggage, but officials declined to describe the bags further.

In addition to the box-cutters, the FBI found bleach and some form of clay. It was not clear if there was more than one note.

The 19 al Qaeda operatives who hijacked planes and crashed them on Sept. 11, 2001, used box-cutters as weapons.

FBI spokeswoman Susan Whitson confirmed the existence of the investigation, which she said is being handled by some of the FBI's 84 joint terrorism task forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

Al Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist groups have long had an interest in using aircraft as weapons. The FBI and Homeland Security Department have issued numerous warnings about possible tactics terrorists could use, including use of small carry-on items such as cameras to hide bombs powerful enough to blow up airplanes.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: airlinesecurity; nathanielheatwole

1 posted on 10/17/2003 10:35:23 AM PDT by wheelgunguru
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To: wheelgunguru
My guess: ABC is once again trying to get a story on lax security. The likely suspects would be ground/cleaning crews.
2 posted on 10/17/2003 10:37:00 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: r9etb
The likely suspects would be ground/cleaning crews.

We just need to give them Federal Employee status. Blackbird.

3 posted on 10/17/2003 10:39:26 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST
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To: wheelgunguru
How many pilots are carrying guns these days? The more the better.
4 posted on 10/17/2003 10:40:10 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: wheelgunguru
Dang terrorists on airplanes...
Too dam lazy to walk accross the border
with the rest of the lot
5 posted on 10/17/2003 10:40:46 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: wheelgunguru
This seems like some kind of a prank to see if it could be done.

There is no way a real terrorist will get control of a plane with boxcutters any more. Even if the terrorist takes a life really quickly by slashing a throat, at that point, any able bodies on that plane will storm the terrorists and not allow themselves to be intimidated.

6 posted on 10/17/2003 10:42:13 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: samtheman
The other thread had a post that noted 48 pilots have been permitted to carry handguns.
7 posted on 10/17/2003 10:42:14 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: wheelgunguru
Americans can never allow another airliner to be hijacked, ever again. It'll have to go down first.
8 posted on 10/17/2003 10:43:38 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: Yaelle
at that point, any able bodies on that plane will storm the terrorists and not allow themselves to be intimidated

The packages on the airplanes included bleach (toss in eyes, incapcitate resistance, or add ammonia and create havoc).

Terrorism sucks. No matter the motivation of the perps.

9 posted on 10/17/2003 10:46:33 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
48?

When it's 4800 it will start to be a deterrent.
10 posted on 10/17/2003 10:46:42 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman
Yup, 48 out of 66,000. I don't trust a government in general, and particularly don't trust one that doesn't trust ME to possess a gun.
11 posted on 10/17/2003 10:48:07 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
Although it does seem like the gun argument is over. I saw a TSA lacky on the tube yesterday who talked about slowly but steadily increasing the numbers of pilots with guns. That's a big change from six months ago, when the TSA was solidly against pilots carrying guns. It's a big change, and it happened under the radar, without the usual round of RATS making a big deal about it.
12 posted on 10/19/2003 4:40:12 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: samtheman
Although it does seem like the gun argument is over. I saw a TSA lacky on the tube yesterday who talked about slowly but steadily increasing the numbers of pilots with guns. That's a big change from six months ago, when the TSA was solidly against pilots carrying guns.

Slowly is right. IMO, the TSA is still against pilots being armed. As evidence, I cite the paltry number of pilots permitted to carry arms, and the complexity of the permitting process. Make it hard enough that few pilots have the determination to avail themselves of permitting, and at the same time claim that the program is implemented. Anyway, I agree that the argument appears to be over -- but I don't think it should be.

13 posted on 10/19/2003 7:14:00 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
Some pilots don't want to carry guns. I know one of them. He's strongly against it. I would guess he's in the minority. Then there are probably others who are too lazy to jump the rigorous hoops they must jump through. But I think eventually enough will be packing so that potential hijackers will have to start factoring it into the equation... and look for some other "brilliant" way to commit suicide.
14 posted on 10/21/2003 4:00:57 AM PDT by samtheman
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