Posted on 08/18/2006 6:42:54 AM PDT by Kieri
Suspicious liquid found in former Mich. woman's luggage 8/18/2006, 6:13 a.m. ET By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER The Associated Press
CEREDO, W.Va. (AP) — A woman whose daughter's carry-on luggage caused a West Virginia airport to shut down for 9 1/2 hours says it was her ethnic background, not a few bottles of suspicious liquids, that set off security officials.
Initial laboratory testing by the FBI turned up no evidence of explosive materials in the bottles carried at Tri-State Airport by Rima Qayyum, a 28-year-old Pakistani woman dressed in the traditional Islamic headcover.
No charges were filed against the woman, who was never detained and was cooperative when interviewed by the FBI.
Qayyum's mother, Mian Qayyum of Jackson, Mich., told The Associated Press that her daughter is four months pregnant, lives in Barboursville and is innocent. Her daughter had moved to West Virginia from Jackson.
"It was not only a false alarm, it was racial discrimination because there was nothing," Mian Qayyum said. "They should clear her name and apologize on national TV."
The FBI did not return messages Thursday night seeking comment on the allegations.
A screener noticed a bottle in Rima Qayyum's carry-on bag as she was going through security before her 9:15 a.m. flight Thursday to Charlotte, N.C., airport authority president Jim Booton said.
The terminal was evacuated at 11:25 a.m. after two bottles of liquid in the bag initially tested positive for explosives residue twice, and a canine team also got a positive hit. Chemical tests of the bottles' contents later turned up no explosives, said Capt. Jack Chambers, head of the State Police Special Operations unit.
The woman had purchased a one-way ticket to Detroit by way of Charlotte on Wednesday. The flight eventually left for Charlotte without her.
Rima Qayyum planned to return to the airport Friday to take another flight, her mother said.
Rima Qayyum planned to return to the airport Friday to take another flight, her mother said. The airport resumed normal operations Friday morning.
"She just had water to drink because she is pregnant and she had a face wash that had a drop of bleach on it," Mian Qayyum said.
U.S. authorities banned the carrying of liquids onto flights last week after British officials made arrests in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes using explosives disguised as drinks and other common products.
The TSA screening looks for a range of explosives residue, some of which can be found on common household items, said TSA spokesman Darrin Kayser.
"Anytime a prohibited item is brought to a checkpoint, then you are going to be immediately more interested in that bag," Kayser said.
Two airlines — Comair and US Airways Express — serve the airport. Commercial airline service was suspended, and about 100 passengers and airport employees were ordered to leave the terminal, Booton said.
After the evacuation, many passengers decided to stay and wait it out.
"We bought them pizza, soft drinks ... tried to make them comfortable as could be in this situation," said Larry Salyers, the airport's manager. "We had them in the parking lot, under trees, in conference rooms, the firehouse."
___
Associated Press writer Kelley Schoonover contributed to this report.
"...it makes this rising wispy looking gas....."
That will eat your freaking lungs if you get enough of it. It does lighten the complexion, though. ;)
Isn't Pakistan one of those countries where you can be kidnapped,tortured and beheaded for looking like an American?
An American in Pakistan: A New Kind of Arrogance
by Catherine Mayo
http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/terrorism/miseducating_the_young_on_freedom.htm
You're probably referring to hydroquinone (benzene-1,4-diol), which is used to whiten pigmented skin. Related chemicals such as phenol (a common disinfectant) can also permanently lighten (and damage) skin in higher concentrations.
Various peroxides also lighten skin and fabric, such as
hydrogen peroxide (found in hair coloring kits, hair bleaches, and teeth whitening products) and
benzoyl peroxide (found in acne facial cleansers and acne treatment creams/gels).
According to the TSA, it's illegal to bring most liquids and other prohibited items to the security area. They have a list of exceptions, but face washes, liquid soaps, lotions, and any drinks are all prohibited. They could have prosecuted that Muslim woman with the bleach-contaminated face wash and drinks, but were leninent enough not to, yet her mother has the effrontery to cry racism.
Interestingly, however, passengers may carry up to 4 ounces of eyedrops. 4 ounces is enough to wash contact lenses for many days, or to use as nonemergency eyewashes a few times, but simply instilling drops in eyes would take a really long time, and I doubt many people would need eight full half-ounce bottles of various nonprescription eyedrops.
One uses bleach to shock their swimming pools - though the pool products purveyors would like you to think otherwise, so they can charge lots more for their "shock" treatments.
Well owners throw bleach into their wells to rid them of bacteriological iron.
Store water in large containers for the end times - you will be advised to throw in a little bleach, to preserve it.
bleach to keep water clean for a 4 hour plane trip?
the belach was in her FACE WASH- again- for a plane trip?
no NEED for face wash on a 4 hour trip- especially when you know there are no liquids aloud...
I am very relieved that you are not in charge of Homeland Security...
;-)
If you are using household bleach for anything bigger than a kiddie pool, you're wasting money (and not getting an adequate strength of chlorination for your pool). Commercial bleach (Clorox for example) is 6% sodium chlorite; 'bargain brand' bleaches (store brands or private labels) are around 4%; dollar store bleach is even weaker...still ok for dilution in small quantities of water (ie, a bucket or a washing machine you just use more the cheaper product). Liquid shock sold for pool use is 12%. I learned this the hard way...algae likes it when we try to save money here...so we always buy 'the real thing.'
That was my thought exactly.
Well, my point was that putting bleach in water to act as a safe disinfectant is common. One is over the deep end thinking that there is some nefarious purpose here.
So how fast do you drive down your highway? 55?
Actually, I set my cruise control to the limit, and slow down in construction zones. Cheaper than tickets or radar detectors and I can go through a radar site without glancing in the rear mirrors. Though it's difficult to get anywhere CLOSE to the limit on the Harbor Freeway during the day.
How about you? What are your driving habits and how do they relate to sneaking contraband onto airplanes?
An aside: Look at how many dope dealers and other miscreants get caught breaking simple traffic rules! Seems simple to me, if you want to avoid hassles don't bring liquids on a plane.
What are your driving habits and how do they relate to sneaking contraband onto airplanes?
I, and most of the fellow travelers along the highway in my vicinity generally travel 15 to 20 mph over the (again, idiotic) 55 mph speed limit when conditions permit. We've learned to ignore the bureaucratic shit-birds who pass laws with complete disregard to the people and their rational enterprise.
Looks like you are one of the "goody-two-shoes" who snap the salute to the fuhrer no matter what the issue is.
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