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Southwest flight out of Phoenix returns to gate after passenger tries to get into cockpit
Dec. 1, 2007

A Southwest Airlines jet was forced to return to the gate Friday after a passenger attempted to get into the cockpit. Flight 1028 from Phoenix to Oakland, California was taxing at Sky Harbor Airport when the incident unfolded. According to an airline spokesperson, a man got up from his seat during preflight instructions. He then refused a request by an attendant to sit down. When the man tried to open the locked cockpit door, the pilot returned to the gate.

Phoenix police were waiting and the passenger was taken into custody and later released. Police say the passenger may have been suffering from an anxiety attack.

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/passengerarrested12012007-CR.html

Grenade Found In Mall Parking Lot (Nebraska)
12/1/07

The Omaha Police Department's Bomb Squad removed what authorities describe as a grenade from a parking lot at Westroads Mall Friday night. Police say they responded to a call at 10:34 p.m. regarding an explosive that had been found there.

Mall security directed officers to the device and the Bomb Squad was called in to remove it. The circumstances of the case are under investigation.

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/11995001.html

Suspicious package found at Keesler AFB (MS)
Sun, Dec. 02

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE --Keesler Air Force Base officials said they found a suspicious package on base Saturday morning about 10:35 a.m. First responders were called to the scene; the case is still under investigation, base public affairs officers said. Officials refused to release any more details about the case Saturday.

There was a bomb threat on the base in May, on the night before the Special Olympics began there. The event was delayed for a couple of hours. Foster Manor, a student dorm located in the Triangle area where many of the athletes stayed, was evacuated to allow the area to be searched by bomb-sniffing dogs. No bomb was found.

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/220527.html

Growing concern in Israel over ‘dirty bomb’ attack
12.02.07

Israel has tightened security at its airports, seaports and border crossings—increasing both technological surveillance as well as information gathering efforts —in order to thwart attempts at smuggling radioactive materials into the country. These materials could potentially be used in the production of a “dirty bomb” that could be detonated within Israel.

A “dirty bomb”, which is essentially a low grade nuclear weapon, is far less lethal than an atomic bomb, but can still lead to massive casualties and injuries should it be employed. It basically consists of an ordinary explosive “laced” with radioactive materials. When detonated, these nuclear materials then emit dangerous levels of radiation, which can quickly spread across a rather large area.

As previously noted, Israel is growing increasingly vigilant of a possible ‘dirty bomb’ attack. Supervision at seaports is at an all time high, and new detectors have been put in place to identify nuclear materials hidden in containers and freight cargo. Moreover, heightened security has been instituted at sensitive sites, such at the nuclear waste site in southern Israel, in order to prevent theft and smuggling of radioactive materials.

The United States instituted similar heightened security measures at its borders crossings and sea ports several months ago, following repeated security alerts. Radiation detection devices were placed along major access points into Manhattan, including bridges and tunnels. Security measures were tightened after it was discovered that they were especially prone to attack. Cargo is often left unsupervised at US harbors, and incoming shipments are seldom screened for radioactive materials.

A senior Israeli security official stated that, “There is growing concern regarding ‘dirty bombs’ among Israeli anti-terrorism units. They work at thwarting such potential attacks on a daily basis.”

Excerpted

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3477905,00.html

Czech high-speed train derails in Prague, nobody injured
2007-12-01

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A high-speed train derailed Saturday in the Czech capital, officials said. No one was injured, but sabotage was suspected. The Pendolino train from Prague to the eastern city of Ostrava derailed shortly before noon (1100GMT) on the outskirts of Prague, Czech Railways spokesman Ondrej Kubala said. None of the 150 passengers were injured, Kubala said. He said authorities had discovered a manmade cut in the track, suggesting the rail could have been damaged intentionally.

But Jan Kucera a deputy head of Czech Rail Inspection, a government body that investigates accidents, said after visiting the scene that it was too soon to say what caused the derailment. Kucera said the train was traveling at 100 kph (60 mph) when the accident happened. The entire train went off the tracks, he said. The train travels at speeds up to 160 kph (100 mph).

http://www.pr-inside.com/czech-high-speed-train-derails-in-prague-r327246.htm