Posted on 12/27/2009 6:57:14 AM PST by KeyLargo
PETN explosive used in terrorist attack Northwest Flight 253: Carried on in condom
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up a NWA plane, apparently carried on PETN explosive onto Northwest flight 253. A high-ranking law enforcement official told CBS News that the suspect apparently used a syringe to inject a chemical into the powder, which was located near his groin. The explosives were carried in a soft plastic container which may have been a condom, although fire destroyed much of the package.
What is PETN?
According to information on both Wikipedia and Brittanica Online:
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is one of the most powerful high explosives known.
The most obvious use of PETN is as an explosive. It is more sensitive to shock or friction than TNT or tetryl, and it is never used alone.
It is primarily used in booster and bursting charges of small caliber ammunition, in upper charges of detonators in some land mines and shells, and as the explosive core of detonation cord.
PETN is a colourless, crystalline material that is generally stored and shipped as a mixture with water. It is less sensitive than nitroglycerin but is easily detonated.
How did Abdulmutallab get the explosive PETN on board Northwest Flight 253?
Officials said something similar to condom could have been used to bring the PETN on flight 253. That would have made it very difficult for authorities to find on the suspect even if they would have thought it was a possibility. This type of substance can be transported in a variety of ways making it a major threat for safe air travel.
Are airports in and out of the US stepping up security?
Travelers described the tightened security, especially for international flights bound for the United States. Some of the latest safety measures include:
Pat downs of passengers at airport security, concentrating on the upper torso and legs
Physical inspections of all carry-on bags at the gate
Requiring all passengers to be seated for the full hour prior to arrival
Banning the use of blankets and pillows one hour prior to arrival.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY
Passengers flying to the U.S. from Londons Heathrow can only carry only one piece of hand baggage onto their flight.
Brussels: passengers were advised to reach the airport three hours before departure to allow time for a second security check at the boarding gate.
Amsterdams Schiphol Airport has been testing full body scanners for about a year that allow security staff to see the outline of a passenger and potential weapons beneath their clothes, and intend to roll out a more complete program next year.
Sweden, Denmark and Norway: airport operators are applying tougher security checks on flights destined for the U.S., but that they did not plan tighter rules for other flights.
Nigeria: This is where Abdulmutallab's trip originated. According to reports, soldiers impassively stared at those passing into the departure terminal Saturday and the airport X-ray machines were notably battered.
That is da_n funny!
“The fire destroyed the package . . “ Now that is funny, and excellent writing.
Being from NZ, I bet you just know literally hundreds of Muslims.
And if you consider the fact that Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the population of NZ, I bet you really do know “many” Muslims who enjoy pork and alcohol. Since Muslims are less than 1 percent of your population...and since the the amount of non-observant Muslims would necessarily the minority of Muslims in NZ...just how much effort are you expending going out and finding these non-observant Muslims?
The real question is...why are you going to BBQ joints and bars with Muslims?
You’re such a troll. You’re a Muslim apologist. In a post a couple down, you claim that the “majority” of Muslims are moderate.
Do you have any actual numbers on that or are you just going by what your imaginary Muslim friends tell you as you eat ribs and drink beer with them? I bet after the 6th pint you’re counting double, so your imaginary numbers can’t even be relied upon as good solid lies.
Furthermore, since there are approximately 1.82 billion Muslims Worldwide...and since you claim the “majority” are moderate...there must be quite the furor happening because of these Muslims “extremists.” Can you please provide a source so I can view this internal dissension myself? Oh...you can’t? Well then...I’ll just take your trolling word for it then. Muslims are good people. Ignore the parts about slavery, religious war, and subjugation. They are just good people. Some guy claiming to be from NZ says so.
I am done flying. Period.
Everytime I have flown when I return I get a bad cold. As far as I am concerned the airline travel today is nothing more than subjecting yourself to every disease known.
I stopped flying two-years ago and leave my vacations to only car travel around the U.S.
“Soon after Friday’s incident, travelers at airports around the world began experiencing heightened security screenings. On one flight from Newark Airport, cabin lights stayed on for the entire trip instead of being dimmed for takeoff and landing.
The new passenger rules, which brought to mind some of the most stringent policies instituted after the 2001 attacks, come at a difficult time for the airline industry.
Travel has declined about 20 percent since 2008 because of the economy, and airlines have been dealing with numerous delays the past week because of snowstorms on the East Coast and in the Midwest.”
bravo
God save the internet
fotoshop
and
Barney
Smart terrorists! They KNOW that liberal orthodoxy will not allow inspection or confiscation of the holy condom. So now the libs are going to have some real cognitive dissonance over which should triumph — Muslims or Condoms? The choices in today’s word are growing ever more difficult with each passing day.
"Nothing to see here, folks. Just some militants involved in another manmade disaster"
There is now another one... plane surrounded in Detroit, another guy dragged off. I will no longer submit myself to being treated like
a) cattle
b) a criminal
c) a moron
d) a peon
The airlines and the TSA have done so much to make flying even worse than riding a bus that it’s no wonder travel has declined. They have made inspections intimate and idiotic (my aged wheelchair bound dad had to take off his shoes, I get my breasts felt up) they have dropped food and made it impossible to bring any, you can’t have enough shampoo for the two of you for a week, you can’t clip your nails, seats are so small normal sized people are squeezed, attendants are surly, flights are overcrowded or late. My refusal to fly has nothing to do with fear, only with incompetance and comfort. Unfortunately for the airlines, Mr g and I are old enough to remember when flying was a treat, and you dressed up to fly.
If I can’t drive there in time, I won’t go. Mr G and I agree... there is no place we want to visit that we can’t drive to.
> Being from NZ, I bet you just know literally hundreds of Muslims.
>
> And if you consider the fact that Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the population of NZ, I bet you really do know many Muslims who enjoy pork and alcohol. (snip)
Let’s interrupt your silly post there. Yes, I live in New Zealand, and have for a few years, and yes there are not too many muslims here, most that are here are from Indonesia, Pakistan and Somalia.
However, I was born and raised in Vancouver Canada, and spent the first half of my adult life there and also enjoy British Citizenship — two facts that could be gleaned in part from my About page, as well as previous posts from me.
Both places have more than their fair share of muslims. It would be safe to say that I know quite a few of them, and in fact I am in regular communication with several.
And yes, I do occasionally dine and go to bars with a few here, too. You have asked why — it is because they are good company. I don’t need any better reason than that.
In the past I have been of the opinion that “All muslims are terrorists” and lumping them all into a single group — much like we did with the Huns and the Japs in World War II. Unfortunately for Western Civilization, that would be a serious mistake with this particular enemy.
Accordingly, my views are evolving, based upon receiving better, more informed information. This has included making renewed contact with people I know and knew overseas, as well as including into my social circle people that I would not have included before.
So before you start running your mouth and calling me a Troll, why don’t you instead take a running jump and go boil your head?
*DieHard*
> Spike Knotts
> Since Oct 24, 2009
Welcome to the FRee Republic, No0b.
Remember they can 'sin' in all sorts of ways, and all is forgiven if they succeed in killing a few infidels.
Better, just make all 12 y/o + Muslims go through a strip search, with body cavity examinations.
> Better, just make all 12 y/o + Muslims go through a strip search, with body cavity examinations.
Problem is they will lie about being muslims. So in the end, they would finish up body cavity searching all of us.
I’m thinking the only real way to put a stop to their threat to civil aviation is with compulsory on-board armed air marshals with orders to shoot-to-kill at the first sign of any suspicious activity. Even on domestic flites.
Innocent people would surely die in the early days of such a policy, until everyone got used to moving really slowly and not making any suspicious movements. And it would take all of the fun out of flying, for sure.
Yet it is evident that these increased security measures aren’t working — this most recent incident happened not a fortnite after the FTA manual was “leaked” — and for all their checking of little old ladies and children for explosives, this guy seemed to sneak thru.
Something more drastic needs to be done.
Algore’s select companies were awarded contracts for checkpoint trace detection right after TWA 800. Lots of money spent since then. Seems to have missed this one.
> Lets interrupt your silly post there. Yes, I live in New Zealand, and have for a few years, and yes there are not too many muslims here, most that are here are from Indonesia, Pakistan and Somalia.
Silly me. I forgot all about the Turks, who would technically also be muslim. However they are in sufficient numbers and such a well-integrated part of NZ society ever since WW-I they are practically invisible.
The rest of my post remains stet. Plonker.
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