Behind The Scenes – Transportation Security Laboratory
The goal at the Transportation Security Laboratory is to always remain at least one step ahead of any methods terrorists may have dreamed up for getting weapons onto a plane and then prevent it from ever happening. Here is another terrific article about some of the men and women quietly working behind the scenes to keep all of us a little safer.
LA Times – In the lab, cooking up bomb detectors
Eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the front line in America’s war on terrorism runs through a little-known federal laboratory where engineer Nelson Carey holds what appears to be a bratwurst in a bun.
“This is a Semtex sausage,” said Carey, as he pinched the pink, plastic explosive long favored by terrorist groups.
On his table lies a green Teletubby doll stuffed with C-4 military explosives, a leather sandal with a high-explosive shoe insert, an Entenmann’s cake covered in an explosive compound that looks like white frosting, and other deadly devices Carey and his colleagues have built. None have detonators, so they are safe.
“We let our imaginations go wild,” Carey said. “The types of improvised explosive devices are endless.”
So are possible solutions, at least in theory. That’s where the Transportation Security Laboratory comes in. Scientists here dream up ways an enemy might slip a weapon or a bomb onto a plane, and then try to build defenses to detect or counter the danger.
The work is part cutting-edge science, part Maxwell Smart.
Bombs Found Metro Manila, Terrorists Planning To Destabilize?
Is there an ongoing destabilization operation? Yesterday, a bomb was found at the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City, a day after the Office of the Ombudsman, also in Quezon City, was bombed.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told reporters the DA incident might be part of a concerted effort to sow destabilization or confusion.
A “suspicious package” was also found outside a condominium across Ateneo de Manila University along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.
President Arroyo and her family had once occupied a penthouse suite at the condominium – the One Burgundy Plaza. As of last night, police have not confirmed whether the package contained an explosive device.
Police suspect the DA and Katipunan incidents are related.
Witnesses told reporters the package was contained in a red belt bag that a security guard found outside One Burgundy Plaza at around 7 a.m.
The police blotter at Anonas police station showed the security guard had reported his find.
Witnesses said the package was found near an electric post between One Burgundy Plaza and Prince David condominium.
Foreclosed Home Booby Trapped With Pipe Bombs
May 13, 2009 by national
Filed under Incident Reports
A bank representative checking on a Riverside foreclosed home got a nasty surprise Tuesday afternoon when he spotted what appeared to be pipe bombs laying all over the property.
Eight homes were evacuated in a Riverside neighborhood Tuesday night after pipe bombs were found on the property. No one was hurt.
Arriving cops agreed with the bank rep and called in the bomb squad. Eight homes surrounding the vacant house at 1420 Orange Street were ordered evacuated and a small manned armored tractor was sent in to clear the yard of what appeared to be pipe bombs.
Bomb squad experts said it would take hours to make sure the property surrounding the home is clear. Police said after the yard is given an “all clear” they would tackle the issue of whether the home is booby trapped. Sgt. Jaybee Brennan of the Riverside Police Department said police think there are more pipe bombs inside the house.
It may be until Wednesday when police will be able to say if the pipe bombs were real or not.
At 10:06 p.m. bomb experts blew up the first of several pipe bombs found in the yard. People in the surrounding neighborhoods heard the explosion.
There have been no reported injuries.
Residents who were asked to leave the neighborhood during the investigation were allowed to return home Wednesday morning.
Yreka – Man With Bombs and Weapons Was Ready For War
August 21, 2008 by national
Filed under Incident Reports
A police officer and two civilians subdued an armed man who drove to a California probation office with 11 crude bombs, 70 loaded magazines and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition, police said.
The man, Michael Solano, 54, of Sacramento, was out of jail on bail for a July 18 incident in which police said an explosive device was found in his vehicle at the probation office. Read more
