August 17, 2006

Pakistani Woman found with Liquid Explosives at Airport

Liquid explosives found on woman at regional airport in West Virginia. The woman is an American citizen of Pakistani heritage.

But I feel much safer now that national security decisions have devolved to U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor. Much safer.

WSAZ:

The Transportation Security Administration reports that a passenger's water bottle screened positive for an explosive material around 9:15 this morning. A second test was confirmed at 11:25. TSA is waiting for further testing to determine the exact substance.

NBC News reports that federal screeners found four containers of liquids inside a woman's carry-on bag during the screening process this morning. Larry Salyers, Tri-State Airport Director, tells WSAZ the woman is of Pakistani origin, lived in Jackson, Michigan and most recently lived in the Huntington area. She is being detained for questioning.

You can also watch a live, unedited feeed from the WV airport at this link. And I mean live. The direct network feed.

WSAZ is reporting live that the Pakistani-American woman is still in the airport being questioned by the TSA and that she is not shackled. The reporter is making this out to be a false positive. Let's hope.

Surprised the TSA didn't call her "Asian" or make sure to emphasize that the woman could have been part of the large minority of about 1% of Pakistanis who are Christian.

See also Allah and Mary Katherine.

UPDATE: At first people calm after electronic security device picks up suspicious substance in two water bottles. Witness says bomb-sniffing dog "bee lined it" to the woman's bag. Panic ensued.

UPDATE: Woman bought one way ticket to Michigan yesterday. Claims to have excuse for why she brought banned substance on airplane.

UPDATE: I'm watching the live feed. It's pretty funny listening to the reporters banter with one another....and yell at people to get out of the shot. You know, since they have those totally sweet reporter powers, maybe they should move the people themselves......with their minds.

UPDATE: The spin? Better safe than sorry. Phrase repeated at every update. Reporters continue to make sure we, the uneducated masses, know that the woman is not being "held" only "questioned" and that she is not a "suspect".

Here is a link to the airport and a map showing it's location. It's a small regional airport in West Virginia, near the Kentucky and Ohio borders.

UPDATE: News reporters get pizza. 10 boxes. Important stuff. But look what Allah dug up from the BBC:

The likelihood that a container that had not come into contact with explosives would come up positive on both tests was extremely low, [an expert at Jane's Aviation] said.

In answer to question about whether bomb-squad had exploded substances, the reporter says no.

Two containers of liquid. If each was explosive on its own, wouldn't bomb squad dispose of them? Does this mean that each is benign on its own and that only when mixed they are dangerous? Or does this simply mean that the substance which set off an electronic "sniffer" and which a trained bomb-sniffing dog immediately noticed just isn't that dangerous? Dual use, perhaps?

UPDATE: TSA saying liquid is not "substance" but "residue". The liquid is not explosive, but has residue of something in it.

UPDATE: FBI says that "Person of interest" fits no suspicious profile at all. Woman of Pakistani origin. Has some sort of residue that sets off alarms and bomb sniffing dogs. Nope, no suspicious profile there. Move along.

UPDATE: Now they are saying that bottles may have been "make up" bottles and that "residue" could be any nitrate--including "hot dog" residue. Yeah, hot dogs will get a dog interested, I'd say.

Which part of "no liquids" did this idiot not understand?

UPDATE: Feed is now of local news, not live from airport. Mark says this in the comments:

With luck, this will turn out to have been a "dry run" that we actually caught. (If the reports about the bottles having "residue" instead of significant quantities, that would make sense; one of the things you'd want to determine is whether the substances could get past the screening methodologies.)

But, can someone tell me if many small regional airports have electronic "sniffers" at them? Because, once you get past the security gates at BFE airport, the skies the limit.....

UPDATE: Yes, I'm in favor of profiling. Slippery slope my ass. Everything and anything can be construed as a slippery slope. I'd hate to inconvenience people and hurt their feelings. Feelings are paramount. And since the reaction from the Muslim community, so far, has been to deny that Muslims are behind terrorism, then it no longer matters if we have their cooperation. If Muslims reacted the way the Japanese did in WWII--a group we treated horribly--then they would be volunteering in record numbers to join the FBI, CIA, and military. They aren't. Screw them.

See this too via Joel.

UPDATE: Live conference with State Troopers. "Substances" being tested as we speak. Will take one to two hours for testing of suspect items in mobile testing unit. No word on what they were. No one being charged or arrested. FBI is talking to woman.

TSA first found "prohibited items". Secondary screening with "sniffer". Bomb dogs called in.

"Explosive residue". Troopers have no knowledge of "excuse" for bringing on prohibited items.

UPDATE: Live feed cut off completely.

UPDATE: No more updates til morning. I'm spent. I truly hope this turns out to be nothing.