Security professionals have long should have been identified for search “...one of those believed
been troubled about the potential for long before he arrived at the check-
terrorists to infiltrate explosives onto in desk in Lagos or transfer desk in to have played a key role
aircraft on their person, yet that is not Amsterdam. There were abundant causes
the only area about which concern for alarm, regardless as to his appearance in effecting surveillance
has been expressed. The media is all and behaviour: ticket paid in cash (even
abuzz with speculation about the mass though that is a regular mode of payment and gathering
rollout of body scanners and I, for one, in West Africa, his ticket cost over $2800);
welcome their deployment, providing ticket bought in Ghana for a journey intelligence for Lashkar-
that we don’t create longer lines to get starting in Nigeria; ticket altered (his ticket
through security and we make intelligent was originally issued to return to Accra, e-Taibar in advance
decisions as to who should be screened but later changed to Lagos); visa issued
by what technology. Yet we must accept in the United Kingdom without having of the 2008 terrorist
the fact that, reliance solely on millimetre the UK on the travel itinerary; travelling
wave imaging solutions, may just be without luggage for a two-week trip. Add attacks in Mumbai was
huge expenditure with limited return; to this the prior intelligence that existed
after all, it’s highly questionable as to but was not transmitted to those who an American passport
whether Abdulmutallab’s device would needed to know.
have been identified using backscatter There are many questions that still holder, David Coleman
X-ray, with its better imaging quality, let need to be answered. At the time of
alone millimetre wave solutions. writing, it is pure speculation as to Headley...”
why Abdulmutallab tried to detonate
“...find a way for the his bomb as the Northwest flight was process and the various interpretations of
descending, at just above 7000 feet, on what profiling actually means. However,
screeners to be provided approach to Detroit when one would the industry and the general public can
have expected him to have acted whilst see that common sense is required, so we
with information pertaining the aircraft was at cruising altitude and must convince the regulators and other
earlier in the flight. We need to know why powers-that-be of the fact that profiling
to the passenger...” he changed his ticket from the planned is nothing more than risk management,
return to Accra to returning to Lagos, the very essence of quality security, and
The ideal checkpoint is one that especially when he wasn’t planning on their inability to measure its effectiveness
encompasses a broad range of returning at all. Why did he elect to fly via should not be a barrier to its deployment.
scanners, rather than buying-in to any Amsterdam when Delta Airlines operate To be fair, the Christmas Day incident
one technology. Furthermore, there is direct flights from Lagos to Atlanta? demonstrated that profiling alone is
no need to advertise which equipment Why did he travel via Lagos when he not the solution. Abdulmutullab was,
passengers are to be scanned with. could have flown to Europe and the USA in Amsterdam at least, profiled...and
How many passengers arriving at certain from Ghana? Why did the device fail? profiled incorrectly. Equally, our search
UK airports realise that they are being Had it detonated, would it have caused techniques failed; in Lagos, on the basis
scanned by passive millimetre wave the destruction of the aircraft? Why, of CCTV footage, Abdulmutallab went
technology as they walk through the with a pseudo-profiling system in place through full security checks, removing
Customs hall? Why do we need the for US carriers, was he not identified his belt and shoes as he was screened.
manufacturer’s name and the equipment’s as a possible threat when spoken to And, most fundamentally, it was an
model number emblazoned on the side in Amsterdam? To what extent did a intelligence failure on the part of the
of the system? With most vendors having Christmas Day atmosphere of “goodwill American authorities.
snazzy websites, containing product to all men” play a role in the industry’s Anyway, I’m off now to lobby my
specifications and capabilities, the only failure to identify Abdulmutallab? And, Member of Parliament to ensure that
purpose the marking serves is to provide we need to carefully analyse reports all Americans are given extra special
the would-be terrorist with valuable regarding his behaviour before and screening before they are allowed into
information as to how the technology during the flights. The answers may the United Kingdom. After all, one
might be circumvented. shape future policy and procedures. of those believed to have played a
The number one change that needs to The two positives that have come out key role in effecting surveillance and
be brought into effect at the checkpoint of the Abdulmutallab incident is that gathering intelligence for Lashkar-e-
is to find a way for the screeners to firstly we will see new body scanners at Taibar in advance of the 2008 terrorist
be provided with information pertaining checkpoints and secondly, there is, at attacks in Mumbai was an American
to the passenger or, at least having a long last, a sense that the authorities passport holder, David Coleman
mechanism in place for check-in agents are beginning to consider profiling as a Headley. My guess is I’ll fail in my
privy to certain data to flag a passenger tool to be embraced. It’s not going to be attempt to focus on Americans as a
for enhanced screening. Abdulmutallab easy, given the subjective nature of the result...and rightly so.
February 2010 Aviationsecurityinternational www.asi-mag.com 3
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70