Germany Says Plane Bomb Was US 'Security Test'

[TonyGosling]

Germany Says Plane Bomb Was Security Test
Jenny Wotherspoon, Sky News Online

Germany's interior minister has revealed that a suspicious package found at an airport in Namibia was part of an American security test.Thomas de Maiziere said the fake bomb was designed by a US firm to monitor the effectiveness of airport security.

The detonator, clock and batteries were left in a suitcase to be loaded onto an LTU/Air Berlin flight to Munich on Wednesday.

Namibian police conducting routine checks siezed the luggage shortly before it was put on a plane at the international airport in Windhoek.

The detonator, which did not contain explosives, was found on the same day that Mr de Maiziere decided to put the country on high security alert.

Security measures were stepped up after Islamic extremists posted videos on the internet making threats against some of the country's famous landmarks.

Germany's Federal Crime Office, the BKA, said an X-ray of the luggage revealed batteries wired to a "detonator and a ticking clock".

After examining the case they concluded it was a "real test suitcase" designed by a firm that produces alarm and detection systems.

Sky News security editor Sam Kiley said at the time he felt the discovery was unusual because detonators are usually the hardest things for terrorist groups to find.

He said explosives were easier to locate - particularly in Namibia, due to the country's mining industry.

Passengers and all luggage were re-checked before the delayed plane was cleared to take off and the flight arrived in Munich on Wednesday night.

The BKA has sent officers based in South Africa to Namibia, a former German colony, to aid the investigation.

The German interior minister has said there are "concrete indications of a series of attacks planned for the end of November".

lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15818807_German_Minister _Admits_Bomb_Found_In_Suitcase_In_Namibia_Was_An_American_Security_Tes t

[Eckyboy]

I can't seem to find any information as to the name of the US firm that carried out this test. Does anyone know the company involved? If we could establish the company responsible we could monitor them as no doubt they have tried similar drills elsewhere.

[scienceplease 2]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/19/german-terror-alert-securi ty-test

[TonyGosling]

we discussed this story this evening
http://radio4all.net/index.php/program/47232

[fish5133]

Maybe it was only a security test because it was found--at the wrong time.

[cem]

.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,730236,00.html


excerpts from: Terrorists Believed to Be Planning Attack in Berlin

Spiegel Online, 20 November 2010

[Eckyboy]

fish 5133 wrote:

"Maybe it was only a security test because it was found--at the wrong time."

This is it in a nutshell fish. If at any stage in the operation they are discovered before they have planted the evidence then they can claim it is simply a drill or part of a security test. If they succeed however then they can blame it on anyone and the media will buy it hook line and sinker. Diabolical.

[TonyGosling]

Well how abut that - caught in the act - bang to rights - well done German police & secret services