TSA: Terrorists may be conducting dry runs

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

WASHINGTON - Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The unclassified alert was distributed on July 20 by the Transportation Security Administration to federal air marshals, its own transportation security officers and other law enforcement agencies.

The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included “wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances,” including block cheese, the bulletin said. “The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern.”

Security officers were urged to keep an eye out for “ordinary items that look like improvised explosive device components.”

The 13-paragraph bulletin was posted on the Internet by NBC Nightly News, which first reported the story.

'No credible, specific threat'

A federal official familiar with the document confirmed the authenticity of the NBC posting but declined to be identified by name because it has not been officially released.

“There is no credible, specific threat here,” TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said Tuesday. “Don’t panic. We do these things all the time.”

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke described the notice as the latest copy of a routine informational bulletin for TSA workers, airport employees and law enforcement officials.

A statement posted late Tuesday by the TSA on its Web site confirmed that “a routine TSA intelligence bulletin relating to suspicious incidents at U.S. airports” had leaked to news organizations. The statement added, “During the past six months TSA has produced more than 90 unclassified bulletins of this nature on a wide variety of security-related subjects.”

The bulletin said the a joint FBI-Homeland Security Department assessment found that terrorists have conducted probes, dry runs and dress rehearsals in advance of previous attacks.

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Read the TSA government advisory (.pdf)

It cited various types of rehearsals conducted by terrorists before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; the July 7, 2005, London subway bombings; the Aug. 2, 2006, London-based plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights using liquid explosives and the 1994 Bojinka plot in the Philippines to blow up multiple airliners over the Pacific Ocean.

Four seizures

The bulletin said the passengers carrying the suspicious items seized since September included men and women and that initial investigation had not linked them with criminal or terrorist organizations. But it added that most of their explanations for carrying the items were suspicious and some were still under investigation.

The four seizures were described this way:

* San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person — either a citizen or a foreigner legally here — checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

* Milwaukee, June 4. A U.S. person’s carryon baggage contained wire coil wrapped around a possible initiator, an electrical switch, batteries, three tubes and two blocks of cheese. The bulletin said block cheese has a consistency similar to some explosives.

* Houston, Nov. 8, 2006. A U.S. person’s checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a 9-volt battery, wires, a block of brown clay-like minerals and pipes.

* Baltimore, Sept. 16, 2006. A couple’s checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a block of processed cheese taped to another plastic bag holding a cellular phone charger.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19943138/

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Anyone see what's missing from the story? Something is left out. Any guesses?

[SteveLaura 0]

The reason why someone would be bringing cheese into Milwaukee. We have quite a bit here already.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Lucky,the thing thats missin is that they will get their a$$e$ handed to them when they arrive! Yay I win? lol.

[lucho562 0]

The ethnic background of the persons involved in the 4 incidents?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

No...... the TYPE of cheese!!!! As a huge fan of cheese I think this is an important fact left out. And a waste of good cheese.

[almaty 19]

excellent point brother rich

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The ethnic background of the persons involved in the 4 incidents?

It says 'US Person'. Clear enough.

[Scott & Lai 12]

The ethnic background of the persons involved in the 4 incidents?

It says 'US Person'. Clear enough.

When they bend over backwards to avoid saying what their background is, I think it becomes rather obvious who we are dealing with...

[SteveLaura 0]

The suspicious cheese.

Source

[almaty 19]

The ethnic background of the persons involved in the 4 incidents?

It says 'US Person'. Clear enough.

When they bend over backwards to avoid saying what their background is, I think it becomes rather obvious who we are dealing with...

illegals?

[lucho562 0]

What kind of cheese is that??

Pepper jack or whatever its called?

[SteveLaura 0]

TSA report - PDF

Individuals involved in these incidents were of varying gender, and initial investigations do not link them with criminal or terrorist organizations. However, most passengers' explanations for carrying the suspicious items were questionable, and some investigations are still ongoing.

The cheese in the 2nd photo is only described as 'processed'. I'm thinking that the cheese used in the Milwaukee incident (photo 1) was of a superior quality.

[SteveLaura 0]

The ethnic background of the persons involved in the 4 incidents?

It says 'US Person'. Clear enough.

When they bend over backwards to avoid saying what their background is, I think it becomes rather obvious who we are dealing with...

illegals?

[Clarky and Tarah 0]

No...... the TYPE of cheese!!!! As a huge fan of cheese I think this is an important fact left out. And a waste of good cheese.

Not what I was wondering, but good point.