By Guest Column Jim Popkin——Bio and Archives--March 5, 2008
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The threat from industry insiders:
TSA worries that rail-industry insiders might become terrorist accomplices: “The insider poses a significant threat to transportation security. Intelligence indicates the desire of terrorist groups such as al-Qa’ida to use individuals with insider knowledge of transportation sectors to help facilitate an attack against the United States,” the report states. It cites two examples: --“Asmin Amin Tariq, a security guard at Heathrow International Airport (LHR), was one of 24 people arrested in connection with the plan to blow up aircraft in the 2006 UK-U.S. transatlantic plot. Tariq helped Islamic extremists pose as airport employees so they could conduct surveillance of security procedures at Heathrow. Tariq allegedly provided information about airport security procedures to the would-be bombers,” the TSA writes. --“Turkish citizen Adem Yilmaz, reportedly a member of the Islamic Jihad Union cell targeting Germany, was arrested in September 2007. Yilmaz was employed in the security division of rail operator Deutsche Bahn from 1997 until 2002. During that time he worked in the railway station of Frankfurt airport. The airport was one of several targets his cell that allegedly considered,” it adds.Homemade explosives:
The TSA is concerned about the use of low-cost homemade explosives, and even an exotic chemical bomb called the “Mubtakar.” “Multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and improvised incendiary devices (IIDs) are the most common means of attacking mass transit targets. Although homemade explosives are more likely to be used, chemical and biological attacks are also possible agents for terrorism,” the report says. “Al-Qa’ida is reportedly interested in producing compact chemical dispersal devices. The group developed a small device called a mubtakar for disseminating cyanogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. The device is considered efficient in enclosed spaces and could be effective if used in subway cars and underground rail stations,” the TSA analysts conclude.
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Items of notes and interest from the web.