Failure to find bomb at East Midlands airport a “weakness”, says counter-terrorism expert

LONDON - Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of counter-terrorism laws has said that the initial failure to find the bomb on a plane at East Midlands airport was a “weakness”.

“The one weakness I would identify from what we must regard as a success in recent days is that the technical equipment used at East Midlands Airport apparently did not detect the explosives at the first attempt,” the BBC quoted Lord Carlile, as saying.

“So we must have a look at the technology to ensure that it’s absolutely up to date,” he added.

He also said that it would be unfeasible to check each of the thousands of parcels that fly in and out of UK airports but explosives sniffer dogs should used more extensively.

Meanwhile, the British home secretary Theresa May has said that the “crucial thing” was that the bomb was found on a cargo plane and added it could not be determined whether the bombers had planned to blow up the planes over the UK or US.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman has said the British investigators had at first declared the device at East Midlands “safe” before carrying out a re-examination as a “precaution”.

“Further examination of the package by explosives officers identified items of concern. Cordons were put back in place as a precaution prior to items being removed for further scientific analysis,” he added.

The British International Freight Association has said that there should be a review of all aspects of air cargo following the incident at East Midlands airport on Friday.

“The issue requires attention to look at systems and procedures - though it must be stressed that there are already well established, in depth and organised processes there. It was a very serious issue but it would be wrong to suggest that air freight security is not treated in the same way as passengers when it comes to security,” the BBC quoted Director general Peter Quantrill, as saying.(ANI)