Pearson Airport bomb checks

March 25, 2004

Airport bomb checks
Toronto Sun, Canada
    
 
Employees at Canada's largest airport will begin
searching all checked-in luggage and cargo for bombs
and explosives before they're loaded on flights.
Pearson airport officials said the examinations will
begin at the new Terminal 1 when it opens April 6. 

"(The new terminal) was designed with security in
mind," said Steve Shaw, of the Greater Toronto
Airports Authority. "It is certainly as good as any
other terminal around." 

The state-of-the-art gear can detect minute traces of
explosives or bomb-making chemicals in luggage or
cargo. Similar checks will also be conducted at the
other terminals. 

The equipment was purchased by Ottawa with an air
ticket security tax following the U.S. terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

Only passenger carry-on luggage is now checked for
bombs. 

Shaw said the terminal will feature bomb-resistant
windows, a 92-metre gap between the garage and
terminal to thwart car bombs, and a tunnel near the
runway in which emergency personnel can travel in an
attack. 

Rene Fairweather, of the Canadian Air Transport
Security Authority, said bomb detection equipment is
being sent to other major airports nationwide. 

 

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