"Australian airport workers suspected in Sydney bomb scare"

Friday, September 24, 2004

Airport workers suspect in bomb scare
Australia - The West Australia Sunday Times


FEDERAL Police yesterday put together a list of names of airport workers
whom they believe could be behind the making of an explosive device.

Airside workers at Sydney airport have emerged as the prime suspects for the
planting of the package in the cargo bay of a Virgin Blue 737 aircraft on
Monday - as exclusively revealed by The Daily Telegraph. 

The device, described by police as a non-electronic "improvised explosive
device" contained the compound powder thermite, which is used in grenades. 

If ignited, it can burn through steel. 

The AFP declined to comment yesterday but sources confirmed a review had
found the most likely culprit was a worker from Sydney airport and not
Maroochydore, where the 11.15am flight DJ-474 originated. 

AFP agents were, however, set to interview managers of the Sunshine Coast
airport. 

The device was found at 11.30am on Monday by Virgin baggage handlers. 

But without training, the handlers carried the suspicious device into the
airport passenger terminal to be screened at an X-ray machine, sparking a
security scare. 

The issue was the subject of heated discussions across the aviation and law
enforcement industry yesterday. The Daily Telegraph has learned:

   * WORKCOVER will today serve Virgin Blue airlines with formal written
notice to immediately train staff on handling potential bombs threats, or
face prosecution; 

   * BOTANY Bay Local Area Command police chiefs have called for a full
explanation on why their officers were not called sooner; 

   * THE Australian Protective Service bomb team were slow in calling the
NSW Police bomb squad; and 

   * THE baggage handler who bungled the discovery was been sent away for
"re-training" - even though he had never had training in the first place. 

"We are encouraged by WorkCover's planned action but more needs to be done,"
TWU executive officer Scott Connolly said. 

Politicians, airport chiefs and police traded verbal blows yesterday over
the bungle of the security scare, with each group blaming their
counterparts. 

After several hours of deliberations, the Protective Service issued a brief
statement defending their handling saying they called the NSW Police bomb
squad after assessing the situation. 

But NSW Police said they were not told until one hour and 40 minutes after
the device was found. 

"We arrived on the scene in six minutes after we were called," a NSW Police
spokesman said yesterday. "That is, six minutes from when we were informed a
suspicious device was found. 

"But we were not contacted for one hour and 40 minutes after it was first
discovered. The plane had taken off by the time police arrived. 

"The AFP is investigating who made the device and NSW Police are looking
into the circumstances into how the device was discovered." 

Sydney Airport Corporation yesterday declined repeated requests for comment
about Monday's incident.


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