"EU plans tougher airport security"

Thursday, September 9, 2006

EU plans tougher airport security
By Paul Harrington
South Africa - iAfrica.com


EU security and aviation experts met on Wednesday to consider recommending
stricter measures for airport security, with particular focus on
hand-luggage and the threat posed by liquid explosives. 

The expert meeting, which follows discussions with airline and airport
officials last week, was prompted by a recent alleged plot to bomb US-bound
planes from Britain in mid-flight. 

British authorities announced last month that they had foiled an alleged
plot to blow up US-bound airliners using liquid explosives smuggled aboard
in drink bottles or other containers. 

Two dozen people were arrested and Britain raised its terror alert level to
"critical" - the highest of five levels, and heightened security
restrictions at British airports, leading to numerous cancellations and long
delays. 

The European Commission reacted by saying it would propose new anti-terror
measures to detect explosives, share information on airline passengers and
train Muslim preachers in European values. 

European Commission Security Commissioner Franco Frattini also proposed that
EU member states take up the example of the United States, Canada and
Australia in sharing information about airline passengers. 

The experts meeting in Brussels were expected to announce their
recommendations after their meeting ends on Thursday. 

They "have begun to exchange information" on methods of detecting liquids
which could be used to blow up a plane in flight, a EU source said. 

"We need to fully research certain questions. We need more scientific data
on what quantity of liquid could be dangerous, and how it is possible to mix
liquids during flight," the source said. 

Emergency bans on hand luggage and liquids are unlikely in the long-term to
survive beyond the critical, uncertain period as police smashed an alleged
bomb-making operation in London three weeks ago. 

Chemical fingerprints in the pipeline?

The commission, according to officials, is moving towards giving all EU
manufactured explosive components a unique chemical fingerprint which would
allow the police to trace explosives after bomb attacks or the seizure of
explosives. 

Germany, which assumes the EU presidency next year, is already examining
proposals to shut down or monitor Internet sites suspected of providing
technology tips to would-be terrorists. 

The issue of air security has been higher on the EU agenda since the 9/11
attacks in the United States five years ago. 

Experts considering "new threats"

A European Commission spokesperson for transport issues stressed that the
Brussels meeting was aimed at recommending to the commission durable
security measures which could be taken on a long-term basis, rather than the
kind of heightened alert emergency measures since at London's Heathrow and
elsewhere following last month's alleged plot. 

The experts were considering the "new threats" posed by explosives
technology, commission transport spokesman Ferran Tarradellas said. This
could be from a gel as well as a liquid, he added. 

While the experts could yet decide not to propose new measures, the
likelihood was that they would make recommendations to the European
Commission to enhance airport and airline security, the spokesman said. 

"The recommendations that this commission can make are going to be
long-lasting measures. The measures taken by Heathrow were more temporary."

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