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Logan Screening Cargo
Aired October 14, 2003 - 15:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well as air passengers we are subjected to the searches of ourselves, our baggage, and even out shoes. But there's a loophole in the system, tons of unexamined air cargo loaded onto commercial jets. The government is moving to close that loophole. Patty Davis has the details live from Washington -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, Boston Logan Airport is trying to close that loophole. Today it began a 30-day experiment with a big x-ray machine for cargo-loaded trucks.
Now before the cargo is put on passenger planes, if screeners see anything suspicious, they may take a closer look. Logan is the first airport in the country to do a test like this. An important move, according to experts, because most air cargo is never screened. Those experts call that a gaping loophole for terrorists.
In a separate development, the Transportation Security Administration Says that it will begin using explosive detection machines to screen some smaller cargo at 10 to 12 small airports within the next few weeks. Depending how that goes, you could see that expand to other airports as well -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Also, terrorists of course getting creative, from teddy bears to pillows. What's the latest on trying to prevent these methods?
DAVIS: The Department of Homeland Security put out a warning. That warning came back in August to airports and law enforcement, that terrorist groups, they might be interested in using explosives to bring down danger planes. The advisory mentioned nitrocellulose. that's an explosive. You add nitroglycerine to that and it's potent and unstable.
The agency says in its warning, terrorist could say hide this explosive in the lining of pillows, toys, clothing. It is hard to detect by x-ray machines. You have to use trace detection machines. Those are the machines they swab your laptop with when you go through screening to detect this kind of explosive. Those machines, not routinely used for most other items.
Counterterrorism officials tell CNN that the information about the possible use of nitrocellulose has been come across in raids. They emphasize they have no information of plans to use it -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Patty Davis, thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 14, 2003 - 15:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well as air passengers we are subjected to the searches of ourselves, our baggage, and even out shoes. But there's a loophole in the system, tons of unexamined air cargo loaded onto commercial jets. The government is moving to close that loophole. Patty Davis has the details live from Washington -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, Boston Logan Airport is trying to close that loophole. Today it began a 30-day experiment with a big x-ray machine for cargo-loaded trucks.
Now before the cargo is put on passenger planes, if screeners see anything suspicious, they may take a closer look. Logan is the first airport in the country to do a test like this. An important move, according to experts, because most air cargo is never screened. Those experts call that a gaping loophole for terrorists.
In a separate development, the Transportation Security Administration Says that it will begin using explosive detection machines to screen some smaller cargo at 10 to 12 small airports within the next few weeks. Depending how that goes, you could see that expand to other airports as well -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Also, terrorists of course getting creative, from teddy bears to pillows. What's the latest on trying to prevent these methods?
DAVIS: The Department of Homeland Security put out a warning. That warning came back in August to airports and law enforcement, that terrorist groups, they might be interested in using explosives to bring down danger planes. The advisory mentioned nitrocellulose. that's an explosive. You add nitroglycerine to that and it's potent and unstable.
The agency says in its warning, terrorist could say hide this explosive in the lining of pillows, toys, clothing. It is hard to detect by x-ray machines. You have to use trace detection machines. Those are the machines they swab your laptop with when you go through screening to detect this kind of explosive. Those machines, not routinely used for most other items.
Counterterrorism officials tell CNN that the information about the possible use of nitrocellulose has been come across in raids. They emphasize they have no information of plans to use it -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Patty Davis, thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
