In this report, it looks like the government security workers didn't listen to a private security firm and almost caused a disaster. Is this a prelude toward what kind of quality we can expect from our future government airline security workers?
newsmax.com
French Faulted on Plane Terror Suspect
NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001
BOSTON -- Questions are arising about why French authorities allowed suspected suicide bomber Richard C. Reid on an American Airlines trans-Atlantic flight diverted to Boston.
Reid allegedly attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes while en route to Miami.
Finger pointing by Lior Zucker, the head of ICTS, the security firm contracted by American Airlines, faulted French authorities for not following the firm's advice and permitting the terror suspect to board the plane.
Zucker told CNN that ICTS had warned authorities in Paris about Reid. The suspect missed a flight Friday because of subsequent questioning at Charles de Gaulle Airport, but then was allowed on the flight Saturday against the recommendations of ICTS.
The reasons why ICTS was wary of Reid were not given to CNN.
Reid was traveling without baggage, however, CNN reported.
While the British said Tuesday that the suspect's British passport, which identified him as Richard Colvin Reid, 28, was valid, authorities were still investigating suspicions concerning his background.
Although he carried a British passport, French officials said Reid might be a Sri Lankan native named Tariq Raja, who also used the name Abdel Rahim. The Boston Herald reported Monday Reid had converted to Islam five years ago.
Meanwhile, a Massachusetts state official told the Independent that the sophisticated bomb Reid allegedly carried indicated that he had an accomplice.
"The belief is now that if he had a lighter and not a match, the thing would have detonated," said the official.
Officials said the material could have caused significant damage to the plane had it exploded. They tentatively identified the material as most probably PETN-based plastic explosives, not easily obtained by civilians, according to CNN.
While authorities have been searching for a link between Reid and the suspected terrorist network, al-Qaeda, they have been unable to establish a connection.
The suspect made an initial appearance Monday in federal court in Boston.
Federal authorities said he was thwarted on Flight 63 by flight attendants and passengers.
The U.S. Justice Department said Sunday preliminary tests conducted by the FBI showed that there were "two functional explosive devices" hidden in the man's shoes.
Reid was arraigned on charges of assault and intimidation of a flight crew. He was ordered held pending a probable cause hearing in Boston on Friday.
"Reid is being charged in a manner consistent with the facts as we know them to be at this time," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan. "If at any point during this investigation we develop further information that warrants the consideration of additional charges, then we'll make those determinations at the appropriate time."
According to an affidavit, on Dec. 22, American Airlines Flight 63, a Boeing 767 with 183 passengers on board and a crew of 14 departed Paris for Miami. While the aircraft was en route over the Atlantic, the FBI was notified of an apparent disturbance involving an assault by a passenger.
As a consequence of Reid's alleged actions, the airliner was diverted to Boston. The American Airlines flight -- escorted by two F-15 fighter jets -- landed safely at Boston's Logan Airport at 12:50 p.m. Saturday.
Sullivan said it is alleged that about one and a half hours into the flight, flight attendant Hermis Moutardier smelled what she thought was a burnt match. After she determined that it was Reid, the flight attendant confronted him, at which time he put a match in his mouth.
Moutardier then went to alert the captain, Sullivan said.
Upon returning to Reid, he lit another match, and it appeared to Moutardier that he was attempting to set fire to his sneaker. She then noticed a wire protruding from that sneaker.
She grabbed at the sneaker and Reid shoved her. The flight attendant made a second attempt to grab the shoe, and Reid, approximately 6 feet 4 inches in height and weighing in excess of 200 pounds, pushed her to the floor.
Moutardier then yelled for help and ran to get water. At that point another flight attendant, Cristina Jones, struggled with Reid, who bit her on the thumb.
"He bit Ms. Jones on the thumb, and Ms. Moutardier threw water in his face," FBI Special Agent Margaret G. Cronin wrote in an affidavit. According to the affidavit, several passengers, hearing the commotion and the flight attendants' calls for help, came to their aid and managed to subdue Reid. For the remainder of the flight Reid was restrained with belts from passengers, and two doctors on board sedated him.
"The willingness of the flight attendants and passengers to get involved with this incident helped avert a potentially dangerous situation," said Special Agent in Charge Charles S. Prouty. "This points to the importance of every citizen staying involved and alert to ensure public safety."
If convicted, Reid faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Prouty said the investigation continues.
Authorities were trying to track Reid's movements in Europe, particularly in Belgium where he recently obtained the British passport. Reports in France said some suspected members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network recently obtained false identity papers from a sophisticated group operating in Brussels.
Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved. |
