Posted on 04/14/2005 7:16:37 PM PDT by zappermom
Wed 13 Apr 2005
9:47am (UK) Naval Security Reviewed over Ship Intruder
By Ben Mitchell, PA
A review of security at a major UK naval base has been carried out after an alleged intruder was found on board a visiting US aircraft carrier, the Royal Navy said today.
The alleged trespasser was discovered on board the USS Harry S Truman, anchored off Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hants, on Saturday night during a week-long visit to Portsmouth Naval Base.
A navy spokesman said the man had allegedly passed through both Royal Navy security and US Navy security to get on board passenger boats used to ferry crew back and forth from the visiting warship.
It is understood that the man’s identity was not checked by the Royal Navy security guards – as the base’s rules dictate – with the responsibility being left to the US guards on duty at the gate.
The spokesman added that a thorough review of security had been carried out at the naval base since the incident and a number of changes implemented.
The spokesman explained that the jetty for the boats was very close to the public area in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard museum complex and the large number of visiting sailors from the US aircraft carrier had allowed the confusion.
Royal Navy spokesman Anton Hanney said: “I wouldn’t want to talk about embarrassment but we are taking it very seriously, as we would any security breach.
“Our main focus at the moment is to put everything right and to improve our arrangements.”
Mr Hanney said that he did not believe the incident would put off future visits by American or other foreign ships.
He said: “It shouldn’t cause any problems with future visits because we are making the necessary security improvements.”
A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said that 37-year-old Abdoul Masmoud Yessoufou, from West Africa but of no fixed abode, had been charged with trespass under sections 2(2) and 4(3) of the HM Naval Base (Portsmouth) Byelaw 1981.
He is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court this morning.
The spokeswoman said that Yessoufou was originally held under the Terrorism Act 2000 but had since been released into normal police custody.
The USS Harry S Truman, which arrived at Portsmouth last Monday, departed on schedule on Sunday. s
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The court heard that Yessoufou had previously been convicted of entering airside areas at Heathrow on three occasions in February this year and on another occasion at Southampton airport.
He also appeared before Southampton magistrates after reaching airside again at Southampton International Airport on January 5, this year.
9-11, 3-11, 6-11? I'm no Louie Farrakhan (sp) so my math is no good but this guy needs watching or imprisonment. :-(
What the heck is airside? Aren't airside unless you are underwater or buried?
Airside: You're walking around the plane or you're in it - past all security. FYI. :-(
This man keeps going on the bases.
During a time of war.
He has been caught so many times, that he now knows the ships and also the jails on base.
When they make the move, later, you will see that they get the guys out of jail too, if any live to get caught.
There is no way this man is a friendly little nut.
They could be tracking him. I bet they want to net the contacts he has.
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