'Shoe Bomb' Explosives Found on Moroccan Airliner

[Bob Evans]

'Shoe Bomb' Explosives Found on Moroccan Airliner

Click here for Fox News article

Thursday, September 26, 2002

PARIS - Explosives of the same type as found on alleged shoe bomber Richard Reid were discovered on a Moroccan jet after passengers left the flight at an airport in eastern France, authorities said Thursday.

Officials said there was enough explosive material to blow up a plane.

There was no detonator attached to the 3 ounces of explosives discovered in the passenger section of a Royal Air Maroc airplane on Wednesday night after it landed at the Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport, according to police.

Judicial sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the explosive material as pentrite and said it was the same as the substance Reid, a British citizen, allegedly tried to detonate on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami on Dec. 22.

The airline refused immediate comment on the case.

The explosives found Wednesday were wrapped in aluminum foil, police said, indicating it might have been in transit for delivery. The Boeing 737 originated in Marrakech.

Judicial sources said they had been unable to find a fuse mechanism needed for detonation.

The explosives were found between armrests by dogs from the customs service as they performed a routine search of the plane. Anti-terrorism police were investigating the find, along with the counterintelligence agency known as the DST.

Pentrite is found in the plastic explosive Semtex, which was used in the bomb attack on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 that killed 270 people.

Reid is charged with attempting to blow up the American Airlines flight with explosives hidden in his shoes. Passengers and crew members restrained him after he allegedly tried to light a fuse. The flight was diverted to Boston.

[areafiftyone]

Amazing it was wrapped in foil and their metal detectors didn't pick it up. Their security is just as bad as ours.

[Thermalseeker]

Their security is just as bad as ours.

What security?

[SC DOC]

Amazing it was wrapped in foil and their metal detectors didn't pick it up. Their security is just as bad as ours.

Last time I checked aluminum foil was not ferromagnetic.

[Redbob]

"Officials said there was enough explosive material to blow up a plane."

Somebody has darned big feet.
OTOH, if 3 ozs will blow up an airplane, I'd sure like to know what kind of explosive that is!

[areafiftyone]

What security?

LOL

[Deguello]

"same type as found on alleged shoe bomber"

It had that distictive old gym sock odor with traces of foot fungus flakes.

[livius]

Very interesting. Morocco is about to have elections. There's a growing Islamic fundamentalist movement there, and Morocco has also been pressuring Spain, not only on immigration, but on control of the Straits. I think it's worth keeping an eye on Morocco.

[taxcontrol]

If you had a seat between the wings 1 oz of crystalized ether should do the trick. I would also think that 3 oz of TNT (available in most landmines, etc.) should work as well. Though TNT or C4 would need a "kicker" charge.

After all, all that is needed is enough explosive to punch through 1/16 of aluminum (cabin deck) and puncture the fuel lines. Fuel should spray and the residual heat should set off the fuel. Nice toasty fire right around the fuel pump. Might not go boom, but it would bring the plane down.

When it comes to explosives, the question is NEVER how much. Rather, it's how much and where.

[eno_]

Three ounces of high explosive is no joke. A shoe bomber would also have been told where to put his feet. It could screw thing up big-time.

[sam_paine]

Last time I checked aluminum foil was not ferromagnetic.

That's why one should ALWAYS go with AUTHENTIC TIN-FOIL.

[dozer7]

Amazing it was wrapped in foil and their metal detectors didn't pick it up. Their security is just as bad as ours.

Last time I checked aluminum foil was not ferromagnetic.

this has always puzzed me. did metal detetors for years there is paramagmagnetic and diamagnetic the coin chasers have found that they can discriminate between beer tabs, nickles, quarters, pennys and heavly mineralized (read iron) strata for years. why not the air ports check the white coin detectors. this is not new technology. they can even give you the depth. hey just my thoughts

best regards

dozer7

[CurlyDave]

Last time I checked aluminum foil was not ferromagnetic.

Metal does not need to be ferromagnetic to be picked up by a metal detector. The aluminum foil wrapping in a pack of cigarettes will set one off. So will a pocket full of pennies.

[freebilly]

'Shoe Bomb' Explosives Found on Moroccan Airliner

Amazing! Tires are found on most other airliners!

[finnman69]

They thought it was a chocolate bar.

[finnman69]

The old explosives in the foil trick!