Posted on 08/18/2006 6:42:54 AM PDT by Kieri
Suspicious liquid found in former Mich. woman's luggage 8/18/2006, 6:13 a.m. ET By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER The Associated Press
CEREDO, W.Va. (AP) — A woman whose daughter's carry-on luggage caused a West Virginia airport to shut down for 9 1/2 hours says it was her ethnic background, not a few bottles of suspicious liquids, that set off security officials.
Initial laboratory testing by the FBI turned up no evidence of explosive materials in the bottles carried at Tri-State Airport by Rima Qayyum, a 28-year-old Pakistani woman dressed in the traditional Islamic headcover.
No charges were filed against the woman, who was never detained and was cooperative when interviewed by the FBI.
Qayyum's mother, Mian Qayyum of Jackson, Mich., told The Associated Press that her daughter is four months pregnant, lives in Barboursville and is innocent. Her daughter had moved to West Virginia from Jackson.
"It was not only a false alarm, it was racial discrimination because there was nothing," Mian Qayyum said. "They should clear her name and apologize on national TV."
The FBI did not return messages Thursday night seeking comment on the allegations.
A screener noticed a bottle in Rima Qayyum's carry-on bag as she was going through security before her 9:15 a.m. flight Thursday to Charlotte, N.C., airport authority president Jim Booton said.
The terminal was evacuated at 11:25 a.m. after two bottles of liquid in the bag initially tested positive for explosives residue twice, and a canine team also got a positive hit. Chemical tests of the bottles' contents later turned up no explosives, said Capt. Jack Chambers, head of the State Police Special Operations unit.
The woman had purchased a one-way ticket to Detroit by way of Charlotte on Wednesday. The flight eventually left for Charlotte without her.
Rima Qayyum planned to return to the airport Friday to take another flight, her mother said.
Rima Qayyum planned to return to the airport Friday to take another flight, her mother said. The airport resumed normal operations Friday morning.
"She just had water to drink because she is pregnant and she had a face wash that had a drop of bleach on it," Mian Qayyum said.
U.S. authorities banned the carrying of liquids onto flights last week after British officials made arrests in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes using explosives disguised as drinks and other common products.
The TSA screening looks for a range of explosives residue, some of which can be found on common household items, said TSA spokesman Darrin Kayser.
"Anytime a prohibited item is brought to a checkpoint, then you are going to be immediately more interested in that bag," Kayser said.
Two airlines — Comair and US Airways Express — serve the airport. Commercial airline service was suspended, and about 100 passengers and airport employees were ordered to leave the terminal, Booton said.
After the evacuation, many passengers decided to stay and wait it out.
"We bought them pizza, soft drinks ... tried to make them comfortable as could be in this situation," said Larry Salyers, the airport's manager. "We had them in the parking lot, under trees, in conference rooms, the firehouse."
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Associated Press writer Kelley Schoonover contributed to this report.
Yes, those chemical tests and dogs are SOOoooooooo racist.
Kudos to the police AND the dogs for doing a successful job!
/sarc
They serve water on the plane, and there are places inside airports that will sell water. She knew not to bring them, and she did anyway. Testing security perhaps, but even if not, we're not taking chances with anyone.
Just another test to see what they can get through the screening. They will keep it up until they know more about screening than the screeners. Maybe they already know.
Clothes are not racist, Islam is not a race, and an X-ray scanner that shows bottles is not racist.
Our perimeter is being probed.
The "racist" charge justifies ACLU et cetera to help.
This passenger should have read Ann Coulter's book or columns. One way tickets raise suspicions. According to Ann, this usually results in small, thin, blond, blue-eyed women being targeted with the toughest searches at airports, but apparently this one-way ticket thing managed to snag a Muslim woman.
Agree with you totally!
ALL Mohammetans, even children, regardless of race, should be interviewed and searched before being allowed to board any airplane!
Mohammetans can no longer be trusted any where near an airport, or any public conveyance, for that matter.
You pass the collection plate at the Hajji house (mosque) to collect money for "freedom fighters" (terrorists) and expect ME to believe that Islam is a religion of peace?
Don't try to play the race card on me b*tch!
just curious to know what the TSA does with people who have colostomy bags??? Do they tell the person they can't bring the bag on the plane?
And I suppose it is racism in Atlanta and among the press that has kept Richard Jewel (white guy) from getting his apology after being accused as the Olympic Park Bomber for a much longer period of time.
A screener noticed a bottle in Rima Qayyum's carry-on bag as she was going through security before her 9:15 a.m. flight Thursday to Charlotte, N.C., airport authority president Jim Booton said.
The terminal was evacuated at 11:25 a.m. after two bottles of liquid in the bag initially tested positive for explosives residue twice, and a canine team also got a positive hit. Chemical tests of the bottles' contents later turned up no explosives, said Capt. Jack Chambers, head of the State Police Special Operations unit.
It may be profiling that she was screened but not that she was detained.
"You can't bring that crap in here..."
Obviouly this woman was bleaching her skin in an attempt to pass herself off as Swedish.
"Book 'er, Danno."
Until they start a real profile program...these MUSLIM types will continue to test the program at all airports. Note this wasn't in New York or Boston. It is time we start getting smart about what is going on. It WILL happen again unless we do. I wouldn't let anyone on any airplane who tried what she did and I would hire the Israelies to run our program at all airports. They know how to do it!! They call it the "hairy eye" program. No one owes this bitch anything, much less an apology!
This is exactly the thing that shoulb be done - further finger prints, eye scans, cavity searches, and library card inspections should also be done.
Oh an while they are in "there" they might just as well leave a little locator with a detonator attached so if they do get out of line it blows their radical freaking ass off. (just a suggestion)
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