WABC
reports an Egyptian man whose sneakers tested positive for
explosives at New York’s John F. Kennedy International
Airport, was
detained by Transportation Security Administration officials, but
then allowed to board another flight while his shoes were sent to a
lab for further examination.
-------------
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2005/12/dhs_daily_report_2005-12-09.pdf
Questions
Surround Alleged JFK Shoe Bomb Incident
Why Was A Man
Able To Fly After Bomb Residue Was Found In His Shoes?
Eyewitness News' Lauren DeFranco
(New York - WABC, December 8, 2005) - There are serious security questions tonight at JFK. This after an Egyptian man was stopped last Friday because preliminary tests showed his shoes contained an explosive material.
The man was eventually allowed to fly to his college in Des Moines, Iowa.
But FBI tests showed no explosive material.
So why as he allowed to board a plane? And why was the test faulty?
Here's Long Island Reporter Lauren DeFranco. Law enforcement sources are calling it a major breakdown in protocall. An Egyptian man whose sneakers tested positive for explosives, was detained by TSA security, but allowed to board another flight while his shoes were sent to a lab for further examine.
According to an internal document obtained by Eyewitness News, TSA maintained custody of the shoes and released the passenger as per the direction of the TSA operations manager.
The man, who claimed to be a student at the University of Iowa, was re-booked on another flight.
Sources say both the Port Authority Police and the FBI weren't notified until after he was left go.
Lauren DeFranco: "Do you think this guy should have been let on this plane?"
Harvey Kushner, Security Expert:"Absolutely not. He tested positive. Unless you're completely sure that isn't something because of a medication or something else. You have to air on the side of caution when you have 300 people in the cabin."
Over the weekend, sources say the Egyptian national was passing through a security checkpoint at JFK. Sources say one shoe was held together with a nylon cord and a fragile sticker holding the sole and upper together. The shoes were swabbed, testing positive five times for TATP -- a commonly used explosive.
The FBI says the incident created an atmosphere of tension, which prompted an alert of a potential shoe bomber on the loose. FBI officials believe the man poses no threat because his story checked out.
But security experts insist this underscores the need for better training within the TSA.
While the government says the passenger is a student at the University of Iowa, a spokesman for the university told Eyewitness News they have no record of him being enrolled there.
(Copyright 2005 WABC-TV)