US airports warned about terror dry runs

Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The unclassified alert was distributed on July 20 by the Transportation Security Administration to federal air marshals, its own transportation security officers and other law enforcement agencies.

8220;The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cellphone components and dense clay-like substances, including block cheese,8221; the bulletin said. 8220;The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern.8221;

Security officers were urged to keep an eye out for 8220;ordinary items that look like improvised explosive device components.8221;

The 13-paragraph bulletin was posted on the Internet by NBC Nightly News, which first reported the story. A federal official familiar with the document confirmed the authenticity of the NBC posting.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke described the notice as the latest copy of a routine informational bulletin for TSA workers, airport employees and law enforcement officials.

A statement posted late on Tuesday by the TSA on its website confirmed that 8220;a routine TSA intelligence bulletin relating to suspicious incidents at US airports8221; had leaked to news organisations. The statement added, 8220;During the past six months TSA has produced more than 90 unclassified bulletins of this nature on a wide variety of security-related subjects.8221;

Story continues below this ad

The bulletin said the a joint FBI-Homeland Security Department assessment found that terrorists have conducted probes, dry runs and dress rehearsals in advance of previous attacks.