Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 12/28/09
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The Christmas Day averted terror incident on the Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. We're digging deeper into the suspect and his story, examining what went wrong with airport security, and checking in with how President Obama has handled the situation.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Hi, Erica Is there any way to train dogs to detect this powder substance or any other substances that might pass through the metal detectors or other wise go undetected? I it scary to think you could be sitting next to someone that is carrying this and your life could be taken just like that.
Happy New to all of you
Robbie / Boise Idaho
I can't believe after all these years and with all the technology out there that this can't be stopped. They keep Drew off of all these flights but they let this boy on. Come on!!!
@Casey, I agree. The security system is a joke. It's theater. It seems the best thing we have going for us are passengers willing to tackle other passengers.
why were they not any air marshalls on the flight?
Floyd..Tx
Im very glad that noone was hurt and that the bomb did not go off. just goes to show if someone makes their mind up to do something they will figure out a way to succeed.
Multiple entries should not be given to anyone, it gives them too much freedom to be in and out of the countiry, this should apply to all countires, no multiple visas or entries, especially in what's going on in the world nowadays.
Thank you.
@ A. Smith. They actually posted the "hero's" personal information? That's incredulous! Unbelievable!
The flightpath of NW253 was over Canada for a long time before the approach into Detroit. Had the bomber succeeded the aircraft might have been destroyed over Canada. Little mention has been made of this aspect of the incident. Thanks, John
What exactly is the substance that was being transported into the United States?
Anthonia-Bay Area!
YES! I agree your comment taken point! I don't believe either too.
Great info here from Peter....
Sounds like Yemen has been a problem for sometime....
Can someone please share again "how" this young terrorist was captured? we are speaking so much about al queda, terrorist's father, security, Obama...can we remind the listeners and viewers again "how" he was captured? how come the plane didn't blow up?
thanks
If we have a watch list of 500,000 why are they still here
We need to watch them leave our country
What part of "at war " don't they understand
Good evening Erica: Al Qaeda usually has multiple actors and sleeper cells in most operations, are we sure no one else was on the plan?
One more question: Do you guys think airport security guards were probably paid off?
Computers can do lots of things. I believe that all those thousands of names on the "watch list" should be scanned against ticket holders. Anyone on the "watch list" that is attempting to board a plane should be subjected to a thorough search. Using the excuse that there are to many names on the "watch list" to check is not real in this computer age. Computers can check against this list easily. Especially since most ticket holders purchase their tickets well in advance of boarding.
this was so significant, that after 911 they could possibly get that close again is just insane for some one to think it is not
While this guy probably should have been barred from entry into the US based on warnings, I'm not sure what we can do about people sewing bomb-making materials into their underwear. Or secreting them inside their bodies, as happened in another case. We can't strip-search everybody and if they allow that privacy panel on the body scanner, it would still be missed. A conventional patdown isn't going to find that stuff.
I think this attempt was a terriors test, we need to be very alert and
cut off these avenues to infiltrate our security.
What are we doing to stop the unknown Abdul's out there!?! That's the question of the hour!
@Emily,
Yes, That's right...... His father already warned to U.S. Embassy right away before happens.
Good evening Erica, Isabel, everyone. Sorry I'm a bit late.
@Isabel, we had a busy time here but we did find some peace this Christmas, Hope you did too.
I am just learning that the PETN was sewn into his underwear, this is truly amazing.
Is he going to be known as the Christmas day bomber or the underwear bomber?
Rather than create reactive approaches to new threats, we should adopt the approach used by Israel. Israel conducts their own security at international airports, with armed military personnel. Have you ever flown on El Al? Israel doesn't leave themselves vulnerable to other country's screening.
I have to say, every time I go through security I always am aware at how ridiculous the system is–that is, if someone wants to get through with equipment to make an explosive device (or a device to do harm to other travelers) it seems so easy. We are living in a bubble if we think our current security routines actually, and ultimately, protect us–the current routines absolutely DO NOT.
A. Smith, Oregon
It is both of them. I think it is both of terrorists.... They were from Pakistani including Nigerians, & Yemeni also.
It's time to put political correctness aside and do some serious profiling of Muslims flying US airlines. Every one needs extra screening prior to boarding.
@ Erica
What to do? How to know if there is safety to fly to the U.S.?
Caseym Palm Springs – I agree, red flags were missed.
However, given the amt. of air travel glabally, it really takes only One.
Did he go through the security in Amsterdam?
I've heard that he did, and that he didn't....
Good evening Erica and everyone.
And the reward for the brave Dutch Man who leaped into action in disarming the Muslim butt-bomber and likely saving the lives of all the passengers by directly placing himself and his hands in harms was:
US Homeland Security publicly posted the man's Full Name and Home Address. Muslims in the Dutch region well known for their violence now will likely attempt to murder that man in the years ahead.
Good evening. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Given that I have to fly from Minneapolis back to Charlotte in the morning, I don't know what to expect when I go through the security checkpoints. I've tried to pack lightly for my carry-on bags, so that I don't have anything that will slow down the security process before I get to my gate. Hopefully it will go smoothly.
@Casey,
Yes, I agree with you...... I know why he have hop in with it and no luggage either .
Also, I have to say that I have sympathy for the bomber's family. They did all they could to warn people and as I understand it, are quite distressed that he almost succeeded.
Great panel here tonight with Erica....
Interestingly, in 2003 when I went to the U.S. was much more rigorous the security in the airport than in May this year. Over the years, this rigor can not and should not be left out ... this is a safety issue for all of us!
Goof Evening Everyone 🙂
I cannot believe Abdul would even attempt to bomb an airplane! I believe TSA was not doing there job properly..! And for the record I hope people do not believe that all Nigerians, like myself, are considered terrorist.
I don't agree (or understand) with the decision to prohibit passengers flying to the United States or domestic flights don't can out of their seats in the 60 minutes immediately prior to landing.
If the person needs to go to the bathroom ... This action only limits the time of action of the terrorists and preventing casualties on the ground also, if the airplane is still flying over the ocean or uninhabited areas.
@Casey Jones,
I agree with you!
Hearing that this was sewn into his underwear....
Glad to hear that his father warned the US embassy!
Todays CNN 3D full body scanner did not penetrate the skin in the test photos. A deviant Muslim MD. is surely going to implant a block of C4 or a pound of Petn inside some faithful Muslim bomber's stomach and simply suture that opening shut. Undetectable short of being Xrayed or Fluro-Scoped.
This whole bombing plot is kind of surreal. He sewed it into his underwear and then lit it on fire. Seriously? Man, that is one strange and potentially deadly plot.
Erica, a US Attorney happened to be at the Amsterdam Security Gate at the same moment as the Muslim butt-bomber passed thru that area.That same US Attorney stated he observed the Muslim butt-bomber was accompanied by a older well dressed man.
Was that other man CIA, Pakistani ISI or was he the Muslim handler?
Hi Erica & Team 360.
Hi fellow bloggers.
What a night for news!
@Isabel
Thanks for greeting us...... Hope all had nice christmas day! 🙂
Good evening Erica! 🙂
Hope that you enjoyed your Holiday!
Hello Bloggers,
Hope that you all enjoyed your holiday too!
It must be terribly discouraging for security staff to have such a barrage of critisism for failing to to be 100% perfect in what is an impossible task.
One way ticket and no luggage? That's been a HUGE red flag for many years now! Whats up with that? Additionally, we absolutely need to make every passenger and employee having passage or anything to do with airport contact to go through a body scanner.
Good evening Erica, Anderson and the CNN 360 Staff
Good evening Erica! Hello David ((Indiana), friends and bloggers!
I hope everyone had a Christmas of peace, as much as possible!
Helloooo (Anderson), Erica, Ed Henry, David Gergen Martina Ilstad, Emily and my friends Twitter/Facebook Bloggers!!!!!
Hope you have a great weekend!!!!!! Happy Monday!
That is very serious thought when terrorist hopin on the plane used some explosive his lap to bomb the plane. No one injury on the plane! I am glad he was arrested by FBI & police.