TSA worried about bomb implants

[Jenna]

Terrorists intent on striking commercial aircraft have shown renewed interest in surgically implanting explosives in humans to circumvent airport security, a U.S. security official tells CNN.

The TSA said full-body scanners can not see underneath skin, but said other "overlapping layers of security" could help officials deter any plot involving a human bomb. Those layers include intelligence information about possible plots, equipment that checks for minute traces of explosives, behavior detection officers and canine teams.

A variety of techniques to conceal bombs in a human, ranging from crude surgery that would likely result in infections, fever and other complications, to more sophisticated procedures that would take greater skill, but could last a long time before causing problems. Terrorists could replicate a cosmetic device, such as a breast or buttock implant, said Dr. Jack Sava, of the Washington Hospital Center. "In many types of infections after surgery, there can be a kind of honeymoon period of a few days. But once you get several days after the operation, I think that's when you'd start to see signs that would begin with pain and fever. That would get worse and worse, and ultimately be fatal if nothing were done," he said.

More here: Security officials see renewed interest in implanted explosives - CNN.com

[pgg]

The things TSA will come up with just to cop a feel on some boobs

[Reca]

You may laugh but this is an actual threat!

[gopherpuckfan]

Cavity searches for everyone!! It's for the children!

[Ducky]

Wouldn't metal detectors still find something to beep about? I don't think a device like this could be all plastic.

[Five-0]

Cavity searches for everyone!! It's for the children!

I'm copywriting the "I got fisted by the TSA" T-shirts.

[MacLean]

Someone at TSA finally saw "The Hurt Locker."

[MacLean]

You may laugh but this is an actual threat!

Yes, TSA is indeed an actual threat.

[BigDawg]

Yes, this is a real threat. Remember the terrorists only need to be right one time while we need to be right every time!

[MacLean]

Yes, this is a real threat. Remember the terrorists only need to be right one time while we need to be right every time!

The terrorists only need to get us to subvert our own freedom and ideals to win.

[ms1600]

As a non-TSA person and non-cop, I see ground personnel for airlines as a more likely threat. They have unrestricted access to sterile areas and are usually not paid very well. There was a drug ring that was broken up at JFK a few years back. If they can transport drugs on planes, it wouldn't be difficult to slip in explosive material.

[Cidp24]

Wouldn't metal detectors still find something to beep about? I don't think a device like this could be all plastic.

I have a large chunk of stainless steel and several screws in my shoulder, just under the skin at the distal end of my collar bone. I have never set off a metal detector at an airport.

[MacLean]

As a non-TSA person and non-cop, I see ground personnel for airlines as a more likely threat. They have unrestricted access to sterile areas and are usually not paid very well. There was a drug ring that was broken up at JFK a few years back. If they can transport drugs on planes, it wouldn't be difficult to slip in explosive material.

As a former TSA trainer, you have nailed it.

Airport security, and in particular the crap the TSA pulls, is largely theatre.